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lelia_t's review against another edition
4.0
On a foggy night, with London under blackout, a miser is murdered in his bed. Who done it? Mrs. Tubbs, who does a “spot of work” for him? His visiting nephew? One of the five people gathered next door for an evening get-together? Or the pompous Special Constable?
Amid an oppressive atmosphere of wartime darkness and making do, Chief Inspector MacDonald investigates the murder with the help of Reeves (always a bright spot even in the London blackout) and Jenkins. As they dig into the mystery, you get a sense of the way Londoners looked out for one another as they endured the challenges of life during the Blitz, and the small pleasures that persist despite the gloom (Miss Stanton’s Hellebore and Winter sweet in flower).
The mystery isn’t much of a stumper, but I found the book to be a perfect bedtime read, as are most of the Lorac mysteries.
Amid an oppressive atmosphere of wartime darkness and making do, Chief Inspector MacDonald investigates the murder with the help of Reeves (always a bright spot even in the London blackout) and Jenkins. As they dig into the mystery, you get a sense of the way Londoners looked out for one another as they endured the challenges of life during the Blitz, and the small pleasures that persist despite the gloom (Miss Stanton’s Hellebore and Winter sweet in flower).
The mystery isn’t much of a stumper, but I found the book to be a perfect bedtime read, as are most of the Lorac mysteries.
krobart's review against another edition
3.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/09/12/review-2026-checkmate-to-murder/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/09/12/review-2026-checkmate-to-murder/
tereoleneva's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
retiredlibrarylady's review against another edition
3.0
This book really stirred something in me completely unrelated to the mystery, which was actually well written and plotted. I don't know if other Robert MacDonald mysteries are still available; this was originally published in 1944 in England. What struck me was first on page 19, when a Canadian who was come to fight in WWII is threatened with arrest for his uncle's murder and neighbors intervene on his behalf. He tells them "You folks are white all through! You've been decent to me, by gum you have!" I had a vague memory of the term "white" being a synonym for nice, possibly in books many years ago. But it really struck me now...what a racist phrase!. The internet tells me it originated in the southern US, but I thought it fit perfectly in this English book setting as a colonialist phrase. So although I enjoyed it as a mystery I couldn't recommend it to anyone in today's society.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
Serendipity led me to this mystery and I am grateful. Somewhere I read a piece about mysteries set in England during World War II. That is a part of history that intrigues me, so I went looking to see if I could find this tale. Hoopla has an amazing collection of odd things and this was there.
I had a few hours away from the cares of the 21 century. Thank you Ms. Lorac.
I had a few hours away from the cares of the 21 century. Thank you Ms. Lorac.
nik_reads02's review against another edition
4.0
My first ECR Lorac, but it won’t be my last. An interesting, plausible mystery set in London during WWII.
traceymlee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
robinwalter's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Another fine outing for Inspector MacDonald. This one was very languidly paced, and full of detailed descriptions of Blitz-Era London, as the backdrop to a well planned murder.
I've said many times that a big part of the reason I can't stand Carr, Queen and Sayers is because their protagonists are all on the unlikeability spectrum. So it figures that the very likeable MacDonald is now a firm favourite. No louche braggadocio à la Queen, no pompous windbaggery à la Fell and no effete elitism à la Wimsey. Just solid, sharp thinking and a down to earth manner. MacDonald is no cultural dullard, as his description of a hypothetical opera attests:
“An opera which has never been written, with music by Berlioz, libretto by Spender or Auden, decor by Picasso, and choreography by Nijinski.”
but his detection is unflashy and meticulous - or as he put it
“Detection isn’t based on brilliant flashes of intuition—at least, mine isn’t. It’s based on a reconstruction of possibilities."
I did find this one a little slow moving at times, which was apt for a story in which chess played a prominent part, but it was MacDonald's character tghat kept me gonig and in the end I was rewarded with a satisfying reveal of a very well structured and bold murder.
I've said many times that a big part of the reason I can't stand Carr, Queen and Sayers is because their protagonists are all on the unlikeability spectrum. So it figures that the very likeable MacDonald is now a firm favourite. No louche braggadocio à la Queen, no pompous windbaggery à la Fell and no effete elitism à la Wimsey. Just solid, sharp thinking and a down to earth manner. MacDonald is no cultural dullard, as his description of a hypothetical opera attests:
“An opera which has never been written, with music by Berlioz, libretto by Spender or Auden, decor by Picasso, and choreography by Nijinski.”
but his detection is unflashy and meticulous - or as he put it
“Detection isn’t based on brilliant flashes of intuition—at least, mine isn’t. It’s based on a reconstruction of possibilities."
I did find this one a little slow moving at times, which was apt for a story in which chess played a prominent part, but it was MacDonald's character tghat kept me gonig and in the end I was rewarded with a satisfying reveal of a very well structured and bold murder.
fictionfan's review
5.0
Keep Calm and Carry On!
It’s wartime London and a thick fog is making the darkness of the blackout even deeper. A perfect night for murder! Four men are together in an artist’s studio. Bruce Manaton, the artist, is working on a portrait of his friend, actor André Delaunier, dressed for the sitting in the scarlet robes of a Cardinal. Meantime two other men, Robert Cavenish and Ian Mackellon, are absorbed in a game of chess. Each couple is in a pool of light while the rest of the studio is in shadow. In the kitchen off the studio, Bruce’s sister, Rosanne, is preparing a meal (because she’s the woman, obviously). Suddenly into this quiet scene bursts the local Special Constable, clutching a young soldier whom he claims has just murdered the old miser who lives next door. But when Inspector MacDonald of the Yard begins to investigate, he’s not convinced it’s as simple a case as it first appears…
ECR Lorac has been one of the major successes of the British Library Crime Classics series as far as I’m concerned, and I guess I’m not alone since they’ve now republished several of the Inspector MacDonald books, as well as a standalone written under another of her pen names, Carol Carnac. One of her real strengths is her settings, and her wartime ones are particularly atmospheric. Here she uses the combination of fog and blackout brilliantly, not just to provide a cloak for nefarious goings-on, but also to conjure up a sense of what it was like to be living in a London still struggling stoically on under the constant threat of air raids.
The worst of the Blitz is over, but the memories of the bombings are still fresh. So much so, that, as Bruce later explains to Inspector MacDonald “Londoners have heard so many bangs during their recent history, that a pistol shot isn’t so impressive a row as it used to be.” This, together with the random blasts of fog horns, means that the group in the studio didn’t consciously hear the shot that killed old Mr Folliner.
Through patient police work, MacDonald and his team soon have reason to doubt that the young soldier, who, it turns out, is Mr Folliner’s nephew, is the murderer, although he was found by the Special Constable in the old man’s bedroom with the corpse. But if he’s innocent, then who did the deed? The list of suspects is small, and it seems almost impossible that anyone in the vicinity at the time could have done it. MacDonald will have to work out not only whodunit but how.
It’s a good puzzle, with some of the elements of the “impossible crime” about it, though I find it impossible myself to explain why without giving mild spoilers, so I won’t. The characterisation is very good, with Bruce and Rosanne Manaton particularly well developed. Bruce is talented, but he’s moody and selfish, and Rosanne acts almost as much as a mother to him as a sister. People aren’t spending much on art during the war, so Rosanne struggles to make ends meet and stop Bruce blowing what little money they do have on drink. She too is a talented artist, but Bruce kindly lets her sacrifice her own career so that she can do all the cooking and cleaning and worrying for them both.
We also get to know Inspector MacDonald a little better, though his life outside work is still largely a blank. I like that he never works alone – Lorac always makes us aware of the teamwork that is going on in the background to support his detecting, and gives them full credit for their contribution. As used to be the case in those halcyon days (in fiction), the police team work well together, efficiently, professionally and in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Another great read from Lorac’s pen – I remain baffled as to why she is less well known than the other Golden Age Queens of Crime and am very glad that the BL is doing such a great job in changing that. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
It’s wartime London and a thick fog is making the darkness of the blackout even deeper. A perfect night for murder! Four men are together in an artist’s studio. Bruce Manaton, the artist, is working on a portrait of his friend, actor André Delaunier, dressed for the sitting in the scarlet robes of a Cardinal. Meantime two other men, Robert Cavenish and Ian Mackellon, are absorbed in a game of chess. Each couple is in a pool of light while the rest of the studio is in shadow. In the kitchen off the studio, Bruce’s sister, Rosanne, is preparing a meal (because she’s the woman, obviously). Suddenly into this quiet scene bursts the local Special Constable, clutching a young soldier whom he claims has just murdered the old miser who lives next door. But when Inspector MacDonald of the Yard begins to investigate, he’s not convinced it’s as simple a case as it first appears…
ECR Lorac has been one of the major successes of the British Library Crime Classics series as far as I’m concerned, and I guess I’m not alone since they’ve now republished several of the Inspector MacDonald books, as well as a standalone written under another of her pen names, Carol Carnac. One of her real strengths is her settings, and her wartime ones are particularly atmospheric. Here she uses the combination of fog and blackout brilliantly, not just to provide a cloak for nefarious goings-on, but also to conjure up a sense of what it was like to be living in a London still struggling stoically on under the constant threat of air raids.
The worst of the Blitz is over, but the memories of the bombings are still fresh. So much so, that, as Bruce later explains to Inspector MacDonald “Londoners have heard so many bangs during their recent history, that a pistol shot isn’t so impressive a row as it used to be.” This, together with the random blasts of fog horns, means that the group in the studio didn’t consciously hear the shot that killed old Mr Folliner.
Through patient police work, MacDonald and his team soon have reason to doubt that the young soldier, who, it turns out, is Mr Folliner’s nephew, is the murderer, although he was found by the Special Constable in the old man’s bedroom with the corpse. But if he’s innocent, then who did the deed? The list of suspects is small, and it seems almost impossible that anyone in the vicinity at the time could have done it. MacDonald will have to work out not only whodunit but how.
It’s a good puzzle, with some of the elements of the “impossible crime” about it, though I find it impossible myself to explain why without giving mild spoilers, so I won’t. The characterisation is very good, with Bruce and Rosanne Manaton particularly well developed. Bruce is talented, but he’s moody and selfish, and Rosanne acts almost as much as a mother to him as a sister. People aren’t spending much on art during the war, so Rosanne struggles to make ends meet and stop Bruce blowing what little money they do have on drink. She too is a talented artist, but Bruce kindly lets her sacrifice her own career so that she can do all the cooking and cleaning and worrying for them both.
We also get to know Inspector MacDonald a little better, though his life outside work is still largely a blank. I like that he never works alone – Lorac always makes us aware of the teamwork that is going on in the background to support his detecting, and gives them full credit for their contribution. As used to be the case in those halcyon days (in fiction), the police team work well together, efficiently, professionally and in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
Another great read from Lorac’s pen – I remain baffled as to why she is less well known than the other Golden Age Queens of Crime and am very glad that the BL is doing such a great job in changing that. 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com