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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
A fantastic Golden Age mystery! I just discovered Moray Dalton through Dean Street Press and I’m really loving her writing style.
This is the first Inspector Collier book in the series and it did not disappoint. Moray Dalton’s writing is smooth, easy-to-read, and suspenseful, but also cozy like an Agatha Christie mystery.
If you’ve read and liked the Tommy and Tuppence novel, By The Pricking of My Thumbs, you will love the book, too. The ending of this mystery was also very satisfying.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series! Highly recommended!
This is the first Inspector Collier book in the series and it did not disappoint. Moray Dalton’s writing is smooth, easy-to-read, and suspenseful, but also cozy like an Agatha Christie mystery.
If you’ve read and liked the Tommy and Tuppence novel, By The Pricking of My Thumbs, you will love the book, too. The ending of this mystery was also very satisfying.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series! Highly recommended!
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death
Minor: War
This mystery novel had a very interesting premise, but needed sharper execution. I was quite certain of the murderer early on, which did detract from the suspense somewhat. On a positive note, I liked the characters of Pakenham and Inspector Collier, and will probably read more of the series for that reason. Overall, not the most thrilling mystery, but interesting enough to hold your attention until the end (which was rather good).
4.25*
The lure of new editions and beautiful covers... As it happens, this was an unexpectedly brilliant read!
I had never heard of Moray Dalton, or of her sleuth, Inspector Hugh Collier, but this first title in the series proved to be a page-turner. A wealthy American, having no remaining heir, decides to make his fellow survivors, from the sinking of a ship years prior, joint beneficiaries in his will. All very good but the members of this small group start disappearing in mysterious ways, something Collier stumbles across when he meets Mr Pakenham by chance.
The premise in itself was intriguing, but the treatment was even better. The narration is shared between several key characters, and each of them did surprise me. Somehow I was expecting a following of stereotypes, to a certain degree, but Dalton confounds you with her choices and portrayal, some indeed very modern. Also, one of the best cats on page :O)
The lure of new editions and beautiful covers... As it happens, this was an unexpectedly brilliant read!
I had never heard of Moray Dalton, or of her sleuth, Inspector Hugh Collier, but this first title in the series proved to be a page-turner. A wealthy American, having no remaining heir, decides to make his fellow survivors, from the sinking of a ship years prior, joint beneficiaries in his will. All very good but the members of this small group start disappearing in mysterious ways, something Collier stumbles across when he meets Mr Pakenham by chance.
The premise in itself was intriguing, but the treatment was even better. The narration is shared between several key characters, and each of them did surprise me. Somehow I was expecting a following of stereotypes, to a certain degree, but Dalton confounds you with her choices and portrayal, some indeed very modern. Also, one of the best cats on page :O)
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Will innocent lives by saved? Including Mr. Pakenham? Will the murderer or murderers be brought to justice? Has Corinna fallen in love with a villain or victim? And what about Mr. Pakenham’s cat? See my complete review here: https://whatmeread.com/2025/04/07/review-2563-one-by-one-they-disappeared/
A little known author from the golden age of mysteries. The book was more two and a half stars, but it could have been cut a good bit and been better for it. I'll probably try more of her mysteries since I understand this was an early one and she may have improved.
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A "Golden Age" mystery by an author I had never heard of. The main characters were naive and lacked logic throughout, so it was very frustrating all the way through. The way they all leapt to assumptions without a shred of evidence that would withstand a moment's questioning; and, in one case, those unquestioning assumptions actively put the heroine in danger. She was singularly unable to help herself throughout. May read more to see if they get better as the author got more comfortable with the genre, but it was disappointing.
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
"Nice guys finish last" That could be the motto for this debut novel. Inspector Collier is a VERY nice guy, but sadly when he berates his own lack of detective nous he is only being completely honest. There can be no graver insult for a detective than for ME to be able to say "hey, it's them" pretty much as soon as the ultimate culprit is revealed - and be right. Meanwhile, Collier blithely ignores all the clues and is actually responsible for one of the murders by revealing crucial information to the murderer. Even in the summation, which largely consists of Collier quite rightly lamenting his own stupidity, the fact that his cloth-eared incompetence killed someone is not mentioned at all.
Despite the dystopian nightmare world of this first novel, wherein I outsmart Scotland Yard's finest, I enjoyed reading this. It was light and fun, with the unusual opening gimmick of a supporting character (and his cat) doing all the brain work, and some of the key physical stuff too. Collier really is a nice guy, and the fact that even his given name changes in later books confirms that this book was very much a first draft. I look forward to reading more of them to see how his character develops and if his neuron ever gets company.
Despite the dystopian nightmare world of this first novel, wherein I outsmart Scotland Yard's finest, I enjoyed reading this. It was light and fun, with the unusual opening gimmick of a supporting character (and his cat) doing all the brain work, and some of the key physical stuff too. Collier really is a nice guy, and the fact that even his given name changes in later books confirms that this book was very much a first draft. I look forward to reading more of them to see how his character develops and if his neuron ever gets company.
I am on a 1920s detective binge thanks to Dean Street Press, who are republishing tons of forgotten writers at exceedingly reasonable prices. This is a very good one by an author I'm delighted to have discovered. Tontine type set up where money is to be divided between the members of a group which is, needless to say, getting rapidly smaller. Good scary Gothic feel, heroine in peril, excellent cat.