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A review by robinwalter
Checkmate to Murder by E.C.R. Lorac
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.