The Case of the Running Mouse

Ludovic Travers #27

by Christopher Bush

"Is he bad, sir?"

"Worse than that," I said. "In fact, he's dead."

1943. Ludovic Travers, consulting specialist for Scotland Yard, is on a fortnight's well-earned leave in London from his military posting. Anticipating relaxation, he is instead thrown into a fresh mystery by a letter from one Peter Worrack, the owner of a genteel gambling club.

Worrack's business partner, Georgina, has disappeared. Or has she? Ludo rapidly has doubts, but the reasons for any deception remain obscure until he takes on the case, and finds that the clues he'll need to consider include the jokes of a radio comedian, a handful of jaded club-goers, the novelty of a mouse in the wainscoting--and someone desperate enough to commit murder most foul.

The Case of the Running Mouse was originally published in 1944. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1944

About the author

Christopher Bush was educated in the local school. He then won a scholarship to Thetford Grammar, and went on to study modern languages at King's College London, after which he worked as a school teacher.

He participated in both world wars.

He was a prolific writer of detective novels, wrote three autobiographical novels and nine books about Breckland life using the nom-de-plume Michael Home.

He lived in Great Hockham.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ludovic Travers is on the case again - still in the Army , as it is 1944, but now being consulted as a detective in his own right. This classic of a woman who has disappeared is the 27th in the series republished by the wonderful Dean Street Press. Over the series Ludovic has developed as a character, and has changed from a vaguely interested amateur to an independent detective who is consulted in his own right in this book. The change is partly because he has been in the Army as an organiser of various military establishments, and the development means that it is perfectly possible to read this book as a standalone adventure. The other continuing character is George Wharton of Scotland Yard, who provides official backing, but Ludo’s attitude to him has changed into being able to predict his techniques and mannerisms, and he goes so far as to silently consider the older man of taking the credit for some of Ludo’s better theories, while issuing criticisms. This is no longer a partnership of detection; in this novel Ludo is taking the initiative into his own hands and avoiding sharing details of his involvement. Curtis Evans’ Introduction makes clear that in this novel Ludo enters the world of “high stakes gaming, where the men are bad and the women worse” on his own. Despite this book being written in wartime (1943), the war is very much in the background, as meaning that one character has lost a leg, and another is widowed. The mystery is all, and whether Ludo can work out just what is going on is the true point of this novel.

Ludo finds himself on leave for fourteen days in London, with his wife working in the north of England. He is approached by a man, Worrack, who explains that he runs a discreet invitation only gambling club with the backing of a wealthy young widow, Georgina Morbent.The lady has other interests; specifically race horses, and it the reason she gave Worrack for a trip to Ireland to meet with the trainer of her great hopes for racing success. However, it would appear that she has gone missing, and neither Worrack or her sister has heard from her. Ludo agrees to investigate discreetly, and attends the club in question for background. He also meets the widowed sister, Barbara Grays, and her lover Tommy Hamson, as well some extremely dubious characters who apparently owe money and maybe more. It is when a mouse runs that everything suddenly becomes more confusing and even deadly.

This is a well crafted mystery with several red herrings and misdirections which keep Ludo much on the move. There are some well written characters as always, including the female characters who are thoroughly involved in the action. Ludo’s transformation into a detective in his own right maintains the focus well, as he narrates from his own point of view. As a one off murder mystery it works extremely well, as a development in a republished series it is fascinating. I recommend this book as a superb example of Golden Age detective writing from an author who has become less well known.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the less successful stories from my point of view. As Curtis Evans indicates in the Introduction and afterword, Bush was influenced by grittier American novels and was responding to social changes in wartime Britain. This made for somewhat unpleasant reading about very unlikeable people. I also felt that Ludo Travers was acting out of character.

The plot sagged and lost momentum in the middle, then had a rather rushed conclusion. Overall, I found it a bit of a struggle to read.