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Ludovic Travers #16
The Case of the Missing Minutes
Travers looked down at the thing that sprawled. The head gave a last movement, and there was a faint sound like a tired moan. The time was eight minutes to eight.
Ludovic Travers is approached by his sister after tales of strange doings and horrible night shrieks in a country house called Highways. Travers makes an investigatory visit, where he finds stabbed to death the bizarre old man who was living at the house with his 10-year-old granddaughter. Among the prime suspects are the child's tutor, and a classical pianist who happens to be in the village on holiday. But airtight alibis abound, hinging on an ingenious manipulation of time. Chief Constable Major Tempest and his subordinates Inspector Carry and Sergeant Polegate are delighted to have the resourceful Travers's help in finding the murderer.
The Case of the Missing Minutes was originally published in 1937. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
"Refreshingly different from that of the general run of detective novels. . ."--Times Literary Supplement
Ludovic Travers is approached by his sister after tales of strange doings and horrible night shrieks in a country house called Highways. Travers makes an investigatory visit, where he finds stabbed to death the bizarre old man who was living at the house with his 10-year-old granddaughter. Among the prime suspects are the child's tutor, and a classical pianist who happens to be in the village on holiday. But airtight alibis abound, hinging on an ingenious manipulation of time. Chief Constable Major Tempest and his subordinates Inspector Carry and Sergeant Polegate are delighted to have the resourceful Travers's help in finding the murderer.
The Case of the Missing Minutes was originally published in 1937. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
"Refreshingly different from that of the general run of detective novels. . ."--Times Literary Supplement
- GenresMystery
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1937
17 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Bush
92 books11 followersChristopher 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 19, 2019
After being disappointed by the last two Ludovic Tracers books I am pleased to say that this one is much better and in my opinion, the best so far. A really unusual plot with some very interesting characters. Superintendent Wharton unfortunately doesn't turn up until about three quarters of the way through which is a shame as he is a really likeable detective. Like most of these stories, the reader (this one anyway) has to keep his wits about him to keep up with the plot and I didn't suss out why the horrible victim behaved as he did so as to almost guarantee to get murdered. The solution was rather improbable but this didn't affect my enjoyment of it.
Highly recommended. I look forward to the rest of the series
Highly recommended. I look forward to the rest of the series
March 3, 2018
'..."I know who did it and how it was done. I know who must have done it." Then he smiled ruefully. “The only snag is that he couldn’t have done it. If he did do it, then he not only committed a murder, he also committed a miracle.”...'
Ludo Travers is faced by many dilemmas in this excellent detective novel, not just concerning whodunnit and how.He does, however, eventually reach a solution which fits the facts.
There is a lot of human interest here and I was delighted by the way in which Travers' character develops: I learned more about him in this one than in all the previous fifteen books.He is a likeable and well- rounded character, with more seriousness and depth than heretofore.
"The killer of Quentin Trowte might in his opinion be more of a public benefactor than a murderer..."
-and therein lies the problem. Most readers will side with the murderer, so how will justice best be served?
An excellent read. 4.5 stars. However, new readers should not begin with this one. It is worth reading up to.
Ludo Travers is faced by many dilemmas in this excellent detective novel, not just concerning whodunnit and how.He does, however, eventually reach a solution which fits the facts.
There is a lot of human interest here and I was delighted by the way in which Travers' character develops: I learned more about him in this one than in all the previous fifteen books.He is a likeable and well- rounded character, with more seriousness and depth than heretofore.
"The killer of Quentin Trowte might in his opinion be more of a public benefactor than a murderer..."
-and therein lies the problem. Most readers will side with the murderer, so how will justice best be served?
An excellent read. 4.5 stars. However, new readers should not begin with this one. It is worth reading up to.
January 18, 2023
4.5 stars. This is the first book by Christopher Bush that I read. It is supposed to be one of his best, and I very much enjoyed it. It has a solid alibi puzzle plot, but what sets it apart for me is the presence of several kindly ‘Mensch’ characters (including, but not limited to the series protagonist Travers) and a pronounced emotional sensibility for a Golden Age detection novel. From a stylistic point of view, the writing is not absolute tops even by mystery standards, but it isn’t any cause for concern or frustration, either.
January 5, 2019
Well constructed classic mystery. Full review at classicmystery.blog
January 12, 2023
Well, in this grisly mystery the author added unseen depth to Travers’ personality which made him more immensely more likable.
”Something’s wrong somewhere. By his own statement, fairly well substantiated, Howcrop couldn’t have reached here before twelve minutes past eight. By your own statement, well substantiated, he was here seven minutes before.”
“Yes,” said Travers. “And it may have been ten minutes before. Remember what I said about keeping the calculations biased in his favour.”
“That’s right,” Tempest said. “And ten minutes’ difference takes the devil of a lot of explaining away.” He shook his head. “Funny, isn’t it? Mrs. Diddy, the Doctor and Howcrop himself all confirm one time, and everything you did confirms the other.”
”Something’s wrong somewhere. By his own statement, fairly well substantiated, Howcrop couldn’t have reached here before twelve minutes past eight. By your own statement, well substantiated, he was here seven minutes before.”
“Yes,” said Travers. “And it may have been ten minutes before. Remember what I said about keeping the calculations biased in his favour.”
“That’s right,” Tempest said. “And ten minutes’ difference takes the devil of a lot of explaining away.” He shook his head. “Funny, isn’t it? Mrs. Diddy, the Doctor and Howcrop himself all confirm one time, and everything you did confirms the other.”
June 30, 2018
This is more a fiction than a detective story. The first half was fast paced and engaging. The second half drags on for quite a bit.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews