""This is something desperately secret," she said. "Something I want you to do for me . . . But I can't tell you now. It's something I'm frightened about."Ludovic Travers, consulting specialist for Scotland Yard, receives two invitations at once to visit Beechingford. One comes from Cuthbert Daine, his literary agent. Daine is an important and busy man, and it seems strange that he would want to see Travers personally about a matter that might have been handled by mail. The other invitation comes from Austin Chaice, the successful mystery writer. He is, he says, preparing a manual for detective story writers, and needs advice on certain points.The puzzlement aroused in Travers's mind by these two letters is crystallized by a half-hysterical telephone call from Chaice's attractive wife.Travers is prepared to find a delicate and involved situation at Beechingford--but not prepared for the murder of his host!The Case of the Missing Men was originally published in 1946. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
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.
Fairly enjoyable outing for Ludo Travers, with some crisp detection from George Wharton and not too much overthinking and deception by the detectives.
Parts of the plot were fairly obvious, and the perpetrator and motives were not difficult to spot. The second murder method was one of those over-contrived affairs beloved of GAD writers. However there were lots of interesting characters and the story moved along at a good pace.
A quick and easy read but not over-taxing for the little grey cells. Although Ludo does feel overtaxed in other ways!