Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

E. C. R. Lorac spins a twisting tale full of wry humor and red herrings, poking some fun at her contemporary reviewers, who long suspected the Lorac pseudonym to belong to a male author. Vivian Lestrange-celebrated author of the popular mystery novel The Charterhouse Case and total recluse-has apparently dropped off the face of the Earth. After he was reported missing by his secretary Eleanor, whom Inspector Bond suspects to be the author herself, crime and murder are afoot when Lestrange's housekeeper is also found to have disappeared. Bond and Warner of Scotland Yard set to work to investigate a murder with no body and a potentially fictional victim.

I am sure Jonn has already read this one!! Anyone else thinking about this Lorac read?

I couldn't find a copy of this book at the libary, so I'm reading another one that the library has, Fell Murder.
I'm hoping that the book will be available at the library in the future. All the British Crime Classics are very popular here in Toronto.

I plan to read this. I've got a copy on hold at the library and hope it comes through soon.

I’ll be reading this one.

I just started this one and it will be going on vacation with me next week. I am already highly intrigued and I already love Bond and Warner.

I’ve also just started reading this one and was able to get hold of it easily as I’m in the UK.

I’ve finished the book. I was able to visualise some of the as I was brought up not far from the Wye Valley.

That's always a plus when you know the places mentioned in the book!

As it turns out, women can write good mystery stories. 😁

I found the audio. Hope to listen to it this month. If not, most certainly in September. I love Lorac mysteries.

Rosemary wrote: "I’ve finished the book. I was able to visualise some of the as I was brought up not far from the Wye Valley."

That is awesome being able have ties of knowing the area. I would think it would make it more enjoyable too!!

I just read the first chapter on the train and I’m interested to see what angle this story will travel in. Will she be murdered or will she be revealed as a murder? Boy does this one show it’s age, but in a good way. An excellent way!

I’m more than halfway through this one. It’s a great, classic mystery tale. I like how Lorac used Dorothy Sayers instead of Agatha Christie as the gold standard of mystery writers in a conversation between the two detectives. Absolutely scandalous!

Lesle wrote: "E. C. R. Lorac spins a twisting tale full of wry humor and red herrings, poking some fun at her contemporary reviewers, who long suspected the Lorac pseudonym to belong to a male author. Vivian Les..."

I haven't read this one yet, Lesle, although I have bought a copy and I hope to read it either in the next week or so, or early in September.

Just finished this one, which I don't think is one of her best - I can understand why Bond and Warner of Scotland Yard only appeared this once. Inspector MacDonald is a much more interesting and believable character.

John wrote: "Inspector MacDonald is a much more interesting and believable character...."

He is a favorite of many it seems!

I liked the premise for this book - can you tell when a man or a woman is writing a book. I found the book had too much talking among the detectives though. It dragged a bit. I, too, like Inspector MacDonald better than these two!

This is my third Lorac book and I really like her writing style. I also enjoyed the fact that this mystery is unique:
1. No dead body at the beginning.
2. Few suspects.
3. The inspectors Bond and Warner are so thorough in their analysis: every reasonable possibility is examined including whether LeStrange is actually deceased, if the secretary is guilty, what part the housekeeper may have played, and if the missing man is one of the missing Merstham brothers.
I thought the conversations were to the point and the conjectures a different angle on the mystery novel. I haven't read a lot of mysteries (unless you include Nancy Drew as a kid) but trying to figure out all the possible angles was unique.
Definitely want to read more by this author.

Natalie I enjoyed reading your wrap up on this read!!

I am glad you are enjoying Lorac's writing style.

Because I had liked E.C.R. Lorac's Post After Post-Mortem, I bought both Murder by Matchlight and Death of an Author back in July.

When I read Death of an Author back in August I forgot I was supposed to be reading it in a Group read. Now that I see this thread, my recollection of that has returned.

But, my memory of the book has faded in the long 8 week interim, so I had to review my review to refresh my recollection. Anyone interested in my comments on the book would be better served, rather than reading my account of what I just read in my review, by reading the review itself.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Kathy wrote: "I liked the premise for this book - can you tell when a man or a woman is writing a book. I found the book had too much talking among the detectives though. It dragged a bit. I, too, like Inspector..."

I agree. Very static.

Brian E wrote: "I agree. Very static ..."

It seems it would be very drawn out in the talk between the detectives to be over kill on talking it out. Interesting you and Kathy felt the same. Enjoyed your review as always!

Like the new Avatar Brian!!

Lesle wrote: "Like the new Avatar Brian!!"

Thanks! I had used the previous photo because, as the luddite me did not have know how to put photos on my computer, I used a cropped one from a group photo someone else had posted on Facebook.

But as the photo was from 2005 I was feeling guilty about portraying the 71 year old me as looking like the 52 year-old me in the picture. So I finally figured out how to get a photo from my phone on to Goodreads and cropped a head shot from September of this year.
I still don't know how to put a photo on my computer. Don't need to know now, though.

Its okay Brian! You put much effort into this one. I agree no need to learn how. You went degrees more than I would to update this one!

I'm late to the party on this one. I read it over the summer and have read a few since and sadly, they all begin blend together. Having read the reviews above however I do remember I really liked this one for all of the angles, red herrings, twists, turns, and the nod to Lorac's own gender. I also remember it bogging down in detective dialogue to the point that it became irritating at times although it also brought other unconsidered possibilities to light. I did like the Bond/Warner pairing though. There was a lot going on in this one.