
Leonidas Witherall (who just happens to be a look-alike for William Shakespeare), down-on-his-luck former schoolmaster, now building janitor, gets involved when his former pupil Martin Jones is arrested for the murder of his former boss, Professor North.
Witherall and Dot, a pretty young red-head of Jones’ acquaintance, set off tracking down clues to the murderer’s identity. They are soon joined by a Boston dowager, as well as North’s maid and her gangster boyfriend, in a race to stay one step ahead of the police, out of the clutches of rival gangsters, and uncover the real murderer.
This would have to be described as a madcap comedy with elements of thriller rather than a mystery. With Witherall (aka Bill Shakespeare) and company going from one jam to another, the story is very fast moving. Unfortunately, I felt that it spent so much time centered on each crisis they got into, as well as subplots involving likable crooks, lovers on the run, and high-spirited society matrons, that I actually tended to forget what the real plot was about. There is a very strong element of humor, but there were also some rather dark, bleak moments that felt at odds with the overall atmosphere.
I will say that the characters are very well written, and the dialogue is clever. When I originally rated this (immediately after reading) I gave it a 4/5 because of those elements. But in writing my review, as I read my notes, and re-read passages that I’d marked, I found that this is just one of those books that, while I appreciate certain aspects of it, I can’t say I enjoyed reading. If you like your mysteries light and on the zany side, or your gangsters Runyonesque, this could be a book you want to try.
My Judgment – 3.25/5
Prior Rulings – crossexaminingcrime, Classic Mysteries
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo lol
… well at least you gave Witherall a go. I appreciate the Tilton style is probably a niche one!
Oh also if this is not your cup of tea then I really wouldn’t try anything by Harry Stephen Keeler. Not an author I enjoy but he takes the multiple threads theme to the extreme and truly does make your head spin!
I’m starting to think that my issue is with US authors (except for the Littles, but they were really Australian so don’t count😉).