Indeed, he read very little except detective stories, which he devoured at a rate of one a day. Ronald Knox, The Motive
Cut Throat by Christopher Bush (1932) The hamper delivered to Lord Zyon’s home should have contained evidence of illicit trade activity, sent to him by Sir William Griffith. Instead, it contains Sir William Griffith, with his throat cut from ear to ear. Superintendent Wharton investigates, and brings Ludovic Travers along as a “detached observer.” An …
Continue reading A Bundle of Reviews #2 Christopher Bush & E. C. R. Lorac at a glance
When Durangos, Limited receives a request from Claude Rook for “a most reliable, intelligent, cultured man” who must know something about china and has an appreciation of music, they of course send Ludovic Travers. What follows is a rather bizarre evening which ends with the eccentric Rook pressing a manuscript of music on Travers, insisting …
Continue reading Dead Man’s Music by Christopher Bush (1931)
Ludovic Travers and John Franklin are amongst the houseguests who find themselves snowbound at Little Levington Hall, the home of Martin Braishe, after a New Year’s fancy dress party. The next morning brings an unexpected guest, a schoolmaster named Crashaw, who stumbled on the house after his car is trapped in the snow and the …
‘Hye on a tree oure lord did henge and diebeneathe a tree the laste revere shall lye.’ The last of the Revere's, Cosmo Revere is found dead in the grounds of his family home, Fenwold Hall. Has the prophecy been fulfilled? It appears that Revere had been indulging in his hobby of felling trees, but …
Continue reading Murder at Fenwold by Christopher Bush (1930)
Boxer Michael France, “the idol of the British public, whether boxing or not,” has asked John Franklin to his home to discuss a series of threatening letters he has received. France is soon to fight for the title of heavy-weight champion of the world. Could someone be trying to stop him from fighting? Or is …
When on 7 October, 193- the first of the “Marius Letters” letters arrived at the offices of several London newspapers and Scotland Yard announcing “I am going to commit a murder…on the night of the 11th”, the inclination was to take it as a hoax. Subsequent letters arrive containing further information, each stoking speculation and …
Continue reading The Perfect Murder Case by Christopher Bush (1929)