WWW Wednesday

 WWW Wednesday

Today's post is borrowing an idea from a lovely blog I found recently, http://michelletheescapist.blogspot.co.uk/ and hosted by http://shouldbereading.wordpress.com/

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

What are you currently reading?

My book of the moment is Murder in the Embassy by the suitable mysterious sounding “Diplomat”. This book was first published in 1933 and is part of Harraps Shilling Library (those were the days for book prices!). The book is obviously now out of print, and a quick look at ebay reveals that copies nowadays sell for about £30! So you could make a bit of profit from your original shilling ;)

I borrowed this from Barbican Library (as part of the City of London libraries), and it was part of their great selection of vintage crime. 

The blurb: 

In a stifling day a small party of high Government officials have come secretly to the Japanese Embassy in Washington to sign an agreement of world importance. They sit waiting for Prince Hojo and Lord Robert Murray, the British Charge d'Affaires, who are talking in the room above. Alarmed by their non-appearance, they investigate - to find the Prince dead and the Englishman unconscious with a poker in his hand. Everything points to Lord Robert being the murderer.

Tyler, the Chief of the Bureau of the Current Political Intelligence, asks the Japanese Ambassador for twenty-four hours before the news is made public and the world's peace endangered. During that time no one is allowed to leave the Embassy.

As the hours pass, the nerves of the actors in the drama become frayed, and startling developments take place. But Tyler's methods are at last crowned with success, and two murders are brought home to the real criminal just in time to avert disaster.

My thoughts: 

The idea of solving a case in 24 hours struck me a good one. This concept, of solving a crime within a limited and short time frame, is not a new one but has stood the test of time. 

The fact that the whole storyline takes place in a clandestine environment is one that appeals to me. I love the idea of all these goings-on can happen behind closed doors, and we mere mortals are completely oblivious to them. Who knows, perhaps there have even been a few real life mysteries in embassies around the world! 

What did you recently finish reading?

Having had some unexpected spare time on my hands, I have managed to get through quite a few books recently!

The Shooting in the Shop and The Poisoning in the Pub (2010), both by Simon Brett

Admittedly these aren't vintage crime, but they are both crime nonetheless! I am a big fan of Simon Brett and his Fethering mysteries. I have been reading the whole series hopelessly out of order, but as each book is a stand-alone story it doesn't make too much of a difference. The contrasting characters of cool Carole and hippy Jude really make the books, and I found both of these books equally gripping. 

Flight 714 (1968) by Herge

Does Tintin count as crime fiction? This story definitely does! Tintin, along with his erstwhile companions Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus are all on their way to Sydney when they become involved in a kidnapping plot. The book features the weirdest storyline I have ever come across in Tintin, involving mind control, aliens and mass hypnosis. If I had to describe it in one word it would be: odd!

If you are a fan of Tintin, then you will enjoy it however it is one of the weakest in the series.

What do you think you’ll read next?

 Next up on my reading list are:

Hopefully a better story than Flight 714!

The Labours of Hercules (1947) by Agatha Christie

Tintin and the Picaros (1976) by Herge

Death of a Millionaire by  (1925) G.D.H. and M. Cole - this will be reviewed in an upcoming blog post, as one of my "Forgotten Fiction" posts.

If you have a WWW Wednesday post on your blog, please leave the link as a comment below and I will check it out!

Book Review- Forgotten Fiction

Death of a Star (1932) by G.D.H. and M. Cole

Synopsis:

The story begins with a typical London scene: a black taxi, the River Thames and a traditional uniformed policeman. We are introduced to Police Constable Wedderburn as he is making his usual night time patrol alongside the River. He is stopped by a cabbie, seeking directions after dropping off their last fare.

The driver mentions a parcel, which was left behind by their passenger, and how uneasy it makes him feel. Upon investigation in the moonlight, the parcel of crumpled newspaper wrapped in a fish bag is found to be a decapitated head with 'eyes wide open and staring'.

How did the head come to end up in the taxi? How did the head come to be separated from the body, a head quickly identified as that of famous starlet Rita Morning? And just where is the body?

These are all questions PC Wedderburn, Inspector Hennessy and Chief Inspector Camp will have to answer. Members of the public, Patrick Sayle and Everard Blatchington also offer their assistance, after they stumble across the scene.

    Having been intrigued by the idea of a husband and wife writing books together, this was the first of their books I have read.

As you can surmise, there is no one overall detective, in contrast to Agatha Christie's works featuring the famous Poirot. This is where the whole books becomes slightly confusing, flashing from one narrative to another. It hardly seems important who will solve the case, just as long as the case ends up solved.

    I was expecting one main 'hero of the hour' who would wade through the red herrings and deceit to solve the murder of poor Rita Morning. The constant stream of sleuths, some working together and others putting in a solo effort, made for a fast paced read that rattled along nicely.

No sooner had one policeman cursed himself for a lack of progress in the case, then another member of the police force took up the reins. They would promptly sniff out three clues, overturn an alibi and whittle down the suspect list. No bad for one chapter's work!

    I presumed one of the main characters would be Patrick Sayle. It is in his road that the taxi turns up, and he resolves to solve the mystery before the police blame it on the taxi driver. Interesting class prejudice- the taxi driver is worried he will be the scapegoat. "Law's different for poor men, sir", he remarks mournfully. So our people's champion, Sayle, decides to investigate the case. The Coles then decided not to mention Sayle for three long winded chapters, by which time I had promptly forgotten how he came in be involved in the whole matter.

Admirable Art Deco inspired title page

    After several days of inquests and interrogations, the case is solved by Chief Inspector Camp (not Sayle!). The choice of perpetrator seems to come completely out of the blue, making for a surprising ending.

    I found the story enjoyable, although the abundance of policemen of varying ranks and characters did take some getting used to. Several plot points are explored, and then never mentioned again until the summing up in the final chapter. I hadn't a hope in hell of solving the mystery, or of guessing the killer's identity!

    Still, all writers’ styles take some getting used to and I have already earmarked some more books by Mr. and Mrs. Cole for the future. Their quick style engages the reader, and I found the concept of a taxi passenger 'accidentally' misplacing a hacked off head both original and fresh!

Drinks mentioned: 

Whisky

A nice whisky cures all problems, even finding a human head! 

'His face was white and glistening under the lamp.

"Find a double whisky, quick, will you?"

More whisky!

'The inspector....seized from the tray the large double whisky which was his daily portion'

Drinking to excess

"Death of the Morning - jolly good poster," he said, chuckling over his sixth whiskey-and-soda.'

 

Punch

It is drunk a party, described as a 'good stiff drink' and 'golden'.

Afternoon tea

'Lady's Christine's club was comparatively cool and comparatively pleasant to look at, and they secured a cool table in the window and a large selection of sandwiches.'

 Rum

Chosen as it works quickest on the drinker! 'He stretched a vague hand for the glass, automatically splashed some soda into it, and took a deep gulp.'

Body Count: Just the one, the unfortunate head-less Rita Morning.

 

Overall verdict: 3 and a half champagne glasses out of 5

Have you read any books by G.D.H and M. Cole? Do you have any suggestions of forgotten authors for future reviews? Leave a comment below!

-bodyinthelibrary