Boucher's second detective story features a private detective in the shape of Fergus O'Breen, an over-the-top Irishman who naturally falls in love with one of the suspects. Military researcher Humphrey Garnett is murdered in his study soon after his friend Colonel Rand receives a mysterious telegram. Garnett's daughter, her fiancee, his lab assistant, his ineffective brother-in-law, and his mysterious protegee are all suspects. O'Breen and Rand together pursue the dying message clue - a crumpled knave of diamonds from a pack in the study -- but there are two more deaths befor the mystery is solved.
This is mystery in the Ellery Queen style, but there are signs here that Boucher was already feeling the pinch of restrictive conventions. The espionage motif makes an appearance when the book is well under way, but the most irritating feature is an amazing blunder on the part of a murderer who -- we are told repeatedly -- is inhumanly cool and calculating. This looks like Boucher's attempt to have his cake and eat it too. And would that second murder method really work?
Boucher's writing is entertaining and Rand -- unlike the annoying O'Breen -- is a warm and sympathetic character. Overall the book gets high marks for a good attempt.
Jon.| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
