Death of an Author

By: E. C. R. Lorac

Narrated by: Simon Mattacks

Vivian Lestrange - celebrated author of the popular mystery novel The Charterhouse Case and total recluse - has apparently dropped off the face of the Earth. Reported missing by his secretary Eleanor, whom Inspector Bond suspects to be the author herself looking for publicity, it appears that crime is 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, as E. C. R. Lorac spins a twisting tale full of wry humour and red herrings, poking some fun at her contemporary reviewers who long suspected the Lorac pseudonym to belong to a man (since a woman could apparently not have written mysteries the way that she did).

©1935 The Estate of E. C. R. Lorac (P)2023 Soundings

Everything You Want Out of a Mystery

A classic mystery, that is, with an emphasis on character and dialogue. The buoyant character of our chief inspector is infectious. His detective sergeant is skeptical yet surprisingly imaginative. Their chief suspect is an enigma and a treasure at the same time. And Simon Mattacks makes them even more engaging.

What's more, this is a book that, among other topics, discusses the idea of the mystery story as serious literature, something other than, as the publisher character here puts it, "here today and gone tomorrow". Certainly we should be glad this one is still here today.

Excellent

And thoroughly enjoyable. The mystery was interesting, the characters thoughtfully drawn, and the conclusion surprising but plausible.

Fun Listen, Well Read

This was a recommendation after I finished the Lord Wimsey books, it was fun. I’ll explore more from this author.

Okay at first

but by the end I just didn't care. Narration a good fit for the story.

Convoluted

this was an interesting story and not formulaic. more repetitive than necessary, rehashing the evidence, but satisfying ending.