My ongoing attempt to shift my recreational reading to older novels is not, I must admit, going as well as I hoped. I’ve discovered some gems, it’s true – Frank H. Spearman’s westerns, E. Phillips Oppenheim’s spy stories. But my attempts to acquire a taste for Golden Age mysteries seems fruitless. Aside from Dorothy Sayers, I honestly can’t think of a Golden Age mystery novelist I care much for. Robin Forsythe did not change that judgment.
Robin Forsythe was an English civil servant who went to prison for a while for fraud, and came out determined to make his living writing mysteries. He did all right too, for the remainder of his short life.
His fictional detective was Tony “Algernon” Vereker (I never did figure out quite how to pronounce that last name). Vereker is a London artist of independent means. In Missing or Murdered, the first novel in the series, his old friend, Lord Bygrave, a government minister, disappears. Vereker attaches himself to the investigation (the Scotland Yard detective in charge is oddly untroubled by the intrusion). He follows the detective around and compares notes with him frequently. They make the investigation a sort of competition. Eventually the work out what happened to Lord Bygrave and who is responsible.
I suppose my tastes have been corrupted by postmodern culture, but I had trouble enjoying Missing or Murdered. Both Dorothy Sayers and Charles Williams liked Forsythe’s work, but for my money they both leave him in the dust. There’s lots of talking in the book, with some rather forced wit, and everything is leisured and decent, and it bored me silly. Couldn’t wait for the thing to be done with.
But it’s fine if you like this sort of thing.
Woould you have come across the Scottish writer Peter May? I’m halfway through The Black House, the first of a trilogy set on the island Lewis. A detective returns home to investigate a brutal murder in his home town. His childhood and youth that made him who he is are woven into the mystery. The usual cautions for occasional language and an adult encounter. Some strong anti-Christian feelings are expressed. IMHO well written, and until finished conditionally recommended.
That’s a new one on me.
Here’s the story behind the publication of The Black House. More at his home page
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjbgVf5Hwno
Do you think it’s good for young teen? My daughter loves mysteries but has outgrown her age group….
Would not recommend for a young teen. There’s scattered profanity, one explicit scene, the obligatory autopsy, an antagonistic questioning of God and the rigid Calvinism on the island. Then there’s a vivid account of the village’s trip to an off shore island to harvest young gannet chicks. Most every character is a damaged soul. It is well written. I will continue the trilogy. I admit I don’t know what young teens read but this is mature. I speak as a Christian in my 70’s. Hope this helps.