Sprigg, C St John - Pass the Body (1933)

(Orig published in the UK as The Crime in Kensington)

Impossible crime elements

Listed in Adey’s Locked Room Murders

Extremely entertaining detective novel.  Author’s 1^st book.  Only wrote seven novels.  His writing career cut short by his untimely death while serving in the British air force during WW2.

Novel takes place in the Garden Hotel – a fancily named boarding house that is home to quite a motley crew and run by the Budges, a husband and wife who don’t get along very well.  When the wife disappears from her locked bedroom on the third floor foul play is suspected.  Especially since one of the boarders who was keeping the woman company is suddenly whisked away from the door by a mysterious someone and later turns up locked in a wardrobe.  The search for Mrs. Budge is on but when her head turns up in a hatbox the search turns instead for a clever and cruel killer.  Inspector Bray and Charles Venables – gossip columnist turned crime reporter.

Witty, intelligent and suspenseful.  Surprise solution adds to the fun.

J.F. Norris