Rhode, John - Invisible Weapons (1939)

This title was originally published in 1939, and therefore falls within the middle period of Rhode’s books, when both Supt Hanslet and Insp. Jimmy Waghorn worked together professionally in the investigation of crime, before the war years when the former retired and became thereafter an interested amateur. As such it is of some interest in contrasting their techniques and attitudes, which act as metaphors for the development in style which Rhode himself was undertaking from the classic of the golden age to the post-war procedural. Needless to say, it is Dr Lancelot Priestley who actually makes almost all of the important deductions and in this instance he is still active enough to visit the scene of the crime and interview witnesses.

The mystery involves the deaths of two men who live as neighbours in a London street. When one is murdered whilst visiting relatives in the country, Waghorn is soon on the scene. But although there is ample evidence of the crime the method of murder is completely baffling since the weapon cannot be identified. Whilst suspicion falls upon the husband of the dead man’s niece, without proof of how the crime was committed the police cannot act and Jimmy returns to London thwarted. However, a few weeks later, the victim’s neighbour dies of carbon dioxide poisoning in his wine cellar. Hanslet sets to work to investigate but the death is considered to be an accident, caused by the escape of sewer gas. It is only when he is at a dead end that Hanslet approves Priestley’s request to allow him to investigate the circumstances. A little evidence gathering, including a thorough search of the dead man’s house and inquiries into the brand of refrigerators used by those concerned and the 'Professor' is able to give the official force the guidance they need to identify both the method of crime and the murderer.

Another excellent mystery from the pen of the prolific Major Street, whilst Invisible Weapons may not be quite on a par with his very best, it will still be of great interest to the many devotees of this author or any readers who are enthusiasts of the realist school.

R E Faust

The weapons in this aptly-titled book do seem to be invisible!  In a Carr novel this would be a source of great wonderment, but Street of course keeps things more sedate.  Still, there is tremendous enjoyment seeing two mysterious murders, one in a locked suburban cloakroom and the other in a townhouse wine cellar, logically solved by the brilliant Dr. Priestley.  Here Street appears to borrow elements from tales by Carr, Allingham and Christie, but he comes up with a very entertaining whole.  Though this novel appeared late in the Golden Age, Priestley is sufficiently ambulatory to investigate one crime scene with his secretary Harold late in the novel, which is always nice to see.  Dr. Oldland too is a somewhat more active participant in the tale.  No characters of great depth, but they are sufficiently delineated and the pace is good, particularly after the second murder.  Along with The Cat Jumps, a Miles Burton title, probably Street's best genuine locked room murder tale.

Curt.