King, Rufus - Murder by the Clock (1929)

Murder by the Clock (1928-1929) is best in its well written first half (Chapters 1 - 13). The first chapter, in which wealthy and beautiful Mrs. Endicott summons Valcour to her home, mix flirtation and mystery with the sort of double meanings at which King excelled. This is one of many passages in King, written from a woman's point of view, in which she thinks about romance. Some later passages are almost science fictional. They are not believable, but they aren't dull, either. King's apprenticeship as an sf writer shows here.

After its vividly written opening, this book declines in interest. This is one of several Valcour novels which largely deal with the denizens of a single house, most of whom are decidedly odd. Valcour spends a lot of time interviewing them, and trying to understand their abnormal psychology. I confess I do not enjoy such characters, and find this sort of King novel generally dull.

Mike Grost