B
Gethryn’s first case, told to his wife Lucia and his friend Toller, a detective writer who acts as a Greek chorus, commenting on the action—a good example of MacDonald’s liking for unusual ways of telling a story. The situation—wealthy man shot in the grounds of his house—is rather stock, but the problem is very good. The murderers are known half-way through, making this a Bush / Sayers Howdunnit. We know Höst is guilty; we know that Joan and her relatives are guilty—but Höst can’t be a knowing or unknowing accomplice. ***The ingenious solution hinges on the creation of a scapegoat, a false identity used by two different people (a bit like Kennedy’s The Murderer of Sleep).***
Splendid example of black humour: plot involves dead cats, and the victim’s name is Manx: a cat without a tail—as humans are.
· Gethryn’s methods: Instinct + Experience + Reason
Nick Fuller.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.