Hilda Lawrence (1906-1976) was an American author of mysteries. She was born Hildegarde Kronmiller in Baltimore educated in Rochester, New York, where she married and later divorced playwright Reginald Lawrence. She worked as a reader to the blind and in the clippings department of Macmillan publishers. Her first book was Blood Upon the Snow (1944), a commercial success, which introduced her detective Mark East. She wrote only three more novels: A Time to Die (1945), Death of a Doll (1947) and The Pavilion (1948). A collection of novelettes, Duet of Death came out in 1949.

I like the majority of the authors discussed and have been introduced to new writers by the recommendations of group members. In truth, I really wanted to like the Lawrence novel -- I like the idea of the remote location and the house full of oddballs -- but I just struggled with the finished product hence my comments. My overall impression was that this was like a piece of "fan fiction" , that the author wanted to create atmosphere like Dickson Carr, wanted a wisecracking hero like Archie Goodwin, wanted to reinvent Miss Marple, tried them all and failed in every category because her writing simply wasn't up to it. I'm sure that there many writers under Rue Morgue's consideration that I would love but Hilda Lawrence will never be one of them and I stick by my right to hold that opinion.

Alan P.

Bibliography

Blood Upon the Snow (1944)

A Time to Die (1945)

Death of a Doll (1947)

The Pavilion aka The Deadly Pavilion (1948)

Duet of Death {novelets}(1949) aka Duet in Death aka Duet of Death: containing

• Death Has Four Hands aka Composition for Four Hands
• The Bleeding House aka The House