John Rhode has been called "England's reigning master of the humdrum mystery", which isn't meant as a compliment. I had never heard of the 'Humdrum School' of detectives, whose authors were accused of constructing "mere puzzles that are tedious and dull"! John Rhode is one of two pseudonyms used by Cecil John Charles Street, whose detective is the scientist Dr. Priestley, who featured in over 70 novels from 1925 to 1961. Another of his successful pseudonyms was Miles Burton.
Death On The Boat Train was deceptively simple, and although it promised 'there will be the very deuce of a rumpus' it did earn it's designation as humdrum; still, I found the slow pace and repetition of facts engaging.
The wealthy businessman Sir Hesper Bassenthwaite suddenly, secretly, leaves his yacht in Guernsey, travelling incognito by steamer to Southhampton and further to London on the boat train - a line dedicated to boat passengers. Disguised in old clothes, no one knows he has left, why, or where he was going - and yet, sitting in his private and locked train compartment, he has been stabbed in the back with a syringe full of deadly ricin. On the case is Jimmy Waghorn of the CID at Scotland Yard. There are a few family suspects with iron alibis and no evidence. Working with the local police, Scotland Yard and eventually Dr. Priestley, each lead is investigated (indeed telegraphed to the reader in advance, then itemized, before yet another review). Was it indeed murder? Hmmm.
There is relatively little action - more deduction, speculation, and results that could not, yet somehow must be. While the cover states this is a Dr. Priestley Detective Story, he plays a very small role - the star being Jimmy Waghorn, a competent detective whose conversations with Dr. Priestley late in the mystery help illuminate, though Priestly does tend to nod off in his chair. For my money Jimmy fares much better with his new bride Diana's intuition.
I love a mystery on a train - add in a locked room and I was perplexed until the last 20 pages, the rounds of reviewing the facts hypnotizing me into confusion. Enough entertainment to forgive the rather mundane finale (in which the culprit is moved to confess every detail and motivation of the case to the reader once again).
Another case of a fine mystery found within an old hardcover, yellowed with age and broken of spine. You can never tell what lurks within the covers of these old gems! Recommended for those who like locked room mysteries especially, or those who like to ponder a murder with a deficit of suspects, no leads, and no opportunity!
1940 / Hardcover / 282 pages
Comments