The Mystery of the Golden Wings was written in 1936 by Rosa and Dudley Lambert, of which I can find very little background online. It seems Rosa came up with the plots and Dudley fleshed them out. They wrote four mysteries starring the enigmatic and ingenious Welshman Glyn Morgan, whose veracity the police admire. All other titles I have found online were en Francais.
On the eve of a London fancy dress party at the Golden Wings club, as the midnight cabaret distracted the dancing guests, Jane Dixon takes a poisoned drink in the upstairs lounge. A case of suicide most thought. Present that night was Humphrey Halliday, friend of the amateur investigator Glyn Morgan, and when Halliday recounts the evening, Morgan begins to doubt. The inquest producing the verdict of suicide already closed, the two of them begin a private investigation into her background and her small circle of friends, for Morgan is sure it was murder.
This was very slow going, though it had it's charm. Halliday and Morgan take over 300 pages to visit about five suspects and the scene of the crime. Occasionally young Pat Ingram, a novice reporter friend shows up for tea. Could it have been the vain actress, the handsome flyer, or the crooked lawyer? They waste a lot of time interviewing each without much success, and the rest of the time is spent driving through London streets, as they cross Blackfrier's Bridge, drive down Embankment and cruise Pall Mall (etc.). Between drives, we wait while they eat yet another meal - no more than the daily usual, but the Lambert's forget I am awaiting a mystery and what's on the menu is less exciting. Meals and maps taking equal weight with murder and deceit.
I found Glyn himself is a modest investigator, plodding along casually with flashes of brilliance but not outstanding in the world of detectives. Halliday finds him exotic, with his elevator-equipped Thames-side apartment, and availability for a drop-in at all hours of the night. Indeed, if my gaydar is correct, they spend an increasing amount of time with affecionate hands on shoulders - there is even a few pages where Halliday apologizes for a late night drop-in and Morgan replies he is very happy he did, and they spend the evening reading and playing piano. Later, Morgan facilitates a bed ready for him in the flat and one or the other has dinner at the ready. "I wonder," Pat inquires, "why he has never married."
For 1936, this was a charming mystery - very light on the murder. I could have been wrapped up in half the time but enjoyable enough. It had the feeling of being involved, but really quite a simple story. Plenty of time to mull over motives, replay events, and mull over motives.
1936 / Hardcover / 313 pages
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