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The Fourth Man: A Noel Pinson Mystery
First serialised in newspapers in 1928.Never published in book form beforeA classic mystery by R.A.J. WALLING‘R.A.J. Walling is an extremely skilful maker of plots and surprises’ DOROTHY L. SAYERS, THE SUNDAY TIMES
Wealthy solicitor John Selwyn is found shot on the grounds of his home Waller House and the most likely suspect is Selwyn’s young protégé Bernard Olver who had fallen in love with Selwyn’s ward Evelyn Akaster–much to Selwyn’s disapproval. They had argued over this a short time before Olver hurriedly left the house. A short while later the body is found and police launch a manhunt for Olver, who is nowhere to be found. Barrister and renowned amateur detective Noel Pinson, had been a friend of Selwyn’s and is determined to find the killer and see justice served. He soon realises there is more than meets the eye to Selwyn’s murder and Olver’s disappearance.
'THE FOURTH MAN' was first serialised in newspapers around the world in 1928 and was reprinted several times over the next two decades, but has never published in book form. This is the third 'NOEL PINSON' mystery.
R.A.J. WALLING (Robert Alfred John) (1869-1949) was was incredibly prolific author who wrote over thirty crime novels as well as numerous biographies, Travel, history and other non-fiction works.
Wealthy solicitor John Selwyn is found shot on the grounds of his home Waller House and the most likely suspect is Selwyn’s young protégé Bernard Olver who had fallen in love with Selwyn’s ward Evelyn Akaster–much to Selwyn’s disapproval. They had argued over this a short time before Olver hurriedly left the house. A short while later the body is found and police launch a manhunt for Olver, who is nowhere to be found. Barrister and renowned amateur detective Noel Pinson, had been a friend of Selwyn’s and is determined to find the killer and see justice served. He soon realises there is more than meets the eye to Selwyn’s murder and Olver’s disappearance.
'THE FOURTH MAN' was first serialised in newspapers around the world in 1928 and was reprinted several times over the next two decades, but has never published in book form. This is the third 'NOEL PINSON' mystery.
R.A.J. WALLING (Robert Alfred John) (1869-1949) was was incredibly prolific author who wrote over thirty crime novels as well as numerous biographies, Travel, history and other non-fiction works.
152 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2023
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About the author
R.A.J. Walling
74 books6 followersRobert Alfred John Walling (11 January 1869, Exeter – 4 September 1949 Plympton) was an English journalist and author of detective novels, who signed his works "R. A. J. Walling".
See also Robert Alfred John Walling.
See also Robert Alfred John Walling.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 22, 2023
RAJ Walling certainly has a gift for vivid storytelling and this tale of the murder of a London lawyer moves along with pace, in a manner which clearly shows its origins as a newspaper serial.
The narrator, a friend of one of the suspects, teams up with barrister, Noel Pinson to track down the culprit and the regular police play a minor role until very late on.As Pinson rightly opines, the solution lies mainly in the South American connections of the lawyer and his friends and in longstanding resentments and jealousies. There is a small amount of detection involved and the author does a reasonable job in casting around suspicion ,but the title really gives the game away. However there are surprises in the lengthy denouement which includes a lot of new information.
A light and mildly enjoyable read.
3.25 stars.
The narrator, a friend of one of the suspects, teams up with barrister, Noel Pinson to track down the culprit and the regular police play a minor role until very late on.As Pinson rightly opines, the solution lies mainly in the South American connections of the lawyer and his friends and in longstanding resentments and jealousies. There is a small amount of detection involved and the author does a reasonable job in casting around suspicion ,but the title really gives the game away. However there are surprises in the lengthy denouement which includes a lot of new information.
A light and mildly enjoyable read.
3.25 stars.
January 6, 2024
A welcome appearance on Kindle
The plot is pacy and, possibly, a bit obvious. The smoke and mirrors are perhaps less satisfying than they might have been. But that’s looking at it from nearly a hundred years in the future. It’s very much of it’s time, but is a great read, and therefore gets five stars for a very underrated writer.
It’s worth saying the book appears to have been a photo of an original, put through an OCR, with the result that you have to work quite hard to work out what some of the words ought to have been.
A shame there are only a handful of Pinson mysteries; they’re fun.
The plot is pacy and, possibly, a bit obvious. The smoke and mirrors are perhaps less satisfying than they might have been. But that’s looking at it from nearly a hundred years in the future. It’s very much of it’s time, but is a great read, and therefore gets five stars for a very underrated writer.
It’s worth saying the book appears to have been a photo of an original, put through an OCR, with the result that you have to work quite hard to work out what some of the words ought to have been.
A shame there are only a handful of Pinson mysteries; they’re fun.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews