From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

These Names Make Clues

E.C.R. Lorac,

Martin Edwards (Introduction)

Start date: March 1, 2023

Finish date: March 31, 2023

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of the poll for our March group read.
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What Members Thought

Feb 19, 2023 Susan in NC rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobook, kindle, my-library, tbr-with-gr-groups

3.5 stars - Lorac is one of my favorite Golden Age mystery writers, discovered through the Reading the Detectives group, and I’ve read and enjoyed several of her reissued books, but this wasn’t a favorite. Number 12 in the Inspector Macdonald (of Scotland Yard) series, originally published in 1937, but each case stands alone, and the books don’t have to be read in order (thank goodness, as she was quite productive, and the books are being reissued randomly).

In this outing, Macdonald is invited t 3.5 stars - Lorac is one of my favorite Golden Age mystery writers, discovered through the Reading the Detectives group, and I’ve read and enjoyed several of her reissued books, but this wasn’t a favorite. Number 12 in the Inspector Macdonald (of Scotland Yard) series, originally published in 1937, but each case stands alone, and the books don’t have to be read in order (thank goodness, as she was quite productive, and the books are being reissued randomly).

In this outing, Macdonald is invited to a treasure hunt party at the home of a successful publisher; he has also invited several of his thriller writers and novelists. He hesitates to accept, but a journalist acquaintance (Vernon - more on him in a minute) talks him into attending. Upon arrival, all guests are given the name of a famous writer from history and a number of ciphers and puzzles to solve; these provide clues to the next part of the puzzle. At the end of the evening, the guests can ask each other questions to try and arrive at each other’s real identities.

All is going well, and Macdonald is enjoying himself, when the lights go out, then “Samuel Pepys” is found dead in the telephone room. It appears to be from natural causes, a heart attack, but Macdonald isn’t so sure, so he follows procedures, identifies the guests, everyone’s movements, etc.

Once he starts digging into the obscure background of the dead man, these get foggier and more confusing. First, there were so many suspects, it was hard keeping them straight; plus, the mystery (and most of the suspects’ interactions with each other), began at a party full of ciphers, puzzles, false names, etc. Finally, for some reason, a large chunk of the last half of the mystery was taken over by the babbling journalist, Vernon, who went off tailing one of the suspects into the country - it was to a town at the heart of the mystery, and luckily Macdonald wasn’t terribly far behind, but I found Vernon and his dialogue with various suspects annoying.

I enjoyed the last bit of the book, once Macdonald was back in the action, but I wouldn’t recommend anyone wanting to try this wonderful, under appreciated GA author start with this book. Macdonald has become my favorite Scotland Yard detective, and I look forward to reading more of his adventures. ...more

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Sep 19, 2024 Teri-K rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-golden-age, classics-minor, zz-2024-my-book-club

This is the first disappointing book I've read by this author. To many characters with too many names, a pleasant but bland detective, and a convoluted plot add up to a mystery that doesn't work for me. The only truly interesting character was Susan, and she didn't figure into the story very much. The journalist who had a major part at the end was good, too, but again a small part of the story; plus he seemed to come out of nowhere.

If you like pure puzzle mysteries this may please you, but for m ...more

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Feb 23, 2023 Susan rated it liked it

Published in 1937, this is one of a long-running series feauturing Chief Inspector Robert MacDonald. In this outing, he is invited to a 'Treasure Hunt' run by Graham Coombe and his sister, Susan. The idea is that a group of writers, some thriller writers, others historians and economists, plus MacDonald, and a reader, are to be given literary pseudonyms and pit their wits against each other. Of course, during the evening, as MacDonald races on with his clues, eager to win, the lights go out and ...more

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Mar 23, 2023 Jan C rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, gr-group-read, between-the-wars, 2023

I found it enjoyable. And didn't catch on to it.

A publisher holds a treasure hunt party and invites people that he thinks do not know each other, mostly writers and one detective inspector. He had met the inspector shortly before the party in a restaurant by chance and heard him expound on literary mysteries and their authors. At least 4 of the authors are mystery/crime writers. I think the other four are some form of non-fiction - an economist, an historian, not sure about the others. Everyone ...more

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Aug 11, 2023 Annarella rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: edelweiss, mystery, golden-age-mystery

This is a Golden Age mystery steroid: a whodunit that not always plays fair but plays hard hiding clued in word playing.
It's also an entertaining description of the world of writers and publishing during the 30s.
It wasn't always easy to read as it was a mind game that requested to remember who-said-what.
There's plenty of twists and a couple of huge surprises.
Even if it's not my favorite Lorac's mystery it was riveting and I read it in one sitting.
4.5 upped to 5
Highly recommended if you are a fan ...more

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Mar 31, 2023 Jenn Estepp rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindling, sleuths-and-gumshoes, comfort-food

3 1/2. It could be a little confusing with the many characters and multiple names, but I ultimately quite enjoyed it.

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 29, 2022 Yorky Caz rated it really liked it

Shelves: blcc

The authors name E.C.R.Lorac hides that its a woman but I think I would of guessed just based on the writing. Strong independent woman well written gives it away. A little hard to keep track of all the characters at times hence the 4 stars but otherwise an excellent read

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Jan 21, 2024 Christine PNW rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-borrows-2024, 2024

I'm going to have to read more from Lorac. I've enjoyed everything of hers that I have read. ...more

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Sep 28, 2023 Sarah G rated it it was ok

Great start, good characters but overall, what a mess. Introducing people using pseudonyms and later real names, so everyone has two names - awful, leaving no discernible clues bar red herrings - annoying, barely any Inspector MacDonald therefore leaving the reader out of the detection process - renders story pointless. I’ve read later of her books with the same detective that I really enjoyed. This would have been better left on the ‘not to be reprinted’ shelf (Audiobook, which made the name cl ...more

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Mar 11, 2023 Laura Anne rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, british-isles

A treasure hunt house-party that turns deadly. A really fun set up, but not Lorac’s best. Lots of pseudonyms, distractions, and multiple characters playing detective; cutting a few characters would have tightened the story.

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