David Magarshack (1899–1977)

Very satisfying. The characters were clear and quirky enough to be interesting. The setting was well-described - I'd never heard of the Vale of Health before and had fun doing a bit of reading about it. The pursuit of a solution by Superintendent Mooney was well-plotted and I felt like his method was realistic as well as idealistic.

Latvian-born David Magarshack is best known for his translations of Russian literature, particularly Fyodor Dostoevsky. But he also produced several mystery novels during the Golden Age, his first being Big Ben Strikes Eleven in 1934.

Chief Detective-Inspector Beckett and Superintendent Mooney have parallel ideas of who shot fascist (literally) industrialist Sir Robert Boniface in his blue limousine. Which of the two policemen has fingered the correct murderer? Is it the disgruntled, show more bohemian brute of a painter? Is it Boniface’s tightly wound Socialist nephew? What about the husband of Sir Robert’s mistress? Or the mistress herself? Or someone else?

Magarstack has been sadly forgotten, but I enjoyed this serviceable whodunit, and I’m so grateful that British Library Crime Classics and Poisoned Press for reissuing this little gem. show less

Unpleasant wealthy businessman Sir Robert Boniface is found dead in his limousine, shot. Presumed murdered. Very quickly three suspects emerge. Superintendent Mooney and Inspector Beckett, with contrasting styles of investigation are assigned the case.
An entertaining police procedural with a varied cast of characters though not all likeable.

law-enforcement, procedural, entitled-attitude, wealthy, investigation, murder, detective-duo, due-diligence, unpleasant-victims, London****

Besides being a better-than-average police procedural of its day, the storyline also gives some insight into the politics and social mindsets of the police and others in 1930s London. The victim's business practices and wealth, not to mention his personality saw to it that he had no shortage of people who wanted him dead (including his own family). But show more who shot him dead in his car in the hot summer? And what happened to the gun?
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected digital galley from Poisoned Pen Press, via NetGalley. Thank you!
Avail Jan 14, 2025 #BigBenStrikesEleven by David Magarshack #BritishLibraryCrimeClassics @PoisonedPenPress #BritishLibraryPublishing #Sourcebooks show less