Gerald Verner (1897–1980)
Author of Towards Zero: A Play
About the Author
Series
Works by Gerald Verner
The Crooked Circle 4 copies
The Coupon Crimes 1 copy
Het Uur De Vergelding 1 copy
Fantomskogen 1 copy
The Death Play 1 copy
Green mask 1 copy
Mannen med rännsnaran 1 copy
Galgehuset 1 copy
Budd tar semester 1 copy
Themsenligan : Detektivroman 1 copy
The Menace of Li-Sin 1 copy
The Vengeance of Li-Sin 1 copy
Associated Works
Who Killed Father Christmas? and Other Seasonal Mysteries (2023) — Contributor — 76 copies, 2 reviews
My Most Exciting Story: A Collection of Stories Chosen by Their Own Authors (1936) — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Pringle, John Robert Stuart
- Other names
- Stuart, Donald
Steele, Derwent
Vane, Nigel
Verner, Gerald
Leslie, Thane - Birthdate
- 1897-01-31
- Date of death
- 1980-09-16
- Gender
- male
- Short biography
- Verner was born John Robert Stuart Pringle in Streatham, London on 31 January 1897 and died at Broadstairs, Kent, England on 16 September 1980.
In his early days he used to write entirely under the name of Donald Stuart, including 44 stories for the Sexton Blake Library. He also wrote 6 stories for Union Jack and 3 for the The Thriller under this pseudonym as well as two stage plays and two films. His other pseudonyms include Derwent Steele and Nigel Vane. In the 1930s he wrote for the magazines The Thriller and Detective Weekly. With changed names of titles and the protagonists many of these stories were recycled as novels for the publisher Wright & Brown. Some of his novels have been reprinted as recently as 2012 (The 'Q' Squad).[2] Verner's style was heavily influenced by that of Edgar Wallace.
He also wrote stage plays included adaptations of Peter Cheyney’s "The Urgent Hangman" into "Meet Mr. Callaghan" (1952) and the Agatha Christie thriller "Towards Zero" (1956). - Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Streatham, London, England, UK
- Place of death
- Broadstairs, Kent
- Associated Place (for map)
- Streatham, London
Members
Reviews
1936 in Bishop's Thatcham, is the home of novelist Peter Chard. A place of gossip, envy and hatred, but can this result in death, or murder. When the murder occurs there are an abundance of suspects, but what motive.
An entertaining well-written historical mystery, a good start to the series, though I did think the answer was obvious.
An entertaining well-written historical mystery, a good start to the series, though I did think the answer was obvious.
There is a minor element of locked room mystery in this story but it's sorted by the detective quite quickly, almost as if the author was trying to play with the expectation of locked room and subverting it. This was apparently a story found in Gerald Verner's papers and finished by his son.
Featuring the eccentric Simon Gale and told from the perspective of a junior solicitor who Simon inveigles into helping him (with some excellent moments of terror on a motorcycle, without a helmet!). It show more does still feel somewhat unfinished but the twists and turns were interesting with each character having reasons to kill the various people who turn up dead. I enjoyed it and look forward to more by this author. show less
Featuring the eccentric Simon Gale and told from the perspective of a junior solicitor who Simon inveigles into helping him (with some excellent moments of terror on a motorcycle, without a helmet!). It show more does still feel somewhat unfinished but the twists and turns were interesting with each character having reasons to kill the various people who turn up dead. I enjoyed it and look forward to more by this author. show less
A classic British murder mystery with all the right ingredients, a bucolic village with cottages and rose gardens, a big manor house, eccentric inhabitants, murder ( of course) of a mysterious woman and in this case a very sunny feeling. Perfect, were it not for the outdated attitude and opinions expressed by the author.They concern women and their place in society, women and divorce, imprisonment, death penalty....Admittedly, it was written several decades ago, still....
Pity, because show more otherwise it would have been a perfect reading for one of those sunny afternoons in spring. show less
Pity, because show more otherwise it would have been a perfect reading for one of those sunny afternoons in spring. show less
A classic British murder mystery with all the right ingredients, a bucolic village with cottages and rose gardens, a big manor house, eccentric inhabitants, murder ( of course) of a mysterious woman and in this case, a very sunny,summery feeling. Perfect, were it not for the outdated attitude and opinions expressed by the author.They concern women and their place in society, women and divorce, imprisonment, death penalty....Admittedly, it was written several decades ago ,still...
Pity, show more because otherwise it would have been a perfect reading for one of those sunny afternoons in spring. show less
Pity, show more because otherwise it would have been a perfect reading for one of those sunny afternoons in spring. show less
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 110
- Also by
- 6
- Members
- 379
- Popularity
- #63,708
- Rating
- 3.5
- Reviews
- 29
- ISBNs
- 112