These Names Make Clues

 These Names Make Clues (1937) by E. C. R. Lorac (Edith Caroline Rivett)
"Some of these names would have made quite good clues. I wonder if Coombe thought of that." (Chief Inspector Macdonald; p. 82)

Chief Inspector Macdonald is all set to have a quiet evening with a fire, pipe, and a book when he opens his mail to find an invitation to a treasure hunt party--hosted by a celebrated publisher whose firm had published a detective novel that the Scotland Yard man had criticized (without knowing the identity of the man). Mr. Graham Coombe would like the real life detective to come and pit his wits against authors who devise fictional mysteries in a treasure hunt featuring literary, logical, and practical clues. He pretty much decides that he may look like a fool whether he goes or stays home--if he doesn't outwit the authors he'll have shown that his criticism was meaningless and if he doesn't go then Coombe can say he wasn't willing to put his money where his mouth was.

Then Peter Vernon, journalist and sometime-aide to the causes of justice (as pursued by Macdonald) shows up and talks him into going. Vernon was invited as well, but has to beg off due to a prior journalistic commitment. He wants Macdonald to go and then give him a scoop on who was invited and what the party was like and...who won. So Macdonald goes. Everyone is given a literary nom de plum and the festivities begin. Then comes a lights-out moment that was not part of the treasure hunt plan and when the lights come back on "Samuel Pepys" (aka thriller writer Andrew Gardien) is dead. First appearances indicate heart failure--the man was known to have a weak hear, but further investigation makes Macdonald sure that Gardien received the shock of his life (literally) which resulted in his death. As Macdonald investigates, he finds that all roads lead to Reading. Or at least many of the suspects have connections to that small town. But what can Reading have to do with the man who wrote detective thrillers? Once Macdonald figures this out, then he can pinpoint the murderer.

One thing that made this book difficult reading (and which has been mentioned by others in their reviews) is everybody having more than one name. Keeping everyone straight was a bit difficult at times depending on who was talking. The basic motive wasn't difficult to figure out once a certain discovery was made by Macdonald, but that motive could have applied to just about any of the suspects. There wasn't a hope of figuring out the particular version of the motive that applied to the actual killer. As usual, Lorac's writing was superb and I enjoyed Macdonald and most of the characters Lorac gives us throughout the story.

Nominee for best character: Peter Vernon, even though he's not involved in the treasure hunt and disappears from view for a chunk of the story. He's the one who gives Macdonald a good push towards accepting the invitation and he comes in at the end for his mad-dash pursuit of Denzil Strafford (aka Thomas Traherne at the party). And what fun it is to watch him in pursuit. He's witty when talking to other people and keeps up an amazing inner dialogue with himself as he tracks Strafford to Reading (where there will soon be a meeting of the suspect minds). Overall, an enjoyable entry in the Macdonald case files. ★★★ and 1/2

First line: Chief Inspector Macdonald, stretching his long limbs into an adequate chair by his own fireside, was prepared to enjoy the sort of evening which he preferred to any other. His own company, a book (he and just got Peter Fleming's News from Tartary), a pipe, and a wood fire--these promised a perfectly satisfactory evening.

People's minds and memories don't stay put. They take colour from their contacts. (p. 55)

Nobody came here with a length of flex and a plan for fusing the lights just in order to commit murder in general. Murder is always particularised, selective and limited. (Miss Susan Coombe; p. 87)

Psychology, as a scientific study, is one thing. Your Freudian rag-bag simply nauseates me. You are neither psychic nor logical. (Miss Coombe; p. 91)

Well, if eminent historians take to crime they oughtn't to try being funny. (Inspector Jenkins; p. 101)

She was old enough to disregard scoffs at "pusseries" and "henneries," experienced enough to know that a man in the house does not always spell complete bliss for the wife who darns his socks, and in the autumn of a strenuous life she regarded "peace, comfort, and cuisine guaranteed by women for women" as the desirable factors in life. (p. 152)

The young people of to-day call detective stories "escape literature"! All stories are a means of escape--from the trivial round and common task. (Mrs. Etherton; p. 156)

Last lines: "Those are the clues of the Treasure Hunt, which helped me not at all. This is the list of the Treasure Seekers--and these names made clues."

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Deaths = 3 (one electrocuted; two shot)