Cut Throat

Ludovic Travers #7

by Christopher Bush

Travers looked down at the face. On the collar was a red patch and a long streak. Across the throat was a gash.

Two rival London newspaper tycoons are at daggers drawn. But when Sir William Griffith’s corpse turns up in a hamper, his throat cut from ear to ear, the enmity appears to turned deadly. Or is it instead a case of domestic terrorism? Superintendent Wharton of the Yard brings Ludovic Travers into the case and together they investigate a gallery of additional suspects: explorer Tim Griffiths; Sir William’s financial secretary, Bland, and his wife; local vicar Reverend Cross; an archetypally sinister butler … and an intrusive crime reporter, who always seems to find himself in the thick of a crime scene. Wharton and Travers come to believe they have identified their murderer – but how can they break a cast-iron alibi?

Cut Throat was originally published in 1932. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

Genres: Mystery

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

Christopher Bush was educated in the local school. He then won a scholarship to Thetford Grammar, and went on to study modern languages at King's College London, after which he worked as a school teacher.

He participated in both world wars.

He was a prolific writer of detective novels, wrote three autobiographical novels and nine books about Breckland life using the nom-de-plume Michael Home.

He lived in Great Hockham.

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superintendent George Wharton and Ludovic Travers investigate the death of Sir William Griffiths, found in a wicker hamper with his throat cut. In a sentence, that is what the novel is about.

It is a wonderful classic 1932 mystery which explores seemingly cast-iron alibis.

By the end of the first section, about halfway through, and despite some red herrings, the reader should have a clear idea of the identity of the murderer. How the murder was done involves a little applied mathematics and a lot of ingenuity. The reveal involves an interesting reconstruction.

In the course of the investigation we meet Sir William’s explorer nephew, his uxorious secretary, Bland, and Bland’s seductive wife, a sinister butler, a newspaper magnate , a mysterious reporter and an unusual vicar.

The setting is Britain during the Great Depression. Curtis Evans' Introduction gives good background to this, particularly concerning the political ambitions of some British press-barons.

The story is so well-constructed. The writing is excellent and the plotting solid. There are flashes of humour and great sadness.

Again, may I express gratitude to Dean Street Press and Curtis Evans for bringing this author and series to my attention.

A fine, five star read.

[Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this were a short story, or was written by literally any other author, I would be glazing it so hard. But unfortunately, it had to be Christopher Bush. A genuinely amazing alibi trick, brought down by horrendous, boring writing.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: a London newspaper tycoon, Sir William Griffith, turns up in a hamper with his throat slashed. The Yard consults with Travers.

[ShanDizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps the reason why those two worked together so well was the old one of dissimilarity. Norris was a ramrod of a man; policeman every inch of him. As Wharton once told him, if he’d had a moustache he’d have waxed the ends. But he was thoroughmeticulously so. The facts that he presented were definitely facts. And he had somewhere a sense of humour, which association with Wharton had made somewhat mute, but none the less present.

Wharton, of course, was a detective in the grand manner. He loved the dramatic and the scope for acting, the manipulation of the net and the narrowing of the meshes. His memory was colossal and his tenacity inexhaustible, and best of all, when he left the beaten track to chase an intuition he rarely went far wrong. But they made a good couple—Norris all on the surface, earnest, painstaking, superbly competent; Wharton never so happy as when tunnelling; deceptively genial, missing nothing, and a living example of the aphorism that the main purpose of speech is for the concealment of thoughts.
Excerpt from: "Cut Throat: A Ludovic Travers Mystery" by Christopher Bush. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright. Read this book on Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/book/529980266

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3

Found this to be an okay read. Enjoyable enough to pass the time just nothing groundbreaking or that memorable tbh.
Have a couple more of the series so will read them but based on the few I have read will not be rushing out to obtain the complete series.
Next book could change my mind though.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading these in chronological order which really does help in understanding the character of Ludo Travers. They should really be called the Travers and Franklin series as they both feature pretty much equally along with Superintendent Wharton who is also a really good character. As usual a really complicated plot with lots of hashing and re-hashing of ideas. I'm sure some will find this tiresome but I don't mind it. As always, the reader has to suspend disbelief, that Scotland Yard would allow non-police people to be involved which of course, they wouldn't. I'm liking these more as I get further into the series. I hope this continues as there are 65 of 'em!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...