Case of the Cryptogram Murders

Raymond Masters #9

by Garrison Flint, Tom Gnagey (Editor)

Adam Williams, wealthy furrier and despicable human being, is killed while loveable, old, Detective Masters and the half dozen possible suspects from family and staff are with him in his study – each the perfect alibi for the others. A barrage of cryptograms and other messages written in codes hold the clues. Might it be the wife – a depressed wallflower; the son – a womanizing, self-centered, rebellious artist; the butler – a witty Englishman who may have blackmailed the victim to procure his position years before; the maid, uneducated but bright, blunt and a cryptogram fanatic; the reclusive handyman, who has been involved with the wife for years; or the victim’s long-time secretary and sometimes mistress who is well remembered in the will? Motives and gadgets abound. Along the way, four other unsolved murders from the past are resolved as Masters enlists the help of this fascinating group of characters – all of them suspects. One of 17 novels in the Raymond Masters Detective Series – reviewed as cozy murder mysteries, sleuth novels, private detective fiction and detective mysteries.

198 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2005

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chandelier

Raymond Masters is asked to the home of Adam Williams for a meeting. Along with Masters, the members of the family and company employees are asked to be present. No one seems to like Mr Williams, not even his wife, he's been receiving death threats and he wants to reveal to everyone who he thinks is going to kill him. But before he gets the chance, in front of everybody, the chandelier above his head comes crashing down, killing him instantly. Good plot, lots of twists and turns and some likeable characters.

[Doug Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retired New York detective Raymond Masters is summoned to Chicago by wealthy Adam Williams, who has been receiving death threats. Upon Masters' arrival, Williams is killed by a falling chandelier.
The detective soon learns that everyone in the Williams household had some motive for the murder. Still, he wraps up the case within three days.

I enjoyed the cryptogram angle and the author's characteristic humor.