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The Lyttleton Case
The latest in the series of classic crime novels from the vaults of HarperCollins for the detective connoisseur is the only novel by the Welsh writer R.A.V. Morris.
The chance discovery of a young man’s body floating in a Sussex stream provides the first clue to the mysterious disappearance of Sir James Lyttleton, who sent his daughter a curt wire announcing his departure for America before completely vanishing. But this is no ordinary missing persons inquiry – when Sir James’s body turns up inside another man’s coffin, journalist James Dawson and Chief Inspector Candlish of Scotland Yard find themselves on the trail of a particularly ruthless and ingenious murderer.
This Detective Story Club classic is introduced by author and editor Douglas A. Anderson, whose authoritative books on Kenneth Morris led to the discovery of R.A.V. Morris’s true identity.
The chance discovery of a young man’s body floating in a Sussex stream provides the first clue to the mysterious disappearance of Sir James Lyttleton, who sent his daughter a curt wire announcing his departure for America before completely vanishing. But this is no ordinary missing persons inquiry – when Sir James’s body turns up inside another man’s coffin, journalist James Dawson and Chief Inspector Candlish of Scotland Yard find themselves on the trail of a particularly ruthless and ingenious murderer.
This Detective Story Club classic is introduced by author and editor Douglas A. Anderson, whose authoritative books on Kenneth Morris led to the discovery of R.A.V. Morris’s true identity.
197 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1922
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About the author
R.A.V. Morris
1 book1 followerRonald Arthur Vennor Morris wrote his only book in his forties, inspired by his younger brother, the seminal Welsh fantasy author "Kenneth Vennor Morris" .
Despite its success as one of Collins’ earliest detective novels in multiple editions, this was to be R.A.V. Morris’s only book, although he wrote numerous articles and poems as an active member of the Theosophical Society and the Order of the Golden Dawn.
Despite its success as one of Collins’ earliest detective novels in multiple editions, this was to be R.A.V. Morris’s only book, although he wrote numerous articles and poems as an active member of the Theosophical Society and the Order of the Golden Dawn.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 8, 2019
This is one of those awesome mysteries where when you think you know what's what, you may want to think again. The author doesn't make it easy for you at all.
http://www.crimesegments.com/2019/07/...
The Lyttelton Case is from 1922, and as the novel opens, we find ourselves right away thrown into the midst of two mysteries: one of a young man discovered dead in a countryside stream, and the other the disappearance of Mr. James Lyttleton, a wealthy financier whose daughter becomes alarmed when she fails to hear from him after one last telegram. In the midst of both is Detective Chief Inspector Candlish, who, as the investigation into Lyttelton's vanishing progresses, suddenly discovers that there are way too many coincidences here for his liking.
It's a fun, entertaining mystery that will keep you guessing; while I genuinely enjoyed The Lyttleton Case, the mechanics of the solution seem to take forever in the telling at the end. On the other hand, it really is, as Douglas A. Anderson notes in the introduction, quoting Barzun and Taylor, a "well-written, slow, carefully plotted puzzle." Recommended mainly for fans of vintage crime; cozy readers would enjoy it as well with the caveat that this book was written in 1922 so it's not nearly as fast paced as most modern cozies. It really is a shame that Morris never wrote another crime novel -- given how enjoyable is his one and only, a second one would have been more than likely top notch indeed.
http://www.crimesegments.com/2019/07/...
The Lyttelton Case is from 1922, and as the novel opens, we find ourselves right away thrown into the midst of two mysteries: one of a young man discovered dead in a countryside stream, and the other the disappearance of Mr. James Lyttleton, a wealthy financier whose daughter becomes alarmed when she fails to hear from him after one last telegram. In the midst of both is Detective Chief Inspector Candlish, who, as the investigation into Lyttelton's vanishing progresses, suddenly discovers that there are way too many coincidences here for his liking.
It's a fun, entertaining mystery that will keep you guessing; while I genuinely enjoyed The Lyttleton Case, the mechanics of the solution seem to take forever in the telling at the end. On the other hand, it really is, as Douglas A. Anderson notes in the introduction, quoting Barzun and Taylor, a "well-written, slow, carefully plotted puzzle." Recommended mainly for fans of vintage crime; cozy readers would enjoy it as well with the caveat that this book was written in 1922 so it's not nearly as fast paced as most modern cozies. It really is a shame that Morris never wrote another crime novel -- given how enjoyable is his one and only, a second one would have been more than likely top notch indeed.
June 6, 2025
Clever and funny mystery from the last roaring 20s. It's got zip.
January 20, 2021
Two and a half stars.
It's a pity that despite a quite ingenious plot, for me this book was diminished by the fact that the author played too fair with the reader. The clues were so obvious that it was very easy to spot who did what and why. The ending was rather sudden and unsatisfactory and the prose was also extremely dated and very "prim and proper", especially the dialogue.
This was the author's only crime story so there aren't any others.
It's a pity that despite a quite ingenious plot, for me this book was diminished by the fact that the author played too fair with the reader. The clues were so obvious that it was very easy to spot who did what and why. The ending was rather sudden and unsatisfactory and the prose was also extremely dated and very "prim and proper", especially the dialogue.
This was the author's only crime story so there aren't any others.
June 29, 2020
First published in 1922, this novel of murder and detection went through several editions, then, despite appearing as part of the Detective Club series, passed into obscurity.It is a great pity that there were, it seems, no more tales from the pen of the elder brother of the more famous Kenneth Morris.
This is ably-written, with interesting characters and some jaunty asides about contemporary manners and mores. For avid readers of GAD fiction the plot is not overly baffling-I spotted a hint about 40% through which led me to much of the solution- but there was much more to be enjoyed than just the puzzle. As with many detective novels of this time, there is romance and foreign travel, but neither distracts too much from the essence of the plot.
Chief Inspector James Candlish of Scotland Yard, the journalist Basil Dawson, and the novelist, Burton James, all would have stood the test of featuring in a series. Doris Lyttleton, although falling for a rather obvious trick, also comes over strongly.
There are a couple of references which may need explanation. "Willett time" (chapter 7) is BST and, more obscurely, "P.S.A."(Chapter 12) is the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon movement, a non-conformist/Congregationalist organisation for men which was broadly educational.
Recommended, an entertaining and engaging read.
3.5 stars.
This is ably-written, with interesting characters and some jaunty asides about contemporary manners and mores. For avid readers of GAD fiction the plot is not overly baffling-I spotted a hint about 40% through which led me to much of the solution- but there was much more to be enjoyed than just the puzzle. As with many detective novels of this time, there is romance and foreign travel, but neither distracts too much from the essence of the plot.
Chief Inspector James Candlish of Scotland Yard, the journalist Basil Dawson, and the novelist, Burton James, all would have stood the test of featuring in a series. Doris Lyttleton, although falling for a rather obvious trick, also comes over strongly.
There are a couple of references which may need explanation. "Willett time" (chapter 7) is BST and, more obscurely, "P.S.A."(Chapter 12) is the Pleasant Sunday Afternoon movement, a non-conformist/Congregationalist organisation for men which was broadly educational.
Recommended, an entertaining and engaging read.
3.5 stars.
June 13, 2017
For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
December 9, 2020
Disappointing.
Clunky dialogue and characterisation. A bit tedious and unlikely. I’m not surprised this was the author’s only published crime novel.
Clunky dialogue and characterisation. A bit tedious and unlikely. I’m not surprised this was the author’s only published crime novel.
March 27, 2021
Sir James Lyttleton, is the senior partner in Lyttleton Menzies and Lyttleton, sends a telegram to his daughter Doris that is has been forced to go to Liverpool on business, followed quickly about a trip to New York. After that he is heard of no more. Doris fiancee journalist James Dawson travels to New York to discover that the person purporting to be Sir James is an imposter. Chief Inspector Candish is brought into investigate the mystery only to beaten up while Sir James body is discovered murdered, followed quickly by the kidnapping of Doris. R.A.V. Morris may have only written one crime fiction but he did a grand job of creating a clever story with large number suspects and enough action to leave the reader truly baffled until all is revealed.
October 9, 2021
Sigo buscando esses clássicos do crime republicados pela British Library com prazer. Às vezes o pote de ouro está no final do arco-íris, às vezes a história é interessante pero no mucho. Me entreteve mas achei muito descritivo (fiquei me lembrando dos românticos da época da faculdade de Letras - uma mesa não é apenas uma mesa, mas é feita de madeira de lei, derivada da árvore da mata atlântica no Rio de Janeiro, com pés esculpidos blablabla etc e tal). E um tanto rocambolesco (outra palavrinha perdida no tempo, deve ser influência do estilo). Personagens um tom acima do dramático. Aliás, um romântico com um pé no gótico, com aqueles castelos misteriosos (v. Abadia de Northanger, de Jane Austen), mas sem os castelos.
July 14, 2019
A neatly plotted detective story, an interesting read for the background alone. Set in the 1920s, the Detective Inspector has a cane, straw hat and gloves as a matter of course.
And I learned about Willett time:
He lived in the south-east London suburb of Chislehurst. He was a builder. He was of average wealth. His name was William Willett and without him Britain – and a quarter of the world, including the US – might never have adopted daylight saving time (DST).
And I learned about Willett time:
He lived in the south-east London suburb of Chislehurst. He was a builder. He was of average wealth. His name was William Willett and without him Britain – and a quarter of the world, including the US – might never have adopted daylight saving time (DST).
December 15, 2019
3.5 stars...
Quite an entertaining detective story with amusing asides . To me it seemed like a joint effort by Crofts and Bellairs ... The plot is clever and is very intriguing till past midway and the prose is intricate but amusing. The author also sketches some characters in a very amusing manner .For such an old book it is very lucidly written and quite a page turner although sagging a little in the middle.
All in all its definitely one of the better examples of mysteries written in 20's .
Quite an entertaining detective story with amusing asides . To me it seemed like a joint effort by Crofts and Bellairs ... The plot is clever and is very intriguing till past midway and the prose is intricate but amusing. The author also sketches some characters in a very amusing manner .For such an old book it is very lucidly written and quite a page turner although sagging a little in the middle.
All in all its definitely one of the better examples of mysteries written in 20's .
April 9, 2022
Wealthy London financier Sir James Lyttleton disappeared under mysterious circumstances and becomes a baffling case for Chief Inspector Candlish of the Criminal Investigation Division of Scotland Yard. It appears someone has been impersonating Lyttleton and sending telegrams to make it appear he's traveling. His daughter becomes suspicious and she and her fiance began to investigate and then ask Candlish for help.
September 23, 2022
All right if you like this sort of thing but crime fiction is not really my barrow. A convoluted plot, carefully woven and explained at length once the mystery is solved. I had an inkling Whodunnit at at early stage given that it wa sthe least likely suspect!
February 3, 2022
Despite too long a recap at end, very fun golden age reading.
March 18, 2022
It was interesting up until the last three chapters, where everything is explained. Yawn...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews