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The Lone House Mystery
The dead man was rich. In life he lived in a lonely house by a river. In the earth outside it is the imprint of a bare foot. His secretary, with whom he was having an affair, is locked in a room. The key is in the dead man's pocket. Superintendent Minter considers it a most queer and unsatisfactory case. However, he is determined not to be defeated. A thrilling, thoroughly intriguing tale of double murder and love.
130 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1929
About the author
Edgar Wallace
2,676 books273 followersRichard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 2, 2017
Γρήγορο, κινηματογραφική πλοκή, σαρκαστική γραφή και μια πολυπλοκότητα που σε κάποια σημεία μπέρδευε ενώ σε κάποια άλλα όχι τόσο.
3 αστέρια...
3 αστέρια...
November 1, 2017
Διασκέδασα πολύ με την ιστορία. Είχε καλό ρυθμό, παλιακό άρωμα και δετή ατμόσφαιρα. Ξεκινάει μάλιστα μ΄ ένα τρόπο που θεώρησα ενδιαφέρων, από ένα ντετέκτιβ που με προσγειωμένο τρόπο εξηγεί πως την πάτησε σε μια υπόθεση, χωρίς φανφάρες και ψυχολογικές ελαφρότητες. Επίσης, η ιστορία είναι το μυστήριο για το μυστήριο από πλευράς ντεντέκτιβ. Είναι 60 χρονών οπότε εκ των πραγμάτων ο έρωτας που φαντάζεστε στο βάθος με κάποια μοιραία γυναίκα έχει ήδη πηδήξει απ’ το παράθυρο. Κλασικός κυνισμός σκληρής αστυνομικής λογοτεχνίας που δεν απογοητεύει όσους τον περιμένουν ‘’θα μπορούσα να του πω ότι δεν μπορείς να πληρώσεις αρκετά έναν εγκληματία για να μην παρανομήσει γιατί δε φτάνουν όλα τα λεφτά του κόσμου, αλλά δεν ήθελα να τον αποθαρρύνω’’. Τα κλισέ δεν αποφεύγονται, ωστόσο στην περίπτωση ενός διηγήματος που γράφτηκε το 29 μάλλον ανήκει στην κατηγορία εκείνων που έγραψαν κι εν συνεχεία άλλοι αντέγραψαν, προσπαθώντας ίσως να διατηρήσουν μια ενότητα ενός κοινού μύθου, αν θέλουμε να είμαστε ρομαντικοί, ή επειδή τους ήρθε βολικότερο, το έτοιμο. Αυτό πάντως που μου έκανε τη μεγαλύτερη εντύπωση είναι ο τρόπος του να ειρωνεύεται και να κάνει χιούμορ, όπου ουσιαστικά λέει κάτι το οποίο συμπληρώνει με κάτι εκ διαμέτρου αντίθετο και μου αρέσει και η διάθεση αυτοσαρκασμού που αποδίδει στον επιθεωρητή Μίντερ. Τέλος ο Βρετανός ντεντέκτιβ που ξεφεύγει απ’ τη ραθυμιά, την πλαστικότητα και την αψεγάδιαστη φόρμα είναι ευχάριστη αλλαγή.
January 12, 2020
Όπως λέει στην τελευταία σελίδα του βιβλίου, «μια καθόλου ικανοποιητική υπόθεση». Βέβαια, για άλλους λόγους το είπε ο πρωταγωνιστής και για άλλους εγώ. Δεν ήταν πως της ελειπε η ενδιαφέρουσα ιδέα ή η καλή εκτέλεση, και την απαραίτητη δράση είχε, δεν πλατείαζε και η γραφή ήταν έξυπνη και με αρκετά ιδιαίτερο και εύστοχο χιούμορ (κρατάς δυο-τρεις ατάκες εύκολα για καθημερινή χρήση, μια εξ αυτών η «Είναι από τους ανθρώπους που ξέρουν τα πάντα εκτός από το ποσό λίγα ξερουν»). Απλά το τέλος και το μάζεμα της ιστορίας δεν απόδωσε τα αναμενόμενα, η εξήγηση ήταν κάπως αεράτη για διήγημα μυστηρίου, τα κενά υπήρχαν μεν εσκεμμένα, ενοχλούσαν παρόλα αυτά.
Τέλος, για όχι πρώτη φορά βλέπω συγγραφέα αστυνομικών να βάζει τον πρωταγωνιστή του να σχολιάζει την απιθανότητα του Ντόιλ και του Σερλοκ Χολμς, τονίζοντας σε διαφορά σημεία του βιβλίου ποσό «κακό έχουν κάνει αυτοί οι ερασιτέχνες ντετεκτιβ της λογοτεχνιας» και πόσο «δεν γίνεται ποτέ η δουλειά του αστυνομικού με μεγενθυτικό φακό, διαβολικές συμπτώσεις και απίστευτα και δυσεύρετα στοιχεία». Παρόλα αυτά, και το «Μυστήριο του Λοουν Χαουζ» απολαμβάνει σεναριακες ευκολίες που ρολαρουν την υπόθεση εύκολα εκεί που πάει να βαλτώσει. Φαίνεται πως η επιτυχία του Ντόιλ στην αστυνομική λογοτεχνία, το πως ουσιαστικά την έστησε σαν είδος και η αδυναμία πολλών (προφανώς όχι όλων) μετέπειτα επίδοξων συγγραφέων να καταφέρουν να φτάσουν τα ύψη αναγνώρισης του, τους έκανε πικρόχολους και τους περιόρισε στον να ασκούν μια παιδική κριτική με μπηχτές μέσα από τους ήρωες τους (γκουχ γκουχ τα ακούς κυρία Αγκάθα;).
Τέλος, για όχι πρώτη φορά βλέπω συγγραφέα αστυνομικών να βάζει τον πρωταγωνιστή του να σχολιάζει την απιθανότητα του Ντόιλ και του Σερλοκ Χολμς, τονίζοντας σε διαφορά σημεία του βιβλίου ποσό «κακό έχουν κάνει αυτοί οι ερασιτέχνες ντετεκτιβ της λογοτεχνιας» και πόσο «δεν γίνεται ποτέ η δουλειά του αστυνομικού με μεγενθυτικό φακό, διαβολικές συμπτώσεις και απίστευτα και δυσεύρετα στοιχεία». Παρόλα αυτά, και το «Μυστήριο του Λοουν Χαουζ» απολαμβάνει σεναριακες ευκολίες που ρολαρουν την υπόθεση εύκολα εκεί που πάει να βαλτώσει. Φαίνεται πως η επιτυχία του Ντόιλ στην αστυνομική λογοτεχνία, το πως ουσιαστικά την έστησε σαν είδος και η αδυναμία πολλών (προφανώς όχι όλων) μετέπειτα επίδοξων συγγραφέων να καταφέρουν να φτάσουν τα ύψη αναγνώρισης του, τους έκανε πικρόχολους και τους περιόρισε στον να ασκούν μια παιδική κριτική με μπηχτές μέσα από τους ήρωες τους (γκουχ γκουχ τα ακούς κυρία Αγκάθα;).
April 7, 2018
Mία από τις μίνι-νουβέλες του Ουάλας που εντυπωσιάζει και θυμίζει το εμπνευσμένο αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα του Α.Α. Μίλν, 'Το μυστήριο του κόκκινου σπιτιού (1922). Γραμμένο 7 χρόνια μετά (1929), ξεναγεί τον αναγνώστη σε μία ιστορία που έχει τις βαθιές της ρίζες της στην φιλοδοξία δύο συνεταίρων να βρουν ένα ορυχείο χρυσού στην Αφρική, και μάς 'ταξιδεύει' μέχρι την αγγλική ύπαιθρο όπου, ακόμα, καί τα μυστικά μονοπάτια, οι λόφοι και οι υπόγειες μυστικές κρύπτες 'κρύβουν' τον θάνατο.
Οι ήρωες κινούνται όπως τα πιόνια στο σκάκι και τίποτα δεν είναι όπως φαίνεται αρχικά. Οι ήρωες έχουν ξεχωριστή προσωπικότητα, και, ακόμα, καί ο δολοφόνος προκαλεί τη συμπάθεια του αναγνώστη. Το μόνο, ίσως, αρνητικό στοιχείο είναι η μικρή έκταση της νουβέλας (117 σελίδες), στην οποία δεν αναλύεται εκτενώς η λύση του μυστηρίου. Ωστόσο, οι λεπτομέρειες είναι επαρκείς, και είναι ό τι πρέπει για διάβασμα το καλοκαίρι.
Υ.Γ.: Σε κάνει να αναρωτιέσαι αν η ατμόσφαιρα της εξοχής, τελικά, μπορεί να γίνει πιο φονική, καταδιωκτική και στοιχειωτική από αυτή της μεγαλούπολης και της πρωτεύουσας.
Y.Γ. 2: Eνώ είχα συνηθίσει τον Ουάλας να γράφει σε πιο 'νουάρ' τόνο με hard-boiled αποχρώσεις, εδώ με εκπλήσσει κατασκευάζοντας μια μίνι-νουβέλα αστυνομικού μυστηρίου και γρίφου σαν μία γνήσια 'Άγκαθα Κρίστι'!
Βαθμολογία: 3,8/5 ή 7,6/10.
Οι ήρωες κινούνται όπως τα πιόνια στο σκάκι και τίποτα δεν είναι όπως φαίνεται αρχικά. Οι ήρωες έχουν ξεχωριστή προσωπικότητα, και, ακόμα, καί ο δολοφόνος προκαλεί τη συμπάθεια του αναγνώστη. Το μόνο, ίσως, αρνητικό στοιχείο είναι η μικρή έκταση της νουβέλας (117 σελίδες), στην οποία δεν αναλύεται εκτενώς η λύση του μυστηρίου. Ωστόσο, οι λεπτομέρειες είναι επαρκείς, και είναι ό τι πρέπει για διάβασμα το καλοκαίρι.
Υ.Γ.: Σε κάνει να αναρωτιέσαι αν η ατμόσφαιρα της εξοχής, τελικά, μπορεί να γίνει πιο φονική, καταδιωκτική και στοιχειωτική από αυτή της μεγαλούπολης και της πρωτεύουσας.
Y.Γ. 2: Eνώ είχα συνηθίσει τον Ουάλας να γράφει σε πιο 'νουάρ' τόνο με hard-boiled αποχρώσεις, εδώ με εκπλήσσει κατασκευάζοντας μια μίνι-νουβέλα αστυνομικού μυστηρίου και γρίφου σαν μία γνήσια 'Άγκαθα Κρίστι'!
Βαθμολογία: 3,8/5 ή 7,6/10.
August 30, 2021
English review below the Greek one...
Παλιομοδίτικη ιστορία που είχα ξαναδιαβάσει κάπου, αν και δεν μπορώ να θυμηθώ που.
Αν εξαιρέσει κανείς το ρατσισμό και μισογυνισμό της εποχής, δεν είναι κι άσχημο. Ο αφηγητής επιθεωρητής είναι ένας ειρωνικός ξερόλας που στην πραγματική ζωή θα τον λέγαμε και λίγο *μπιπ* αλλά στο βιβλίο είχε την πλάκα του. Όμως δεν είναι δύσκολο να μαντέψεις τον ένοχο αν έχεις διαβάζει μερικά παρόμοια βιβλία, ενώ το τέλος δεν έχει καμία ιδιαίτερη κορύφωση ή κάτι.
Ευχάριστο να περάσει κανείς την ώρα του, αλλά ως εκεί.
An old fashioned crime story that I realised I've read somewhere before, but it was still enjoyable.
If one can set aside the usual prejudices, silly misogyny and racism of the era, this is a decent read. The narrator is a bit of an ironic smartass who would most likely have been considered as a jerk in real life, but it was fun to follow his thoughts inside the book. That said, it's not difficult to guess the culprit while the end lacked any climax or something.
A pleasant book to pass the time, but nothing extraordinary.
Παλιομοδίτικη ιστορία που είχα ξαναδιαβάσει κάπου, αν και δεν μπορώ να θυμηθώ που.
Αν εξαιρέσει κανείς το ρατσισμό και μισογυνισμό της εποχής, δεν είναι κι άσχημο. Ο αφηγητής επιθεωρητής είναι ένας ειρωνικός ξερόλας που στην πραγματική ζωή θα τον λέγαμε και λίγο *μπιπ* αλλά στο βιβλίο είχε την πλάκα του. Όμως δεν είναι δύσκολο να μαντέψεις τον ένοχο αν έχεις διαβάζει μερικά παρόμοια βιβλία, ενώ το τέλος δεν έχει καμία ιδιαίτερη κορύφωση ή κάτι.
Ευχάριστο να περάσει κανείς την ώρα του, αλλά ως εκεί.
An old fashioned crime story that I realised I've read somewhere before, but it was still enjoyable.
If one can set aside the usual prejudices, silly misogyny and racism of the era, this is a decent read. The narrator is a bit of an ironic smartass who would most likely have been considered as a jerk in real life, but it was fun to follow his thoughts inside the book. That said, it's not difficult to guess the culprit while the end lacked any climax or something.
A pleasant book to pass the time, but nothing extraordinary.
February 4, 2018
Μια εύπεπτη αστυνομική νουβέλα, κλασικό #whodunnit, που φυσικά, για να μην ενοχλήσει, πρέπει να διαβαστεί μέσα στο κοινωνικό, πατριαρχικό και αποικιοκρατικό, πλαίσιο του προπολεμικού Λονδίνου του 1929, στο οποίο γράφτηκε, καθώς ο αφηγητής-επιθεωρητής που λύνει εν τέλει το μυστήριο είναι ένας κυνικός ρατσιστής και φαλλοκράτης. Η υπόθεση, πάντως, έχει κινηματογραφικό, καταιγιστικό, ρυθμό και σασπένς, αν και σε κάποια σημεία έχει κενά... Ο συγγραφέας Έντγκαρ Ουάλλας ήταν πολυγραφότατος, πολλά από τα κείμενά του μεταφέρθηκαν στον κινηματογράφο και η συγκεκριμένη ιστορία θεωρείται αντιπροσωπευτική του τεράστιου έργου του.
November 30, 2021
Nu-mi fac niciun merit din ceea ce ziarele au numit misterul casei singuratice. Sunt poliţist de prea mult timp ca să nu ştiu că tipul care îşi face singur reclamă n-o nimereşte bine. Deci, dacă vă spune cineva că superintendentul Minter de la Scotland Yard încearcă să-şi facă faimă, aruncaţi-le o privire urâtă din partea mea.
„Superintendent” îţi umple gura şi oricum nu este familiar. Nu că eu i-aş încuraja pe tinerii poliţişti să-mi spună „Sooper” în faţă. Nu zic asta niciodată. Doresc să mi se adreseze cu „sir”, dar îmi place să-i aud vorbind despre bătrânul Sooper, cu condiţia să nu folosească un anume adjectiv.
Domnul John C. Field mi-a spus Superintendent. Până când n-a pronunţat cuvântul n-am ştiut că are atâtea silabe.
Nimănui nu-i place să recunoască când a greşit, dar trebuie să spun că mi-am încălcat toate regulile când l-am plăcut la prima vedere. Este foarte bine să-ţi pierzi minţile după o fată când o vezi prima dată, dar nu e bine să categoriseşti un bărbat după prima impresie. Pentru că un bărbat care te impresionează de prima oară când îl întâlneşti se va da peste cap să te facă să ai o părere bună despre el. Şi bărbaţii normali nu fac asta. O fac voiajorii comerciali şi actorii, dar ei nu sunt normali.
John C. Field era un tip pe care oricine îl putea admira. Era înalt, cu umeri laţi şi arăta bine în ciuda celor cincizeci şi ceva de ani şi a părului grizonat. Se comporta ca un gentleman, ştia să povestească frumos şi era o gazdă perfectă. Întotdeauna te servea cu ţigări de foi.
L-am întâlnit într-un mod ciudat. Locuia într-o casă mititică pe malurile râului Linder. Cred că nu cunoaşteţi râul Linder ― este un pârâu cu pretenţii de râu până când se varsă în Tamisa între Reading şi Henley, unde este pus la locul care i se cuvine şi se numeşte „Bourne”. Pe malul celălalt al pârâului este o casă, al cărei proprietar era un domn Max Voss. El a construit-o şi i-a tras electricitate de la Reading. Eu m-am dus să fac nişte investigaţii legate de această linie electrică. Pe atunci eram într-un departament special al Scotland Yard-ului şi făceam o muncă despre care poliţia ţinutului nu ştia nimic. Nu este o ilegalitate să foloseşti energia electrică, dar cam pe atunci fraţii Flack şi Johnny McGharth şi încă vreo doi, trei din marile bande de falsificatori se ocupau intens cu tiparniţe personale, deci când am auzit despre o locuinţă care folosea multă electricitate am intrat la bănuieli.
Aşa că m-am dus la Hainthorpe şi m-am întâlnit cu dl. Voss. Era un bărbat zdravăn, roşcovan la faţă, cu o mustăcioară albă, care-şi pierduse picioarele datorită degerăturilor în Rusia. De aceea casa lui era plină de aparatură electrică. Avea scaune electrice care-l duceau dintr-o cameră în alta, ascensoare electrice şi chiar şi în baie un soi de macara electrică care-l putea ridica din scaun în baie şi invers.
― Şi acum, a zis cu o sclipire în ochi, poate veţi dori să vedeţi tiparniţa cu care fac bani falşi!
„Superintendent” îţi umple gura şi oricum nu este familiar. Nu că eu i-aş încuraja pe tinerii poliţişti să-mi spună „Sooper” în faţă. Nu zic asta niciodată. Doresc să mi se adreseze cu „sir”, dar îmi place să-i aud vorbind despre bătrânul Sooper, cu condiţia să nu folosească un anume adjectiv.
Domnul John C. Field mi-a spus Superintendent. Până când n-a pronunţat cuvântul n-am ştiut că are atâtea silabe.
Nimănui nu-i place să recunoască când a greşit, dar trebuie să spun că mi-am încălcat toate regulile când l-am plăcut la prima vedere. Este foarte bine să-ţi pierzi minţile după o fată când o vezi prima dată, dar nu e bine să categoriseşti un bărbat după prima impresie. Pentru că un bărbat care te impresionează de prima oară când îl întâlneşti se va da peste cap să te facă să ai o părere bună despre el. Şi bărbaţii normali nu fac asta. O fac voiajorii comerciali şi actorii, dar ei nu sunt normali.
John C. Field era un tip pe care oricine îl putea admira. Era înalt, cu umeri laţi şi arăta bine în ciuda celor cincizeci şi ceva de ani şi a părului grizonat. Se comporta ca un gentleman, ştia să povestească frumos şi era o gazdă perfectă. Întotdeauna te servea cu ţigări de foi.
L-am întâlnit într-un mod ciudat. Locuia într-o casă mititică pe malurile râului Linder. Cred că nu cunoaşteţi râul Linder ― este un pârâu cu pretenţii de râu până când se varsă în Tamisa între Reading şi Henley, unde este pus la locul care i se cuvine şi se numeşte „Bourne”. Pe malul celălalt al pârâului este o casă, al cărei proprietar era un domn Max Voss. El a construit-o şi i-a tras electricitate de la Reading. Eu m-am dus să fac nişte investigaţii legate de această linie electrică. Pe atunci eram într-un departament special al Scotland Yard-ului şi făceam o muncă despre care poliţia ţinutului nu ştia nimic. Nu este o ilegalitate să foloseşti energia electrică, dar cam pe atunci fraţii Flack şi Johnny McGharth şi încă vreo doi, trei din marile bande de falsificatori se ocupau intens cu tiparniţe personale, deci când am auzit despre o locuinţă care folosea multă electricitate am intrat la bănuieli.
Aşa că m-am dus la Hainthorpe şi m-am întâlnit cu dl. Voss. Era un bărbat zdravăn, roşcovan la faţă, cu o mustăcioară albă, care-şi pierduse picioarele datorită degerăturilor în Rusia. De aceea casa lui era plină de aparatură electrică. Avea scaune electrice care-l duceau dintr-o cameră în alta, ascensoare electrice şi chiar şi în baie un soi de macara electrică care-l putea ridica din scaun în baie şi invers.
― Şi acum, a zis cu o sclipire în ochi, poate veţi dori să vedeţi tiparniţa cu care fac bani falşi!
March 11, 2026
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Superintendent Minter of Scotland Yard finds mystery and murder at a country manor house on the River Linder.
John C. Field lives like a hermit in his Elizabethan mansion, so afraid of impending danger that he has requested police protection. His fortune was made in the gold mines of the Congo, with a partner, Mr. Venn, who disappeared years ago. Field brought up Venn's lovely daughter Marjorie, who is now his private secretary—which doesn't stop him from being inappropriate with her. Field's neighbor Max Voss is a wheelchair-bound invalid aided by strange servant Veddle, whom Minter recognizes as an ex-convict he once put away. Things kick off when Field is discovered stabbed by his own ornamental African sword, while Marjorie was drugged and locked in another room. Sergeant Wills was patrolling the house but saw no one. Why has Veddle disappeared, leaving his pipe behind? Who had written Voss threatening letters? Who is lighting smoke bombs in the woods? Who are the black couple who only visit Fields when the servants were dismissed? Who tried to drown Wills in the river? Why is there money in the wastebasket? Who was shooting Voss through his windows? Who burned Fields' will which left everything to Marjorie?
Written in 1929, top thriller writer Edgar Wallace offers a rich mystery for such a small cast of characters. For 1929, I was surprised it includes interracial marriage, but not at the racial slurs accepted at the time. Marjorie is a strong young woman, but Minter's offhand manner treats everyone as useless—including his superior Gurly, who attempts to take over the case. This is what you expect for its time—a clever but innocuous entertainment.
My edition included the short stories The Sooper Speaking (dealing with underworld safecrackers), Clues, and Romance In It (where the newly rich are targets for con jobs complete with exotic Grand Dukes, and gold-filled property in the Sahara with a brand new spring to wash it clean...)
This was filmed in Britain as Attempt To Kill (1961).
Edgar Wallace is widely available in print and eBook editions.
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Superintendent Minter of Scotland Yard finds mystery and murder at a country manor house on the River Linder.
John C. Field lives like a hermit in his Elizabethan mansion, so afraid of impending danger that he has requested police protection. His fortune was made in the gold mines of the Congo, with a partner, Mr. Venn, who disappeared years ago. Field brought up Venn's lovely daughter Marjorie, who is now his private secretary—which doesn't stop him from being inappropriate with her. Field's neighbor Max Voss is a wheelchair-bound invalid aided by strange servant Veddle, whom Minter recognizes as an ex-convict he once put away. Things kick off when Field is discovered stabbed by his own ornamental African sword, while Marjorie was drugged and locked in another room. Sergeant Wills was patrolling the house but saw no one. Why has Veddle disappeared, leaving his pipe behind? Who had written Voss threatening letters? Who is lighting smoke bombs in the woods? Who are the black couple who only visit Fields when the servants were dismissed? Who tried to drown Wills in the river? Why is there money in the wastebasket? Who was shooting Voss through his windows? Who burned Fields' will which left everything to Marjorie?
Written in 1929, top thriller writer Edgar Wallace offers a rich mystery for such a small cast of characters. For 1929, I was surprised it includes interracial marriage, but not at the racial slurs accepted at the time. Marjorie is a strong young woman, but Minter's offhand manner treats everyone as useless—including his superior Gurly, who attempts to take over the case. This is what you expect for its time—a clever but innocuous entertainment.
My edition included the short stories The Sooper Speaking (dealing with underworld safecrackers), Clues, and Romance In It (where the newly rich are targets for con jobs complete with exotic Grand Dukes, and gold-filled property in the Sahara with a brand new spring to wash it clean...)
This was filmed in Britain as Attempt To Kill (1961).
Edgar Wallace is widely available in print and eBook editions.
July 30, 2024
A book that did not disappoint me. The perfect summer choice. A fast pacing and amazingly interesting plot that keeps you entertained from the start to the very end. The protagonist and storyteller, Minter, is a well written policeman that explores the murder of a wealthy man that he had just met. What I liked the most was that even if it's a murder mystery, it is written both with humour and realism. This book is just like reading or watching an Agatha Christie book or movie. The plot twist at the end of the book was amazing and surprised me for good as it was so far from what I believed it had happened.
January 7, 2018
Είμαι μεγάλη φαν των βιβλίων μυστηρίου κ αδημονούσα γι’ αυτήν την πολλά υποσχόμενη, με βάση τον τίτλο της, εύπεπτη ιστορία, την οποία κανόνισα να διαβάσω στις καλοκαιρινές μου διακοπές.
Μιλάω ειλικρινά όταν λέω ότι δυσκολεύτηκα να την τελειώσω επειδή μου φάνηκε τόσο πρόχειρη και βαρετή. Ο πολυγραφότατος συγγραφέας της προφανώς ήθελε να πουλήσει ακόμα ένα βιβλίο ή ίσως η μετάφραση ήταν πολύ κακή (;).
Μιλάω ειλικρινά όταν λέω ότι δυσκολεύτηκα να την τελειώσω επειδή μου φάνηκε τόσο πρόχειρη και βαρετή. Ο πολυγραφότατος συγγραφέας της προφανώς ήθελε να πουλήσει ακόμα ένα βιβλίο ή ίσως η μετάφραση ήταν πολύ κακή (;).
March 7, 2026
Μου άρεσε αρκετά, ειδικά το τέλος που ενώ σου προσφέρει τη λύση του μυστηρίου, δεν έχει την αναμενόμενη κάθαρση του κλασικού αστυνομικού που μπορεί να επιζητά ο αναγνώστης. Αφαιρώ πόντους από την εξιστόρηση του παρελθόντος των ηρώων που μοιάζει λίγο βεβιασμένη και δεν δίνει βάθος στους χαρακτήρες.
April 5, 2012
A novella (the titular Lone House Mystery) and three short stories all told by one Superintendent Minter of Scotland Yard aka The Sooper.
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