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What Members Thought
This is the first in the Philo Vance series, first published in 1926. I haven’t read any of this series before, which is set in New York, with Philo Vance as a character who shares some traits with Lord Peter Wimsey. In this mystery, he is taken to a crime scene by his friend, the District Attorney, Markham. A wealthy financier has been shot dead in his home, the handbag of an actress lying nearby.
Of course, Markham, and the police, are keen to investigate the clues, but Vance doesn’t see those ...more
Of course, Markham, and the police, are keen to investigate the clues, but Vance doesn’t see those ...more
I'd gathered before starting this one that S.S. Van Dine is an author people love or hate. So far, after reading this first book in the Philo Vance series, I'm in the 'love' camp. I enjoyed the witty writing and the detective - the effete, bored Vance, who apparently decides to solve crimes to show off his brilliance.
The story centres on the murder of a wealthy man-about-town, Alvin Benson. Police quickly think they have solved the case, but Vance doesn't agree with their theories - even though ...more
The story centres on the murder of a wealthy man-about-town, Alvin Benson. Police quickly think they have solved the case, but Vance doesn't agree with their theories - even though ...more
Philo Vance was one the first fictional detective I met and I loved him.
I was happy to reread this story and I found as fascinating as usual.
I think it's an interesting depiction of an era.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine ...more
I was happy to reread this story and I found as fascinating as usual.
I think it's an interesting depiction of an era.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine ...more
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
I found this book a real struggle. To me, Vance is a dislikeable character. He uses some hackneyed upper class phrases (supposedly picked up during time spent at Oxford), which just don't fit in, then further into the book a lot of "clues" are repeated. Also, all through the book the author keeps telling us how wonderful Vance is, to make sure we all know.
As this is the first in the series, I may at some time read the next one, as the actually plot was good and was definitely a mystery, but not ...more
As this is the first in the series, I may at some time read the next one, as the actually plot was good and was definitely a mystery, but not ...more
Sep 10, 2013
Nancy Oakes
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-fiction,
crime-fiction-america
Nov 12, 2020
AnneEssDee (I'm on StoryGraph too)
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery,
first-in-series
