From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Night of Fear

Moray Dalton,

Curtis Evans (Introduction)

Start date: December 1, 2021

Finish date: December 31, 2021

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of the poll for our December group read - with a suitably festive setting!
[close] Winner of the poll for our December group read - with a suitably festive setting!

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Group reads

* VOTE NOW for November 2025 group read!
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* Sept 25: Lonesome Road (#3 Miss Silver Mysteries) by Patricia Wentworth
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What Members Thought

Nov 30, 2021 Susan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book-series-to-read-next, christmas-books

This is the second Inspector Hugh Collier mystery and, although published in 1931, it actually feels quite modern in terms of language and themes. The book begins with Sgt Lane, who is called out to a crime at the Big House and takes his visitor, Collier, along unofficially. It is just before Christmas and, with the servants off at a dance, the guests of Mr George Tunbridge had been playing hide and seek, when one of the guests - blinded in the First World War - had discovered a body and raised ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Nov 20, 2021 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: moray-dalton

This is the second book I have read by this author, and I have really liked both. This book follows the popular GA type, where the murder takes place in a large country house, full of various guests. It is the 23rd December where a Christmas party is in progress. The servants of the house have left to attend a party in the village, leaving the owners and their guests of various ages to amuse themselves. Having the complete run of the house, they decide to play a game of hide and seek. They are i ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 11, 2021 Franky rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021-reading-challenge, mystery, kindle, crime

I happened to pick up this title as a book club selection this December. The Night of Fear was my first experience reading anything by Moray Dalton and overall, it was a solid holiday mystery with definite staples of the Golden Age.

I think there are two things that a reader should be aware of going in to the book. First, there are quite a few characters (both in terms of potential suspects and investigators on the case) to wade through. Luckily, these characters are distinct enough and Moray ou ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 15, 2023 Lynnie rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2023, golden-age-mystery, dean-street-press

A very enjoyable country house mystery finally solved by a maverick private detective - Hermann Glide. There were quite a few detectives involved in the case as one replaced another which added more intrigue. Good courtroom scenes and interesting characters.

1 like · Like · see review

Dec 18, 2020 BrokenTune rated it really liked it

Shelves: christmas

3.5*

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 06, 2022 Susan in NC rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, tbr-with-gr-groups

Great introduction to Moray Dalton, a Golden Age mystery writer I’d never heard of before reading this book nominated for a December read for the Reading the Detectives group. This is #2 in the Inspector Collier series, I’ll definitely read the first; this book also features Mr. Glide, a private investigator, and a very interesting character I’d like to read about again.

This case opens at a Christmas house party, where the guests are playing hide-and-seek in fancy dress. Hugh Darrow, a guest who ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 19, 2021 Carolien rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2021, english-mystery

A game of hide and seek in a country house the week before Christmas goes horribly wrong when one of the guests is found stabbed to death. Hugh Collier is soon on the scene, but he is removed from the case and private detective, Hermann Glide, steps onto the scene. An interesting plot and a 14 person cast of possible suspects ensure a solid mystery.

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