From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

These Names Make Clues

E.C.R. Lorac,

Martin Edwards (Introduction)

Start date: March 1, 2023

Finish date: March 31, 2023

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of the poll for our March group read.
[close] Winner of the poll for our March group read.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 333 topics — 11,941 comments total

Group reads

* December 2025 group read - Winner!
By Judy · 28 posts · 32 views

last updated Oct 15, 2025 10:39AM

* Oct 25: Murder Included (#1 D.I. Price) by Joanna Cannan
By Susan · 12 posts · 17 views

last updated 13 hours, 33 min ago

showing 3 of 3 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Feb 23, 2023 Susan rated it liked it

Published in 1937, this is one of a long-running series feauturing Chief Inspector Robert MacDonald. In this outing, he is invited to a 'Treasure Hunt' run by Graham Coombe and his sister, Susan. The idea is that a group of writers, some thriller writers, others historians and economists, plus MacDonald, and a reader, are to be given literary pseudonyms and pit their wits against each other. Of course, during the evening, as MacDonald races on with his clues, eager to win, the lights go out and ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 28, 2023 Sarah G rated it it was ok

Great start, good characters but overall, what a mess. Introducing people using pseudonyms and later real names, so everyone has two names - awful, leaving no discernible clues bar red herrings - annoying, barely any Inspector MacDonald therefore leaving the reader out of the detection process - renders story pointless. I’ve read later of her books with the same detective that I really enjoyed. This would have been better left on the ‘not to be reprinted’ shelf (Audiobook, which made the name cl ...more

Like · see review

Feb 15, 2023 Jill rated it liked it

Shelves: e-c-r-lorac

Unfortunately this is another of those books where the characters have two names. I don't know if is just me, but I do seem to be having a bit of trouble with all the double names, hence the 3 stars. Macdonald is invited to a party, where all the guests are to be given author's names, so that their true identities are not know until the end. It is a sleuthing party where they will be given a series of questions to answer. They are allowed access to books and telephones, to enable them to answer ...more

Like · see review

Mar 26, 2023 Leslie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries

Despite the title and several very strong hints, I never did figure out how the names made clues. I had to wait for Macdonald to explain in the last few pages!

This 1937 mystery was just the type I adore & my first by Lorac (a female author of whom I was previously unaware - lots of new-to-me books for my TBR!).

Like · see review

May 03, 2025 Cricket Muse rated it really liked it

More Macdonald is needed.

Like · see review

Mar 01, 2023 Sandy rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-classic, mystery-detective-grp, rread-2023

Intriguing start with a mystery game party in which the partygoers are assigned aliases. These second name add confusion for the reader and had me wondering which set of names were the ones that made clues. I enjoy every visit with our detective, MacDonald.

Like · see review