From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Mystery of the Kneeling Woman

Moray Dalton,

Curtis Evans (Introduction)

Start date: April 1, 2024

Finish date: April 30, 2024

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of our April group read poll
[close] Winner of our April group read poll

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 328 topics — 11,869 comments total

Group reads

* VOTE NOW for November 2025 group read!
By Judy · 19 posts · 21 views

last updated 2 hours, 20 min ago

* Sept 25: Lonesome Road (#3 Miss Silver Mysteries) by Patricia Wentworth
By Susan · 13 posts · 11 views

last updated Sep 03, 2025 12:03PM

showing 1 of 1 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Feb 15, 2024 Susan in NC rated it really liked it

Shelves: tbr-with-gr-groups, 2024pooltitles

This was firmly in what I think of as the melodramatic international thriller style of 1920s-30s GA mystery. It was propulsive (most of the time), somewhat preposterous and coincidental, but entertaining.

An unbelievable second war was brewing in Europe, seventeen years after the horrific devastation and loss of the first war; the toll of that conflict carries on here as a likely motive for not just one, but four murders. There are menacing, shadowy “enemies of Britain” skulking about trying to s This was firmly in what I think of as the melodramatic international thriller style of 1920s-30s GA mystery. It was propulsive (most of the time), somewhat preposterous and coincidental, but entertaining.

An unbelievable second war was brewing in Europe, seventeen years after the horrific devastation and loss of the first war; the toll of that conflict carries on here as a likely motive for not just one, but four murders. There are menacing, shadowy “enemies of Britain” skulking about trying to steal secret formulas for devastating chemical weapons of war, and they are willing to do anything to get what they’re after - even torture a child! There’s a poison chocolate box, a beautiful but wicked witch of a mother, a sweet, wholesome struggling single mother (perhaps providing a love interest for our handsome young Scotland Yard man, Collier?), and a dramatic courtroom climax.

Dalton throws just about every melodramatic device and detail at this plot, and it’s busting at the seams; I finished last night, and thought about it to write my review, but honestly I can’t think clearly about it. All I can say is a lot happened, there are several likable characters, a few nasty ones, and I’m not exactly clear on what happened…but then again, neither is Collier and his super at the end, so…

I’ve read three or four of this female GA author’s mysteries over the last few years, a couple with Collier, others were standalone. Most recently read The Black Wings, which was also melodramatic and propulsive and fun (to me, perked up a gloomy, grey January); was it silly and over-the-top? Yes. Do I remember exactly what happened? Meh. But was it fun? Yes! Same here, plus the added minor romance for our hero, but don’t worry, it doesn’t take over. Thus, 4 stars. Will Dalton ever take over from Christie and Sayers, my two favorite queens of GA mystery? Of course not! But as mystery is my favorite genre, I’ll read more of Dalton’s work to see if the melodrama/international thriller angle keeps showing up. To me, also a history buff, it gives insight into the fears of the time, and the wounds left by the Great War. So recommended if you can suspend belief and logic and close legal questions and arguments, and just enjoy the ride! And like GA mysteries of course, in all their various iterations. ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Mar 24, 2024 Susan rated it really liked it

This is the seventh mystery featuring Hugh Collier. I have read the first and don't usually like reading books out of order, but it was chosen by one of my reading groups so I gave it a try and I am pleased that I did. For the same book group we have had a challenge of modern series set in the Golden Age this year, but none of them have the charm and the realism of books written at the time. This was originally published in 1936 and the Collier series ran from 1929 to 1951.

Set in a village, it This is the seventh mystery featuring Hugh Collier. I have read the first and don't usually like reading books out of order, but it was chosen by one of my reading groups so I gave it a try and I am pleased that I did. For the same book group we have had a challenge of modern series set in the Golden Age this year, but none of them have the charm and the realism of books written at the time. This was originally published in 1936 and the Collier series ran from 1929 to 1951.

Set in a village, it begins with the vicar, Reverend John Clare, visiting his neighbour, Simon Killick, for a game of chess. Clare's beloved son, Dick, died in WWI and he is horrified when Killick, who worked as a chemist before retiring, has invented a poisoned gas which he intends to sell to a foreign agent. Later, Killick is found murdered and also a local boy, Toby, who lives with his widowed mother nearby, comes across a dying man in a local wood. With the village suddenly experiencing two murders, Collier is called in to assist from Scotland Yard.

This is a clever mystery, with the reasons for the violence having its roots in the past and Dalton, who was a single mother herself, shows a lot of sympathy for Sandra and her son Toby. She is struggling (although, with Collier somewhat smitten, perhaps not for long) and Toby is an important character in the book. Firstly, he discovers the dying man and hears his final words, which are important to the plot. Secondly, he goes to school with one of the two unpleasant sons of Sir Henry Webber and his horrible wife, Beryl, who inhabit the 'Big House'. The Webber's sons are bullies and Dalton writes about Toby with sensitivity. In addition, having published this in 1936 when war was again approaching Europe, she writes with great sympathy of the young men who died in the first conflict and may have to face the second.

What most intrigues me about mysteries written in the Golden Age, is that the authors were not writing with the benefit of hindsight. Dalton's generation had lived through the Great War and were facing another conflict, which must have been terrifying for her with her son to think about, having seen a generation of young men wiped out. This is a mystery, but one with a sense of both the past and a fear of the future that gives this mystery a great depth. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Mar 16, 2024 Jill rated it really liked it

If you can get over the rabbit turned to mush, the child torture, and the bullying, then the story is well done. I liked Collier's approach to the case even though he was hampered by the local police, and there was enough crime to keep this book interesting. I did guess one of the murder's from quite early on, but the plot kept me engaged throughout.
This is the third book I have read by this author, and will look forward to reading more. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 04, 2024 Jazz rated it really liked it

Shelves: series, mystery-british, golden-age-mystery-pre-1950, best-of-2024

4 STARS | I cannot lie. The covers drew me to this series immediately. They are "repurposed" magazine covers and ads by vintage illustrator, Coles Phillips, and the "fadeaway girl" style he is known for. As for the mystery writer, Moray Dalton is one worth rediscovering as well.

This mystery by Dalton, was far more captivating than the first I read (One by One They Disappeared), but then that was her first in the Inspector Hugh Collier series and this was her sixth. Although it takes a while to g ...more

Like · see review

Jul 18, 2024 Lynnie rated it really liked it

Shelves: golden-age-detective-story, golden-age-mystery, read-in-2024, dean-street-press

My sixth Moray Dalton book and I couldn't put it down. An excellent mystery, thought provoking too. ...more

Like · see review

Mar 28, 2024 Sandy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery-detective-grp, rread-2024, mystery-classic

This was quite a story wrapped around a murder investigation. There might have been a small hole, or two, in the plot but the characters, good and evil, carried the story. So much pain from the Great War and another looming on the horizon.

Like · see review