From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Post After Post-Mortem

E.C.R. Lorac,

Martin Edwards (Introduction)

Start date: November 1, 2025

Finish date: November 30, 2025

Discussion: Group reads

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

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Group reads

* Nominations for December 2025 group read
By Judy · 15 posts · 15 views

last updated 17 hours, 38 min ago

* Oct 25: Murder Included (#1 D.I. Price) by Joanna Cannan
By Susan · 11 posts · 13 views

last updated Oct 02, 2025 10:38AM

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What Members Thought

Jan 17, 2023 Anissa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: british-library-crime-classics, 2023, british-fiction-uk-ireland, mystery-suspense-crime

This is another clever outing with Lorac. I enjoyed accompanying Inspector Macdonald on his investigation into whether or not Ruth Surray's death was suicide or murder.

It's at issue primarily because everyone who testified at the inquest sought to keep things that may be and are pertinent to themselves. Her death is judged to be suicide and then a letter she sent to her brother arrives to him that reflects a completely different state of mind than what people said in the inquest. Robert, her br ...more

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Jul 10, 2023 Christine PNW rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I liked this one, and had no idea who did it.

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Jun 30, 2023 Susan in NC rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, my-library

One of Lorac’s best - she’s become a favorite Golden Age British mystery writer, extremely prolific from the 1930s-1950s, then largely forgotten. Her books are being reissued in no particular order, and I pick them up on Kindle or paperback whenever I can.

The blurb covers the plot very well - the brilliant, successful intellectual Surray family, we are told repeatedly, are thought to be the luckiest people because they’ve racked up accolades and achievements. But shortly after a birthday celebra One of Lorac’s best - she’s become a favorite Golden Age British mystery writer, extremely prolific from the 1930s-1950s, then largely forgotten. Her books are being reissued in no particular order, and I pick them up on Kindle or paperback whenever I can.

The blurb covers the plot very well - the brilliant, successful intellectual Surray family, we are told repeatedly, are thought to be the luckiest people because they’ve racked up accolades and achievements. But shortly after a birthday celebration for the mother, universally lauded author Ruth, recently stressed from overwork, is found dead in her bed, apparently a suicide from overdosing on sleeping meds.

The family is obviously distraught, but the local police, doctor and coroner, seeing such a clear cut case - a revised will and suicide note are found - find a verdict of suicide immediately at the post-mortem, wanting to spare the family further distress. Then brother Richard, a psychologist and acquaintance of Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Robert Macdonald, returns to his London flat to find a lost letter from his deceased sister Ruth. It had gone astray for a couple days in the post, but the tone indicates Ruth was in fine spirits, making plans for the future - not depressed or suicidal. Richard was trying to spare his parents any pain or scandal, and went along with the apparent suicide; now he’s horrified at the implications of this letter and turns to Macdonald for help.

A knotty puzzle surrounding a diabolical murder, and frustrating ethical conundrum for all involved- and being an intellectual family, with houseguests of the same type, Lorac’s detective has his hands full trying to tease the truth out of everyone trying to cover their own motives and actions, along with the family’s. There are several stubborn, angry, uncooperative witnesses, and Macdonald and his assistant Reeves are pushed to their limits trying to get to the truth. This book, and the other most recent case I’ve read (Black Beadle) have cemented my high opinion of Lorac as a great mystery writer. Both highly recommended. ...more

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Nov 12, 2022 Annarella rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, golden-age-mystery, netgalley2022

This is one of the best Lorac's mystery I read and I read a lot of them. A very complex, twisty, and surprising whodunit with an intriguing puzzle at the center in a case that could be a suicide or a murder.
I love following McDonalds investigating and this one kept me hooked and guessing. There's plenty of mystery and there's a perfect family that maybe is not so perfect.
Ruth Surrays, the dead woman, is at the center of a relationships but she's always a sort of far away idol, a woman who doesn' ...more

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Jan 28, 2023 Gina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"Post After Post-Mortem" is the eleventh investigation featuring Robert MacDonald. This time, the daughter in a family of writers, has overdosed, seemingly by her own hand. A letter received by her brother after her death casts some doubt on this, and the CID are called in to investigate.

The Surreys were...a lot. Ruth, the deceased sister, was looked down upon because she didn't write what the rest of the family considered to be worthwhile books. She was also deemed a bit less mentally stable be ...more

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Aug 18, 2023 Laura Anne rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, british-isles

Long-winded country-house mystery; dogged Inspector MacDonald (the best character of the lot) has an uphill battle to get a pack of pretentious writers to cooperate.

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Mar 21, 2022 Lynnie rated it really liked it

Shelves: golden-age-detective-story, read-in-2022, kindleunlimited, british-library-crime

Another intriguing puzzle! Enjoyed.

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Oct 26, 2022 Mary rated it it was amazing

Very enjoyable; witty and brilliantly developed .
I may have found a new favourite mystery writer
Wonderful that these older mysteries are being reprinted..

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May 17, 2024 Laurie rated it really liked it

Shelves: eyeball-books

I was so sure I’d guessed the killer and was disappointed that it had been too easy, but then, as usual, it ended up being pretty much the only person I hadn’t thought it was.

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