Feb 24: Murderer's Mistake - SPOILER Thread - by E.C.R. Lorac (1946)

[Susan]

Welcome to our Feb 24 Group Read of Murderer's Mistake by E.C.R. Lorac
(Edith Caroline Rivett) (1884 - 1959) who has become a firm Detectives Favourite.

Murderer's Mistake (1946) aka The Theft of the Iron Dogs is Book 28 in the Robert Macdonald series. It's not long after the end of WWII, rationing is still in force in the UK, and Chief Inspector Macdonald of Scotland Yard is hot on the heels of a coupon racketeer, Gordon Ginner. Just then he gets a letter from Lancastrian farmer Giles Hoggett about some odd goings on recently in Lunesdale. Normally he'd pass on the letter to some subordinate, but the possibility that Giles's suspicions might link to the Ginner investigation are just too tantalising to leave alone, so off to Lancashire goes Chief Inspector Macdonald... soon to discover a case of murder.

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Ellen]

I like the The Theft of the Iron Dogs: A Lancashire Mystery title much better than Murderer's Mistake much less bland. The murderer made several mistakes stealing the iron dogs being one of them. We don't learn until the end it probably wasn't the most important one but messing up the woodpile doesn't have the same ring to it.

[Rosina]

It isn't mentioned, but in the absence of a specific will, the killer's estate will presumably pass to his elder, legitimate son ... currently home on leave from the army.

For those not of an age to remember, BAOR is British Army of the Rhine.

[Susan in NC]

Rosina wrote: "It isn't mentioned, but in the absence of a specific will, the killer's estate will presumably pass to his elder, legitimate son ... currently home on leave from the army.

For those not of an age ..."

Thank you

[Judy]

I have finally finished my reread of this, combining the audiobook of 'The Theft of the Iron Dogs' with the 'Murderer's Mistake' ebook.
(I turned to the ebook for passages featuring Anthony Vintner and his treatment of his animals, as I wanted to get through those sections as soon as possible!

I enjoyed it and didn't remember whodunit, but the narrator of the audiobook did give the killer a very unpleasant voice, which made me wonder! I think David Thorpe is a good narrator in general but gets carried away with the voices he does for some of the characters - he definitely overdoes the Cockney accent for Reeves.

[Susan in NC]

Judy wrote: "I have finally finished my reread of this, combining the audiobook of 'The Theft of the Iron Dogs' with the 'Murderer's Mistake' ebook.
(I turned to the ebook for passages featuring Anthony Vintne..."

Yes, I agree, Thorpe has narrated every Lorac book I’ve listened to (along with other mysteries), and he can be annoying!

[Susan]

We have different ones. Mostly David Thorpe. Some keen to be narrated by Kris Dyer who (unfortunately) narrated one of my favourite series, Nigel Strangeways, and were unlistenable.

[Judy]

Yes, I did manage to listen to one or two read by Kris Dyer, but he isn't my favourite.

[Susan in NC]

Oh, I am sorry- I’m into audiobooks more and more, and a bad narrator definitely ruins the story. But a great one! In fact, I can get Sir Derek Jacobi (Cadfael himself) narrating The Potter's Field, but only abridged. I’m still tempted to listen, as I love his voice!

[Piyangie]

I'm listening to Thorpe' audio narration as well. I think most Lorac audios are done by him.