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Classic Literature. Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. HTML: There was no mistaking the sound: it was that of a stealthy footfall, and it appeared to come from the staircase leading to the next floor. Lord Bygrave left the Ministry on Friday evening, with plans for a fortnight's holiday in the country. But the following morning he had seemingly vanished into thin air. Now Scotland Yard are struggling to find evidence of foul play in the absence of tangible clues. A national newspaper is offering a reward for information about the Minister's disappearance - whether Bygrave be dead or alive. Anthony "Algernon" Vereker, Lord Bygrave's friend and executor, joins Scotland Yard in their investigation of the mystery. So begins the first of five ingenious and effervescent detective novels featuring Vereker, an amiable and eccentric artist with a razor-sharp mind. Missing or Murdered (1929), is republished here for the first time in over 70 years. It includes a new introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans. 'This is not only a detective story of considerable ingenuity, but it is also a well-written tale with good characterisation.' Times Literary Supplement.… (more)
User reviews
I enjoyed the banter that occurred between DI Heather and Vereker as the book was quite slow moving. Each suspect was separately interviewed by both men and then they would get together and compare notes and come up with ideas of how and why the crime could have been committed. Eventually the pieces are put together in the correct way and the solution to the mystery is found.
While it isn’t known at first whether we are reading about a murder, an accidental death, a kidnapping or a deliberate disappearance, the varied characters keep the story interesting. There are plenty of red herrings along the way to the final outcome which keeps the reader engaged and guessing. I am always happy to discover another “Golden Age” mystery author and even though I felt the book moved quite slowly, I will be reading more of Robin Forsythe’s novels.