Bats in the Belfry

A London Mystery

By: E.C.R. Lorac

Narrated by: David Thorpe

Bruce Attleton dazzled London’s literary scene with his first two novels, but his early promise did not bear fruit. His wife, Sybilla, is a glittering actress, unforgiving of Bruce’s failure, and the couple lead separate lives in their house at Regent’s Park.

When Bruce is called away on a sudden trip to Paris, he vanishes completely until his suitcase and passport are found in a sinister artist’s studio, the Belfry, in a crumbling house in Notting Hill, and Inspector Macdonald must uncover Bruce’s secrets.

This intricate mystery from a classic writer is set in a superbly evoked London of the 1930s.

©2018 Estate of E.C.R. Lorac (P)2018 Isis Publishing Ltd

another good one from ERC Lorac

it was complicated and had lots of threads. inspector McDonald tied them up nearly at the end

David Thorpe makes it!

This book is silly and contrived, but thanks to wonderful narration it was good listening anyway!

Plot twist. Of course.

Well written and engrossing - until the end when you throw the book at the wall. Author cobbles up convoluted, 'hidden motive' resolution simply to play gotcha.

Could have been excellent study of disfunctional mind in the syle of Columbo - all clues pointed that way. But instead reader is supposed to believe way too many machinations when simple murder would do.

Conclusion: read for the fun of it. Plot moves along swiftly, with minimum of 'who was where when'. Just don't expect a satisfying ending.

Glad I Didn’t Judge Lorac by That One Short Story

The second edition of “Bodies from the Library” includes “Chance is a Great Thing”, to my mind one of the several disappointments of that collection. It must have been written on one of Lorac's bad days, because here we have an absolute classic of the genre: a chilling mystery with a cast of plausible suspects, a variety of motives, and a generous dollop of sardonic humor. The standard features, you might say, of any self-respecting Golden Age mystery. But wait, there’s more: Helpful signposts.

Most chapters end with a character pondering the events and revelations in that chapter—and possible interpretations of those events and revelations. These prove invaluable when, after an 8- to 10- hour day of remote office work, one pours a drink and puts in the earbuds, eager to pick up the trail again; a mere few minutes of rewinding puts you au courant.

David Thorpe turns in his usual masterful performance.

Another great story!

Kept me guessing up until the reporter was moshed at the docks. I’m so glad you introduced me to this writer.