The Valley of Ghosts

By: Edgar Wallace

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

A murder is committed among the rich of a small town, and all the evidence seems to point to a beautiful young woman....

“There is something - evil about it. Queer word for me to use, Macleod, eh? They touch your elbow as you walk - ghosts! That’s how I’ve named it the Valley of Ghosts.... Macleod, go and stay a day or so in Beverley Green and smell it yourself - something brooding....”

The seemingly peaceful, prosperous community of Beverley Green is haunted. While certain inhabitants - the young Stella Nelson and her feckless painter-father Mr. Arthur Wilmot, who conducts a mysterious business in the City; the aristocratic Salter Boyden; and the retired businessman Merrivan - try to hide their pasts, it turns out that nothing stays secret for long.

When, in this tense atmosphere, Mr. Merrivan is found murdered, the clues point to none other than Stella Nelson. But Stella has caught the eye of Dr. Andy Macleod, an assistant pathologist who has drifted into the profession of thief-catcher, and he is determined to solve the mystery and prove her innocence.

Originally published in 1922.

Public Domain (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Sensational Sensational Fiction

It's got murder. It's got mystery. It's got romance. It's got a ghost. And it is even genuinely funny in spots too. From the first few sentences you're drawn in, with characters you'll like, characters you'll loathe, and a storyline that keeps you guessing right till the end.

My only quibble is with Stefan Rudnicki. It always takes me a while to get used to his voice, but sooner or later I realize I'm enjoying the story and his performance. However, here he slides in and out of British and American accents so often I had to keep reminding myself this book is set in England. Nevertheless, the story was so good I really didn't mind too much.