Silent nights

A good collection of vintage mystery stories with a Christmas theme. Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Blue Carbuncle" starts off the collection with a bang. I always think of Jeremy Brett when I read the Sherlock Holmes stories, especially this one.

"Parlor Tricks" by Ralph Plummer - An unknown author and a very obscure story set in a small, snowbound hotel full of very bored guests - until Eric Glover livens things up with his tricks and jokes. He claims that he can leave a glass full of water in a room, and when he returns, the glass will be empty. His fellow guest Mullinger doesn't believe it's possible, so the game is on. Of course, things don't quite work out like either of them expected. Clever story and nicely done. *

"A Happy Solution" by Raymund Allen - It helps to have some knowledge of chess when reading this story. In fact, it's necessary to understand the solution. I let someone who knows nothing of chess read this story, and she didn't understand it at all. An explanation of the chess moves is at the end of the book. Kenneth Dale goes to visit his fiancee, Norah, at Christmastime. She is accused of theft of a large sum of money, and things look very grave. However, Kenneth is able to figure out the real culprit by using his knowledge of chess. Another clever story with a likeable hero and heroine.

"The Flying Stars" by G. K. Chesterton - Father Brown is always fun. This one concerns his battle with his old foe, Flambeau, who is after the legendary "Flying Stars" - three large diamonds owned by Sir Leopold Fischer, who is visiting his goddaughter at Christmas. As always, a good puzzle and very nice Christmas atmosphere.

"Stuffing" by Edgar Wallace - My favorite story of the lot. It concerns a nouveau riche English lord, his angry tenant, a thief called "Harry the Valet," and a petty criminal, all of whom ensure that a struggling pair of newlyweds has a truly wonderful Christmas after all. Delightful twist at the end. Very funny.

"The Unknown Murderer" by H. C. Bailey - a rather surprising story (for its time) of a serial killer. I've found the Reggie Fortune stories to be quite good. I don't agree with Edwards that Bailey's style of writing is very dated. This is one example where the story is very up-to-date. The motive is especially chilling.

"The Absconding Treasurer" by J. Jefferson Farjeon - I admit to a personal connection to this story. Edwards obtained this story from my oldest brother, Monte Herridge, who is referenced in the preface to the short story. Monte has an extremely large collection of pulp magazines (hundreds, in fact), and this story is from one of them. Farjeon was the brother of [a:Eleanor Farjeon|227924|Eleanor Farjeon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1302012775p2/227924.jpg], who is probably best known for [b:Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard|9005403|Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard|Eleanor Farjeon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1303963983s/9005403.jpg|2885796]. This is one of Farjeon's Detective X. Crook stories. Crook is called in to investigate the apparent theft of the Slate Club's funds by its treasurer, who has completely vanished along with the money. A good, workmanlike story, but not as good as Farjeon's [b:Mystery in White|23350057|Mystery in White|J. Jefferson Farjeon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1421269341s/23350057.jpg|42907971].

"The Necklace of Pearls" by Dorothy L. Sayers - I actually prefer the Lord Peter Wimsey stories to the novels. I've found Wimsey, like Ellery Queen (the character), is better taken in small doses. This story is about the theft of a splendid pearl necklace. Once a year, Sir Septimus Shale gives his daughter one perfect pearl. After 20 years, she now has a priceless necklace. Unfortunately, his daughter is rather careless with her things and the necklace turns up missing. It is up to Lord Peter Wimsey to discover what happened to the necklace.

"The Case is Altered" by Margery Allingham - Normally, Albert Campion is not to my taste. I find him annoying. However, this short story is a notable exception. Campion and a friend find themselves caught up in a rather confusing mystery involving a young couple they have just met on a train on the way to Underhill, home of Sir Philip Cookham and his wife. This is definitely a case of not believing everything you see or hear. Appearances are very deceiving.

"Waxworks" by Ethel Lina White - White is probably best known as the author of the books that were the bases for the movies, "The Spiral Staircase" and "The Lady Vanishes." She also wrote some chilling short stories that featured strong, intelligent, independent young women who become caught up in dangerous situations. In "Waxworks," Sonia, a young newspaper reporter, takes on the challenge of spending the night in a wax museum, where two men have died mysteriously. Are the terrors real or just figments of her imagination? Quite creepy and atmospheric. Very well done as usual.

"Cambric Tea" by Marjorie Bowen - Bowen is also well known for her ghost stories, which are excellent. However, this is a non-supernatural mystery story. An invalid claims that he is being slowly poisoned by his wife, and begs his physician, Dr. Bevis Holroyd, for help. Is the man really being poisoned? Or is he just delusional? Well written, but emotionally uninvolving. I also figured this one out. It's really not difficult.

"The Chinese Apple" by Joseph Shearing - This is another pen name of Marjorie Bowen. Isabelle Crosland is called from her comfortable home Italy to cold, dreary London to pick up her orphaned niece. It seems simple enough, but, of course, it's not. Isabelle finds her task is complicated by murder. Excellent story with a dark twist at the end. *

"A Problem in White" by Nicholas Blake (Cecil Day-Lewis) - Cecil Day-Lewis was Poet Laureate of the UK and father of actor Daniel Day-Lewis. He was also, under the pen name of Nicholas Blake, author of some interesting and entertaining mysteries. This is my favorite story by him - a well-written, fair play story that reminds me a little of Ellery Queen. You are given all the clues in the murder of a train passenger and you have to figure out who did it. You are not given the solution in the story. (It is at the end of the book.) **