Published 5 December 2017

Description
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY MARTIN EDWARDS

‘The death was an odd one, it was true; but there was after all no very clear reason to assume it was anything but natural.’

In the winter of 1942, England lies cold and dark in the wartime blackout. One bleak evening, Councillor Grayling steps off the 6.12 from Euston, carrying £120 in cash, and oblivious to the fate that awaits him in the snow-covered suburbs.

Inspector Holly draws up a list of Grayling’s fellow passengers: his distrusted employee Charles Evetts, the charming Hugh Rolandson, and an unknown refugee from Nazi Germany, among others. Inspector Holly will soon discover that each passenger harbours their own dark secrets, and that the councillor had more than one enemy among them.

First published in 1943, Raymond Postgate’s wartime murder mystery combines thrilling detection with rich characters and a fascinating depiction of life on the home front.

Thanks

With thanks to Poison Pen and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thoughts
Previously published during WWII, 1943, it is of it’s time and quite interesting for that.

Set in Croxburn were Cllr Henry Grayling has taken the train home from his work in London, with wages for delivery the next day. Arriving at his home he is very unwell and later dies. The money is missing.

The police investigate and we read accounts of his fellow passengers, a somewhat laborious procedure, several of whom have possible reason to dispose of the Counsellor. It is however not difficult to spot ‘whodunnit’.

In spite of all this it is not the worst book I’ve read. Just about gets the 3* rating.

Rating: 3*

Information

Somebody at the Door by Raymond Postgate

British Library Crime Classics

Poisoned Pen Press
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date: 05 Dec 2017