I’ve got a British library crime classic for you today – and another written by ECR Lorac.
If you’ve read the Theft of the Iron Dogs there are some familiar characters in this and not just Lorac’s series detective, Inspector MacDonald. In Lunedale there is more trouble brewing. Giles and Kate are helping Kate’s cousin Caroline buy a farm not far from them. Caroline is an artist not a farmer and she’s been taken with the property and a neighbouring copse and ex-quarry turned pond which she also buys. But there’s something strange at the auction, and soon after Caroline receives an offer for the land. Then her architect is attacked when spending the night at the property to survey it. Inspector MacDonald is in the area on a customs case and starts to help his friends out after the local police prove somewhat sceptical.
This is atmospheric and clever. I love the way that Lorac writes about the Lake District and the way of life there in the first half of the twentieth century. This on we published in 1949 and has the immediate post-war atmosphere with incomers, shortages and people trying to take advantage of changing times. I was struggling with my concentration last week and it was just what I needed to start getting me back on the straight and narrow again. I’m so glad that the BLCC is republishing Lorac (and her Carnac books too) because although they have their dated moments, they are always clever mysteries in a specific setting – whereas some mysteries can feel like they could take place in any old place. More please!
This one is in the newly renamed Kindle+ at the moment – which means you can’t get it in Kobo right now, but as always you can buy the paperback direct from the British Library shop and their delightful three for two offer.
Happy Reading!
