Lina has never been one to catch the eye of men. She is, by her own admission, rather plain and disinterested. She had resigned herself to the life of an old maid until she is charmed by a suave and handsome Johnnie Aysgarth–and his happy-go-lucky veneer is hiding some dark elements.
Before Grantchester, there was Father Brown. And before Miss Marple’s poison pen letter, there was Ethel Lina White and her novel of misgivings.
There are plenty of reasons Hitchcock’s films are considered classic, even genius. But often overlooked is the fact that they were nearly always based on books. Two are again available in print.
Lorac is the pen name of Edith Caroline Rivett who wrote dozens of novels from the 1930s – 1950s. Death of an Author pulls from her inside publishing knowledge to set up this snappy mystery novel.
What begins as a spate of sheep-stealing, escalates to arson and murder. Luckily for the villagers, Inspector MacDonald is visiting the area as he considers buying property ahead of his retirement from the police force. His attempt to remain on vacation doesn’t last long as he begins to assist local authorities in their inquiry.