The Death of Laurence Vining. Illustrated

128 pages. Temps de lecture estimé 1h36min.
The Death of Laurence Vining is a remarkable entry in the golden age of detective fiction. Written by Alan Thomas, this novel is celebrated for its ingenious locked-room puzzle and its dark, atmospheric tension. With a setting that moves between bustling London streets and the shadowy interiors of private institutions, the book offers both classic detection and psychological depth. The mystery begins with the brutal and seemingly impossible murder of the brilliant but widely disliked Laurence Vining—stabbed to death in a lift (elevator) that no one entered or exited. The case quickly attracts public attention due to the victim’s fame and the puzzle’s baffling nature. Inspector Widgeon is tasked with the case, but it is the cool and cerebral amateur sleuth Francis Montague who gradually unravels the twisted motives and masterful illusion behind the crime. Alan Thomas crafts a compelling story full of red herrings, multiple suspects, and a truly surprising solution that lives up to the best of the "impossible crime" tradition. The novel is a standout for fans of John Dickson Carr, Ellery Queen, and other writers of meticulously plotted mysteries. Alan Thomas was a British writer and bookseller whose career in literature was relatively brief but memorable. The Death of Laurence Vining is his most notable work and often cited in discussions of great locked-room mysteries. While he did not produce a large body of fiction, this single novel secured his place among the intriguing one-book wonders of detective literature. Its reputation has grown over time, especially among aficionados of classic and cleverly constructed crime stories.