These Names Make Clues

By: E. C.R. Lorac

Narrated by: David Thorpe

Chief Inspector Macdonald has been invited to a treasure hunt party at the house of the Graham Coombe, the celebrated publisher of Murder by Mesmerism. The clues of the hunt have been devised by Coombe's thriller-writer friends, disguised on the night under literary pseudonyms. The fun comes to an abrupt end, however, when 'Samuel Pepys' is found murdered in the telephone room in bizarre circumstances. Amidst the confusion of too many fake names and convoluted alibis, Macdonald and his allies in the CID must unravel a truly tangled case in this metafictional masterpiece from the beloved Golden Age author.

©1937, 2021 The Estate of Edith Caroline Rivett, Introduction Marting Edwards (P)2021 Soundings

Fun story.

It’s a pity the publisher had to inject a completely unnecessary apology because some parts of the story might not be politically correct today. It’s FICTIoN and I really think that if you can’t face an idea or a concept no matter how dated you are in very bad emotional condition and should take a good look at your personal deficiencies and do something effective about correcting them.
Otherwise this is a very good example of why these golden age stories are superior In quality of writing and imagination 80 years later.

Classic Golden Age mystery

I've really enjoyed Lorac's books. This is a well-plotted book with the complexities of a great mystery. I'm a huge fan of David Thorpe as narrator, but his narration doesn't detract from the story.

Who is talking?

I found the narrator’s voice difficult to distinguish between male characters.

I think this book might do better in written form as it would be possible to keep the large cast of characters straight.

Perfect for puzzle lovers

Pseudonyms, anagrams, misdirection, murder by gadget - an inventive mystery by one of my favorite Golden Age writers.

I struggled

I love David Thorpe the narrator but I do agree with another reviewer that it was difficult to keep the large cast of characters clearly distinguished. I don't know if anyone could have done better, rather the fault was in the story. I don't see it as representative of Golden Age.

Thumping Good Yarn

Loved this mystery set within a treasure hunt. Plenty of twists and turns even after the cause of death is revealed. Well performed by Thorpe. Highly recommended.

Wow!

Now that’s a murder mystery! Best in a long time. Going to get more of hers.

A Golden Age Classic

I enjoyed this mystery and have listened to it numerous times. Its a great example of a golden age classic and I wish more of the CID Macdonald series would be put to audio. David Thorpe is one of my favorite narrators and he brings the characters to life. If you like thrillers and mysteries with a tense atmosphere that keeps you at the edge of your seat, this is not for you. But if you enjoy a good thought provoking mystery that has you guessing, then you will enjoy this.

Did not like it

The narrator was a little over enthusiastic in his voicing of the different characters. The story was convoluted and confusing.

Painful

I never write negative reviews but this was slow, and boring. The narrator made it worse.