Synopsis
The second novel from the celebrated author of one of the most famous mystery classics ever written, Trent's Last Case.
James Randolph is murdered early one evening and his body is found a few hours later. When the police arrive they discover that Randolph's safe has been ransacked and discarded wrapping paper litters his bedroom floor.
Perhaps by chance or perhaps by design, Trent seems to have been the last person, other than the murderer, to see Randolph alive. But this is only one aspect amongst many which connect Trent with the murder and stimulate his interest: his friend Inspector Bligh is the detective in charge of the investigation, and then a long-time friend readily and perplexingly confesses his guilt. As much as he respects the abilities of Inspector Bligh, Trent's personal knowledge has him doubting the confession and intent on finding the truth.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
E.C. Bentley was born in 1875 and educated at St Paul's School, London, where he met eminent critic and author G K Chesterton, who became his closest friend. Bentley began a lifelong career in journalism in 1902, working for ten years on the editorial staff of the Daily News and for a further twenty years on the Daily Telegraph. In 1905, he published Biography for Beginners (under the pseudonym E Clerihew), which was a volume of nonsense verse consisting of four-lines and called 'clerihews' (in his honour), which became as popular as the limerick form. Two further volumes followed in 1929 and 1939. Bentley's masterpiece, Trent's Last Case (1913), was written in exasperation at the infallibility of Sherlock Holmes and marked the beginning of a new era in detective fiction. Indeed, it has long been hailed as marking the start of the 'Golden Age of Crime Fiction' and the first truly modern mystery. The sequel, Trent's Own Case, did not appear for a further twenty three years and this was then followed by a book of short stories; Trent Intervenes. Of Trent's Last Case Agatha Christie wrote: 'One of the three bes detective stories ever written', whilst Dorothy L Sayers stated 'It is the one detective story of the present century which I am certain will go down to posterity as a classic. It is a masterpiece'.
From AudioFile
Trent is unique for his day (early twentieth century) because he is a fallible and very human detective. Narrator Christopher Kay portrays Trent and his supporting characters as appropriate for their time but still realistic and believable for current listeners. Especially enjoyable is Miss Yates, whose nosy observations on her train and ship journeys set the murder investigation, which casts suspicion on Trent himself, in motion. Kay particularly excels as he utters phrases like "his prematurely bald cranium." An excellent choice for nostalgia buffs and those who prefer their mysteries very deliberately unraveled. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
