Customer Reviews

The Silk Stocking Murders (A Roger Sheringham case)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Roger Sheringham is a novelist and is working for a newspaper writing a column regarding crime in all its various aspects. He has previously worked with Inspector Moresby of Scotland Yard and considers himself quite knowlegeable in solving mysteries. Because of this newspaper column a parson writes to ask Sheringham for his help in locating one of his daughters. Janet went to London to get a job and try to send some money back home to help out with the expenses (a poor but proud family). There has been no letter from her for several weeks and this is most unusual. She wanted to make it completely on her own so would not even give her family her address untill she was assured of success.

With just this one incident, Sheringham and Moresby find themselves in a serial killing case which was masked as suicides. Sadly, he found what had happened to Janet even though she was using an assumed name and nobody in London knew her true identity (quite a nifty piece of sluething here). Because Sheringham's investigations for the missing daughter turns up strong circumstantial evidence that she did not committ suicide he manages to worm his way into the investigation when a prominent London "bright young thing" ends her life by hanging. When yet another "suicide" happens, Sheringham gets to stand inside the scene and watch the various experts perform their duties as they have been trained to do. And yet, slowly, the official force begins to close ranks and they shut Mr. Sheringham out. He then forms his own investigative group and proceedes to solve the case.

I liked this book. It didn't rate 5 stars but a good solid 4.5 isn't bad. Anthony Berkeley did lay out almost all the clues for the reader, which was actually quite fair, and what he didn't give you outright could probably be deduced by a proficient solver. My only problem with the book is totally a personal one. I felt that Mr. Sheringham was much too sure of himself. How old is his character supposed to be? That may be my problem. He acts so very young and arrogant so often and always knows so much more than everyone else (meaning anyone older than he is!) Maybe my own age is showing!!