The Widening Stain [Paperback]

Morris Bishop (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 158 pages
• Publisher: Rue Morgue (October 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601870086
• ISBN-13: 978-1601870087
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,232,870 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Morris Bishop incorporates his love of limericks into this tantalizing mystery, November 3, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Widening Stain (Paperback)

Mystery writing used the be beneath academics, so when a Cornell professor of romance literature by the name of Morris Bishop wrote his one and only mystery under a pseudonym, the future provost hid behind his fake name. He published under Dashiell Hammett's and Raymond Chandler's publisher, and eventually became Provost of Cornell. Even as he denied authorship, Bishop scribbled a limerick establishing his guilt and remorse as author of THE WIDENING STAIN, to be found in Cornell's Olin library for posterity.

With librarian Gilda Gorman, chief cataloger at the University library in the role of female sleuth, this fanciful mystery begins with a build-up to the boring President's reception, which is attended by reluctant faculty. Gilda and her would-be fiance, the tall, blond, and handsome Francis Perry, are discussing the merits of a possible marriage. Gilda has determined that she really doesn't know much about Perry, and seems to be throwing obstacles at his proposal:

"'I would tell you anything you want to know, Gilda.' Parry's voice was low.

'Well now, for example - last year, as you probably know, your name and that of Lucie Coindreau were, in that nice phrase, coupled. Was there anything serious between you?'

'Would it make any difference?'

'I don't know. I think it might.'

'Well, then - no.'"

With that conversation and the subsequent discovery of the 'dark-hair Frenchwoman who arouses the beast in men,' the suave Perry in fact loses his love. As far as Gilda is concerned, she is the curious sort who only wants to find Mademoiselle Coindreau's murderer, even if it means putting herself at risk. The stain widens as more are pulled into the initial murder.

Morris Bishop incorporates his love of limericks into this tantalizing mystery, which is defined as a verse with an "a-a-b-b-a" style with five anapestic lines (two short, followed by a long line). Although THE WIDENING STAIN was, no doubt, meant as an intellectual exercise allowing the author to stretch, it accomplishes its mission as a comedic mystery. Characterization is fitting for an academic atmosphere, with love acting as its main high jinx.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

5.0 out of 5 stars Limericks, January 30, 2010

By 

Parker W. Snapp "turing's man" (Los Osos, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Widening Stain (Paperback)

Mirris Bishop, a.k.a. Bolingbroke Johnson, is the limerick guy. His murder mystery pokes fun at academia, and I kike that, but the book is most fun for the limericks, which are funny, often showing the benefits of a very large vocabulary, and never vulgar. Je can do a wonderful other verse form too, and I first heard of him when a freind sent me a couple of his verses clipped from the New Yorker. Rue Morgue Press is to be congratulated for publishing The Widening Stain and Tom and Enid Shantz write a fascinating introduction. Unforunately, there will be no more limericks from the Limerick Guy. The library and the college of the book must be Cornell.