Wed 20 Apr 2011
ROBIN FORSYTHE – Missing or Murdered. John Lane/The Bodley Head, UK, hardcover, 1930.
Not having access to the current CD-Rom edition of Al Hubin’s Crime Fiction IV is a problem at the moment, as I cannot tell you how many detective or thriller novels Robin Forsythe may have written, or whether either of the two primary protagonists in Missing or Murdered ever made another appearance.
The missing or murdered man is Henry Darnell, Lord Bygrave, the head of some unnamed department in the civil government. He’d gone to a country inn outside of London for a short stay — the White Bear Inn in the village of Hartwood — gone for a walk the next morning, and disappeared.
Investigating on behalf of Scotland Yard is Inspector Heather. Also on the case in an artist named Algernon Vereker, a “somewhat eccentric young gentleman” who happens to be a trustee and executor of the missing man’s will.
The book, in its solid old-fashioned way, is full of detective work and nothing but detective work. Most amusing is how Heather and Vereker each tackle the case in their own particular way, and then regale each other with wild reenactments of the crime, some more fanciful than others, some spot on, other far less so.
All so very fine and good, but tales of detection need to be solidly clued, and if I’m not mistaken (and I did go back to look) one vital clue is not provided to the reader when one of the two detectives took notice of it.
This violates one of Father Knox’s Rules of Detection, and so does the killer’s identity, or very close to it.
I’d read another book by Robin Forsythe, if one ever came along again, for otherwise I enjoyed this one immensely, so much so I hate pointing out its flaws, but needs must.
April 21st, 2011 at 2:52 am
There are five Vereker books in CFIV. His actual name is Anthony Vereker (which is how he is listed in CFIV) but he is ‘known to his friends as Algernon unabbreviated’. Forsthye also wrote two non series books and one under the pseudonym Peter Dingwall. The author was born Robert Forsythe in India in 1879, perhaps he was known to his friends as Robin?. Before becoming a published writer he worked in the Probate Registry at Somerset House in London. He was sent to prison for 15 months for fraud/theft in 1928. ‘The Somerset House stamp trafficking case’ was well reported in the newspapers at the time.
April 21st, 2011 at 9:43 am
Thanks, Jamie. Much appreciated! I’m not surprised that Vereker had a few return appearances, since he seemed to enjoy being a detective so much in this one. I don’t recall any references to his first name being Anthony, though, only Algernon. That particular detail may have developed as the series went on.
May 14th, 2011 at 3:06 am
It was fascinating to read this as I am Robin Forsythe’s granddaughter. He died before I was born but we had his thrillers at home – I believe there were around ten of them. Not sure if he was born Robert? Never heard this before, but I had heard he was imprisoned for a while. I would be really interested in the sources of the information other posters have given, as would like to research more about him.
October 3rd, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Hi Nicky
I have two books by your grandfather, both of which appear to have a family connection. One is to “? in memory of uncle Robin” and the other i am pretty sure is signed by him to his daughter or niece or someone like that (but I cannot find it in the house at the moment). email me at lkrarebooks@yahoo.co.uk
October 6th, 2011 at 5:06 am
What is the name of the book published under the pseudonym Peter Dingwall?
Is the book dedicated to his niece or daughter. I am unaware of him having either.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:30 am
I’ve not seen this book, so if there’s a dedication or not, or to whom, I don’t know:
DINGWALL, PETER; pseudonym of Robin Forsythe, (1879-?)
* * *The Poison Duel (Methuen, 1934, hc)
October 18th, 2017 at 9:59 am
Just picked up the second of his mystery stories – The Hounds of Justice , Bodley Head 1930. Interestingly came from a lot of books purchased from Sotheby’s some time ago as part of the “Chatsworth Attic Saleâ€. Chatsworth was the Home of the Dukes of Devonshire and most of the books have a pencilled note on the front re the quality of the book (“ too drawn out†seems the most common comment!)
This one just has Chatsworth written in pencil on the endpapers. It doesn’t feature his series detective but appears to concern a murder, so goes on my reading shelf…