Wed 8 Jan 2014
PHILIP MacDONALD – The Rasp. British hardcover: Collins, 1924. US hardcover: Dial Press, 1925. Hardcover reprints (US): Scribner’s (S.S.Van Dine Detective Library), 1929; Mason Publishing Co., 1936. Paperback reprints (US): Penguin #586, 1946; Avon G1257, 1965; Avon (Classic Crime Collection) PN268, 1970; Dover, 1979; Vintage, June 1984; Carroll & Graf, 1984.
Philip MacDonald’s 1924 mystery, The Rasp, was the first appearance of his series sleuth Anthony Gethryn. I read and enjoyed this quintessential English Country Manor Mystery and figured out whodunit by page 70, by which time
one character had left tracks to the scene of the crime at the time it was committed, so she couldn’t be guilty; another character was fund clutching the murder weapon, so he couldn’t have done it; another was seen rifling through the murdered man’s desk, a fourth had his alibi exploded as a tissue of deliberate lies, and a fifth confessed to the crime – -so they must have been innocent as well.
There was, however, one character who did nothing incriminating, merely stood around expressing polite interest and helping when he could, and he … you guessed it.
Editorial Comment: As it so happens, my review of this same book is much longer. You may find it here. But is longer better? You tell me.
January 9th, 2014 at 3:05 pm
This is one that is still entertaining despite the fact the suspect isn’t hard to spot if you are paying attention. At least unlike Van Dine the murderer didn’t always appear on the same page in every book.
MacDonald remains one of my favorite writers of the era — largely because there is little that has to be forgiven his books — he was quite a good writer, and one of the few to consistently mix nerve wracking suspense with the puzzle. a few of his books are on my all time favorites list(THE MYSTERY OF MR. X, WARRANT FOR X, THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER, GUEST IN THE HOUSE, and his short story collection). I know his tendency to sacrifice the puzzle to the suspense annoyed many Golden Age critics, but he is one of the greats you can read for the pleasure of reading and not just the puzzle.
January 9th, 2014 at 3:24 pm
THE RASP is a classic, as far as I’m concerned, but I think today’s mystery fans are going to find it incredibly musty and old-fashioned.
January 9th, 2014 at 6:48 pm
Have to agree about THE Rasp, and Gethryn isn’t quite Gethryn yet (he never did entirely lose the slight touch of the silly ass school), but I’ve reread this in the last ten years and enjoyed it without many caveats. About time for MacDonald to be back in print, at least electronic, again.
January 10th, 2014 at 11:29 am
I enjoyed both reviews. THE RASP impressed me when I first read it decades ago. Like David, I’ve enjoyed MacDonald’s work for a long time.