Bats in the Belfry by E. R. C. Lorac was originally published in 1937 and is part of a series of mysteries written by this author. I have had this one on my shelf for quite some time and now that more of her books are being reissued, I wanted to get a start on the series. I ended up having mixed feelings about this one, I did enjoy the characters and look forward to reading more about Chief Inspector Robert MacDonald of Scotland Yard, but I did find the plot overworked and quite convoluted.

Set in London, this is a case about a vanished author. He set out for Paris but didn’t get out of England. Then when his suitcase and passport are discovered in a decrepit and spooky artist studio, his friends have Scotland Yard alerted. There is no shortage of red herrings scattered throughout this puzzling story. The author inserts many elements into her story, including blackmail, deaths that may or may not have been murder, inheritance, failed careers and even a rather sweet love story.

I have a number of this author’s books on my Kindle that I will surely be reading in the future. It’s always good to find another author from the Golden Age of Mysteries and Bats in the Belfry with it’s eccentric cast offset by Inspector MacDonald’s quiet intelligence is a hopeful start. ( )

reminds me of Sloan and Crosby
Macdonald is here - may need to reread and the Blackwell's summary means nothing to me ( )

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )

Erudite & affected: posh Londoners that I could not care a fig for, worse I couldn't follow what was going on.

According to GR:
"Bruce Attleton dazzled London's literary scene with his first two novels—but his early promise did not bear fruit. His wife Sybilla is a glittering actress, unforgiving of Bruce's failure, and the couple lead separate lives in their house at Regent's Park.

When Bruce is called away on a sudden trip to Paris, he vanishes completely—until his suitcase and passport are found in a sinister artist's studio, the Belfry, in a crumbling house in Notting Hill. Inspector Macdonald must uncover Bruce's secrets, and find out the identity of his mysterious blackmailer.

This intricate mystery from a classic writer is set in a superbly evoked London of the 1930s."

REALLY? I sure as hell missed it. ( )

Bruce Attleton, was once a successful novelist, but is now financial dependent on his actress wife, has gone missing. But when his suitcase and passport are found in the cellar of an abandoned artist's studio it is up to Inspector Macdonald to untangle the puzzle.
An interesting mystery (writen in 1937) where it seems everyone could be guilty.
A NetGalley Book ( )