Trent's Last Case, with eBook Audiobook

" Artist Trent was called in by Sir James of the Sun to investigate the death of Sigsbee Manderson, famous American financier. He talks with his friend Mr. Cupples, who is the uncle of Manderson's wife. Manderson had been found shot through his eye by a shed dressed, but not well, and without his false teeth. Marlowe, one of his secretaries had gone for the night on an errand. It appeared that Manderson had gone part way with Marlowe and then walked home and gone to bed. Trent manages to get some finger prints and things he has found the murderer, but meanwhile he has fallen in love with Manderson's wife. He writes up his conclusions and gives them to the wife and then leaves. A year later, Trent finally meets Mrs. Manderson at the opera. She convinces him that Marlowe is innocent and Trent and Cupples meet with Marlowe, who describes the night of Manderson's death. There is a big surprise at the end. "

" Considered a bit of a breakthrough in the detective story because the sleuth is a bit of a bumbler, not the omniscient genius in the Sherlock Holmes mode. The classical education of the early twentieth-century British writer shows in the lengthy, but well-punctuated and readable, sentences. Although the somewhat florid writing would not pass muster with today's editors, it does not detract overmuch from the story. Trent, the detective, may have influenced Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey as he has the same propensity to "talk piffle," scattering allusions here and there. I more or less figured out the solution, but partly that's because the Dover edition I got from the library had a spoiler on the back cover! At the very end there is a distressing bit of that nearly unconscious racism that white writers were so prone to in those days (1913). "

" Didn't record all the neat parts of this book. Of course, I recommend it highly. P.D. James was right about this book. "

" Very enjoyable. He wrote well and created believable characters, so you don't really mind the preposterous plot. The circumstances of its genesis are interesting - just as well he didn't intend a whole series, it's a one-off if ever I read one. "

" British murder mystery set in the early 20th century. Not your typical book, and of course, there is a suprise ending. "

" This is surely one of the most convoluted, twisted, and clever mysteries I have encountered, to say nothing of being superbly written. No wonder at all that Trent's Last Case is on many a Best list. "

" For once the blurbs were right - a great, classic mystery. It has an adorable detective and a twisted yet totally believeable plot. The fact that it was written in 1913 or so means it's written in a charmingly old fashion way. "

" Who did it was a complete surprise to me! However, I found Trent to be a bit too "precious" for me and as a result found the story dragged in several places. "

" Fun finding the book deemed to be the first modern mystery novel. Light and entertaining read. "

" A very decent mystery novel, with only a measure of predictability. Bentley is a good author who is able to draw his characters together in a web that is disentangled by his protagonist. The characters themselves are interesting. "

" Well written, compelling, and an unanticipated ending. What could be better? LIstened to this audio book while on our vacation in England, so the British accents of the audio were an added bonus. "

" Well written, compelling, and an unanticipated ending. What could be better? LIstened to this audio book while on our vacation in England, so the British accents of the audio were an added bonus. "

" Extremely entertaining English murder mystery. I discovered this book while reading "Reading Lolita in Tehran". This is one of the books that Azar Nafisi purchased in Tehran before they closed the English book stores. "

" For once the blurbs were right - a great, classic mystery. It has an adorable detective and a twisted yet totally believeable plot. The fact that it was written in 1913 or so means it's written in a charmingly old fashion way. "