Murders in Volume 2

One hundred years earlier, a beautiful guest had disappeared from the wealthy Vauregard household, along with the second volume in a set of the collected works of Byron. Improbably enough, both guest and book seem to have reappeared, with neither having aged a day. The elderly Mr. Vauregard is inclined to believe the young woman's story of having vacationed on an astral plane. But his dubious niece calls in Henry Gamadge, gentleman-sleuth, expert in rare books, and sufficiently well-bred to avoid distressing the Vauregard sensibilities. As Gamadge soon discovers, the household includes an aging actress with ties to a spiritualist sect and a shy beauty with a shady (if crippled) fiance. As always in this delightful series, Gamadge comes up trumps, but only after careful study of the other players' cards.

“"Henry Gamadge may now be counted a regular member of that choice company of the best fiction sleuths." New York Times”

"Henry Gamadge may now be counted a regular member of that choice company of the best fiction sleuths." —New York Times

Elizabeth Daly (1878-1967) published her first mystery novel at the age of sixty-two, then went on to write fifteen more mysteries in a charming series set in 1940s New York, in a style reminiscent of the British Golden Age: They feature a gentleman sleuth who is a rare books expert and handwriting specialist and who solves crimes in his free time. Among her fans was Agatha Christie, who was noted to have declared Daly her favorite American author. As well as satisfying classic mysteries, Daly's novels serve as astute depictions of New York society at the time, a world on the point of vanishing. She received an Edgar award in 1960 for her body of work.

'New York at its most charming? (New York Times) is the setting for Volume 2, first published in 1941. One hundred years earlier, a beautiful guest had disappeared from the wealthy Vauregard household, along with the second volume in a set of the collected works of Byron. Improbably enough, both guest and book seem to have reappeared, with neither having aged a day. The elderly Mr. Vauregard is inclined to believe the young woman's story of having vacationed on an astral plane. But his dubious niece calls in Henry Gamadge, gentleman-sleuth, expert in rare books, and sufficiently well-bred'it is hoped'to avoid distressing the Vauregard sensibilities. As Gamadge soon discovers, delicate sensibilities abound chez Vauregard, where the household includes an aging actress with ties to a spiritualist sect and a shy beauty with a shady (if crippled) fianc'. As always in this delightful series, Gamadge comes up trumps, but only after careful study of the other players? cards.

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