The Benson Murder Case

· A&C Black
3.0
1 review
eBook
316
Pages
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About this eBook

Playboy stockbroker, Alvin Benson, is found in his brownstone mansion with a bullet through his head. First on the scene is Philo Vance, amateur detective, who is at once intrigued by the absence of Alvin's toupee and his false teeth. With a jigsaw of odd clues he sets off in pursuit of an elusive murderer, making obvious his disdain for the professional crime-solvers of the police and the DA's office. To him, they seem to be hopelessly addicted to the pernicious practice of looking for physical clues and circumstantial evidence. His own theory is that psychology is the key.

The first in the Philo Vance series, The Benson Murder Case, originally published in 1926, has all the hallmarks of a ripping, puzzle-solving crime.

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3.0
1 review

About the author

S.S Van Dine is the pseudonym of Willard Huntington Wright, born in 1888, whose eminent career as a crime novelist opened with The Benson Murder Case in 1926. Before this he was well known as an art critic, journalist and socialite; he was Editor-in-Chief of The Smart Set Magazine, Editor of The International Studio, and author of several books, including a study of Nietzsche and works on modern painting.

Forced through overwork to take a long rest, and forbidden by his doctors to do any 'serious' reading, Wright read over two thousand detective novels and books on criminology. Subsequently, as S.S. Van Dine, he wrote a series of best-selling crime novels. His detective Philo Vance – one of the most famous amateur sleuths of his time – was immortalised on screen by William Powell in The Canary Murder Case.

The author died in 1939.

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