The Film Mystery

Arthur Benjamin Reeve

Jan 1921 · Harper & Brothers

Ratings and reviews

When silent film idol Stella Lamar dies in front of the camera, the first person summoned to the scene is Craig Kennedy, Scientific Detective. With the help of Walter, his journalistic Watson, Kennedy delves into the seamy side of the film industry, discovering that everyone on the set had a motive. Craig's speeches about the power of Science to outwit crime are suitably campy, and Walter's tendency to suspect someone different in every chapter is occasionally charming. The resolution of the mystery is not entirely satisfying; I think the author cared a whole lot more about making Kennedy look good than about giving the culprit a convincing motive. If nothing else, this story provides a fascinating snapshot of early film studio life.