Fell Murder

E.C.R. Lorac

Jan 2020 · Sourcebooks, Inc.

About this ebook

Discover the captivating treasures buried in the British Library's archives. Largely inaccessible to the public until now, these enduring classics were written in the golden age of detective fiction.

"...this crime is conditioned by the place. To understand the one you've got to study the other."

The Garths had farmed their fertile acres for generations, and fine land it was with the towering hills of the Lake Country on the far horizon. Here hot-tempered Robert Garth, still hale and hearty at eighty-two, ruled Garthmere Hall with a rod of iron. Until, that is, old Garth was found dead—'dead as mutton'—in the trampled mud of the ancient outhouse.

Glowering clouds gather over the dramatic dales and fells as seasoned investigator Chief Inspector Macdonald arrives in the north country. Awaiting him are the reticent Garths and their guarded neighbors of the Lune Valley; and a battle of wits to unearth their murderous secrets.

E.C.R Lorac was a prolific writer who penned over forty bestselling mystery books over the course of her career. First published in 1944, Fell Murder is a tightly-paced mystery with authentic depictions of its breathtaking locales and Second World War setting. Rife with detail and suspenseful historical crime, this novel earns its place among the classic British mysteries.

This edition also includes the rare E.C.R. Lorac short story 'The Live Wire'.

Other books in the British Library Crime Classics:

Death in Fancy Dress

The Body in the Dumb River

It Walks by Night

Measure of Malice

Surfeit of Suspects

Death Has Deep Roots

The Notting Hill Mystery

Ratings and reviews

I received a free electronic copy of this historical British police procedural from Netgalley, E.C.R. Lorac, and Poisoned Pen Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition and this review reflects my personal, honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend this work to friends and family. Fell Murder is an exquisite miniature of life in small-town Britain just after the war. Fell Murder was first published in 1944 by Collins Crime Club, we have a perfect spotlight on life in the hills of Lancaster following WWII - life and livelihood isolated by distance and lifestyle. The protagonists are well rounded, their personalities fully formed, and the mystery all-encompassing. I have encountered Lorac before, but this novel has me firmly in her thrall. Fell Murder was the first book featuring Bobby Macdonald. I will have to dig out my other Macdonald who-done-its and try to fill in the blanks. Though a perfect stand-alone, this is a book to get you addicted to the genre.

British-detective, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, rural, small-town, family-dynamics I really enjoyed it! From the reticent locals to the supercilious police superintendent to the nongrieving family to the marvelous CID Chief Inspector MacDonald to the familiar sort of countryside, all is clear and well written. It was easy to determine who would be bumped off, but interesting to dig through the twists and red herrings to prove the killer. That's always the hardest part, legal proof. Now I must find more in this series! I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

About the author

E.C.R. LORAC was a pen name of Edith Caroline Rivett (1894-1958) who was a prolific writer of crime fiction from the 1930s to the 1950s, and a member of the prestigious Detection Club. Her books have been almost entirely neglected since her death, but deserve rediscovery as fine examples of classic British crime fiction in its golden age.