It’s good to see so many forgotten Golden Age crime authors being brought back into print by various publishers. Bruce Graeme (Graham Montague Jeffries) is another I had never heard of until my eye was caught by the bright and colourful cover of this recent reissue of The Undetective. Graeme appears to have been very prolific, particularly during the 1930s and 40s, but this is a later novel from 1962. It’s a real gem and I highly recommend it to classic crime fans! Along with several of Graeme’s others, it’s published by Moonstone Press, which makes it a perfect choice for Karen and Lizzy’s #ReadIndies month.
Our narrator, Iain Carter, has abandoned a career in law to become a crime writer, but is finding it less profitable than he expected. Luckily, his brother-in-law, Edward, happens to be a police detective who is often indiscreet when discussing his work with his family, and Iain decides to use Edward’s inside knowledge as the basis for a new series of books. He creates a superintendent character based on Edward’s boss, whom he portrays as a bumbling idiot incapable of solving any crimes – more of an ‘undetective’ than a detective!
In order to avoid getting Edward into trouble, Iain publishes under a pseudonym – John Ky. Lowell – and goes to great lengths to ensure that nobody can ever trace Lowell back to him. The new series proves to be a huge success and everything is going well for Iain…until a man is found murdered and it emerges that the main suspect is John Ky. Lowell! Can Iain divert suspicion away from his alter ego without making himself a target?
I found this an entertaining read from beginning to end. As an author himself and a founding member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Graeme pokes fun at the publishing industry and his fellow CWA members, namedropping people like John Creasey, Christianna Brand and Julian Symons (who writes a bad review of one of Iain Carter’s books). He also offers some interesting insights into the world of publishing, the royalties an author could expect in 1962, and the reasons for writing under a pseudonym. The schemes Carter comes up with for trying to hide Lowell’s true identity are ingenious!
Although a murder does take place, this is not really a conventional murder mystery, and it’s not a police procedural either as we only hear about the police investigations and theories from Iain’s perspective, due to his friendship with Edward. Iain is not really interested in trying to solve the mystery – he just wants to make sure that neither he nor the non-existent Lowell can be connected with it. With the help of his wife, Susan, he begins planting false clues and red herrings to try to lead the police in the wrong direction and part of the fun is in wondering how long this can go on before he eventually makes a mistake and gets caught out!
I enjoyed this book so much I’m definitely planning to read more by Bruce Graeme, as well as maybe trying some of the other authors available from the same publisher.
Moonstone Press is a member of the Independent Publishers Guild and focuses on “detective, crime and humorous fiction published before 1965”.
She Reads Novels 
Well, I’m *definitely* adding this book (and author) to my ‘list’! You’re not kidding about him being prolific and it looks like they’ve reissued a whole series of his work. I was particularly taken by the title of the first book: Seven Clues in Search of a Crime….! [lol]
Thanks for alerting us to this author. Isn’t it great that SO many classic crime novels are being reissued.
Yes, I like the sound of that first book in the series too. I might have to try that one soon!
Theodore Terhune
1. Seven Clues in Search of a Crime (1941)
2. House with Crooked Walls (1942)
3. A Case for Solomon (1943)
4. Work for the Hangman (1944)
5. Ten Trails to Tyburn (1944)
6. A Case of Books (1946)
7. And a Bottle of Rum (1949)
All now available in print……… [grin]
A fine review of what sounds like a fun novel; and I agree about that striking cover!
It’s a great cover and all the others from that publisher look equally attractive!
This sounds like fun.
Yes, it’s very entertaining.
Oooh, I hadn’t come across this author. He sounds worth seeking out. Thanks,
Yes, he was a good discovery!
A new author and publisher to me, and both look good! That’s a very lively cover for GA crime!
Yes, it’s an unusual cover! I’m sure I’ll be reading more from this publisher – their books all look very tempting!
This does sound like a fun one…and not a typical mystery or police procedural. This kind of mystery usually ends up being my favorite kind. 😀
It was very entertaining. I usually love this kind of mystery too.
A new author and publisher, thanks Helen definitely one to go and have a look at!
All of the books from this publisher look fascinating! I’m sure I’ll be trying more of them.
Sounds like great fun! I was sold at the reference to Julian Symons giving the bad review – such an insider “Golden Age” joke! One for the wishlist…
There are lots of little inside jokes like that all the way through the book! I’m hoping Bruce Graeme’s other books will be as much fun as this one.