This month, Liz at Adventures in Reading, Running and Working from Home is hosting another Dean Street Press December. I have several books published by DSP that I would like to read but I decided to start with this one, a standalone Patricia Wentworth novel from 1924. I really enjoyed it, so it was a good choice!
The Red Lacquer Case is a spy thriller and like many books of its type it’s probably best not to take it too seriously. Accept it for what it is, though, and it’s great fun. Our heroine is Sally Meredith who, as the novel opens, is listening to her uncle, the scientist Fritzi Lasalle, telling her about a formula he has developed for a potentially dangerous new gas. Lasalle has become paranoid about the formula falling into enemy hands, so he has locked it inside a red lacquer case which has a secret opening mechanism. After showing Sally how it works, he explains that an attempt to open it in any other way will release acid into the case, destroying the contents.
During the night, Lasalle walks out of the house and disappears, leaving behind a note for Sally telling her that the red lacquer case is hidden on a bookshelf. When she goes to look for it, however, she discovers that it’s been stolen. It seems that Lasalle’s worst fears have come to pass and enemy agents now have the case – but they don’t know how to open it and for that they’ll need Sally’s help.
The rest of the novel follows Sally as she tries to evade the enemy, who are determined to capture her and force her to open the case. Unfortunately, although she’s a brave, plucky heroine (thankfully the complete opposite of the infuriating Loveday Leigh in Fool Errant, the only other Wentworth novel I’ve read), she’s too trusting and unobservant and walks straight into every trap set for her. It makes the plot more exciting, I suppose, but it’s also quite frustrating. It’s one of those books where you keep wishing you could jump into the story for a moment and shout “No! Don’t do it!”
Sally has some help from Bill Armitage, a former love interest who now works for the War Office and coincidentally also happens to be on the trail of Uncle Fritzi’s secret formula. He’s not as much help as he could have been, however, because he and Sally spend most of the book embroiled in a series of misunderstandings, being caught out by fake telegrams and other deceptions used by the enemy agents. Luckily for Sally, she find some unlikely allies at the enemy hideout, including a temperamental Polish violinist who conveniently falls in love with her and an elderly aunt who’s completely unaware that she’s sharing her house with spies.
I think you can probably see why I’ve said this isn’t a book to be taken seriously! It’s great escapism, though, and very entertaining. Just be aware that it’s not really the ‘Golden Age mystery’ the cover indicates, as there’s very little mystery involved (although there is a twist at the end, which I didn’t see coming but should probably have guessed). I’m looking forward to reading more of the Patricia Wentworth books available from Dean Street Press!
She Reads Novels 
This sounds great, I love it that she’s not very observant!
This sounds excellent, how useful that she’s not very observant (or the aunt so it seems?)!
It’s fun, but does rely heavily on coincidences and characters just walking blindly into traps!
sorry about the comments, I keep being locked out!
I think WordPress has a mind of its own sometimes.
Entertaining and escape–two things I love in any book. This one just sounds fun. 😀
It was great – just what I was in the mood for!
That does sound like a fun one! Thanks for linking to my post – I’ve added this one to the list!
Thanks – I really enjoyed it. I’m reading another DSP book now that couldn’t be more different!
i’m glad you enjoyed this book – which as you know is also one of the Dean Street press books I’m hoping to read this month.
I hope you have time to get to this one this month. I’ll be interested to hear what you think if you do.
I’m hoping to get to some of the books they sent me later this month. We’ll see!
I hope you have time to get to them. If not, Dean Street Press books are great at any time of year!
I’ve only read a few of her books but on the whole I’ve enjoyed her standalones better than the Miss Silver books, though they do seem to be written to a formula! Her heroines are quite fun, if a bit(!) foolhardy, and the romance angle doesn’t drown the story.
Yes, this one was quite similar to the other Wentworth standalone I’ve read – but with a less annoying heroine! I’m sure I’ll try the Miss Silver books eventually as well.
Interesting! Glad they fit in with your mood!
I’m finding that Patricia Wentworth’s books are perfect if you want something that’s fun to read and not too challenging.
Sounds like it might be fun.
It was very entertaining.