The Division Bell Mystery (British Library Crime Classics) - Softcover

Wilkinson, Ellen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1464210853 ISBN 13: 9781464210853

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press, 2018

Synopsis

Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder

'Wilkinson deftly tacks between satirizing the stolid Ministers who get ensnared in these crimes and plotting a sturdy detective story.' --Kirkus Reviews

'Through the double clamour of Big Ben and the shrill sound of the bell rang a revolver shot.'

A financier is found shot in the House of Commons. Suspecting foul play, Robert West, a parliamentary private secretary, takes on the role of amateur sleuth. Used to turning a blind eye to covert dealings, West must now uncover the shocking secret behind the man's demise, amid distractions from the press and the dead man's enigmatic daughter.

Originally published in 1932, this was the only mystery novel to be written by Ellen Wilkinson, one of the first women to be elected to Parliament. Wilkinson offers a unique insider's perspective of political scandal, replete with sharp satire.

About this title

Review:

..".Wilkinson deftly tacks between satirizing the stolid Ministers who get ensnared in these crimes and plotting a sturdy detective story."--Kirkus Reviews

"Wilkinson (1891-1947), a Labour MP for much of her career, makes fine use of her inside knowledge to craft this intriguing whodunit, first published in 1932...This is another worthy addition to the British Library Crime Classics series."--Publishers Weekly

"To me, the book is...made vastly more interesting because its author, Ellen Wilkinson, drew on her experience as an elected member of parliament and put a great deal of insider knowledge into the book both about the scenes inside Parliament and about some of the politics involved. As usual, mystery historian Martin Edwards provides an introduction, focusing his attention this time on politics in Golden Age detective fiction. There is also a preface, written for this new edition by Rachel Reeves, another elected Member of Parliament. I recommend the book to you very highly indeed."--classicmysteries.net

About the Author:

ELLEN WILKINSON (1891-1947) was a Labour Party politician, who played a prominent role in the Jarrow March and served as Minister of Education from July 1945 until her death.

About this edition

• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 1464210853
• ISBN 13: 9781464210853
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256