‘How’s it going, George?’
‘Sheer murder.’
When Ludovic Travers went to Sandbeach-‘the Blackpool of the South Coast’-his purpose was to investigate on behalf of an insurance company a jewel robbery at one of that lively resort’s leading hotels. The victim of the robbery was Mona Dovell, the flighty wife of an elderly and highly respected magistrate. Ludovic was not long on the job before he discovered that Mona was heavily involved with a bookmaker of dubious reputation, and that her relations with certain members of the local C.I.D. were unconventional to say the least of it. After that, even the robbery itself began to smell fishy, and Ludovic started to wonder if there was not also a strong whiff of corruption in the air.
The Case of the Careless Thief was originally published in 1959. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
‘One can only wonder how he keeps up the standard . . . as ingenious and full of meat as ever.’ Guardian
‘In crime writing it’s not true that a good wine needs no Bush. The Case of the Careless Thief is another dry sherry by Christopher Bush, one of the best story-tellers in the world.’ Western Mail
’Ingenious and energetic double-murder set in a garish south coast resort. Ludovic Travers, a polished private eye, investigates a jewel-theft insurance-swindle and uncovers the nastiest bunch of seaside characters since Graham Greene visited Brighton.’ Sydney Morning Herald
About the author
Christopher Bush was born Charlie Christmas Bush in Norfolk in 1885. His father was a farm labourer and his mother a milliner. In the early years of his childhood he lived with his aunt and uncle in London before returning to Norfolk aged seven, later winning a scholarship to Thetford Grammar School.As an adult, Bush worked as a schoolmaster for 27 years, pausing only to fight in World War One, until retiring aged 46 in 1931 to be a full-time novelist. His first novel featuring the eccentric Ludovic Travers was published in 1926, and was followed by 62 additional Travers mysteries. These are all to be republished by Dean Street Press.Christopher Bush fought again in World War Two, and was elected a member of the prestigious Detection Club. He died in 1973.More ebooks from the same author(s) / Editor
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