Principles and Practice of Criminal Investigation by Roderick Alleyn MA (Oxon), CID
Author: Roderick Alleyn MA (Oxon), CID
Publisher: Sable and Murgatroyd (21/-)*
Source book: Vintage Murder by Ngaio Marsh
Chief Inspector Alleyn of Scotland Yard (a bit of a celebrity cop, and very posh with it) becomes embroiled in a murder where he knows all the suspects; having travelled to New Zealand on the same boat with them, and on to the fictional town of Middleton on the same train. He is also a witness to the murder. Where a man is killed with a magnum of champagne.
And it turns out that not only have the police officers of Middleton read Alleyn’s book, Principles and Practices of Criminal Investigation, but they seem to be aware of the details of many of his previous cases.
The suspects are all members of a theatrical company who are starting their tour of New Zealand in Middleton.
The actors discuss previous productions. They have variously acted in Scissors to Grind, Ladies of Leisure, The Jack Pot, Our Best Intentions, Double Knock, The Rat and the Beaver (which features largely in Enter a Murderer by Ngaio Marsh) and Time Payment (which was a flop).
21 shillings seems to be a very steep price for a book in the 1940s but perhaps it qualifies as an erudite tome.
Also features in Artists in Crime.
* In Scales of Justice Alleyn tells us his publishers are Brierley and Brentwood.
I have chosen to illustrate this post with photographs of the countryside near Ohakune in New Zealand because that is where the source book is set. Or nearly.
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