Still, there were serial killers in Golden Age crime fiction. Two early ones, John Rhode's The Murders in Praed Street and Anthony Berkeley's The Silk Stocking Murders, appeared in 1928.
Two of the best serial killer novels from this period, surely, are Philip Macdonald's frantic Murder Gone Mad (1931) and Ethel Lina White's eerie Some Must Watch (1933), filmed as The Spiral Staircase.
We know Agatha Christie made a great splash in 1936 with her ingenious The ABC Murders. Appearing just a couple months after Christie's celebrated novel was Christopher Bush's The Case of the Monday Murders (in US, Murder on Mondays).
It's odd how similarly plotted novels can crop up at nearly the same time like this. Both The ABC Murders and The Case of the Monday Murders involve letters promising a thematically linked series of murders in the near future. In ABC Murders the killer's pattern involves the alphabet, while in Monday Murders it's the calendar that inspires our killer.
You know about The ABC Murders, of course, but what about The Case of the Monday Murders? I'll be reviewing it next week. Until then, what are your favorite serial killer novels, Golden Age or otherwise?
I JUST treated myself today to "The Silk Stocking Murders", so I may be reviewing that in the near future. I'm a huge fan of Philip Macdonald's "Murder Gone Mad"... I dimly remember "Praed Street" but haven't had a copy in years.
ReplyDeleteI think one of my favourites would be Ellery Queen's "Cat Of Many Tails". Really revolutionary. I'm also a big fan of "The ABC Murders" because it's the first such twist on the serial killer novel of which I'm aware.
Cat of Many Tails and The ABC Murders are the obvious picks for favorites, but Gladys Mitchell's The Rising of the Moon also deserves a mention. What the book lacks in plot is made up by Mitchell's wonderful storytelling.
DeleteCat of Many Tails and The Rising of the Moon are two classics! I notice so far we are leaning heavily toward the English mystery. Were American less bloodthirsty? (surely not!)
DeleteAn earlier American one would be The Bishop Murder Case, surely (aren't there at least three murders)? I don't believe The Greene Murder Case would count, because those murders are all within one family (in the same house, no less).
Noah, yes Christie was really clever there. The Silk Stocking Murders is interesting to compare with Christie's book, because it seems like ABC (Anthony Berkeley Cox) was so close to that ABC plot of Christie's, but didn't make it, getting bogged down in weird psychology. Not to mention the antisemitism in the book ("I've never met a Jew I liked so much before!" pronounces the nice girl).
DeleteLast year I read Death Walks in Eastrepps by Francis Beeding, and I thought it must be one of the first serial killer books. It was excellent.... Look forward to hearing more about this genre from you.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's a good one! Francis Beeding has several of those multiple murder books. I will post the additional mentions.
DeleteI think THE GRINDLE NIGHTMARE might qualify for an American version of an early serial killer novel. It certainly has psychopathology of thrill killing in spades. Does EGYPTIAN CROSS MYSTERY count? only three deaths as I recall, but has a fictional serial killer feel to it in the method and disposal of the corpses. THE SHUDDERS, one of the Thatcher Colt books not written by Fulton Oursler, might be considered another. But I'm failing to come up with many possibilities for the American writers in the 30s and 40s. They start to pop up with increasing frequency in the 1950s.
ReplyDeleteGrindle Nightmare is a good one! So is the 1940s Jonathan Stagge novel The Scarlet Circle. I've actually reviewed that one here, come to think of it!
DeleteI have to admit I gave up on The Egyptian Cross Mystery about halfway through.
The ABC Murders was excellent. I have Some Must Watch but haven't got to it yet. I love all those old covers!
ReplyDeleteSo neat. I wish they could all get facsimile reprints!
DeleteA relatively unknown GAD serial killer story is Neil Gordon's "The Silent Murders". Recommended reading!
ReplyDeleteThere's also "X vs Rex" by Martin Pollock - a pen name for Philip MacDonald.
Thanks, Christian. Interestingly the Gordon book used the same central plot gimmick as John Rhode's The Murders in Praed Street, which preceded it by a year.
DeleteTHE ABC MURDERS (though not strictly a serial killer story) and CAT OF MANY TAILS by Ellery Queen are favorites of mine, too.
ReplyDeleteAs is SINGING IN THE SHROUDS by Ngaio Marsh.
Though I don't think of myself as a fan of serial killer novels, I find that I've still managed to read a couple of great ones:
THE ALIENIST by Caleb Carr (a historical serial killer novel which takes place in early 20th century New York).
RIVER OF DARKNESS by Rennie Airth (a historical serial killer novel which takes place in England just after WWI)
I'm intrigued by several of the titles you've listed, so adding them to my TBR Vintage list. :)
Yvette, I have that Rennie Airth, I need to read that one. Always hear about the Carr book but must admit I haven't read it!
DeleteDo we count DOUBLE DOUBLE by Ellery Queen? There's plenty wrong with the book, but they make the preposterous solution work!
ReplyDelete