Ronald A Knox - Still Dead - Book Review
STILL DEAD is a detective-story by a rare writer who is not only a master of the craft but is also a master of the English, language. Set in Scotland, it tells how young Colin Reiver, recklessly driving a new sports car, is responsible for a fatal accident to a child, but is acquitted at law.
He sets out on a foreign cruise, and while he is away his father, owner of the Dorn estate, becomes dangerously ill. A gamekeeper, early on a Monday morning, rushes into Dorn House with the news that Colin is lying dead by the roadside; but when a doctor goes along, the body has disappeared—only to reappear at the same spot and time two days later. Now old Donald Reiver had. years ago, taken out an insurance policy for a large amount on his son’s life, but his cheque for the current year’s premium did not reach the insurance company until that Monday morning—after the usual period of grace had elapsed.
1924 UK First Edition - Artwork by Bip Pares
So if Colin died early on the Monday he was uninsured ; if, however, his death did not occur till the Wednesday, the insurance company would be liable for the claim. Miles Bredon, the company’s private enquiry agent, comes to Dorn to investigate and soon finds himself involved in a fascinating mystery of extreme complexity. The author of this book plays fair with his readers, and when the solution is disclosed page references are given to all clues,
Monsignor Ronald Knox is famous as scholar, preacher, wit and detective-story writer. He comes of a brilliant family : his father was Bishop of Manchester, his brother was Editor of Punch. Educated at Eton and Oxford, he was ordained a priest in the Church of England ; but five years later he entered the Roman Catholic Church. He recently completed the first Roman Catholic translation of the complete Bible into English for more than 350 years.