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Inspector Poole #1
The Missing Partners
Cousins James and Charles Morden run a shipping company in Liverpool that is, in the wake of the Great War, struggling. It appears there have been financial irregularities, and then James Morden's body is washed up on a bank of the Mersey. Evidence points to Charles Morden, after burning a lot of papers, having fled to New York.
It turns out there's an illicit side to the business - and that James Morden's wife, Lilith, is a major player.
The strands of the plot seem past untangling, but the family solicitor, William Turnbull, grasps every thread and draws them all together . . .
310 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1928
5 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Henry Wade
61Ìýbooks11ÌýfollowersHenry Wade was a pen-name of Sir Henry Lancelot Aubrey-Fletcher, 6th Baronet. Other authors on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ are also named Henry Wade.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 17, 2022
Definitely not a favorite, something about it just didn’t appeal to me. It started off with an unlikeable heroine and her rather pathetically puppy-like wannabe beau sitting in a movie theater, and right from the start I wasn’t pleased or interested in either character.
He’s a clerk at the Tax Inspector’s office, she’s secretary to the cousins who run a shipping firm. In an effort to impress, he drops a hint that her bosses may be in dire straits. He tries to backpedal, but Helen Mildmay isn’t one to give up when she wants answers. Then, as they’re walking home after the movie date, one of her bosses drives by in a tearing hurry. Next day, he doesn’t appear at the office- neither does his cousin. Helen and her beau, Tom, consult with her father, manager of the firm, but he doesn’t want to make waves. Helen contacts the wife of the married cousin, to inquire about his absence, but she is totally unconcerned - but eventually the police are called in. A body is pulled out of the river near the docks, and it looks like Charles killed his cousin and took off for America.
The mystery was suitably complex, involving Prohibition, tax evasion and murder, and there was a surprise twist at the end, but I just didn’t like any of the characters. Some were downright awful, like the cold-blooded widow, and the investigating officer. Superintendent Dodd, of the Liverpool Police, was crude, rude, and coarse - and downright unprofessional at times. I have no idea why this is called an Inspector Poole mystery, there is no character by that name. Also, I find it annoying when there are amateur detectives (in this case, Helen, her beau Tom, and attorney Turnbull), and police officials all working on the same case, but the reader isn’t always sure what each side has discovered. Makes for a disjointed narrative.
I didn’t enjoy this book, but would try the author again, perhaps in an actual Inspector Poole case! Maybe I’d like him.
He’s a clerk at the Tax Inspector’s office, she’s secretary to the cousins who run a shipping firm. In an effort to impress, he drops a hint that her bosses may be in dire straits. He tries to backpedal, but Helen Mildmay isn’t one to give up when she wants answers. Then, as they’re walking home after the movie date, one of her bosses drives by in a tearing hurry. Next day, he doesn’t appear at the office- neither does his cousin. Helen and her beau, Tom, consult with her father, manager of the firm, but he doesn’t want to make waves. Helen contacts the wife of the married cousin, to inquire about his absence, but she is totally unconcerned - but eventually the police are called in. A body is pulled out of the river near the docks, and it looks like Charles killed his cousin and took off for America.
The mystery was suitably complex, involving Prohibition, tax evasion and murder, and there was a surprise twist at the end, but I just didn’t like any of the characters. Some were downright awful, like the cold-blooded widow, and the investigating officer. Superintendent Dodd, of the Liverpool Police, was crude, rude, and coarse - and downright unprofessional at times. I have no idea why this is called an Inspector Poole mystery, there is no character by that name. Also, I find it annoying when there are amateur detectives (in this case, Helen, her beau Tom, and attorney Turnbull), and police officials all working on the same case, but the reader isn’t always sure what each side has discovered. Makes for a disjointed narrative.
I didn’t enjoy this book, but would try the author again, perhaps in an actual Inspector Poole case! Maybe I’d like him.
November 6, 2022
Set in Liverpool, two cousins are partners in a small shipping business. One evening both of them go missing setting in train a man and body-hunt for the local police and some members of the office. One body later and a motive linked to prohibition in the USA, the solution is quite surprising. Enjoyed this one overall. Had to smile at a railway schedule quoted, as the route between Crewe and London has not changed in a century!
May 30, 2018
Although this was only Wade's second novel, it shows a good grasp of all the elements which make for an entertaining Golden Age detective novel.
It has an interesting and suitably complex plot, there are amateurs pitting their wits against a stolid professional policeman, there are red herrings, there is romance and there is an unexpected ending.
Added to these are Wade's ability to evoke atmospheric settings, unusually here in and around Merseyside, and to flesh out characters, even minor ones, convincingly.
The amateurs,Tom Fairbanks, Helen Mildmay and William Turnbull are occasionally irritating and the professional, Superintendent Dodd is certainly rather uninspiring, but they are realistically portrayed and Dodd does solve his case.
There are some longueurs in the second half of the book where a little judicious pruning might have been in order, and I did think the solution was flagged more overtly than in some of the subsequent novels. However the setting in the shipping business is very well- handled.
Most enjoyable and recommendable but please note this does not feature Inspector Poole.
It has an interesting and suitably complex plot, there are amateurs pitting their wits against a stolid professional policeman, there are red herrings, there is romance and there is an unexpected ending.
Added to these are Wade's ability to evoke atmospheric settings, unusually here in and around Merseyside, and to flesh out characters, even minor ones, convincingly.
The amateurs,Tom Fairbanks, Helen Mildmay and William Turnbull are occasionally irritating and the professional, Superintendent Dodd is certainly rather uninspiring, but they are realistically portrayed and Dodd does solve his case.
There are some longueurs in the second half of the book where a little judicious pruning might have been in order, and I did think the solution was flagged more overtly than in some of the subsequent novels. However the setting in the shipping business is very well- handled.
Most enjoyable and recommendable but please note this does not feature Inspector Poole.
October 12, 2022
Quite boring and a sudden end.
October 22, 2022
This book had excellent villains with an interesting money-making scheme. However, the good guys were rather boring with an annoying heroine, a bland hero, and a couple of blindly infatuated men. The police detective is portrayed as a bumbling idiot, but he does arrive at the correct solution. Not a favorite. (P.S. There is no Inspector Poole in this book.)
September 25, 2022
Published in 1928, this is listed as the first Inspector Poole mystery, but this features Superintendent Dodd, so I was a little confused! However, this is an interesting mystery and, unusually, set in Liverpool rather than London, which was refreshing.
The mystery features around a shipping company, ran by two cousins, Charles and James Morden. James is married to the lovely Lilith, and the two have an expensive lifestyle, even though the company is not doing too well. Much of the daily business is carried out by mild-mannered Mr Mildmay, while his beloved and outspoken daughter, Helena, is the secretary to Charles Morden.
When both partners fail to turn up for work one day, it seems that Charles has run away after killing James. Helena sets out to clear his name, along with her beau, Tom Fairbanks and the solicitor William Turnbull. This is a convuluted plot and, although written during the late 1920's, it feels fairly modern in terms of the way the story moves and the various twists and turns. I would definitely read more by Wade and hope to have Inspector Poole centre stage next time!
Rated 3.5
The mystery features around a shipping company, ran by two cousins, Charles and James Morden. James is married to the lovely Lilith, and the two have an expensive lifestyle, even though the company is not doing too well. Much of the daily business is carried out by mild-mannered Mr Mildmay, while his beloved and outspoken daughter, Helena, is the secretary to Charles Morden.
When both partners fail to turn up for work one day, it seems that Charles has run away after killing James. Helena sets out to clear his name, along with her beau, Tom Fairbanks and the solicitor William Turnbull. This is a convuluted plot and, although written during the late 1920's, it feels fairly modern in terms of the way the story moves and the various twists and turns. I would definitely read more by Wade and hope to have Inspector Poole centre stage next time!
Rated 3.5
October 3, 2022
James Morden runs a Liverpool shipping firm with his cousin Charles, but he leads an extravagant lifestyle and the firm appears to be in financial difficulties. When James Morden disappears and his body is later washed up on the shore, Charles falls under suspicion. The family solicitor William Turnbull and Inspector Dodd run parallel investigations, which appear to reveal further illicit business practices.
This was a solid enough mystery, although the plot did stray into several different areas of crime and so my interest fluctuated a bit - timetables and tax calculations are never my favourite elements. The characters were an interesting bunch, particularly James Morden’s wife Lilith, although I found Turnbull rather snobbish and smug at times. The attempts to add a romantic sub plot between some of the characters didn’t really come off either.
Overall it was an enjoyable enough but not outstanding mystery, but it did have a sensible plot and some fascinating period detail.
This was a solid enough mystery, although the plot did stray into several different areas of crime and so my interest fluctuated a bit - timetables and tax calculations are never my favourite elements. The characters were an interesting bunch, particularly James Morden’s wife Lilith, although I found Turnbull rather snobbish and smug at times. The attempts to add a romantic sub plot between some of the characters didn’t really come off either.
Overall it was an enjoyable enough but not outstanding mystery, but it did have a sensible plot and some fascinating period detail.
August 18, 2022
I found this book very easy to read; the characters felt real� even if I didn’t really like the heroine. The ending caught me by surprise, but I find myself satisfied in spite it subverting my expectations.
This books rates as a 4.5 for me. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
This books rates as a 4.5 for me. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
March 2, 2021
Cousins James and Charles Morden run a shipping agency in Liverpool but when James is found murdered and Charles disappeared Superintendent Dodds in convinced this is an open and shut case. Solicitor Charles Turnbell is convinced of Charles innocence and sets up an inquiry of his own to prove his innocence and despite all their efforts Dodds remains intransigent until a terrific final twist. A found this a very enjoyable tale which kept me engaged throughout but helped by the fact the places named in the book were all familiar to me. Despite described as an Inspector Poole novel he is only a minor character working for Superintendent Dodds and appearing infrequently.
Want to read
November 20, 2020Synopsis: there had been irregularities at the shipping company when James Morden died. Inspector Poole gets involved. Or is it another detective?
November 25, 2023
This was okay.
Very confusing at the start which made it difficult to get into the story. But I later became intrigued.
I did like Inspector Dodd although I thought he was a bit of a dolt at times. Maybe I will like Inspector Poole just a bit better.
Very confusing at the start which made it difficult to get into the story. But I later became intrigued.
I did like Inspector Dodd although I thought he was a bit of a dolt at times. Maybe I will like Inspector Poole just a bit better.
December 31, 2022
Clever mystery with lots of twists and a surprise ending.
August 19, 2016
Cousins Charles and James Morden have different ideas, but their shipping firm jogs along fairly well, allowing for the general post-war decline. Then both men suddenly fail to come to work. No one knows where James is; Charles has left his lodgings in a rush and was seen leaving Liverpool in his little car. The police follow clues and are sure that Charles murdered James. Their secretary, bolstered by the firm's solicitor and by her hapless suitor, is sure that something is wrong with this picture.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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