The Mystery of the Skeleton Key by Bernard Capes

Yet it seems neither Sergeant Ridgeway nor the Baron are satisfied with this result. Circumstantial evidence and a failing to find out anything about Annie’s past, the police investigation leads to Louis being committed for trial. Many of the male members of the household come under scrutiny such as the Baron’s valet, Louis, who tried to kiss her and got a slap in response, the butler and even Hugo Kennett, whose gun was used to do the deed. The narrative picks up a lot when one of the maids, Annie Evans is murdered, a woman of immense beauty. Though this is not to be and I think that particular relationship is something Capes tries to avoid such as when Bickerdike extols the virtues of the official police. Vivian suggests he likes being secretive in order that he can be surprising and one does wonder whether there will be a Watson/ Holmes relationship with them, especially since some of the chapters are from Bickerdike’s manuscripts.

Whilst this opening is rather slow, it does help to present a picture of the Baron, a man who is good at knowing or deducing information about others, but is very reticent about himself, making Vivian rather suspicious and annoyed at him. The story begins with Vivian Bickerdike recounting how he first met Baron Le Sage in Paris and how he meet him again in London as they travel down together to the same country house, Wildshott, which is owned by tyrannical Sir Calvin, the father of Vivian’s friend Hugo Kennett (although he is also called Hugh,) who is currently out of sorts.

To be honest I don’t think this is Chesterton at his best and if you want to know more about the book and the author I would stick with the introduction by Lamb. Chesterton wrote for the book when it was reprinted after his death. This edition also includes the introduction G.

This introduction also mentions what Julian Symons Bloody Murder (1972) made of Capes, a ‘neglected tour de force.’ The Mystery of the Skeleton Key (1919) went on to become a success, however Capes never got to see this, as he died during the influenza epidemic which followed WW1. Until reading this book, I had never heard of Bernard Capes, but Hugh Lamb’s introduction to the recent Collin Crime Club reprint was excellent at remedying this, with facts ranging from Capes having written 40 books in 20 years to him also having given rabbit breeding a good as a career (it did not go well).

The Mystery of the Skeleton Key by Bernard Capes