This month’s theme for British Crime Classics is All Hallows’ Eve/Spooky Mysteries—perfectly timed for Halloween, right?
Initially, I thought I’d go for the obvious choice: Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party, which I read some time ago. But then I decided to try something new and considered The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice by Wilkie Collins. Still, I ended up browsing Rekha’s post for some less familiar options.
Long story short, I chose something entirely different—E.C.R. Lorac’s The Devil and the C.I.D.. I’m not exactly sure how I stumbled upon this book—probably through a series of clicks on Goodreads and Amazon—but it appears to be one of Lorac’s more elusive novels. I couldn’t find many cover variations, except for the modern (and unattractive) Ramble House edition and the beautiful jacket from the original printing.
This was my first E.C.R. Lorac novel, and I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve already added several of her books to my TBR pile, and I’m excited to dive into them soon.
Story Summary & Thoughts
“The Devil and the C.I.D.” is a thoroughly enjoyable novel by E.C.R. Lorac, one of the prominent authors of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. This book is the 14th in the series featuring her detective, Chief Inspector Robert Macdonald of Scotland Yard, a “London Scot” with a well-known passion for walking the English countryside.
In this story, Macdonald does plenty of walking—though not in the scenic countryside, but on the pavements of foggy London. The plot kicks off simply: a dead man dressed as Mephistopheles, who was later discovered to have been behaving strangely, is found in the Inspector’s car. This happened after Macdonald left his car briefly open while chasing a thief. Of course, it’s unthinkable to suggest that the Inspector could be involved in the death—but wouldn’t it make for a fantastic twist if he were?
As the investigation unfolds, Macdonald sets the wheels of the police force in motion. Yet, finding the culprit is anything but easy. The night of the incident was foggy, and there were numerous fancy dress parties happening around London, adding to the confusion and complexity of the case.
Mephisto in his devil’s cloak
The devil was to simple folk
And he was nothing more
Chapter 5
But Macdonald manages to narrow down the trail thanks to a tip from a disgruntled chauffeur, and from there we are introduced to several intriguing characters.
Ms. Charley Filson is described in a way that just narrowly avoids being a Mary Sue, but her significant role in the plot makes it easier to overlook. She isn’t a one-dimensional character, as she shows human vulnerabilities throughout the story, adding depth to her portrayal.
However, there are some overt racial undertones in the book, mainly due to the stereotyping of different races’ supposed dispositions and temperaments.
Sure. Lookin’ the Chink to the life. Clever chap. You’d have sworn he was a graven image.
Chapter 7
I understand why Lorac used certain language, given the setting and time period of this novel, but I realize these passages wouldn’t sit well with some readers today. However, I’m choosing not to take offense, as I don’t believe there was ill intent.
Despite the occasionally questionable language and a sometimes confusing plot (which could be partly due to my own distractedness), I still enjoyed the book and found it hard to put down. A bonus point: I managed to guess the culprit, even if I couldn’t piece together exactly how the crime was committed. Lorac’s writing is engaging, and while she doesn’t waste time on unrelated subplots—everything ties back to the main mystery—I felt a sense of being carried forward toward the conclusion. The unraveling of the mystery was ultimately satisfying.
