Murder in the Basement

First published in 1932, this stellar mystery from British author Berkeley (1893–1971) is believed to be the first-ever “whowasdunin,” as mystery expert Martin Edwards notes in his introduction. After Reginald and Molly Dane, a recently married couple, move into their new house, Reginald explores the basement in the hope of unearthing hidden treasure. Instead, he spots a discolored portion of the floor, which, upon excavation, reveals the remains of a woman who was shot in the head. Despite the best efforts of Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector Moresby, he’s unable to identify the victim. Moresby gets unexpected help from amateur sleuth and author Roger Sheringham, who shares an unpublished manuscript set at a boarding school that contains crucial clues. That manuscript, provided in full, is entertaining in and of itself, even without the connection to the corpse in the cellar. Berkeley’s adroit use of dry humor and plot twists help to maintain suspense even before the dead woman is named. This entry more than exceeds the high standards of the British Library Crime Classics reprint series. (Dec.)