The Port of London Murders

A cast of Dickensian characters lifts this British Library Crime Classic from Bell (1897–1987), first published in 1938. Before the arrival in the port of London of a cargo ship that sets in motion a series of events that eventually lead to murder, Bell introduces a diverse group of people, including Leslie Harvey, a boy rescued from drowning by boatman Harry Reed; the affluent Pamela Merston; and Divisional Detective-Sergeant Chandler. Chandler responds to the scene of an apparent suicide—a woman appears to have killed herself by drinking Lysol, but needle marks on her body suggest foul play. After Chandler unexpectedly is unable to continue his probe, the baton’s passed to another policeman. Bell ably weaves together the disparate plot strands, but the book’s strength lies in her plausible and affecting depictions of people forgotten by much of society, including the destitute, who lived “in the worst possible surroundings, and the Public Assistance saw to it that they did not die too soon.” Lyrical prose makes the Thames feel almost like a living character. Traditional mystery fans won’t want to miss this gem. (Sept.)