There was a Crooked Man

“There was a Crooked Man”, first published in 1936, is a classic “golden-age” murder mystery by George Worthing Yates (1901-1975), a prominent Hollywood screenwriter, mostly of science-fiction. Publisher’s synopsis: The corpse lay huddled in the rain on a terrace outside the executive offices of the Chelsac Theatre. The evening clothes were faultless, but the body had been horribly mutilated—years before. Who was the crooked man? Christien, the managing director of the theatre, had never seen the man before … Percy Tussard, of the police, set to work on the case. And close on his heels came ancient and autocratic Lord Broghville. He threw the weight of his years, his influence, his impressive dignity and his immense intelligence into the search for the murderer ... “There Was a Crooked Man” adds to the ranks of amateur detectives a new one you cannot fail to take to your heart—the lonely and tremendous, the ancient and august Lord Broghville. You will meet him again in other mysteries by Mr. Yates — mysteries which, like this one, combine rich characterization with surprise and ingenuity of situation and unusual charm of style.