| Description | Nigel Strangeways novel in which the poet/amateur detectives asked to spend the Christmas holidays at the home of Fergus O'Brien, a legendary World War I flying ace. O'Brien has received four threatening notes promising that he will die on the day after Christmas. Despite Strangeways' presence, O'Brien dies.
For readers already acquainted with the Nigel Strangeways' stories, Thou Shell of Death is notable in that Inspector Blount of Scotland Yard is first introduced in this story. Also, at O'Brien's estate Strangeways first meets the adventuresome Georgia Cavendish; she later becomes his wife.
Thou Shell of Death is a literate, carefully constructed manor house mystery. The title, Thou Shell of Death, is a quote from a lesser known Elizabethan play, The Revenger's Tragedy authorship believed to be by either Cyril Tourneur or Thomas Middleton.
Includes handwritten margin notes by Exton. |