Of all the murder mysteries I’ve read of E.C.R. Lorac, Checkmate to Murder is the best one. It is very cleverly written, with a complex plot and quite convincing red herrings. It is well structured and balanced, and so, the suspense was kept intact. Not a moment was there to be either bored or tired. If I say that this murder mystery in the Robert McDonald series is one of the best mysteries I have read, that’ll sum up how I felt about this novel.
Lorac’s best attraction is her writing. It is both atmospheric and mysterious. She knows how to create a setting and transport the reader into that setting. The novels set in London, including this one, are particularly alluring with the dark feel of the London blitz hovering in the background.
Robert McDonald, one of my most love fictitious detectives (seconding only to Sherlock Holmes), was portrayed in his best light. His intelligence, cleverness, experience as a detective, and above all, his human side were best exhibited here. I truly loved the role he played in this murder mystery. Lorac has always portrayed Chief Inspector McDonald well, but here, he is portrayed exceptionally well.
This murder mystery was enjoyable both for its writing and the enveloping mystery. Although I guessed the culprit correctly, guided by my experience of reading many murder mysteries and somewhat the motive accurately, I could never have guessed how the crime was committed. It was so cleverly done.
Checkmate to Murder is the most enjoyable mystery in the Robert McDonald series that I’ve read so far, and it certainly comes under what I consider to be a best-written whodunit.
Rating: 4/5
