The Scarab Murder Case
The Scarab Murder Case (1929) is a classic whodunit written by S. S. Van Dine. In this book, detective Philo Vance's murder investigation takes place in a private home that doubles as a museum of Egyptology, and the solution depends in part on Vance's extensive knowledge of Egyptian history and customs, which enable him to sort through suggestions of godly vengeance and reveal the misdirections perpetrated by the real murderer.
 First US edition | |
| Author | S. S. Van Dine |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Philo Vance |
| Genre | Mystery novels |
| Publisher | Ernest Benn (UK) & Scribner's (US) |
Publication date | 1929 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Preceded by | The Bishop Murder Case |
| Followed by | The Kennel Murder Case |
Literary significance and criticism
Some reviewers "were disgusted by the author's bland insults to the reader's intelligence -- e.g., the heavy Egyptian statue in the gallery, upended on a piece of pencil and conveniently toppling on the designed victim. By that date they were fed up with the whole bag of tricks, which successive settings did not rejuvenate."[1]
Film adaptation
The Scarab Murder Case (1936) starred Wilfrid Hyde-White as Vance.
References
- Barzun, Jacques and Taylor, Wendell Hertig. A Catalogue of Crime. New York: Harper & Row. 1971, revised and enlarged edition 1989. ISBN 0-06-015796-8
External links
- The Scarab Murder Case at Faded Page (Canada)
- Text of the novel from Project Gutenberg, Australia
- Reviewed by Mary Reed on the Mystery*File blog.