THE MURDER AT CASTLE DEEPING
First Published in book form in May 1938 – 222 pages.
(The first
edition has a 38 page John Hamilton advertising catalogue in the back – dated
“Autumn 1937”)
Completely revised and reset and republished in 1951 - 152 pages.
Originally published in THE THRILLER magazine on 12th
June 1937 and 17th July 1937
with the two parts entitled ‘Scandal at Castle Deeping’ and ‘The
Counterfeiters’
A replica of the original dust
jacket. I have no idea how accurate it
is. I believe the original price of the
book was 3/6.
The Latimer edition reprint dust
wrapper from the first impression showing the price of 6 shillings on the front
flap. I believe this was published on 16th
July 1951.
The Latimer edition reprint dust
wrapper from the third impression showing the price of 6 shillings on the front
flap. Notice how the price is in a
different place
And finally, the original French
edition dust wrapper of “The Murder at Castle Deeping” showing the title “Chateau-Fort et Faux
Billets” which translates as something like “Castle and Counterfeit Banknotes”
Again,
the narrator, Eric "Tubby" Wilde, tells this story in the first
person. Steeley is over from America whilst his wife is nursing an injured
sister in New Zealand. This is the first mention of Steeley's wife since Tubby
was going to be the best man at his wedding at the end of 'Steeley Flies Again'. A meal has been arranged with Steeley,
Tubby, Detective Inspector Wayne and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Colonel
Raymond. We are told that Brian Ballantyne is away in Spain covering the civil
war there. Steeley says that he thinks people are getting away with murder in
the UK and gives as an example the case of Linton Hales who has drowned in his
car in the moat of Castle Deeping. Raymond takes Steeley and Tubby on as
special investigators and gets them to look into the case, which the coroner
has recorded as 'accidental death'. Steeley and Tubby fly down to the
apparently abandoned castle to investigate the scene of the crime. They soon
find themselves locked in the cellar and then mysterious enemies flood the
cellar in an attempt to drown them. Our heroes manage to get out and get into
the castle. Here they find a mysterious girl drugged. Escaping to a nearby
public house called the Gamekeeper's Arms, (but having to leave the girl
behind), our two heroes meet "the boss". He details two men to follow
and kill Steeley and Tubby. They manage to get to another pub by bus and
Steeley fakes a heart attack to avoid having to leave at closing time, because
the killers are waiting for them. When a doctor is called, Steeley takes the
doctor into his confidence and asks him to call Wayne at Scotland Yard to come
and help them. The police arrive in the nick of time but one of the would-be
killers, 'Benny from Bow' is able to escape. Chasing him back to Castle Deeping,
Steeley and the police find a Black Mass in session with devil worshippers
engaged in debauchery. The police raid the Castle and catch nearly everybody
but "the boss" and Benny both get away. Fingerprints identify
"the boss" as one Paul Durant, an underworld figure. Steeley has an
idea and arranges with Colonel Raymond for a story to be put in the papers that
two car thieves are finishing their sentences and being released from
Pentonville prison tomorrow. Steeley will become "Brown" and Tubby
will become "Smith". The following morning, Steeley and Tubby are
"released" from Pentonville and soon picked up by a car driven by
Jimmy West with a passenger called Lewis or Lew for short. Lew wants to recruit
the two "criminals" into a counterfeit currency racket. They will
receive money in order to pass counterfeit currency and get real change.
Steeley and Tubby are taken back to Lew's base and Benny from Bow arrives.
Steeley and Tubby manage to avoid seeing him. They are then taken to see
"the boss" to be approved. Knowing that if they come face to face
with Paul Durant they will be in big trouble, our heroes go through some nerve
wracking moments. The boss they are taken to see is "the Major",
Durant's right hand man. They also meet "Tiger", Durant's bodyguard.
Lew takes them to see the Major in a stolen car and this attracts the attention
of the police and causes problems. Steeley and Tubby are next taken to the
country residence of "the boss" by the Major. Here they have a
confrontation with Benny from Bow. Steeley tries to bluff his way out but
things take an unexpected turn. Tiger beats Lew to a pulp, thinking that he is
a police informer. When Steeley and Tubby find his unconscious body they are
gassed with tear gas. Durant then has them tied up and sets fire to the house
so that they will all be burnt alive. Luckily, Lew recovers consciousness and
is able to free Tubby who is able to get everybody out just in time. Steeley,
Tubby and Lew steal a car in order to go after Durant. They travel down to his
boat at Gravesend, where Lew thinks he will be. Here at the boat there is a
final confrontation where the baddies get their comeuppance before the police
arrive. However, not everybody is caught.
The Murder at Castle Deeping
Subtitle - Being the further adventures of "Steeley"
Delaroy, gentleman adventurer, sometime air-smuggler, more recently unofficial
police agent.
Told by his war-time comrade, and partner in his adventures,
Captain Eric "Tubby" Wilde.
Publication Details - originally published by John Hamilton