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’
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
First Edition Dustjacket
Second edition