The Greene Murder Case
by , New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 1928. 12mo. 388 pp. $2.00.
SUPPOSE one takes it for granted that the detective story is not the highest form of fiction. It is, of course, too inelastic and too artificial for that. It is essentially too much of a crossword puzzle. Nevertheless, the demands it necessarily puts upon its author, and the limitations under which he must labor, induce the exhibition in any such narrative of a peculiarly high technical skill, which makes the appearance of a first-rate detective or mystery story very much of a rarity on the usual publishers’ lists. Indeed, often not for many seasons, in spite of the increasing production of mystery fiction so beloved by the tired business man, does one encounter a perfectly balanced and wrought product that leaves a reader satisfied when the book is finally closed.
That shadowy author. Mr. S. S. Van Dine, as mysterious in His obvious nom de plume as the dilettante detective, Philo Vance, of whom he is the modest biographer, would seem to have touched such an achievement in his latest history. The Greene Murder Case. It would, even, seem that The Greene Murder Case will take its place among the volumes close to the summit of Mr. Van Dine’s exacting craft, not far removed, indeed, from the marvelous doings of Sherlock Holmes and his obtuse Dr. Watson
As in every good detective story, the murderer in the baffling tragedy of Mr. Van Dine’s neurotic New York family makes an early appearance on the page, mingling mildly with the usual innocent characters, all of whom the reader, rendered gullible by elusive phrases, may suspect as connected with the crime. As in every detective story, the appearance of the culprit, unmasked, must be the main surprise which ends an unbroken and increasing train of suspense. The skill with which Mr. Van Dine does this is beautifully complicated and adroit, and without recourse to any unfair trickery or concealment. There is even a hopeless paralytic involved, and yet so great is our author’s mastery of his subject that the hopeless paralytic does not commit the murder, in itself enough to make the Greene Case most exceptional.
The story, as already intimated, centres about that new character of detective fiction, perhaps a trifle too bizarre, but with all the capacity of his most brilliant predecessors. Mr. Vance, necessarily enough, is an extraordinary fellow, one of the New York Four Hundred, an immensely rich dilettante with studious leanings, particularly in the realm of psychology. Besides brain power, need one add that the physical frame of Philo is as strong and supple as a Toledo blade, despite the exquisite brocaded dressing gowns and morning coats which encase it? Mr. Vance has his own theories regarding crime, which are refreshingly novel, despite all the theories encountered by the inveterate reader. He does not believe in clues or in searching the room with a microscope. Instead he looks upon crime as a critic, seeing in each criminal act a complete piece of creative work, bound to bear the peculiar imprint of the criminal, just as surely as a canvas bears the characteristics of the artist. Bringing to this theory a mind stored with an appalling amount of variegated learning, Philo Vance achieves a chain of reasoning by which no one may be ashamed to be diverted. The other characters in the volume, though they are of the chessboard sort belonging to any complicated plot, are amazingly well drawn, everything considered. In fact, many a more serious novelist than our author, with far greater opportunities for character drawing, has populated his world with a considerably less defined society.
The total result of the book is what is best. Even to a reader above ephemeral byplay the impression of The Greene Murder Case must be one of excellent workmanship. There is a clarity to it, a finish in both plot and style, that is too inescapable to be ignored, for it is essentially first-rate; and in these days of hasty writing any first-rate piece of work, despite its origin, is surely worthy of serious attention.
JOHN MARQUAND