![]() 1935 edition with original image | |
Author | John Rhode |
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Language | English |
Series | Lancelot Priestley |
Genre | Detective |
Publisher | Geoffrey Bles |
Publication date | 1926 |
Publication place | United Kingdom |
Media type | |
Preceded by | The Paddington Mystery |
Followed by | The Ellerby Case |
Dr. Priestley's Quest is a 1926 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. [1] It was the second appearance of the armchair detective Lancelot Priestley, who featured in a long-running series of novels during the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. [2] It has been described as the first major detective novel by the author. [3] In its relationship between Priestley and his secretary and future son-in-law Harold Merefield is shown the influence of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Watson. [4] Similarly, Inspector Hanslet of Scotland Yard fulfils a similar role to that of Lestrade.
Austin Heatherdale is killed on a lonely in what appears to be a casual robbery. However his brother Gerald demonstrates to Priestley that he believes the attack was pre-meditated and fears for his own safety. When he also then dies Priestley sets out to solve the murders of the Heatherdale brothers using pure logic.