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Philip MacDonald
Philip MacDonald was a British author of thrillers and mystery novels.
The rasp
Synopsis
A victim is bludgeoned to death with a woodworker’s rasp in this first case for the famed gentleman detective Anthony Gethryn - the latest in a new series of classic detective novels from the vaults of HarperCollins. Ex-Secret Service agent Anthony Gethryn is killing time working for a newspaper when he is sent to cover the murder of Cabinet minister John Hoode, bludgeoned to death in his country home with a wood-rasp. Gethryn is convinced that the prime suspect, Hoode’s secretary Alan Deacon, is innocent, but to prove it he must convince the police that not everyone else has a cast-iron alibi for the time of the murder. This Detective Story Club classic is introduced by crime fiction expert and writer Tony Medawar, who investigates the forgotten career of one of the Golden Age’s finest detective story writers.
Genres
Characters
Anthony GethrynProtagonist
John HoodeSupporting
Alan DeaconSupporting
Frequently asked questions
Is The Rasp part of a series?
The Rasp introduces Anthony Gethryn, who becomes a recurring detective in several of Philip MacDonald's later novels. While each mystery is self-contained, Gethryn's character develops across the series.
What makes The Rasp significant in detective fiction?
The Rasp is considered a foundational work of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, notable for its early use of the 'locked room' mystery trope and its emphasis on meticulous alibi examination. It helped establish many conventions of the genre.