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Thou Shell of Death

Thou Shell of Death

CrimeHistorical Fiction
Pages
290
Published
1936
Language
English

Synopsis

A legendary World War One flying ace, Fergus O'Brien, receives ominous letters predicting his murder on Boxing Day. Undeterred, O'Brien hosts a Christmas party, inviting all potential suspects along with private detective Nigel Strangeways. Despite Nigel's presence, O'Brien is found dead as predicted, leaving the detective to assist local police while navigating a growing attraction to one of the guests, explorer Georgina Cavendish.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

TenseIntellectual
Locked RoomMystery Box

Genres

Crime Historical Fiction Mystery

About the author

C
Cecil Day-Lewis

>Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis was born in County Laois, Ireland, in 1904. After his mother died in 1906, he was brought up in London by his clergyman father, spending summer holidays with relatives in Wexford. He was educated at Sherborne School and Wadham College, Oxford, from which he graduated in 1927. Lewis initially worked as a teacher to supplement his income from his poetry writing. Under the pen-name Nicholas Blake, he published his first Nigel Strangeways novel, A Question of Proof,...

Characters

Nigel StrangewaysProtagonist
Fergus O'BrienAntagonist
Georgina CavendishSupporting
All characters in Thou Shell of Death

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Thou Shell of Death part of a series?

    This novel is the second book featuring the detective Nigel Strangeways. While it can be read independently, readers who enjoy following character development might prefer starting with the first book, A Question of Proof.

  • How does this book compare to Cecil Day-Lewis's other works?

    Thou Shell of Death showcases Cecil Day-Lewis's early development as a crime novelist under the pseudonym Nicholas Blake, before he became more widely known for his poetry. It features the intellectual puzzle-solving and psychological depth that would become hallmarks of the Nigel Strangeways series.