V712 List Adr Messengr

This 1959 thriller is quite dated, a cell phone, DNA, the internet and post 9/11 security would render the plot almost impossible but for those who remember or can imagine those times this is a challenging puzzler that will keep the reader guessing until the end. Author Adrian Messenger has come to a friend with a request, a rather strange and mysterious one. He wants his friend, a police detective to investigate a list of names, a list that encompasses a seemingly unrelated group of individuals scattered across the UK. All Messenger wants to know is if those people are still living in those cities. Messenger would return to collect the results of the search when he returned from his business trip in a few days. But Adrian Messenger would not return to ask his friend about the results because the plane he was on crashed in the Atlantic. By chance Messenger and a fellow passenger were adrift in the ocean awaiting rescue. The semiconscious Messenger babbled a few random phrases over and over before the died, words that meant nothing to the other crash victim but would come to shed light on his odd list and have shattering impact to Messenger's family. Many may have seen the film version of this novel. The basic premise is the same, but as was quite common at the time, substantial liberties were taken with the plot. Both are, however, quite enjoyable and reading or viewing one will not diminish the enjoyment of the other.

This mystery is a classic. It is somewhat dated, having been written in 1959, but holds up well with excellent plotting and a fast paced flow. The premise is fascinating and the writing moves quickly. I reread this mystery just recently and it stands up well in spite of being written 45 years ago. Philip MacDonald was a prolific writer; born in 1901. He won Edgar Allan Poe Mystery Awards in 1953 and 1956. He wrote a number of classic mystery stories, including this one, The Rasp and Warrant for X. Warrant for X was made into the movie "23 Paces to Baker Street" starring Van Johnson, while "The List of Adrian Messenger" was made into a movie under the original name. It starred a plethora of stars in cameo roles with George C. Scott playing Anthony Gethryn. Both movies were not as good as the books but quite enjoyable. The List of Adrian Messenger's plot line concerns a list that Adrian Messenger gives to a friend in Scotland Yard and asks him, the friend, to check if each individual is still living at the same place. Messenger dies in an apparent plane sabotage and the search is on for the rest of the men on the list. The plot develops apace as many on the list of men seem to have suffered fatal accidents and on the surface, there appears to be no apparent connection between them. A recurring character of MacDonald's, Anthony Gethryn, is the protagonist. To reveal more would give away the plot. Read and enjoy!