The Man in Lower Ten

One of the classic mystery writers. A must have for fans of the era.

Known as the American Agatha Christie, Rinehart is also famously known as writing the original quote ' the butler did it' in another of her novels 'The Door'.
Here the author gives us the attractive and inquisitive lead character Lawrence Blakely, attorney-in-law setting off by train to deliver valuable documents in a criminal case. Written in 1909 American cross country transport of choice was often the train, many journeys needing overnight berths and this is the link to 'Lower Ten' as this is the booked berth Blakely had booked. But in a change of circumstances he has to go elsewhere on the train and this is lucky as his substitute in Lower Ten is murdered.
I did wonder if Agatha Christie was familiar with this novel as we see Blakely then stalking the Pullman cars to keep ahead of the police and solve the murder especially when he himself comes under suspicion. During the journey there is also romance, treachery and even a train crash. Over a hundred years after its original publication does this book stand the test of time? I think we are in a time of nostalgia and crime/thrillers are so often pitched in past historic settings.
The cover invokes a time of style, elegance and mystery and this is a revival in many past authors (I am a huge fan of Josephine Tey from Scotland who's also worth a read!)
My only criticism is that the print in an e-book seems not to want to be enlarged and is difficult to read. However in print form these classic re-issues such as this and others from Rinehard can form attractive collections on any bookshelf.