The 1929 mystery Missing or Murdered by Robin Forsythe is the first book in a series of detective novels that featured amateur detective Algernon Vereker. The book opens with artist Vereker learning that his friend Lord Bygrave has gone missing and it is feared that he may have met with foul play. Vereker decides to investigate alongside of Scotland Yard Detective-Inspector Heather. In fact, during the course of the investigation, DI Heather and Vereker act at times together but most often apart and develop a friendly rivalry.

I enjoyed the banter that occurred between DI Heather and Vereker as the book was quite slow moving. Each suspect was separately interviewed by both men and then they would get together and compare notes and come up with ideas of how and why the crime could have been committed. Eventually the pieces are put together in the correct way and the solution to the mystery is found.

While it isn’t known at first whether we are reading about a murder, an accidental death, a kidnapping or a deliberate disappearance, the varied characters keep the story interesting. There are plenty of red herrings along the way to the final outcome which keeps the reader engaged and guessing. I am always happy to discover another “Golden Age” mystery author and even though I felt the book moved quite slowly, I will be reading more of Robin Forsythe’s novels. ( )