Trent and the Fool-Proof Lift (Fantasy and Horror Classics)

By E. C. Bentley

Many crime and detective stories, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Sep 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473355491

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E. C. BENTLEY

Edmund Clerihew Bentley was born in Shepherd's Bush, London in 1875. When he was nineteen, he won a history scholarship to Oxford University, where he became president of the Oxford Union and captain of the university's boat club. After graduating, he studied law in London, and was admitted to the bar in 1902. In this same year, he started working in journalism, the career which would make him famous. Bentley worked primarily at the Daily News and the conservative Daily Telegraph, but also wrote freelance for a range of publications.

Bentley published a collection of poetry, Biography for Beginners, in 1905. His first detective novel, Trent's Last Case (1913), was a great critical and commercial success, and many modern critics view it as the first truly modern mystery. Indeed, the New York Times dubbed it one of the few classics of detective fiction. More than twenty years later, he published a sequel, Trent's Own Case (1936), and also a book of short stories, Trent Intervenes (1938). Between 1936 and 1949, Bentley was president of the Detection Club, contributing to their radio serials.

TRENT AND THE FOOL-PROOF LIFT

ONE OF THE commonest forms of fatal accident in the life of the town is falling down a lift shaft. Every coroner of large urban experience has dealt with cases by the score, whether due to short-sight, negligence, faulty construction, or defective safety mechanism. And there is another possibility.

One perfect day in June M. Armand Binet-Gailly, who held an important agency in the wine trade, left his office in Jermyn Street rather earlier than usual, and strolled homewards through the Parks to his bachelor flat at 42 Rigby Street. This was a tall old house, ‘converted’ from the errors of its pre-Victorian youth. There were five flats, and M. Binet-Gailly s was the second above the ground level. About 5.30 – so