S. S. Van Dine

The Benson Murder Case

S.S. Van Dine

New York dilettante Philo Vance decides to assist the police in investigating the death of another man-about-town because he finds the psychological aspects of the crime of interest, and feels that they would be beyond the capacities of the police, even those of his friend District Attorney Markham. Together, Vance and Markham investigate Benson's business associates and romantic interests, and Vance investigates the circumstances under which the body was found, trying to reconstruct the crime. S. S. Van Dine is the pseudonym used by American art critic Willard Huntington Wright when he wrote detective novels. He was an important figure in avant-garde cultural circles in pre-WWI New York, and under the pseudonym he created the immensely popular fictional detective Philo Vance.

A Philo Vance Mystery

Sarah Escorsa

I must admit I only picked up this book because of the Philo Vance movies with William Powell. I just love William Powell:) Unfortunately, I think this is one of the rare instances where the film is obviously better than the book it's adapted from. 

This was actually a pretty boring read and I just couldn't find any of the characters likeable enough.

The Benson Murder Case

Reviews