Murder by the Clock

Murder by the Clock by Rufus King

A wealthy businessman is found in a perplexing state within his own home, provoking immediate alarm from his distraught wife. Concerned for her husband’s safety, she makes a frantic call to the police, setting in motion an investigation led by a determined detective officer. As the case unfolds, the evidence is contradictory and the motives murky. A hastily printed note, an inexplicably misplaced hat and button, and traces of deliberate misdirection—such as a scrambled clue left on a desk and a single woman’s slipper discovered on a balcony—suggest that the crime scene was manipulated. Interviews with members of the household reveal a damning network of resentments and hidden affairs. The wife, who comes off as both elegant and enigmatic, offers conflicting testimonies about her whereabouts and that of her husband at the time of the incident. A mild-mannered private detective and several servants provide additional, at times almost delirious, recollections that hint at longstanding abuses and bitter interpersonal strife. A close friend of the victim—a war mate with a complicated loyalty—emerges as a potential conspirator, oscillating between protective instincts and darker impulses, while the housekeeper and a nervous maid hint at past brutalities committed by the victim against those in his employ. Complicating matters further, the victim is found in a secluded cupboard after an earlier attack. A medical examination, aided by a dedicated physician, adds an unexpected twist when an attempt to revive him is partially successful, blurring the line between a natural heart attack and a shock induced by foul play. Throughout the investigation, physical clues and minute details, such as the absence of expected fingerprints on everyday objects and the deliberate cleaning of certain items, indicate that someone meticulously staged parts of the scene to divert suspicion. As the detective methodically pieces together inconsistencies—from the suspicious movements of a woman on a window sill to testimonies that contradict one another—a pattern of deception and premeditation begins to emerge. Personal histories and hidden vulnerabilities come to light: long-buried secrets, betrayals, and a legacy of emotional injury that suggest the victim may have been both a perpetrator and a wounded man. The narrative steadily moves toward the realization that the apparent victim may have played a role in orchestrating his own downfall, while those closest to him, including his devoted yet conflicted wife and an ambiguous intimate friend, might be complicit either by active participation or through their willful silence. Ultimately, the detective’s journey through both physical evidence and psychological cues forces a confrontation with the nature of guilt and innocence. The investigation reveals that behind the veneer of wealth and refinement lies a roiling undercurrent of passion, betrayal, and moral ambiguity. The reader is left with the unsettling impression that the truth is not a matter of clear-cut responsibility but a tangled nexus of human frailty, where every participant harbors secrets that complicate the simple narrative of crime and punishment.

By Rufus King · First published 1929 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime Fiction · 31 chapters · 65,964 words

First lines

Mrs. Endicott thought for a moment of simply dialling the operator and saying, "I want a policeman."

It was what the printed notices in the telephone directory urged one to do in case of an emergency. But it wasn't an emergency exactly, nor -- still exactly -- was it a policeman she wanted. She wanted a detective, or an inspector, or something; a man to whom she could explain her worry about Herbert, and who could do something about it if he agreed with her that Herbert was in danger.

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Murder by the Clock is listed on Textopian as a novel by Rufus King, dated 1929 CE.

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mystery · crime · thriller · suspense · detective · investigation · whodunit · forensic · puzzle · clues · plot twist · alibi

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