''Let Well Alone'' is a 1954 detective novel by

E.C.R. Lorac Edith Caroline Rivett (6 May 1894 – 2 July 1958) was a British crime writer, who wrote under the pseudonyms E. C. R. Lorac, Carol Carnac and Mary Le Bourne during the golden age of detective fiction. Life and career Childhood The youngest d ...

, the

pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...

of the British writer Edith Caroline Rivett. It is the fortieth in her long-running series featuring Chief Inspector MacDonald of

Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's 32 boroughs, but not the City of London, the square mile that forms London's ...

, one of the more orthodox detectives of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction.Reilly p.260

Synopsis

Two young couples, tired of life in their drab London lodgings, are overjoyed when they hear that a property in isolated, rural Devon is available at a very cheap rent. However, not long after moving into the Old Court House, a body is discovered in one of the outbuildings and their new home instantly seems less idyllic. MacDonald, recently promoted to Superintendent, heads west to lead the investigation.

References

Bibliography

* Cooper, John & Pike, B.A. ''Artists in Crime: An Illustrated Survey of Crime Fiction First Edition Dustwrappers, 1920-1970''. Scolar Press, 1995. * Hubin, Allen J. ''Crime Fiction, 1749-1980: A Comprehensive Bibliography''. Garland Publishing, 1984. * Nichols, Victoria & Thompson, Susan. ''Silk Stalkings: More Women Write of Murder''. Scarecrow Press, 1998. * Reilly, John M. ''Twentieth Century Crime & Mystery Writers''. Springer, 2015. 1954 British novels British mystery novels Novels by E.C.R. Lorac Novels set in London Novels set in Devon British detective novels Collins Crime Club books {{1950s-mystery-novel-stub