Perhaps of all the obscure authors brought back into the public’s eye by the British Library in its Crime Classics series, I enjoy the work of Edith Caroline Rivett (1894–1958) the most. Her 70 plus mysteries, originally published between 1931 and 1959, are immensely readable, if they can be located. The first editions of her books are often the only copies and they command premium prices, especially the titles published under the Carol Carnac pseudonym. The Carnac books have two distinct phases: Inspector Ryvet appeared in her pre-war books and Inspector Julian Rivers takes over in the post-war works with no Carnacs published during the war. Interestingly enough, Inspector Robert Macdonald appeared under the E. C. R. Lorac name steadily from 1931 through 1959.
Of the Ryvett titles, six published between 1936 and 1940, only the last, Death in the Diving Pool, is available for sale just now, according to Bookfinder. One copy, a 1942 reprint from Cherry Tree Publishing, is offered by an Australian bookseller for $462. The Rivers books, 15 published between 1945 and 1958, are a little easier to find but the prices are often more than many readers can afford. The British Library has reprinted three of the Rivers titles and two more are available through Detective Book Club anthologies. Bookfinder has no listing anywhere for four of them.
Impact of Evidence (Collins, 1954; British Library Crime Classics, 2025) is the 11th case of Inspector Julian Rivers of Scotland Yard. Set in the rural region of England along the southern edge of the Wales border, it displays Carnac/Lorac’s empathy for the hard lives of farmers, especially during the post-war era, and the acceptance of their lot. In one scene Gwynyth, the 20-ish daughter of the Lambton family, states her intent to never become a farmer’s wife. No one around takes her seriously because after all, what other life is there?
At the beginning of February a hard snow closed the hilly area. The Lambtons cleared a path from their farm to the main road so that the dairy collective to whom they sold milk could continue to pick it up. After about 10 days, a thaw set in suddenly with rain, overflowing river banks and washing out bridges. Roads were frozen in places and in others they were flooded. Nonetheless elderly Dr. Robinson, visually impaired but still driving, decided to take a short drive. He did not see the oncoming Jeep at a treacherous intersection and the two collided at relatively high speed. The doctor’s old Buick was pushed off the road into the river, smashing the car and killing the doctor. The driver of the Jeep, Bob Parsons, was thrown clear and injured but survived.
Will and Henry Lambton, father and son, were the first on the scene. They pulled the body of the doctor from the wrecked vehicle and the river. In doing so, they discovered a second victim in the back seat of the car and removed him as well. No one recognized him, and the autopsy determined he had died days before the crash. Who was he? How did he die? How did he get into the doctor’s vehicle? What appeared to be an unfortunate accident turned into a first-class mystery.
As always, Carnac/Lorac offers clues to the solution and as always I fail to put them together in the right order. Aside from the tightly woven plot, the scenario is original and the book is beautifully written. Carnac/Lorac had a gift for creating an immediately immersive story. There are almost too many characters to keep track of, though. Another excellent read from Carnac. Recommended.