In Otto Penzler introduction to PUZZLE FOR FOOLS, we find that Patrick Quentin, the credited author is in fact the nom de plume of two talents, Richard Webb and Hugh Wheeler. Both Englishmen. 
Both writers and both clever enough to see that their Anglo dialogue, would sell better across the pond, Americanised. This lead to the Peter Duluth series, which was spawned from this first step. That series bore two films. The average HOMICIDE FOR THREE (1948) and the excellent BLACK WIDOW (1954) with Van Hefflin, released on twilight time in the US on Blu ray.
In PUZZLE FOR FOOLS, Duluth is a Broadway producer. After his wife’s death his success wash down with litres of the brown stuff, leaving him down at heels and in need of help after two years of drinking. He entered into a sanatorium to do just that. He regains his hope and with a belief that his addiction to the bottle is behind him, he stands to leave. Then something unexpected happens. Strange, malevolent occurrences seem to plague the hospital. A voice, his own or another’s, speaks to him about murder and survival being in escape. It soon becomes clear that everything is not at ease. Others report strange goings on and when the physiotherapist is found dead and bound, he knowns that the voice might have been a prophecy. Duluth might have help in the shape of a female patient Iris Pattison, soon to be his detective duo. Charged by the baffled head of the ward with solving the crime, it’s up to Peter to find out who is behind this murder, before the killer strikes again.
PUZZLE FOR FOOLS is not something of an anomaly in the genre. It is right in the back yard in some elements, of on trend components. The art world, production angle that will feel some what ONLY MURDERERS IN THE BUILDING, the equally constructed mystery pivoting around a murder and driven by a amateur sleuth from the world of Poirot and the singularity of a falsely accused love interest, leading the lead to solving the murder. However, this misrepresents the delicate genius of the novel. A simple enough, confined space tale, where the murderer is likely one of those present, is reimagined in a skillful play of character and plotting. The crux of plot detail and device work dance here. Its not a blink and miss, read the red herring set up. More it is a tale of a sleuth that is likely compromised and new. Now the obvious point here is to discuss the use of clues to feed the narrative, which is very much of the type and time of the piece. This is a polite way of saying it does have a slower narrative pace but the characters are developed well. Duluth is well rounded and aside from his obvious saviour complex of loving Iris and then trying to save her, he is all to human. Not a detective who is akin to a Hammett perfect man or a flawed and vulnerable somebody like John D Macdonald’s Archer (who I really like mind). Duluth is a compassionate man in pain and surviving it, one day at a time. The character of Geddes (An Englishman born in India) is well sketched, as is the nurse who may or may not be in on a scam to defraud a rich patient. Then we have the theatrical conclusion that is both satisfying and proves how fallible sometimes detectives can be. I felt redeemed by it, happily ready to return to it.
PUZZLE FOR FOOLS has been reprinted for the first time in over thirty years, so we were of course are very excited to review this classic. Now a little note before we begin. We at Frontrowreviews have been working behind the scenes in getting the agreement to review the Penzler set of American Mystery Classics. We have 8 so far and hope to, dear reader review 12 to cover all and ever requested title. We agreed with you that there was a natural fit for these. With those that were suggested often connecting to film, Noir cinema and the rising interest in mysteries. You made us excited and we listen. Add to that my own written work in the genre and it was a must! Now I have never read any of the Peter Duluth novels. His novels and this specific detecting agent, were always behind the work of the more well trodden works by Poe, Wilkie Collins, Conan Doyle, Hammett or Chandler. Equally also behind the works of Macdonalds, Ross and John D., Margaret Millar, Williford or even later writers like Ellis.
