A reprinted 1988 review of George Bagby’s 1942 Doubleday Crime Club novel that situates a murder mystery inside the blackout drills and civil-defense routines of World War II New York. The reviewer praises the atmospheric setting but finds the book technically uneven.
Bagby uses authentic wartime civil-defense details — blackout routines, air-raid codes, and buckets of sand — as the backbone of the mystery.
The plot centers on a murder in the author’s building while Inspector Schmidt visits, with an ensemble cast tied to the blackout setting.
The reviewer liked Bagby’s background material but identified unanswered plot questions that reduce the novel’s detective work satisfaction.
This is a reprint of a short review originally published in Fatal Kiss #9 (April 1988) assessing George Bagby's Murder Calling "50" (Doubleday Crime Club, 1942). The reviewer frames the novel as a period piece that preserves aspects of daily life during wartime blackouts that conventional history often omits.
Reviewer's critique: atmosphere over technical clarity
The review recommends the book primarily for readers interested in wartime civilian routines and the texture they bring to a mystery. If you seek airtight plot mechanics or fully explained detective method, the reviewer suggests this title falls short. For readers who enjoy period detail and a crowded, blackout-driven whodunit populated by colorful minor characters, the book still offers engaging material despite its narrative gaps.
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Misc Miscellaneous category. No Placement. A lot a great resin crafts. <img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-ori...
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