Seven Keys to Baldpate

by Earl Derr Biggers
Category: "Fiction - Mystery"
Pages:401
Year of Publication:1913
Date Added:02/18/2021
Date Read:08/24/2021
Notes:Armed Services Edition

Will Magee writes light novels but yearns for more. He is given a key to Baldpate Inn, which is closed for the winter so he can be alone. But shortly after he arrives, other people show up with their own keys. One of them is Miss Norton, with whom Magee falls instantly in love. The others have mysterious aims, all involved with gaining possession of a pack of money. When Miss Norton asks Magee to get the money for her, he agrees. There are fights and schemes and confusion, even a suicide, but in the end, Magee sends her off with the money and holds everyone at gunpoint until he knows she's safe. It turns out the money was a bribe paid to a big-city mayor for a streetcar contract. Those at the inn were either of the mayor's party, the streetcar party, or working for the DA who was attempting to rid the town of the mayor. Miss Norton was a reporter who printed the story. Magee looks her up back in town and the profess their love for each other.
My Rating: 6

Reviews for Seven Keys to Baldpate

Review - Seven Keys to Baldpate

The story had a good premise, but it bogged down after a while. The mystery of who the characters were and what side they were on just lost steam. It was a different age, so I supposed it's possible the various parties could have stayed in the inn together and acted civil on the surface, but it seemed more likely that there would have been more violence. Magee's love-motivated faith in Miss Norton was fun.
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