Lord Lister No. 0376: De moord in Short Gardens

by Theo von Blankensee

"Lord Lister No. 0376: De moord in Short Gardens" by Blankensee, Hageman, and Matull is a detective novel written in the mid-20th century. The story introduces the central character, Lord William Aberdeen, a philanthropist with a keen interest in justice. The plot centers around a murder case involving a young man named Richard Stefenson, who has just been released from prison and is accused of killing his landlord, Bernard Blackpool. The opening of the novel sets the stage in a dreary police court in London, where the habitual offenses are dealt with swiftly by the judges. On the morning of the central event, Aberdeen and his secretary, Charly Brand, witness the arrest of a young man, Richard, who embodies a mix of defiance and despair. As the narrative unfolds, it reveals Richard's troubled backstory, his family's struggles, and the tensions surrounding his interactions with Blackpool. Key themes of societal neglect, familial bonds, and the implications of justice are introduced as the reader is drawn into the unfolding mystery that will challenge the characters’ morals and relationships.