The plot starts off as a locked lift mystery. A dead man is found in the locked elevator of a seaside cliff railway by Aloysius Bender, the operator, when he comes to work in the morning. Reporter Jimmy London sees Bender staggering about in shock over the grim discovery. Jimmy offers his help, thus getting in on the ground of the biggest story of his career.
Jimmy is also lucky in having friendly relations with Inspector Shelley, sent by the Yard to investigate this murder. Detective and newspaperman form an unlikely partnership, since Shelley finds he can use Jimmy to interview people who might not readily talk to the police.
The plot is a fairly straightforward investigation. Jimmy makes his discoveries and Shelley makes his. With his amiable willingness to do anything for a story, Jimmy ultimately gets into a tight spot, but there's more fact-finding and imaginative theorizing than action. The seaside resort makes a pleasant setting.
Calamity in Kent was originally published in 1950, but it has the vintage feeling of nineteen thirties detective stories. I enjoyed it, but I liked Rowland's earlier mystery, Murder in the Museum, a bit more.
The book is nicely produced by British Library Crime Classics and includes an informative introduction.
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