The Will o' the Wisp Mystery

Edward D. Hoch was a legend. A prolific writer of almost 1000 short stories, featuring more than 15 series characters, he was a master of the classical detective mystery. Among is most imaginative tales was “The Will-’O-the-Wisp-Mystery.” interlocked short stories which can be read independently but culminating in an unexpected but fairly clued resolution. The series was suggested by Frederic Dannay, editor of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, with the author kept secret – they were written by “Mr. X” – but anyone familiar with Hoch style would immediately recognize their creator.

A too-little-known Hoch detective was the Roman Catholic priest, Father David Noone. Even though he appeared in only seven mysteries, Hoch returned to the character for some forty years. Hoch himself was a devout Catholic and used that background effectively in the Noone stories. The detection is often centered on Noone’s inner-city parish but (unexpectly) he does solve a crime in a circus.

Yes, indeed, a legend.