Quotes from book
The Bishop Murder Case

The Bishop Murder Case
S. S. Van Dine

The Bishop Murder Case is the fourth in a series of mystery novels by S. S. Van Dine about fictional detective Philo Vance. The detective solves a mystery built around a nursery rhyme. The Bishop Murder Case is believed to be the first nursery-rhyme mystery book.

S. S. Van Dine photo

“I trust the clergy are not involved in this problem. They‘re notoriously unscientific. One can‘t attack them with mathematics.”

S. S. Van Dine book The Bishop Murder Case

Ch 5
The Bishop Murder Case (1929)

S. S. Van Dine photo

“Only, as long as we‘re going insane we may as well go the whole way. A mere shred of sanity is of no value.”

S. S. Van Dine book The Bishop Murder Case

Ch 1
The Bishop Murder Case (1929)

S. S. Van Dine photo

“Oh, my dear fellow! I’m not indulgin’ in implications. I’m merely givin’ tongue to my youthful curiosity, don’t y’ know.”

S. S. Van Dine book The Bishop Murder Case

Ch 22
The Bishop Murder Case (1929)

S. S. Van Dine photo

““Do you play chess, by the by?” asked Vance.
“Used to. But no more. A beautiful game, though—if it wasn't for the players.””

S. S. Van Dine book The Bishop Murder Case

Ch 11
The Bishop Murder Case (1929)

S. S. Van Dine photo

“You’re probably right,” sighed Vance. “I haven’t any coruscatin’ arguments to combat you with. Only, I’m disappointed. I don’t like anticlimaxes, especially when they don’t jibe with my idea of the dramatist’s talent. Pardee’s death at this moment is too deuced neat—it clears things up too tidily. There’s too much utility in it, and too little imagination.”

S. S. Van Dine book The Bishop Murder Case

Ch 22
The Bishop Murder Case (1929)

S. S. Van Dine photo

“A fairy tale in terms of blood—a world in anamorphosis—a perversion of all rationality.… It’s unthinkable, senseless, like black magic and sorcery and thaumaturgy. It’s downright demented.”

S. S. Van Dine book The Bishop Murder Case

Ch 1
The Bishop Murder Case (1929)

S. S. Van Dine photo

“Giving full rein to one‘s cynicism as one goes along produces a normal outlet and maintains an emotional equilibrium.”

S. S. Van Dine book The Bishop Murder Case

Ch 26
The Bishop Murder Case (1929)

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