The Widening Stain
For the staff of the library at the center of The Widening Stain, it’s easy enough to dismiss the death of a woman who fell from a rolling ladder as nothing more than an unfortunate accident. It’s more difficult, however, to explain away the strangled corpse of a man found inside a locked room, surrounded by rare and obscure erotica. And that’s not all―a valuable manuscript has vanished from the stacks, which means that both a killer and a thief are loose in the facility’s hallowed halls. It’s up to chief cataloger Gilda Gorham to solve the crimes, but, unless she’s careful, the next death in the library might just be her own.
Author: W. Bolingbroke Johnson
Genre: Mystery
Reprint: Penzler Publishers
Page Count: 288
Rating: 
Filled with limericks and academic innuendo, The Widening Stain is an American classic that still gives readers a chuckle and decent mystery to solve. Mr. Bishop should have written more fiction. He was talented and knew how to entertain. His academic writings are fascinating; his professionalism and knowledge come through expeditiously.
Although this story is dated, the view into an academic’s life in the late ’30s and early ’40s gives us a new perspective on how difficult and close-minded many of the universities were in America, and still are in many aspects. Much of the story is very relatable for those who work and live in these types of surroundings. Yet there is proof of a sense of humor and a bit of naughtiness.
The character of Gilda is not the typical library worker, not even in 1042. She has a curious nature and a brian that is methodical and built for problem-solving. Yet she is a wonderful study in what makes a woman in a man’s world unforgettable. Academics are as much her life as it is the professors at the university, but she has a way of dealing with situations in a manner that is enjoyable and filled with intrigue.
The Widening Stain is a true classic, and although it does not fit in with the world of today, it still holds a place in the heart of mystery readers and writers around the globe. The wit and intellect are abundant, the precision is indisputable, and the humor is boundless. For true mystery lovers, this is a must-read. Whether you are a mystery fan or an academic, the murder will have you questioning the suspects right alongside Gilda to the end.
Other historical based mysteries readers may enjoy include Callie Hutton’s new victorian series “A Victorian Book Club Mystery” or Erica Ruth Neubauer’s fantastic new series “A Jane Wunderly Mystery”.
About the Author:
Morris Gilbert Bishop was an American scholar, historian, biographer, essayist, translator, anthologist, and versifier. Under the pseudonym W. Bolingbroke Johnson, Bishop had a mystery novel, The Widening Stain, published in 1942. Bishop put it together quickly, and when halfway done, wrote that “The mystery itself would not deceive an intelligent chimpanzee, but I think I can make it more obscure on second writing.” While best known for his writings on the Middle Ages and his work with light verse, he was an authority on many subjects, including the history of Cornell University, where he taught and served as the university historian. The Widening Stain is his only work of fiction.
Bishop was married to the artist Alison Mason Kingsbury who illustrated a number of his books. Their daughter, Alison Jolly, was a notable primatologist. Mr. Bishop spoke fluent German, French, Spanish, Swedish, and Greek (he could also sight-read Latin). He died on November 20, 1973.
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