The Case of the Solid Key by Anthony Boucher

The Case of the Solid Key by Anthony Boucher published 1941in rehearsal.... I recently blogged for the first time on Boucher Nine Times Nine by Anthony Boucher And was very happy to move on to another one: this is an author I am enjoying. The Case of the Solid Key is set in Los Angeles and Hollywood, the world of theatre and film: Norman, a young broke writer, hopes to get his play produced and make his fortune. He is led to a small low-key venue: The Carruthers Little Theatre. Some of the people there have connections with Metropolis, one of the big studios (confusingly nicknamed Polly, it took me a couple of goes to sort that out, as it might be 'let's call Polly'). And it seems there is something funny going on at the theatre: an investigation is already underway. So everything is set up for the owner of the theatre, Rupert Carruthers, to be found dead in a locked room. He was experimenting with explosive special effects for a new play, and must have died in an accident. But of…