"The Manuscript Was Complete and Detailed, a Perfect Guide-plan to Murder"

THE PERFECT MURDER: When will killers learn it just won't work, not even when they establish a . . .

"Transcontinental Alibi."

By Anthony Boucher (William A. P. White, 1911-68).

First appearance: Mystery Book Magazine, Spring 1950.

Short short story (5 pages).

Online at Archive.org (HERE).

     "What man in all criminal history had ever boasted an alibi with millions of witnesses?"

Some partnerships weren't meant to last, but there must be more amicable ways of dissolving them than murder: "Knife in neck. Hold body away from spurt of blood . . . ."

Main characters:

~ Sidney Steiner:

  "But partnership funds aren't private playthings."

~ Hugh Wimperis:

  "He was extending his hand toward the phone when it rang."

~ Dr. Murdock:

  "I heard it. And I don't believe it."

Reference and resources:

- "a C.P.A.": It's nearly impossible to cook the books when they're honestly at work; see Wikipedia (HERE).

- "Anthony Boucher" was the pen name of William Anthony Parker White, a West Coast dweller (which explains our story's setting), who not only critiqued fiction but also wrote it very well; see FictionMags (HERE) and the ISFDb (HERE). A review of his radio work collaborations is (HERE).

- We highlighted Boucher's mystery/SFF hybrids "The Anomaly of the Empty Man" (HERE) and "Public Eye" (HERE).

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