The Benson Murder Case is the first book in the best-selling Philo Vance series of mystery novels written by S.S. Van Dine. When a local man mysteriously dies, New York dilettante Philo Vance steps in to assist the authorities in their investigations after concluding that they are ill-equipped and lacking in the acumen necessary to solve such a complicated case. After reconstructing the murder in such a was as to prove that the culprit must be five feet, ten and a half inches in height, Vance works together with his friend District Attorney Markham to investigate the victim's business associates and romantic interests until the mystery is finally pieced together. A thrilling book sure to appeal to lovers of mystery and crime fiction, The Benson Murder Case is well worth a read and not to be missed by fans of Van Dine's seminal work. S. S. Van Dine is the pseudonym of Willard Huntington Wright (1888 - 1939), who was an American art critic and detective novelist. We are proud to republish this antique text here complete with a new prefatory biography of the author.