can you help me name this book/story

[pushchair]

Read years ago. Its in the style of Margery Allingham-atmospheric London, fog 1930/40s. Young bloke who studies and lives in spartan book-lined attic, works at night as a night watchman in a yard. Yard or factory or whatever gets burgled and young bloke is trapped in his little shed with dangerous robber who may kill him. YB persuades him to not take it any further and incur death penalty. Detective/mystery story follows on from this episode. Ideas?

No idea, but it sounds good. I shall follow this thread!

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I think you're going to have to give away a bit more of the plot.

Was it actually written in the 30s or just set in the 30s? Were there any "themes", eg. politics? Were there any other characters? Can you remember if it was a male or female author? What did you like about it?

I'm intrigued. I want someone to solve this one for you.

I think it may have been written then or maybe the sixties with a dated or 30s 40s atmosphere. No theme but very margery Allingham if you know her work. Rather upper class young man, loner, studious, thrown into some sort of criminal-presumably murder investigation.London based I think. Fog, slightly archaic London atmosphere. I have many Margery Allingham's but none are this one. Could be a short story.Unfortunately I cannot recall anything else of the plot.

I'm afraid I don't recognise it but have you tried posting your query on the Abe books website? I remember doing this a couple of years ago and loads of helpful information was forthcoming.It deals in secondhand books and has a specific section in which to ask about books you can't put a title to. Sorry I haven't kept anything from which to post a link.

Oh will have a look thanks