In form ["Death of a Ghost"] is a detective story, with merits not always found in detective stories. Several of the people are interesting in themselves, apart from any murder mystery, and so lifelike that one almost doubts the customary fly-leaf note that they are products of the writer's imagination. Most striking of all is the "ghost" of the title. Lafcadio, flamboyant painter, died in 1912, but the story in 1930 depends on his impish legacy…. Albert Campion comes in from previous stories as detective, but his rather annoying affectation of idiocy has dropped off. Incidentally we learn a good deal about the backstairs of the artistic world.

"New Books and Reprints: 'Death of a Ghost'," in The Times Literary Supplement (© Times Newspapers Ltd. (London) 1934; reproduced from The Times Literary Supplement by permission), No. 1679, April 5, 1934, p. 246.