Out of all the Edward Gorey books I've read so far, I think THE OTHER STATUE is the finest and witties. Published in 1968, it is similar to most of Gorey's works from this era, but the humour is even more droll than usual and the characters amusingly named. Moments of great significance and total unimportance are juxtaposed in a hilarious manner.
No one reads Gorey for the plot alone, as the pen and ink drawings hold most of the charm, but a summary may be of interest. Like Gorey's first novel THE UNSTRUNG HARP, our tale is set in the province of Mortshire near Backwater Hall. A number of guests arrive for a party, but the weather turns stormy, and LordWherewithal is killed by a statue blown from the roof and the priceless heirloom, the Lisping Elbow is stolen. Who among the cast of characters could be responsible? The clergyman Rev. O. MacAbloo, Horace Gallop, a gypsy selling Orphobismic Lozenges, or Miss Quartermorning? I would suspect the governess Miss Underfold, but Dr Belgravius and his nephew Luke Touchpaper are out to find the person responsible.
Now that I have written a little about the book, I see that it sounds weird and silly, but this is a very entertaining book, and certainly the best introduction to Gorey around. Give it a look if you like droll humour.