The Last Stroke br Lawrence L. LYNCH (1853 - 1914) br Written by Chicago socialite, Emma Murdock Van Deventer, under the nom de plume of Lawrence L. Lynch, this detective story opens with the mysterious disappearance of schoolmaster, Mr. Brierly. The under-teacher and students set about finding him, but when his body is found, the mystery only deepens. Was it murder? What was the motive? He appeared to have no enemies.