So today, I'll continue with my look at English Cop mysteries. I finished with Elizabeth George in yesterday's entry.
The Mystery Genre - English Cops
I'll list two of Michael Gilbert's mystery series and also a couple of others.
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| Michael Gilbert |
"Although it was first published in 1947, Gilbert began this novel in the years immediately before World War II and didn't finish it until he returned from active duty. Set behind the walls of the residential Close of Melchester Cathedral, it's a classic British mystery in which a young Scotland Yard detective is asked to interrupt his holiday to find out if the accidental death of Canon Whyte was indeed an accident." (3 stars)
"I've read a couple of other books by Michael Gilbert and have enjoyed them all so far. Smallbone Deceased ranks up there with Petrella at Q as my favorites of his. Smallbone is a perfect little mystery. It's billed as an Inspector Hazelrigg mystery and, indeed, the good Inspector does play a prominent role.
But the supporting cast also adds very much to the story, especially poor Sgt Plumptree who has to wander around London interviewing possible witnesses. He is an inexhaustible man, a credit to the London Police Force. As well, there is Henry Bohun, the newest member of the offices of Horniman, Birley and Craine, who finds himself helping Inspector Hazelrigg with his investigation to a great extent.
The basic story is that a body, that of Mr. Smallbone, a client of the firm, is found in one of the firm's deed boxes, having resided there for a few weeks. This starts up the investigation, which I enjoyed following very much. There was an interesting steadiness to the investigation; I've mentioned Sgt Plumbtree already, but the rest of the team of investigators are all excellent. I'll highlight Mr. Hoffman who works through the paperwork, checking the firm's finances to try and find reasons for the murder.
The investigation moves at a nice, steady pace, allowing all of the characters time to inculcate themselves into your memory. They all are enjoyable; there is a nice humour at times that keeps the story light. All in all, the book was so very enjoyable, even the ending was satisfying. I will definitely continue to find more books by Gilbert to enjoy. (5 stars)"
The remaining Inspector Hazelrigg novels are -
- The Never Looked Inside (He Didn't Mind Danger - US) (1948)
- The Doors Open (1949)
- Death Has Deep Roots (1951)
- Fear to Tread (1952)
2. Michael Gilbert (Inspector Petrella). Inspector Petrella appeared in 10 novels and collections of short stories from 1959 - 2003. He is probably the best - known of the various characters created by Gilbert. He starts as a probationary Detective Sgt in the fictional Q Division and ended up as a Superintendent.
"This is the 2nd book by Michael Gilbert that I've attempted. It was excellent. The basic premise is that the book follows Detective Chief Inspector Patrick Petrella, of London's Patton Street Police Station over the course of a year. It is a collection of short stories, each a different case, but, at the same time, some that follow one on the other.
There are some mundane cases and as you get into the stories, some that create a great deal of tension. The last couple of stories, especially, where Petrella and his team are involved with the local heavy - hitter underworld, had me on the edge of my seat. I quite enjoyed the investigation process, how Petrella and his inspectors follow leads and sort through issues, reminded me of the process that Law & Order followed as the police investigate the particular crimes.
I also liked the personalities of the various team members and the bursts of inspiration that come from Petrella. He knows his area and the people there and uses his smarts in sorting through the chaff to come up with solutions. Excellent, perfect little book. It turns out that Gilbert also wrote 4 other books featuring Petrella. I will have to check them out. (5 stars)"
The remaining Petrella books are -
- Roller Coaster (1993)
- Games Without Rules (1968)
- Stay of Execution (1971)
- Amateur in Violence (1973)
- Young Petrella (1988)
- The Man Who Hated Banks (1997)
- The Curious Conspiracy (2002)
- Even Murderers Take Holidays and Other Mysteries (2007)
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| Caroline Graham |
"Badger's Drift is the ideal English village, complete with vicar, bumbling local doctor, and kindly spinster with a nice line in homemade cookies. But when the spinster dies suddenly, her best friend kicks up an unseemly fuss, loud enough to attract the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby. And when Barnaby and his eager-beaver deputy start poking around, they uncover a swamp of ugly scandals and long-suppressed resentments seething below the picture-postcard prettiness.
In the grand English tradition of the quietly intelligent copper, Barnaby has both an irresistibly dry sense of humor and a keen insight into what makes people tick. Badger's Drift marks Barnaby's debut." (4 stars)
"I enjoyed this as much as I enjoy the Midsomer Murder series. Graham's writing style reminds me somewhat of PD James. The story was thoughtful and intelligent. It's more about the characters than the mystery; Inspector Barnaby and Sgt Troy don't come into until about one-third of the way through. In the meantime, we learn about the main characters, their lives and ultimately, the crime.
The characters belong to a commune and are quirky and interesting. Throw into their midst, the abrasive, rich father of one, plus the drugged up mother as well and you get a more interesting mix, until there is a murder. At this point, Barnaby arrives and the story progresses nicely until a very satisfying ending. I recommend most heartily. (4 stars)"
"Charlie Leathers was not the most popular man in the charming English village of Ferne Basset, but few people seemed to hate him enough to murder him. Still, that was his fate one night, and it brings Inspector Barnaby to the scene to investigate. What Barnaby doesn't know is that before his death, Charlie witnessed what might have been the suicide--or murder--of a young woman whose troubles with the law have landed her in the home of a local retired minister and his none-too-pleased wife. Now a man is dead, a girl is missing, and a town is in chaos as long-kept secrets begin to unravel, with deadly repercussions" (3 stars)
The remaining books in the series are - (as usual asterisked books are on my shelf)
- Death of a Hollow Man (1989)
- Written in Blood (1994) *
- Faithful unto Death (1996) *
- A Ghost in the Machine (2004) *
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| Martha Grimes |
"The Man With a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes is the first book in the Inspector Richard Jury mystery series. I've previously read 5 other books in the series but that was 3 or 4 years ago. I was glad to finally read the first book, especially glad as it introduced the core of characters who appear in many of the other books in the series (at least those that I've read)
Chief Inspector Jury of Scotland Yard has been assigned to a case in the town of Long Piddleton, where two murders are being investigated. Both bodies have been discovered in local pubs, The Man with a Load of Mischief and The Jack and Hammer. During the course of his investigation, Jury is accompanied by his hypochondriac Sgt. Wiggins, more bodies are discovered. Jury's investigation introduces an intriguing cast of witnesses / suspects; from wealthy Melrose Plant, his precocious aunt Lady Agatha, antique dealer Marshall Trueblood, lovely poetess Vivian Rivington, and many others. I particularly enjoyed Jury's interactions with the Double children; they added a nice gentle touch to this murder mystery.
Set during the Xmas period, we get a nice feel for Jury's nature, personality and his manner of investigation. The case was intriguing and we continue to be fed new clues and information. Was the murder perpetrated by a stranger or someone local? The journey makes the solution even more enjoyable and satisfying. Having read some of the other books previously, but still many years ago, it was nice to meet those characters who appear in future books and often assist Jury with his investigations. Excellent story and mystery. Now to find book 2, The Old Fox Deceiv'd. (As an aside, if you are not aware of this, the titles of each book refer to pubs in the area of the particular mystery.) (4 stars)"
"It is a chilly and foggy Twelfth Night, wild with North Sea wind, when a bizarre murder disturbs the outward piece of Rackmoor, a tiny Yorkshire fishing village with a past that proves a tangled maze of unrequited loves, unrevenged wrongs, and even undiscovered murders.
Inspector Jury finds no easy answers in his investigation—not even the identity of the victim, a beautiful young woman. Was she Gemma Temple, an impostor, or was she really Dillys March, Colonel Titus Crael’s long-lost ward, returning after eight years to the Colonel’s country seat and to a share of his fortune? And who was her murderer?"
"A spinster whose passion was bird-watching, a dotty peer who pinched pennies, and a baffling murder made the tiny village of Littlebourne a most extraordinary place. And a severed finger made a ghastly clue in the killing that led local constables from a corpse to a boggy footpath to a beautiful lady’s mansion.
But Richard Jury refused, preferring to take the less traveled route to a slightly disreputable pub, the Anodyne Necklace. There, drinks all around loosened enough tongues to link a London mugging with the Littlebourne murder and a treasure map that would chart the way to yet another chilling crime."
The remaining books of the series are - (asterisked where I have and rated where I've read)
- The Dirty Duck (1984)
- Jerusalem Inn (1984)
- Help the Poor Struggler (1985) * (3 stars)
- The Deer Leap (1985)
- I Am the Only Running Footman (1986) * (4 stars)
- The Five Bells and Bladebone (1987) * (3 stars)
- The Old Silent (1989)
- The Old Contemptibles (1991) * (3 stars)
- The Horse You Came In On (1993)
- Rainbow's End (1995)
- The Case Has Altered (1997)
- The Stargazey (1998)
- The Lamorna Wink (1999) * (3 stars)
- The Blue Last (2001)
- The Grave Maurice (2002) *
- The Winds of Change (2004)
- The Old Wine Shades (2006)
- Dust (2007)
- The Black Cat (2010)
- Vertigo 42 (2014)
- The Knowledge (2019)
There you go. Just to let you know, I may not have a chance to write another entry until my return from my visit home. We'll see. Enjoy your week!
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