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kathyscottage's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
ambersbookshelf's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
fictionfan's review against another edition
4.0
I, said the sparrow...
The people who live in Regency Square in Cheltenham form a little community set somewhat apart from the rest of the town. They all socialise with each other, and there are all the rivalries and grievances that grow up in any group over time. So when someone shoots Captain Cotton with an arrow to the head through the open window of a neighbour's house, there are plenty of suspects, since many of the residents are members of the local archery club, and Captain Cotton had annoyed several of his neighbours in one way or another. Unfortunately for the murderer, Superintendent Meredith is visiting a friend in the square at the time, and the local police quickly enlist his help...
...which is a wonder really, since on the basis of this he's not terribly good at his job! Mind you, he's better than the local chap, who seems almost entirely clueless. Things were different back then, of course, as can be seen when the police pick up the body, carry it across the square, and leave it unattended on the captain's own bed till the inquest. The thing is that there's a major plot point which is so blindingly obvious that the biggest mystery in the book is that it doesn't even occur to the police till the book is nearly over – I won't specify for fear of spoilers, even though I defy anyone not to spot it. And it's not the only easy to spot clue – easy for the reader, that is, but seemingly impenetrable to our dogged but hopeless detectives. On the other hand, Meredith seems amazingly, almost supernaturally, perceptive when it comes to less important clues, making astounding leaps of intuition to arrive at the truth. The powers-that-be keep threatening to hand the whole thing over to the Yard, and I really felt they should do this pronto – intriguingly Meredith's own superiors seemed willing to leave him seconded to the Cheltenham force for as long aspossible necessary. One could see why...
However, there's still a lot to like in the book. The characterisations of the various residents of the square are well done, even if they tend to be a little stereotyped. This is a typically upper middle class square, full of bankers and retired army officers and elderly spinsters. Some of the people are just what they seem, but some have secrets hidden behind their respectable façades which are gradually revealed as the book progresses. Bude creates the setting well and some of the secrets give it a slightly darker tone than it feels as if it's going to have at first. And there's lots of humour in it too, sometimes a bit clunky like when the local Inspector uses his young subordinate as the butt of his stupidity jokes (ironic, given the profundity of his own intellectual lapses!), but at other times light and fun, like the two elderly sisters and their dismay at not really knowing the correct etiquette for dealing with a murder investigation. The detectives get there in the end, of course, but more by luck than anything else.
Not one of the better of these British Library Crime Classics, in truth. I found it dragged quite a bit, mainly because it took the police so long to realise things that had been obvious for chapters. The quality of the writing and characterisation lifted it, but the whole detection aspect lacked any feeling of authenticity for me, and the murder method, while quite fun, struck me as overly contrived. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other John Bude I've read, [b:Death on the Riviera|26077479|Death on the Riviera|John Bude|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447081802s/26077479.jpg|46015107], but it was still a reasonably enjoyable read overall. So a fairly half-hearted recommendation for this one, I'm afraid. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
The people who live in Regency Square in Cheltenham form a little community set somewhat apart from the rest of the town. They all socialise with each other, and there are all the rivalries and grievances that grow up in any group over time. So when someone shoots Captain Cotton with an arrow to the head through the open window of a neighbour's house, there are plenty of suspects, since many of the residents are members of the local archery club, and Captain Cotton had annoyed several of his neighbours in one way or another. Unfortunately for the murderer, Superintendent Meredith is visiting a friend in the square at the time, and the local police quickly enlist his help...
...which is a wonder really, since on the basis of this he's not terribly good at his job! Mind you, he's better than the local chap, who seems almost entirely clueless. Things were different back then, of course, as can be seen when the police pick up the body, carry it across the square, and leave it unattended on the captain's own bed till the inquest. The thing is that there's a major plot point which is so blindingly obvious that the biggest mystery in the book is that it doesn't even occur to the police till the book is nearly over – I won't specify for fear of spoilers, even though I defy anyone not to spot it. And it's not the only easy to spot clue – easy for the reader, that is, but seemingly impenetrable to our dogged but hopeless detectives. On the other hand, Meredith seems amazingly, almost supernaturally, perceptive when it comes to less important clues, making astounding leaps of intuition to arrive at the truth. The powers-that-be keep threatening to hand the whole thing over to the Yard, and I really felt they should do this pronto – intriguingly Meredith's own superiors seemed willing to leave him seconded to the Cheltenham force for as long as
However, there's still a lot to like in the book. The characterisations of the various residents of the square are well done, even if they tend to be a little stereotyped. This is a typically upper middle class square, full of bankers and retired army officers and elderly spinsters. Some of the people are just what they seem, but some have secrets hidden behind their respectable façades which are gradually revealed as the book progresses. Bude creates the setting well and some of the secrets give it a slightly darker tone than it feels as if it's going to have at first. And there's lots of humour in it too, sometimes a bit clunky like when the local Inspector uses his young subordinate as the butt of his stupidity jokes (ironic, given the profundity of his own intellectual lapses!), but at other times light and fun, like the two elderly sisters and their dismay at not really knowing the correct etiquette for dealing with a murder investigation. The detectives get there in the end, of course, but more by luck than anything else.
Not one of the better of these British Library Crime Classics, in truth. I found it dragged quite a bit, mainly because it took the police so long to realise things that had been obvious for chapters. The quality of the writing and characterisation lifted it, but the whole detection aspect lacked any feeling of authenticity for me, and the murder method, while quite fun, struck me as overly contrived. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other John Bude I've read, [b:Death on the Riviera|26077479|Death on the Riviera|John Bude|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1447081802s/26077479.jpg|46015107], but it was still a reasonably enjoyable read overall. So a fairly half-hearted recommendation for this one, I'm afraid. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
lyndsayt96's review
3.0
This was compulsory to read for one of my assessments, as it’s normally not a book that I would pick up to read. I had a preconception of British Library Crime Classics, and this book did indeed live up to them - gossipy neighbours, crimes committed for financial motive, grand countryside locations, affairs, etc.
And it was okay - however, the constant questions posed by the detective started to become confusing and tiresome at the end, and it got a bit long-winded. But it was rather a good tale, and I could be convinced to pick up another Crime Classic in the future 🔍💼
And it was okay - however, the constant questions posed by the detective started to become confusing and tiresome at the end, and it got a bit long-winded. But it was rather a good tale, and I could be convinced to pick up another Crime Classic in the future 🔍💼
laurend's review against another edition
2.0
I guess it warrants a 3 but I don't feel like it has aged well. It seemed too old fashioned and most Americans won't get the lingo. Meh ending too.
cooeeaus's review against another edition
5.0
Another one of those great classic mysteries, I really love that Audible is putting these up. They are really entertaining.
lydiaogden's review
2.0
This mystery was an interesting puzzle but as none of the characters were fully developed it quickly became a dry police procedural, with some inherent classism and sexism that made it challenging to enjoy.
quietjenn's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2. I figured it out way before our sleuths, but I liked them immensely - glad I gave Meredith another chance!
vsbedford's review against another edition
3.0
A solid, closed group mystery that is mostly peopled with grumps and no-goods; which, in itself, is a nice change. The mystery and its conclusion is a real, "Whaaaaa?" and the author seems to know it, wrapping up any loose ends in a short chapter with an explanation that deserves a hard, squinty-eyed sweep of disapproval. But the writing is brisk, as per usual with Mr. Bude's novels, and gave me an entertaining few nights of reading. A recommend.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
traceymlee's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5