Author : Cyril Hare
What is it about : A WhoDunIt written in 1949 when the murderer dialed a 4-digit telephone number for a cab and the currency in circulation was the Crown. The story revolved around the murder of a famous violinist hours before she was to play solo in a concert held in a fictitious suburban town in the Home Counties of England. Our reluctant (aren't they all ?) detective was the retired legal expert in the form of the cuddly Francis Pettigrew, helped along the way by the whisky-swilling Head of Police and the ever-sober Sargent in charge.
Some thoughts after having read the book : Written all those years ago had not diminished the class, sophistication and the tension of the plot. The book did not read like a now-a-day WhoDunIt top seller, conjured up by an ever-predictable commercial recipe. If anything, the book was tinged with nostalgia of the days of the good helpful citizen, as well as delightful interplay between the innocent bystanders, the guilty ones and the charming local police force.
Would I recommend this book to you : Not exactly a tour-de-force in crime-solving with a stunning wrap-up, but read the book for its old-time English-ness and appreciate the suburban landscape and characters. All in all, a mild, gentle and amusing read.
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