Rating: 4/5
Review:
Very enjoyable
I thoroughly enjoyed Coffin, Scarcely Used. It is exceptionally well written and a decent
mystery to boot.
Originally published in 1958, this book introduces Inspector
Purbright of the Flaxborough police.
Flaxborough is a (fictional) small coastal English town where outward
respectability conceals Untoward Goings-On.
The discovery of a second body, this time a murder staged as a suicide
causes Purbright and the equally admirable sergeant Sid Love, to
investigate. They are a very engaging
pair, with Purbright as a seemingly slightly hapless, polite investigator, and
the whole thing is a pleasure to read.
It is decently, if slightly implausibly, plotted. The characters are well drawn, with pointed
wit but genuine thoughtfulness, so that although it is genuinely funny in
places, it has an essential believability and insight into the character and
mores of the time which make it a very involving read as well as just an
entertaining one. It's perhaps a bit
like a much less donnish Michael Innes or a 1950s version of Simon Brett in
tone. I marked this little exchange
between Purbright and Mr Smith, the local bank manager which gives a flavour of
the style:
'"We should be glad to have your help, sir…"
Mr Smith inclined his head and continued to register
delight. "Anything we can do, we shall only be too pleased."
"…in a somewhat delicate matter," Purbright added,
and the tiniest flake of frost settled upon Mr Smith's manner.'
If you like that, you'll like the book. I like it very much, and I'm looking forward
to catching up with more of Inspector Purbright, whom I haven't read
before. I'm grateful to Farrago Books
for making available and introducing me to a third series of excellent but
nearly forgotten books which are very well written and entertaining, the others
being Miss Seeton and the Bandy series by Donald Jack. All are warmly recommended.
(I received an ARC via NetGalley.)
No comments:
Post a Comment