Colin Watson - Hopjoy Was Here

Rating: 4/5

Review: 
Another enjoyable instalment

I am coming to love this series and Hopjoy Was Here, the third, is another good one.  This time Purbright and his team investigate a possible acid-bath murder, as agents of National Security hover because one of their own may be the victim.  It's a well told, quite twisty tale, but as always it is Colin Watson's writing which is the really enjoyable thing.

Watson has a dry, sardonic take on things, illustrated by this lovely little example as Purbright calls to interview a neighbour of the house which is the crime scene: "Mrs Alice Sayers celebrated the installation of a police inspector in her drawing-room by serving a jug of hot milk and water delicately tinctured with coffee essence..."  The book is full of such amusing and penetrating little nuggets of characterisation, including a very enjoyable satire of self-important spies, while the plot moves on at a fairly leisurely pace - which is just fine by me.

My sole reservation is that women are treated with almost universal contempt, and there are some observations about their sexuality among other things which border on the offensive.  Even allowing for the prevailing attitudes of the period, I did find this uncomfortable.  However, there is so much else to enjoy here that I can still warmly recommend the book.

(My thanks to Farrago for an ARC via NetGalley.)