Cyril Hare - With A Bare Bodkin

 

Rating: 4/5

 

Review:

Very enjoyable

I thoroughly enjoyed With A Bare Bodkin. Cyril Hare writes excellently with a rather witty and very readable style and gives us an enjoyable mystery and some nicely drawn characters.

Francis Pettigrew is seconded to the Pin Control, doing vital War Work ensuring that pin production is properly controlled and battling the dangerous black market in pins. A death occurs among his new colleagues and, with the redoubtable Inspector Hackett on hand, Pettigrew becomes involved in the subsequent investigation.

Needless to say, Hare uses this background to gently satirise the bureaucracy of such places during the Second World War, which he does beautifully and without it intruding on the plot. He creates interesting and generally credible characters (I am especially fond of Inspector Hackett) and a rather intricate plot which kept me interested throughout – and largely fooled as to the identity of the villain.

It is, in short, a lot of fun and a very enjoyable read. Recommended.