Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. The writing style is quite clunky and awkward at times. It mainly consists of people meeting, talking and saying something to the effect of "let's go there together". Rinse and repeat.
The story itself it quite fast paced, it's such a quick read. I think it could have been a bit longer to be honest, it would maybe have resulted in a more cohesive narration.
It's not a bad book, but it could have been better.
The story itself it quite fast paced, it's such a quick read. I think it could have been a bit longer to be honest, it would maybe have resulted in a more cohesive narration.
It's not a bad book, but it could have been better.
Very enjoyable murder mystery set in London in the early part of the 20th century. Journalist Frank Sprago works with Scotland Yard to help solve a perplexing murder. I particularly liked the writing style. I would have liked a touch more character development, but still found it great fun.
For something so old this stands up to the modern world. A man is found murdered within the are of middle temple London. not quite first on the scene but a close second or third is Frank Sprago a journalist. The police are represented by a solid but somewhat unimaginative Rathbury. They agree to pool Resources to find the perpetrator. Whilst the police eventually pick on one man who has been economical wight he truth regarding his place in the events Sprago continues to investigate and uncovers a convoluted history. It is very easy to read and follow the workings of Sprago's mind. The characterisation is diverse and it remind me a little of [b:The 39 Steps|153492|The 39 Steps (Richard Hannay, #1)|John Buchan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391320797l/153492._SY75_.jpg|2422487] in its story telling.
I hadn't heard of the author before but he is quite prolific and I would definitely read more from him.
I hadn't heard of the author before but he is quite prolific and I would definitely read more from him.
Another Audio book . This one was a free download from Libravox via Guttenberg.
It was OK. The reading got a bit bad towards the end. Some of the readers stumbled over entire paragraphs without stopping the tape and starting again. The odd word is ok but not a paragraph. This was matched by the bad writing – the plot was all right but the repitition tedious. ‘He opened the door, he went through the door he had opened.’ Did he really – and exactly how wide did he open the door, pray tell?
It was OK. The reading got a bit bad towards the end. Some of the readers stumbled over entire paragraphs without stopping the tape and starting again. The odd word is ok but not a paragraph. This was matched by the bad writing – the plot was all right but the repitition tedious. ‘He opened the door, he went through the door he had opened.’ Did he really – and exactly how wide did he open the door, pray tell?
Solid, if not particularly remarkable, old school mystery; bears some similarities to the other Fletcher novel I've read (and liked a little better) but still very dependable and enjoyable.
Frank Spargo is a young journalist who has just finished his shift as dawn breaks across London and plans to make his way home for breakfast and a good, long sleep. As he passes Middle Temple Lane, home to various barristers and the like, he notices Driscoll, a policeman of his acquaintance, looking about him and signalling to another policeman nearby. Sensing a possible story he approaches Driscoll to find out what's up.
A porter has found the body of an elderly man on the steps leading to one of the chambers in the Middle Temple. Spargo hooks up with Detective Sergeant Rathbury who arrives to take charge of the case and they soon find that there is nothing at all on the man to identify him.The only lead is a piece of paper that had slipped into the lining of a pocket and which has the name and address of a young barrister, Ronald Breton. Spargo has recently made the barrister's acquaintance through a newspaper article. Breton, when questioned, claims no knowledge of the man but he becomes interested in the case and he, Spargo, and Rathbury work--sometimes in tandem and sometimes along separate lines--towards the solution.
I first read The Middle Temple Murder (1919) by J. S. Fletcher over twenty-five years ago (back before I did any sort of review on what I read) and when the library finally purged its copy and put it up for sale in its Friends of the Library Used Bookstore I snatched it up so I could own it and read it again. Fortunately, from the mystery-puzzle stand-point, I had very little memory of the story and was able to enjoy myself without knowing the solution beforehand. Fletcher provides us with a very nice early detective novel. His policeman is neither antagonistic towards the amateur detective work of Spargo nor is Rathbury incompetent (as so many fictional policemen are portrayed). Each of the men follow up the clues they find and pool their knowledge. If anyone keeps information up their sleeves, it's Spargo--all in the effort to get a big scoop.
This is a fast-moving story which follows our investigators from one adventure to the next, from one witness to another. There are several features that would become standard in mystery stories--mysterious man from the past killed for unknown reasons, wealthy man of business with mysterious background, the missing child--but here, because it is such an early example, they seem fresh. The main disappointment I have with the book is the denouement. The reveal of the culprit at the end comes much too quickly and with too little explanation. One can just see the motive for the murder, but Fletcher gives the wrap-up very little effort. It's as if he said--"Well, X did it. That's all you need to know." Other than the ending, this is a fine example of an early mystery story and, from what I read on the internet, one of Fletcher's better efforts. ★★★★ (I gave it five stars previously.)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
A porter has found the body of an elderly man on the steps leading to one of the chambers in the Middle Temple. Spargo hooks up with Detective Sergeant Rathbury who arrives to take charge of the case and they soon find that there is nothing at all on the man to identify him.The only lead is a piece of paper that had slipped into the lining of a pocket and which has the name and address of a young barrister, Ronald Breton. Spargo has recently made the barrister's acquaintance through a newspaper article. Breton, when questioned, claims no knowledge of the man but he becomes interested in the case and he, Spargo, and Rathbury work--sometimes in tandem and sometimes along separate lines--towards the solution.
I first read The Middle Temple Murder (1919) by J. S. Fletcher over twenty-five years ago (back before I did any sort of review on what I read) and when the library finally purged its copy and put it up for sale in its Friends of the Library Used Bookstore I snatched it up so I could own it and read it again. Fortunately, from the mystery-puzzle stand-point, I had very little memory of the story and was able to enjoy myself without knowing the solution beforehand. Fletcher provides us with a very nice early detective novel. His policeman is neither antagonistic towards the amateur detective work of Spargo nor is Rathbury incompetent (as so many fictional policemen are portrayed). Each of the men follow up the clues they find and pool their knowledge. If anyone keeps information up their sleeves, it's Spargo--all in the effort to get a big scoop.
This is a fast-moving story which follows our investigators from one adventure to the next, from one witness to another. There are several features that would become standard in mystery stories--mysterious man from the past killed for unknown reasons, wealthy man of business with mysterious background, the missing child--but here, because it is such an early example, they seem fresh. The main disappointment I have with the book is the denouement. The reveal of the culprit at the end comes much too quickly and with too little explanation. One can just see the motive for the murder, but Fletcher gives the wrap-up very little effort. It's as if he said--"Well, X did it. That's all you need to know." Other than the ending, this is a fine example of an early mystery story and, from what I read on the internet, one of Fletcher's better efforts. ★★★★ (I gave it five stars previously.)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.