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lgarrity's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
michelleful's review
5.0
Loved this classic post-war mystery. The hilarity was apparent from the very first page, there was a lot of top-notch sleuthing spread out between Scotland Yard representatives and one intriguing amateur. The background of the law office and London of the time period was very evocatively brought to life. There are many characters rapidly sketched out in the beginning, but they were so well delineated that I had no trouble keeping them separate in my mind. While the mystery was eminently fair, I was too engrossed in the plot and language to take the time to try to figure out whodunnit, it was that engaging.
The only thing that gave me pause was a chapter where it becomes apparent that the women in the office (all secretaries, of course, not principals) are routinely sexually harassed at work and in other parts of their lives, and more or less resigned to it. Having just read Chanel Miller's memoir Know My Name, this especially stood out to me. I suppose it is at least a step forward that it's made clear that they do not enjoy it.
The dry humour in the dialogue was the main winner for me, though. Though the styles are completely different, it reminded me of another favourite - the Hilary Tamar series, which also features lawyers and combines my favourite genres of humour and mystery.
The only thing that gave me pause was a chapter where it becomes apparent that the women in the office (all secretaries, of course, not principals) are routinely sexually harassed at work and in other parts of their lives, and more or less resigned to it. Having just read Chanel Miller's memoir Know My Name, this especially stood out to me. I suppose it is at least a step forward that it's made clear that they do not enjoy it.
The dry humour in the dialogue was the main winner for me, though. Though the styles are completely different, it reminded me of another favourite - the Hilary Tamar series, which also features lawyers and combines my favourite genres of humour and mystery.
jopaterson's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Entertaining enough read. Some interesting reflections on the nature of detective stories peppered through the text. And some sobering reminders of the importance of getting the answer right (it’s not just a game, it’s not just a novel), in the context of the death sentence.
aleatoirefrancais's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
astoldbyangela's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A really well-written mystery
zackbs's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
singlecrow's review
5.0
Very witty, very clever, thoroughly enjoyable. The notable firm of solicitors, Horniman, Birley and Crane, have just found a dead man in one of their deed boxes. This is a firm that already had a significant cast of eccentrics, a singing sergeant, a parasomniac statistician, the Horniman patented filing system and a cat called Chancery, so the addition of the murder is only a little perturbing. Inspector Hazlerigg, for all he's allegedly Gilbert's recurring detective, is merely one voice in a chorus. I am a little biased in that i spent some time in practice in a firm very like Horniman's - that was in 2011; I'm pleased to learn that that sort of firm hasn't changed a whit in more than sixty years - but honestly, I really liked this.