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The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn is the third novel in Colin Dexter's Oxford-set detective series. Morse had never ceased to wonder why, with the staggering advances in medical science, all pronouncements concerning times of death seemed so disconcertingly vague. The newly appointed member of the Oxford Examinations Syndicate was deaf, provincial and gifted. Now he is dead . . . And his murder, in his north Oxford home, proves to be the start of a formidably labyrinthine case for Chief Inspector Morse, as he tries to track down the killer through the insular and bitchy world of the Oxford Colleges . . . The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn is followed by the fourth Inspector Morse book, Service of All the Dead.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ishtahar
The one where Nicholas Quinn is deaf and dead and where the bitching never stops at the Foreign Examinations Syndicate in Oxford...
LibraryThing member the.ken.petersen
The more that I read Colin Dexter's Morse, the less satisfied I become with the TV adaptation. Morse is a well rounded character and Dexter has that ability to tell an unlikely story in such a way that logic is suspended.
With the glory of after thought, some of the plot twists are a little
I would not place this in the top echelon of Dexter's canon, but a thoroughly good read!
With the glory of after thought, some of the plot twists are a little
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difficult to explain but, when one is enmeshed, it all seems to make perfect sense. I would not place this in the top echelon of Dexter's canon, but a thoroughly good read!
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LibraryThing member Othemts
The third episode of Inspector Morse is a weak entry into the series, although that didn't stop me from being gripped by the whodunit. Still, the plot is far to convoluted and there's too many twists and turns that are indicative of weak writing. One would hope for more from Colin Dexter.
LibraryThing member TheoClarke
This third novel in the Morse series has the culturally acute detective enter the world of academic examinations boards, in which the author worked. A deaf exam setter is murdered and, after some hefty hints as to the morderer's identity, Morse tries to identify which of a limited set of suspects
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is guilty. When the board's female secretary is attacked, Morse's protective feelings are roused. THe solution of the mystery is entwined with Morse's romantic response to the secretary, and a parallel mystery about a breach of examination security. For all Morse's circumlocutions, and deductive errors, the pace is fast and the characters' conversations are rich in this satisfying mystery novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member jburlinson
Probably my favorite Morse, although The Riddle of the Third Mile runs it close. The frantic, almost demented way in which Morse tries to solve the mystery as well as furthering his love life, two not necessarily congruous goals, is both amusing and touching.
LibraryThing member kaulsu
This was the worst Inspector Morse yet. He wasn't quite as randy, true, but again the book was filled with pages of Morse smiling slightly to himself without filling in the reader or his junior partner, Sargent Lewis. B O R I N G. Oh, I should not overlook his 3 allusions to Plato's cave! Bah.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
In this 3rd book of the Inspector Morse series, for the first time Morse reminds me of the PBS character played by John Thaw. He is less fumbling, although still capable of being wrong, and relies on his intuition less.
Certain aspects of the murder seemed obvious, yet Dexter kept me guessing untilI was satisfied that Roope and Bartlett had done it so the last twist really took me by surprise!!
Certain aspects of the murder seemed obvious, yet Dexter kept me guessing until
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the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member jen.e.moore
I know a lot of people read mysteries to see if they can figure out whodunnit. I never have; I read them if I enjoy the writing and the characters, and the mystery kind of just happens. Given that, the thing I particularly enjoy about Morse books, and this one in particular, is basically feeling
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like I'm in the same boat as Lewis. Show Less
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter is part of the Inspector Morse books, a series that I hadn’t read in some time. This particular book was originally published in 1977 and it’s style is reminds one of detective stories written in the 1940s and 50s. The reader is not privy to
Set in the university town of Oxford, this case deals with the Foreign Examination Board and the murder of one it’s appointees. Somehow, Morse decides that the murderer must be one of the small group of people who work there, and so most of the book is about this small academic organization. Along the way there is a secondary murder, and the book is rife with red herrings and a few twists to keep the reader guessing.
Personally, I am not sure whether I will continue with this series, I didn’t find Morse particularly likeable or sympathetic. The story was very well written, but some of the very characteristics that I enjoy in the Inspector Frost books by R.D. Wingfield, I found intolerable here. I missed the tongue-in-cheek humor which helps to offset the rudeness and arrogance.
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the inner workings of Inspector Morse’s mind, we are rather his audience that he plays to, announcing the murderer and his methods at the end of the book. We also learn very little of his private life away from the actual job of detecting.Set in the university town of Oxford, this case deals with the Foreign Examination Board and the murder of one it’s appointees. Somehow, Morse decides that the murderer must be one of the small group of people who work there, and so most of the book is about this small academic organization. Along the way there is a secondary murder, and the book is rife with red herrings and a few twists to keep the reader guessing.
Personally, I am not sure whether I will continue with this series, I didn’t find Morse particularly likeable or sympathetic. The story was very well written, but some of the very characteristics that I enjoy in the Inspector Frost books by R.D. Wingfield, I found intolerable here. I missed the tongue-in-cheek humor which helps to offset the rudeness and arrogance.
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LibraryThing member danhammang
The plot is overly complex.
LibraryThing member TheEllieMo
This, the third of Dexter’s Morse novels, shows more depth in the writing style compared to the first two novels, and much more development of Morse’s character.
LibraryThing member TomDonaghey
The Silent World Of Nicholas Quinn (1977) (Insp. Morse #3) by Colin Dexter. While it seems that the college cheating scandal that enamored the nation just a few short months ago has managed to disappear from the news, Colin Dexter has captured the essentials within this novel. While he didn’t
There is an Oxford Examinations Syndicate which runs, validates and verifies school testing in many places throughout the realm of British influence. One of the latest additions to the staff is the deaf Nicholas Quinn, who not only lipreads but manages to get himself killed. Morse and Lewis are soon elbow deep in academics, another murder, and something happening at the local cinema where many of the involved have tickets to view “The Nymphomaniac”.
As usual in the novels, Morse leaps at many, many deductions and conclusions, but inevitably gets the culprit.
A little slow in spots, or perhaps I was just distracted by my wife Shelly modeling the latest virus mask she has sewn up.
Stay together staying apart.
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quite envision what has happened here in the colonies, the heart of the matter shines through.There is an Oxford Examinations Syndicate which runs, validates and verifies school testing in many places throughout the realm of British influence. One of the latest additions to the staff is the deaf Nicholas Quinn, who not only lipreads but manages to get himself killed. Morse and Lewis are soon elbow deep in academics, another murder, and something happening at the local cinema where many of the involved have tickets to view “The Nymphomaniac”.
As usual in the novels, Morse leaps at many, many deductions and conclusions, but inevitably gets the culprit.
A little slow in spots, or perhaps I was just distracted by my wife Shelly modeling the latest virus mask she has sewn up.
Stay together staying apart.
Show Less
LibraryThing member hobbitprincess
I am working my way through the Inspector Morse novels. This is the 3rd one, and it is just as good as the first two. As convaluted as this book was, I found it easier to follow for some reason. In the end, however, I was surprised by the ending.
LibraryThing member walterhistory
When a just hired deaf man is found dead in his apartment, Inspector Morse finds the crime scene a bit odd & as he digs deeper, he is led to a group of Oxford dons who would prefer some things to never see the light of day. Once a second murder occurs, the group of Oxford dons are now the focus of
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the case, Inspector Morse realizes he must find the killer before another prof ends up dead. Show Less