Series
Publication
Macmillan Digital Audio (2017)
Original publication date
1989
Collections
Genres
Subjects
Awards
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Winner — 1989)
Description
That night he dreamed in Technicolor. He saw the ochre-skinned, scantily clad siren in her black, arrowed stockings. And in Morse's muddled computer of a mind, that siren took the name of one Joanna Franks ... The body of Joanna Franks was found at Duke's Cut on the Oxford Canal at about 5.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 22nd June 1859. At around 10.15 a.m. on a Saturday morning in 1989 the body of Chief Inspector Morse though very much alive was removed to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. Treatment for a perforated ulcer was later pronounced successful. As Morse begins his recovery he comes across an account of the investigation and the trial that followed Joanna Franks' death ... and becomes convinced that the two men hanged for her murder were innocent.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
Morse moves from crosswords to (very) cold cases to exercise his brain whilst in hospital; a little like Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time. The mystery is intriguing enough, but the investigation is contrived to say the least - a series of coincidences, from helpful books to surviving clues in
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half-demolished houses (not least that so many women would find Morse attractive!), fall into Morse's lap whenever he has a 'Eureka!' moment. That said, the story does move ahead in leaps and bounds because of his uncanny luck, and Morse's introspection after a brush with death is alone worth reading. Perhaps a poor introduction to Dexter's novels, but I was hoping that the author had been influenced by the wonderful actors on screen by this point, and I would be able to read about the Morse and Lewis I know and love! Show Less
LibraryThing member weemadarthur
Inspector Morse investigates and solves a century-old crime while convalescing in hospital. A must read for all mystery fans.
LibraryThing member Othemts
Talk about adopting a different conceit! Inspector Morse is hospitalized for a dangerous ulcer, and during his recuperation reads an account of a murder on the Oxford Canal in 1859. Something doesn’t jibe right with the murder record and Inspector Morse sets out to re-investigate the century-old
“He was somewhat of a loner by temperament – because though never wholly happy when alone he was usually slightly more miserable when with other people.” -p. 154
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murder from his hospital bed. Oddly this may be the most entertaining and well-written Morse novel I’ve yet read! “He was somewhat of a loner by temperament – because though never wholly happy when alone he was usually slightly more miserable when with other people.” -p. 154
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LibraryThing member the.ken.petersen
Morse is in hospital reading a book about a Victorian murder....
As, I have mentioned before, I came to Morse via the TV series and this particular story, I remember from the radio, where I did not enjoy same. Dexter's lightness of touch, however, makes this, elongated short story, an entertaining
As, I have mentioned before, I came to Morse via the TV series and this particular story, I remember from the radio, where I did not enjoy same. Dexter's lightness of touch, however, makes this, elongated short story, an entertaining
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read. Not his best, but fun anyway. Show Less
LibraryThing member jburlinson
Dexter's version of The Daughter of Time, with Morse solving a hoary crime from his hospital bed. Does he fall for his nurse? It's Morse we're talking about! Does she fall for him? Now's where the mystery starts to thicken.
LibraryThing member davidpwhelan
Excellent murder mystery and cleverly positioned, since Morse is in hospital and Oxford isn't the murder capital of England. Dexter's writing is clever and his use of the Oxford canals makes this especially enjoyable for anyone who has been on a narrowboat. Nice mixture of odd characters and
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interesting twists. Show Less
LibraryThing member grundlecat
This book was one of those whose title made my buy the book - and I wasn't sorry! This was the first Inspector Morse novel I read (though I had watched him on PBS). I really enjoyed the long-distance murder-solving conducted by the invalid Inspector Morse. Excellent book , well-plotted, clever,
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funny and sad all at once. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecw0647
The book begins with poor Morse in the hospital suffering from a bleeding ulcer and enlarged liver, the result of all those pints. It's so different from the usual Morse in command; now he's forced to undergo the indignities of the hospital and completely at the mercy of others. He is given a copy
There are some really charming scenes. Lewis brings Morse a soft-porn novel, The Blue Ticket, a paperback with a titillating cover. One night, after waking up following lights out, he notices that the officious nurse who runs the ward is absent, and he turns his light on -- what harm could it do -- to read this little erotic diversion. Nurse "Cratchett" catches him at it, chastises him for turning the light on and then notices the cover of the book.
Needless to say, Morse solves the century-old crime, much to his satisfaction. The usual excellent language is present. Delightful.
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of a book detailing the results of the murder of Joanna Franks who had been raped and murdered in 1859. The perpetrators had been arrested and hung. With nothing better to do, Morse reads the book but soon begins to have doubts about the original prosecution. So we have a book within a book. Soon Morse is deep into locating materials from the original investigation.There are some really charming scenes. Lewis brings Morse a soft-porn novel, The Blue Ticket, a paperback with a titillating cover. One night, after waking up following lights out, he notices that the officious nurse who runs the ward is absent, and he turns his light on -- what harm could it do -- to read this little erotic diversion. Nurse "Cratchett" catches him at it, chastises him for turning the light on and then notices the cover of the book.
Needless to say, Morse solves the century-old crime, much to his satisfaction. The usual excellent language is present. Delightful.
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LibraryThing member leslie.98
Similar to Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time in concept. I found this entry of the Morse series to be more enjoyable than the previous couple of books. Less convoluted while maintaining the mystery.
LibraryThing member smik
I'm so glad I've discovered this set of unabridged productions of the Morse books. At between 6 and 7 hours they are lovely renditions of Dexter's novels.
Lying in hospital recovering from a perforated ulcer Morse is given a small book written by a recently died patient investigating the very cold
Highly recommended.
Lying in hospital recovering from a perforated ulcer Morse is given a small book written by a recently died patient investigating the very cold
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case of a woman who was found drowned in the Oxford Canal over 100 years earlier. As he reads he feels there was something wrong with the verdict which convicted 3 canal boatmen of the murder, but he can't put his finger on it. Luckily the man in the neighbouring bed is visited by his daughter who works in the Bodliean, just the sort of research assistant he needs.Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member TheEllieMo
The 8th book in Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse series, and in my opinion, the best so far - given that it was the first of the series to be awarded the British Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger award, I am clearly not alone in this opinion.
It’s a bit of a departure from the usual Morse
The story unfolds well, Dexter describing the processes that Morse’s brain goes through to reach his conclusions, as well as introducing a little more of Morse’s backstory.
One of my only criticisms are the same as for any Morse novel so far - the Morse of the books is in some ways quite an unsavoury character - call me a prude but his obsession with porn is off-putting, and he is such a lecherous old sod. Having said that, he does seem to be reforming slightly on the porn at least; this book was first published when the TV version had run for three series, so perhaps TV Morse was starting to influence book Morse a little.
The other criticism is that Dexter could have at least acknowledged the debt owed to Josephine Tey, whose Daughter of Time used the concept of an invalided detective solving an historical crime some 38 years before Dexter.
It’s a bit of a departure from the usual Morse
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novel, in that rather than investigating a recent murder, Morse, while convalescing in hospital, becomes intrigued by the tale of a murder on the Oxford canal 130 years earlier, and, enlisting the help of the ever-faithful Lewis, and the daughter of a fellow patient, who just happens to be a librarian at the Bodleian, sets out to discover more about the case, believing that the wrong people were hanged.The story unfolds well, Dexter describing the processes that Morse’s brain goes through to reach his conclusions, as well as introducing a little more of Morse’s backstory.
One of my only criticisms are the same as for any Morse novel so far - the Morse of the books is in some ways quite an unsavoury character - call me a prude but his obsession with porn is off-putting, and he is such a lecherous old sod. Having said that, he does seem to be reforming slightly on the porn at least; this book was first published when the TV version had run for three series, so perhaps TV Morse was starting to influence book Morse a little.
The other criticism is that Dexter could have at least acknowledged the debt owed to Josephine Tey, whose Daughter of Time used the concept of an invalided detective solving an historical crime some 38 years before Dexter.
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LibraryThing member hobbitprincess
Book #8 of the Inspector Morse series. While recovering in the hospital, Morse reads a small book about a murder 100 years earlier that sparks his interest. He tries to find the truth of what really happened. As always, I enjoy reading about Morse and seeing how his mind works.
LibraryThing member Northlaw
I enjoyed this book and using the same plot device as Josephine Tey did in “The Daughter of Time” did not detract from that enjoyment. Is this is what is meant by “homage”?
Media reviews
Morse's interpretation of the events is cunning, plausible, and persuasive, though the denouement is curiously flat compared to the investigative nit-picking that precedes it.
A surprising and inspired solution concludes a jolly good read that juxtaposes past and present Oxford with imagination and finesse
Language
Original language
English
Other editions
The Wench is Dead by Colin Dexter (Paperback)