Publication
Virago (1996), 224 pages
Original publication date
1945
Collections
Genres
Subjects
Description
Could there be a Jack-the-Ripper copycat in the sleepy village of Brentford? Two women have been found brutally murdered, each under the light of a full moon. When a third mutilated body is identified, brothers Simon and Keith Innes discover that their brother Jack was mysteriously absent from their home on that last moonlit night. After Jack's snob's knife goes missing from his tool box, Simon and Keith have no choice but to investigate and clear his name. With the help of the peculiar amateur detective Mrs. Bradley, the brothers race to find answers?before the rising of another full moon. The belovedly eccentric Mrs. Bradley and her ingenious sleuthing are sure to impress in this cleverly woven classic. You?ll never guess who lurks in the shadows?and why.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member christiguc
Fun mystery! Gladys Mitchell was a contemporary of Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. The detective in the books is an outspoken psychoanalyst, Mrs. Bradley (the same one on whom the PBS Mystery! series with Diana Rigg was based).
In this story, a young tightrope walker from the circus is killed by
Mrs. Bradley doesn't appear until around the second half of the book, and instead, the story is narrated by a young boy who, along with his younger brother, is captivated by the exciting events. Armed with their horse pistol and sword, they are eager to investigate any suspicious movement. Because of their curiosity and their propensity for sneaking around at night, they end up gathering a lot of useful information, and when Mrs. Bradley arrives, they find an ally with whom they can pool that information.
I thought the book was excellent. Because the story is narrated from the perspective of a young boy, the narrator is not always reliable in attaching importance to events and doesn't have the same open avenues of investigation. Nevertheless, the writer is fair and gives the reader enough information to figure out the mystery, as long as the reader can translate the boy's interpretation and doesn't let the contagious enthusiasm distract from the facts.
If you already know Gladys Mitchell, you will like this book. If you haven't read anything by her but like Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers, give this one a shot--you will probably enjoy it!
In this story, a young tightrope walker from the circus is killed by
Show More
a slasher on the first night the circus is in town. The attentions of the police are focused on the members of the circus until that end proves unlikely due to several subsequent similar murders of young women after the circus leaves town. Mrs. Bradley doesn't appear until around the second half of the book, and instead, the story is narrated by a young boy who, along with his younger brother, is captivated by the exciting events. Armed with their horse pistol and sword, they are eager to investigate any suspicious movement. Because of their curiosity and their propensity for sneaking around at night, they end up gathering a lot of useful information, and when Mrs. Bradley arrives, they find an ally with whom they can pool that information.
I thought the book was excellent. Because the story is narrated from the perspective of a young boy, the narrator is not always reliable in attaching importance to events and doesn't have the same open avenues of investigation. Nevertheless, the writer is fair and gives the reader enough information to figure out the mystery, as long as the reader can translate the boy's interpretation and doesn't let the contagious enthusiasm distract from the facts.
If you already know Gladys Mitchell, you will like this book. If you haven't read anything by her but like Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers, give this one a shot--you will probably enjoy it!
Show Less
LibraryThing member twistgirl
Gladys Mitchell's storytelling is at it's best when describing the place and time in which this mystery takes place. However, she has a rare ability to depict children in an unusual way. She grants them a level of respect and importance in her books right up with the main characters. In this book,
Show More
they are the narrators and the whole story revolves around them. Never childish or sentimental, Mitchell's children are clever, into lots of mischief, and usually know much more than the adults in their midst. Most of all, they develop an immediate affinity to Mrs. Bradley. They bestow on her their confidence and recognize her genuine respect for them. In Mitchell's books, pay close attention to the children. She gives them interesting roles and very often, the best lines. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookczuk
Didn't realize this was part of a series.
Two boys in a small town in England help solve a rash of murders that plague their town. I think this was one my mother picked up at a library book sale. Found it when we were clearing out our mountain cabin.
Two boys in a small town in England help solve a rash of murders that plague their town. I think this was one my mother picked up at a library book sale. Found it when we were clearing out our mountain cabin.
LibraryThing member ritaer
psychological mystery
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
1860490743 / 9781860490743
Physical description
224 p.; 4.9 inches
Pages
224