Holy Disorders

by Edmund Crispin

Other authorsPaul Panting (Narrator), HarperCollins Publishers Limited (Publisher)

Digital audiobook, 2015

Series

Gervase Fen (2)

Publication

HarperCollins Publishers Limited (2015)

Original publication date

1946

Description

This 1945 classic British mystery from "a master of the whodunnit . . . combines a flawless plot, witty dialogue and a touch of surreal hilarity" (The New York Times Book Review). On holiday in the town of Tolnbridge with his butterfly net in hand, Prof. Gervase Fen, Oxford don of English Literature, is all set for a good frolic when he learns that the cathedral organist has been murdered. With Scotland Yard unable to make sense of the crime, Fen stands ready to step in. Whether he's chasing butterflies or catching criminals, it's all the same to this amateur sleuth with a penchant for literary allusions and an uncanny knack for solving the unsolvable: like why a small-town church musician would be mixed up with a local coven of witches-or a spy ring of Nazi sympathizers? Finding the answers provides endless amusement for Fen-and for readers as well-in this golden age English detective novel from Edmund Crispin, "an absolute must for devotees of cultivated crime fiction." -Kirkus Reviews Praise for the mysteries of Edmund Crispin "A marvellous comic sense." -P. D. James, New York Times-bestselling author of the Inspector Adam Dalgliesh series "Master of fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek mystery novels, a blend of John Dickson Carr, Michael Innes, M.R. James, and the Marx Brothers." -Anthony Boucher, author of the Fergus O'Breen series "One of the most literate mystery writers of the twentieth century." -The Boston Globe "Beneath a formidable exterior he had unsuspected depths of frivolity." -Philip Larkin, author of A Girl in Winter "One of the last exponents of the classical English detective story." -The Times (London.)… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member MusicMom41

This continues to be an amusing series for me although this entry is more of a “puzzle” mystery than a comedy. This story is set in a Cathedral Town and one of the pleasures of Crispin’s novels is his wonderful descriptive writing. I caught the clue that pointed to the main villain but there

were enough other threads to the story to hold my interest. Crispin’s self references are amusing and his POV is interesting. In the two mysteries I’ve read the story is told in third person but the POV is mainly through the eyes of the “Watson” character—in both cases this has been a friend who has come to visit Fen. We learn much more about the friend than we do about Fen—who seems to be a rather “stock” character in some ways. I find this series a relaxing read to while away a few hours—enjoyable but not compelling. However, I do plan to read the third one in the omnibus I borrowed from the library because sometimes “relaxing and amusing” is definitely the way to go.

Show Less

11 more

LibraryThing member Eat_Read_Knit

An absolutely superb mystery: beautifully plotted, and hysterically funny. I laughed like a drain at just about every other page, and after the raven in chapter 8 I just have to go and read some Edgar Allan Poe.

Excellent. Hysterical. Go and read it.

LibraryThing member hedera

More somber than some Gervase Fen books due to the war background and the witchcraft theme. I always enjoy Crispin's writing.

LibraryThing member philipblue

An extremely enjoyable detective novel, combining the typical twists and turns, moments of comedy, and in the case of Gervase Fen, a vocabulary bordering on the gargantuan. Have a dictionary to hand. Be warned, too, that this book is extremely pretentious. The joke about Gibbon and Waugh made me

laugh, but perhaps others will be less than impressed.

Show Less

LibraryThing member marfita

I just love Gervase Fen. It's a wonderful and absurd character. The story here is very WWII and dated, but has its fun points.

LibraryThing member ritaer

Although I seem to recall having enjoyed the earlier work by Crispin, this novel forcefully reminds me why the Golden Age penchant for eccentric private detectives and incredible plots went out of style. Not quite a murder with a rare dagger at the precise time the soprano hits high C, but close in

execution and explanation. (Yes, I mangled the Chandler reference.)

Show Less

LibraryThing member BooksForDinner

Didn't finish this one. Seems fun, but lost interest.

LibraryThing member thorold

There have been some rather untoward goings-on in the organ loft of a West Country cathedral, and church-music composer Geoffrey Vintner finds himself playing Watson to the tetchy Professor Gervase Fen's Holmes as they try to disentangle an increasingly complex plot. There's a great deal of

silliness, most of it fun but quite irrelevant to the crime, as well as bucketloads of allusions to both serious and light literature. However, it's a bit disconcerting to find that Crispin can't quite make up his mind whether he's writing a lurid thriller or the kind of English detective story that relies on the reader keeping track of the movements of a whole chapter of clergy to the nearest minute and understanding the significance of a 32' organ stop: there's nothing really wrong with mixing the two subgenres, you just don't quite expect it...

Show Less

LibraryThing member MrsLee

Gervase Fen and his friend, Geoffrey Vintner, are in the town of Tolnbridge where shenanigans are afoot and church organists are dropping left and right. In fact, Vintner nearly becomes a fatality on the way to join Fen. An amusing mystery, with many literary allusions, the mystery itself is pretty

good, although solvable, I missed some of the clues which told me why I was correct. Probably because I was skimming the parts which annoyed me. The characters didn't seem consistent, and their moods and temperaments were difficult to justify. Also, similar weird names left me befuddled because the ones which bore them had no special characteristics to set them apart. In spite of all that, it was an enjoyable read, but I won't be seeking out more Crispin novels to read.

Show Less

LibraryThing member piemouth

A mystery from 1940, the classic British gold age type with a map of the murder scene and the amateur detective draws up a timetable of everybody's movements and explains the crime to the police. The detective is a quirky Oxford don and this is the first in a series of at least ten.

It's wartime

and characters say things like "Mustn't forget to fix the blackout curtains" and mention shortages. Most of the characters are strange or unpleasant or both but the plot is nicely twisted and the writing is top notch. I felt chuffed at recognizing quotations and certainly missed a lot more, and love his habit of saying "Oh my ears and whiskers!" I immediately ordered more Gervase Fen mysteries from Powell's.

Show Less

LibraryThing member Overgaard

fun perspective on Anglican clergy - historical view of marijuana - wild

LibraryThing member AQsReviews

This was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read. I am glad to have read it. Gervase Fen is a gem - Crispin writes Fen perfectly, with every necessary idiosyncrasy, but never too much over-description.

The pseudo-Gothic history of Tolnbridge combined with the overlay of the Nazis in WW2 make

this a really ripe setting for all sorts of goings on. Crispin capitalizes on all these things and writes a story with hilarity, good props, red herrings, and seemingly familiar characters.

So many "Easter eggs" and homages and little hints about other books make this a nested joy. For example, the second half of chapter eight, in which a visit is made to Garbin's house is absolutely awesome writing. The stoic straight-facedness of Garbin combined with the utter ridiculousness of the props in the setting make this chapter awesome. Highly recommended that readers with wit read this novel - if only for this amusing chapter.

Great vintage mystery. Easy to read, highly enjoyable.

Show Less

Fewer