Series
Publication
British Library Publishing (2019), 256 p.
Original publication date
1951
Collections
Awards
Description
"A London crowd awaits the trial of Victoria Lamartine, suspected for the murder of her former lover. Lamartine - who years ago escaped from the Gestapo - is set to meet her end at the gallows. One final opportunity remains: solicitor Nap Rumbold is called to replace the defence counsel, granting an eight-day reprieve. Without any time to spare, Rumbold crosses the Channel to trace the roots of the crime back into the war-torn past. Expertly combining authentic courtroom drama at the Old Bailey with a perilous quest for evidence across France, Gilbert's novel is an unorthodox marvel of the mystery genre"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member antiquary
More the kind of Gilbert I like --steeped in the atmosphere of the British bar --it alternates between trial scenes and scenes in which 2 investigators, one in England and one in France, are looking for evidence to support the defense. Some of the French scenes have a mildly humorous tone that
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reminds me of Manning Coles. Overall it is satisfying, but when I think about a couple of points, they do not seem consistent --two characters apparently were approved for settling in Britain on the basis of supposed information about their activities in France during WW2, but very cursory amateur investigation proves their stories (one in particular) obviously false. It is hard to believe the French and British governments would not have caught this. Show Less
LibraryThing member cmbohn
Stayed up late to finish this one. British courtroom drama that revolves around what happened on a French farm during World War II. I thought the last 1/4 of the book kind of lost steam, but it was still an enjoyable read. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to find it, but if you come
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across it, it was fun. Show Less
LibraryThing member jetangen4571
Crime Fiction, courtroom drama, England, post WW2, murder, suspense, thriller
Events in occupied France result in a brisk courtroom drama of a murder in England utilizing investigators in both France and England. The accused is a woman who was active in the French Resistance and the victim was a
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
Events in occupied France result in a brisk courtroom drama of a murder in England utilizing investigators in both France and England. The accused is a woman who was active in the French Resistance and the victim was a
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British Major. If you get your nose into this one, it just might be glued there til the end! I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
Victoria Lamartine faces a charge of murder. Her alleged lover Major Thoseby's murder made her the most logical suspect. Attorney Nap Rumbold becomes a late replacement for the defense. Can he save his client from the gallows? Much of the book consists of hearings at the Old Bailey. Some shows
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Rumbold's activities in trying to clear his client. Lamartine participated in the French Resistance during World War II, and the mystery takes us back to that time to absolve her. Although I enjoyed Perry Mason mysteries during my junior high years, my love of the courtroom mystery did not continue into adulthood. I requested it based on the World War II connection and because of its British Library Crime Classics series designation. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would after discovering it was a courtroom setting. I consider it an average mystery. I received an advance electronic copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review. Show Less
LibraryThing member eyes.2c
Classic British crime drama!
If I were a 'courtroom drama' purist I'd be in seventh heaven over this reprint of this 1951 British Crime Classic.
I'm not, and yet I found myself following the court action and the investigation process as avidly as if I were watching Rumpole of the Bailey.
It's post
Her victim is Major Eric Thoseby, her supposed lover and contact in France during the war.
It looks like a cut and dried case. But at the last moment Victoria changes briefs and things go from a ho hum, 'Guilty as charged', murder case to 'High Drama.'
Victoria's new defense team led by Hargest Macre with young solicitor Nap Rumbold are wily, thorough and astute. The investigations are visually clear and thrilling. As the case builds both in and outside the courtroom (Nap to France and back with former Commando and army officer Major Angus McCann) I was totally engaged.
A compelling read!
A Poisoned Pen Press ARC via NetGalley
If I were a 'courtroom drama' purist I'd be in seventh heaven over this reprint of this 1951 British Crime Classic.
I'm not, and yet I found myself following the court action and the investigation process as avidly as if I were watching Rumpole of the Bailey.
It's post
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World War II London. A young French woman, Victoria Lamartine, a former resistance member, and ex Gestapo prisoner has been accused of murder.Her victim is Major Eric Thoseby, her supposed lover and contact in France during the war.
It looks like a cut and dried case. But at the last moment Victoria changes briefs and things go from a ho hum, 'Guilty as charged', murder case to 'High Drama.'
Victoria's new defense team led by Hargest Macre with young solicitor Nap Rumbold are wily, thorough and astute. The investigations are visually clear and thrilling. As the case builds both in and outside the courtroom (Nap to France and back with former Commando and army officer Major Angus McCann) I was totally engaged.
A compelling read!
A Poisoned Pen Press ARC via NetGalley
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LibraryThing member BrianEWilliams
This book is an excellent blend of whodunnit murder mystery, detective thriller and courtroom drama. The story is set in post WW2 years, but there's a backstory centres on events occurring in France during the German Occupation in the war. The language is not dated even though the book was written
It begins with an accused killer changing her legal defence team on the eve of the beginning of her trial. Her previous team wanted her to plead guilty and throw herself n the mercy of the court. The suggestion is that they did not want to mount a vigorous defence out of either laziness or a lack of financial incentive. A new team comes in to prove that she's innocent.
The story opens literally on the courtroom steps and moves through the trial process. This process is presented in clear language with minimal arcane legal jargon. The barristers are seasoned and act professionally, no phoney rhetoric or histrionics.
Alternating with the court proceeding is the story of the detective work undertaken by a junior defence solicitor and a veteran British commando. The solicitor travels to France while the veteran stays in England. However, both face danger from people wanting to thwart their inquiries.
The author is good at building suspense. With the detectives, it's the tension of the thriller -- can they elude their pursuers? In the courtroom, it's a race against time to find the information to prove the defence case before the end of the trial.
All in all, it's a brilliant work of crime fiction: suspenseful, well-plotted and fast-paced with an ensemble cast of interesting characters. The description of post war rural France adds to the atmosphere in a meaningful way too. It's one of those books you want to read in one sitting.
The comprehensive Introduction written by Martin Edwards provides insight into the author and the book.
Recommended reading.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advance reading copy of this eBook of the British Library Crime Classic edition. The comments about it are my own.
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in 1951.It begins with an accused killer changing her legal defence team on the eve of the beginning of her trial. Her previous team wanted her to plead guilty and throw herself n the mercy of the court. The suggestion is that they did not want to mount a vigorous defence out of either laziness or a lack of financial incentive. A new team comes in to prove that she's innocent.
The story opens literally on the courtroom steps and moves through the trial process. This process is presented in clear language with minimal arcane legal jargon. The barristers are seasoned and act professionally, no phoney rhetoric or histrionics.
Alternating with the court proceeding is the story of the detective work undertaken by a junior defence solicitor and a veteran British commando. The solicitor travels to France while the veteran stays in England. However, both face danger from people wanting to thwart their inquiries.
The author is good at building suspense. With the detectives, it's the tension of the thriller -- can they elude their pursuers? In the courtroom, it's a race against time to find the information to prove the defence case before the end of the trial.
All in all, it's a brilliant work of crime fiction: suspenseful, well-plotted and fast-paced with an ensemble cast of interesting characters. The description of post war rural France adds to the atmosphere in a meaningful way too. It's one of those books you want to read in one sitting.
The comprehensive Introduction written by Martin Edwards provides insight into the author and the book.
Recommended reading.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an advance reading copy of this eBook of the British Library Crime Classic edition. The comments about it are my own.
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LibraryThing member amaraki
Great fun and a swiftly paced page turner so I gave it a high rating --for me--within its genre. A French woman is accused of murdering a British major, and the mystery centers on events in wartime France where the woman was a member of the resistance working with the British. The tale develops and
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the mystery is gradually solved as the author skips between the British courtroom trial and the adventures of the young lawyer sleuth seeking evidence in France. The characters were likeable and the courtroom proceedings interesting and entertaining while the structure of the story was solid. Show Less
LibraryThing member BrokenTune
The book started out great with a court room drama that was headed towards disaster as the defendant changed her legal advisors at the very last minute and her new barristers struggled for time to prepare a case that seemed to be a foregone conclusion. Thrilling stuff.
Unfortunately, once a little
What made the book worse was the ending. Just when I hoped we’d be able to get back to the sparkle of the first chapters, the book plunged into a diatribe on morality.
Now, I understand that this section reflected the mores of its time, or at least the mores of a certain strata middle-class England and – from what I have read – the English legal system at the time. However, as a reader I was not in the mood to put up with outright mysogyny and acceptance of double-standards that was portrayed in the story. What irked me most was that the social issues that were depicted could have been, and only a couple of decades later probably would have been!, picked up as part of the legal drama. But no. Instead of taking apart the bias toward the defendant instilled in both society inside and outside of the court room, Gilbert decided to present a pedestrian solution that seemed to have been pulled out of a hat. It was all very, very disappointing, especially because my first encounter with Gilbert’s work in [Smallbone Deceased] not long ago had me hope that Gilbert could be another author I would want to read more by.
Unfortunately, once a little
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time is granted, the story changes into action mode, where we see threats, stabbings, and people digging up dirt from the past. Yep, this was so boring. I often had to flip back to a previous chapter to find out why we were where we were and what we were trying to accomplish. Seriously, this was not good.What made the book worse was the ending. Just when I hoped we’d be able to get back to the sparkle of the first chapters, the book plunged into a diatribe on morality.
Now, I understand that this section reflected the mores of its time, or at least the mores of a certain strata middle-class England and – from what I have read – the English legal system at the time. However, as a reader I was not in the mood to put up with outright mysogyny and acceptance of double-standards that was portrayed in the story. What irked me most was that the social issues that were depicted could have been, and only a couple of decades later probably would have been!, picked up as part of the legal drama. But no. Instead of taking apart the bias toward the defendant instilled in both society inside and outside of the court room, Gilbert decided to present a pedestrian solution that seemed to have been pulled out of a hat. It was all very, very disappointing, especially because my first encounter with Gilbert’s work in [Smallbone Deceased] not long ago had me hope that Gilbert could be another author I would want to read more by.
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LibraryThing member Vesper1931
Victoria Lamartine, an ex-French Resistance fighter and now hotel worker is standing trial for the murder of her former manager in France, and alleged lover, Major Eric Thoseby. A seemingly straightforward trial as she is the only logical suspect.
Just before her trial she changes her defence
It took a few chapters to get into the book but then I came interested in the story and really enjoyed the unfolding of this well-written story.
Originally published in 1951
A NetGalley Book
Just before her trial she changes her defence
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counsel, and solicitor. The latter, with help try and find new evidence.It took a few chapters to get into the book but then I came interested in the story and really enjoyed the unfolding of this well-written story.
Originally published in 1951
A NetGalley Book
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780712352284
Physical description
256 p.; 7.44 x 5.16 inches
Pages
256