Status
Available
Call number
Library's review
England, Oxford, juli 1998
Morse holder lægeligt påbudt ferie, da politimester Strange pånøder ham opklaringen af et mord, begået året før. En sygeplejerske Yvonne Harrison på 48 år blev myrdet i sin seng i Swinstead, mens manden var ude at rejse. I indledningen antydes at en mandlig
Strange har fået et anonym brev om at holde øje med en fange, der skal løslades snart. Fangen, Harry Repp, forsvinder imidlertid og Morse og senere Lewis gætter på at han er blevet dræbt og liget skjult på en losseplads. De finder ganske rigtigt et lig, men det er en anden mand, Paddy Flynn. Senere bliver Repp dog fundet dræbt i bagagerummet i en bil. Indbrudstyven Malcolm Johnson åbner bilen for Morse på 15 sekunder rent. Morse gætter på at der er tre mænd involveret og at den tredje er håndværkeren Jason Barron. Håndværkerens hobbykniv kunne godt passe med mordvåbnet til mordene på Repp og Flynn, men hvordan skal puslespillet samles? Teorien lider næsten skibbrud, da Jason falder ned fra en stige og en dreng Roy Holmes melder sig og vedgør at det var et uheld.
Morse og Lewis tror mere på at det er et camoufleret mord og efterforsker videre. Jasons fingeraftryk bliver fundet i den bil, hvor Repp blev fundet og Jason var tidligere kommandosoldat, så det passer fint med at de tre kom op at toppes om penge, som de pressede af Yvonnes morder, og at Jason så slog de to andre ihjel.
Men hvem slog Jason ihjel? Roy siger det var et uheld, men Morse har gættet at Roy var i seng med sin lærerinde, Christine Coverley, på det tidspunkt. Christine begår selvmord. Yvonnes mand, Frank Harrison, har mange penge, men banken hvor han er ansat er begyndt at tænke over hvorfor der mangler penge i hans afdeling. Han er taget ud at rejse med Maxine Ridgway, men bliver anholdt da de kommer hjem.
Morse har regnet ud at Sarah Harrison slog sin mor ihjel og motivet var at hun kom uventet hjem og fandt sin egen elsker Jason i seng med Yvonne. Sarah havde en krykke med, fordi hun havde forstuvet benet og det passer med mordvåbnets karakteristika.
Frank er arresteret og kort tid efter melder Sarah sig og tilstår mordet på Yvonne. Som Sarahs far påtog han sig at mudre efterforskningen af mordet til og derfor kunne Jason og de to andre presse penge af ham, fordi de kendte sandheden.
Morse dør af et hjerteanfald og Lewis får lov at finde de sidste detaljer på egen hånd. Blandt andet om Morse og hans forhold til Yvonne Harrison. Lewis finder ud af at Morse egentlig dækkede for Strange og at der var god grund til det, for Stranges kone var dødssyg. Lewis fortryder at han har mistroet Morse, men det er jo for sent.
Simon Harrison er døv, så Colin Dexter har endnu en gang mulighed for at lufte sin viden om døve og tunghøre. Der er en glimrende skildring af forholdet mellem Strange og Morse, for de ved begge at den anden ved at den anden ved .. og behøver derfor næsten ikke sige noget.
Morse holder lægeligt påbudt ferie, da politimester Strange pånøder ham opklaringen af et mord, begået året før. En sygeplejerske Yvonne Harrison på 48 år blev myrdet i sin seng i Swinstead, mens manden var ude at rejse. I indledningen antydes at en mandlig
Show More
patient er involveret. Morse brokker sig, men Strange har allerede talt med Lewis og får ham alligevel på banen? Yvonne Harrisons mand Frank har et glimrende alibi, for han kom hjem pr tog og taxa efter at en anonym telefonopringning havde alarmeret ham om at noget var galt. Deres datter Sarah og søn Simon har heller ikke noget motiv.Strange har fået et anonym brev om at holde øje med en fange, der skal løslades snart. Fangen, Harry Repp, forsvinder imidlertid og Morse og senere Lewis gætter på at han er blevet dræbt og liget skjult på en losseplads. De finder ganske rigtigt et lig, men det er en anden mand, Paddy Flynn. Senere bliver Repp dog fundet dræbt i bagagerummet i en bil. Indbrudstyven Malcolm Johnson åbner bilen for Morse på 15 sekunder rent. Morse gætter på at der er tre mænd involveret og at den tredje er håndværkeren Jason Barron. Håndværkerens hobbykniv kunne godt passe med mordvåbnet til mordene på Repp og Flynn, men hvordan skal puslespillet samles? Teorien lider næsten skibbrud, da Jason falder ned fra en stige og en dreng Roy Holmes melder sig og vedgør at det var et uheld.
Morse og Lewis tror mere på at det er et camoufleret mord og efterforsker videre. Jasons fingeraftryk bliver fundet i den bil, hvor Repp blev fundet og Jason var tidligere kommandosoldat, så det passer fint med at de tre kom op at toppes om penge, som de pressede af Yvonnes morder, og at Jason så slog de to andre ihjel.
Men hvem slog Jason ihjel? Roy siger det var et uheld, men Morse har gættet at Roy var i seng med sin lærerinde, Christine Coverley, på det tidspunkt. Christine begår selvmord. Yvonnes mand, Frank Harrison, har mange penge, men banken hvor han er ansat er begyndt at tænke over hvorfor der mangler penge i hans afdeling. Han er taget ud at rejse med Maxine Ridgway, men bliver anholdt da de kommer hjem.
Morse har regnet ud at Sarah Harrison slog sin mor ihjel og motivet var at hun kom uventet hjem og fandt sin egen elsker Jason i seng med Yvonne. Sarah havde en krykke med, fordi hun havde forstuvet benet og det passer med mordvåbnets karakteristika.
Frank er arresteret og kort tid efter melder Sarah sig og tilstår mordet på Yvonne. Som Sarahs far påtog han sig at mudre efterforskningen af mordet til og derfor kunne Jason og de to andre presse penge af ham, fordi de kendte sandheden.
Morse dør af et hjerteanfald og Lewis får lov at finde de sidste detaljer på egen hånd. Blandt andet om Morse og hans forhold til Yvonne Harrison. Lewis finder ud af at Morse egentlig dækkede for Strange og at der var god grund til det, for Stranges kone var dødssyg. Lewis fortryder at han har mistroet Morse, men det er jo for sent.
Simon Harrison er døv, så Colin Dexter har endnu en gang mulighed for at lufte sin viden om døve og tunghøre. Der er en glimrende skildring af forholdet mellem Strange og Morse, for de ved begge at den anden ved at den anden ved .. og behøver derfor næsten ikke sige noget.
Show Less
Genres
Publication
Århus : Klim, 2000.
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. For a year, the murder of Mrs. Yvonne Harrison at her home in Oxfordshire had baffled the Thames Valley CID. The manner of her death�??her naked handcuffed body left lying in bed�??matched her reputation as a women of adventuresome sexual tastes. The case seemed perfect for Inspector Morse. So why has he refused to become involved�??even after anonymous hints of new evidence, even after a fresh murder? Sgt. Lewis's loyalty to his infuriating boss slowly turns to deep distress as his own investigations suggest that Mrs. Harrison was no stranger to Morse. Far from it. Never has Morse performed more brilliantly than in this final adventure, whose masterly twists and turns through the shadowy byways of passion grip us to the dea… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member John
I read a reviewer who said that fans of Inspector Morse should not be put off in reading this book just because it is the last one, and Dexter kills Morse off at the end. I was one of that crowd, but I finally got around to the book. The story involves an old case of murder of a woman with whom
Dexter pulls no emotional punches. At the end, Morse has one more sip of scotch from the nurse, and then:
For just a little while, Morse opened his eyes and looked up at her.
"Please thank Lewis for me..."
But so softly spoken were the words that she wasn't quite able to catch them.
And then, in a more universal appreciation of what it means when a life is extinguished, Lewis is at the morgue:
The eyes were closed, but the expression on the waxy face was hardly one of great serenity, for some hint of pain still lingered there. Like so many other contemplating a dead person, Lewis found himself pondering so many things as he thought of Morse's mind within the skull. Thought of that wonderful memory, of that sensitivity to music and literature, above all of that capacity for thinking laterally, vertically, diagonally – whateverwhichway that extraordinary brain should decide to go. But all gone now, for death had scattered that union of component atoms into the air, and Morse would never move or think or speak again.
Feeling slightly guilty, Lewis looked around him. But at least for the moment his only company was the dead. And bending down he put his lips to Morse's forehead, and whispered just two final words: "Goodbye, sir."
(Sept/00)
Show More
Morse may, or may not, have had an affair and in the light of which he may, or may not, have interfered in some way with the original investigation even though he was not directly assigned to it. All of this causes Lewis to question Morse's honesty and objectivity, and he only finds the truth after Morse's death. The story is vintage Morse with a case that no one else seems able to solve, with all sorts of twists and turns and false leads but through which Morse, with his intuitive thinking and curmudgeonly style finds the threads that finally come together. Morse is not in good shape at the beginning of the novel and at the end he suffers a heart attach which does not kill him immediately, but which puts him in the hospital where he lingers for only a few days. Dexter pulls no emotional punches. At the end, Morse has one more sip of scotch from the nurse, and then:
For just a little while, Morse opened his eyes and looked up at her.
"Please thank Lewis for me..."
But so softly spoken were the words that she wasn't quite able to catch them.
And then, in a more universal appreciation of what it means when a life is extinguished, Lewis is at the morgue:
The eyes were closed, but the expression on the waxy face was hardly one of great serenity, for some hint of pain still lingered there. Like so many other contemplating a dead person, Lewis found himself pondering so many things as he thought of Morse's mind within the skull. Thought of that wonderful memory, of that sensitivity to music and literature, above all of that capacity for thinking laterally, vertically, diagonally – whateverwhichway that extraordinary brain should decide to go. But all gone now, for death had scattered that union of component atoms into the air, and Morse would never move or think or speak again.
Feeling slightly guilty, Lewis looked around him. But at least for the moment his only company was the dead. And bending down he put his lips to Morse's forehead, and whispered just two final words: "Goodbye, sir."
(Sept/00)
Show Less
LibraryThing member the.ken.petersen
I can't believe that it has taken until now for me to read a Colin Dexter book. It just goes to show how much there is out there still to be read!
This is another of those books to which I have come via the television. John Thaw did an excellent job of portraying my second favourite detective
If one is going to dip a toe into the original material, where does one start? In my case, at the end with a poor quality book club version of the last book in the series. There is no logic to this, just a statement of fact.
Dexter is a superb writer. Almost like a poet, every word appears to be carefully chosen and, whilst I admit to reaching for a dictionary several times during my journey through the book, I never got the impression that he was advertising his greater vocabulary. The story is suitably tangled and keeps one on the verge of a solution from an early stage, but never quite arriving until the last few pages - just as any good whodunnit should. The book examines the human condition in an entertaining manner and was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Whilst, of course, a certain suspension of disbelief is required, the story flows with credibility and, I'll admit to joining Lewis in a few tears as the curmudgeonly detective breathed his last. Definitely one to read again at some point.
This is another of those books to which I have come via the television. John Thaw did an excellent job of portraying my second favourite detective
Show More
fiction (Sorry, but Daziel and Pascoe shades it - both televisually and in literary format), and, I think, that my enjoyment of the screen version delayed my perusal of the pure written form. I did not want to find too much different to the version of the detective that I knew. I need not have worried. Morse is exactly the same character as played by Thaw, the only difference being that in novel form, we are able to get deeper into the psyche of the main characters. This is particularly true of Strange, a bit part on TV who is much rounder in the book.If one is going to dip a toe into the original material, where does one start? In my case, at the end with a poor quality book club version of the last book in the series. There is no logic to this, just a statement of fact.
Dexter is a superb writer. Almost like a poet, every word appears to be carefully chosen and, whilst I admit to reaching for a dictionary several times during my journey through the book, I never got the impression that he was advertising his greater vocabulary. The story is suitably tangled and keeps one on the verge of a solution from an early stage, but never quite arriving until the last few pages - just as any good whodunnit should. The book examines the human condition in an entertaining manner and was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Whilst, of course, a certain suspension of disbelief is required, the story flows with credibility and, I'll admit to joining Lewis in a few tears as the curmudgeonly detective breathed his last. Definitely one to read again at some point.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Noisy
The last book in the series ... and the best. I've only recently realised that these aren't detective stories, so much as character studies of Chief Inspector Morse: with that, I've changed my attitude and it's been richly rewarded with my appreciation peaking at the same time as Dexter's craft.
Strange (Morse's boss, coming into focus more sharply, and now mirroring the TV series portrayal) directs Morse to take on a case hard on the heels of Morse recovering from ill health. Morse is reluctant, and complications regarding his involvement with the murder victim are highlighted. Lewis is caught in the middle of the interplay between Morse and Strange, but the bond between Morse and Lewis seems ever deeper. More murders follow, and the plot is just as convoluted as always. The ending - as befits the last in the series - is less ambiguous than that of some of the others, but has significant punch.
My previous dissatisfaction with earlier works was not present on this excursion, and I happily went along with the baffling twists and turns in the investigations as suspects are flagged up and then removed from the plot. I ignored the red herrings and dead ends, and concentrated on the interplay between Morse, Lewis and Strange as they each moved towards different parts of their lives and/or careers. Dexter's use of cultural snippets to presage the events in each chapter is something I've always been happy with, and he still drops in words that baffle me. That mannered writing style does mean that it's not transparent, and that you have to concentrate rather than just let the words wash over you. For this reason, I can't give the book top marks.
So, a fitting conclusion to the series and I'm glad I stuck with it after the shaky start. As to whether I'd recommend it ... Well, for a fan of detective stories it is a must, but if you're going to tackle the series on the basis of the TV stories then I'd say that you need to treat them as separate things: if you don't get along with the first few books in the series then - even though they get better - the series will still turn out to be a slog. As for me - this final story made it all worthwhile.
Show More
Strange (Morse's boss, coming into focus more sharply, and now mirroring the TV series portrayal) directs Morse to take on a case hard on the heels of Morse recovering from ill health. Morse is reluctant, and complications regarding his involvement with the murder victim are highlighted. Lewis is caught in the middle of the interplay between Morse and Strange, but the bond between Morse and Lewis seems ever deeper. More murders follow, and the plot is just as convoluted as always. The ending - as befits the last in the series - is less ambiguous than that of some of the others, but has significant punch.
My previous dissatisfaction with earlier works was not present on this excursion, and I happily went along with the baffling twists and turns in the investigations as suspects are flagged up and then removed from the plot. I ignored the red herrings and dead ends, and concentrated on the interplay between Morse, Lewis and Strange as they each moved towards different parts of their lives and/or careers. Dexter's use of cultural snippets to presage the events in each chapter is something I've always been happy with, and he still drops in words that baffle me. That mannered writing style does mean that it's not transparent, and that you have to concentrate rather than just let the words wash over you. For this reason, I can't give the book top marks.
So, a fitting conclusion to the series and I'm glad I stuck with it after the shaky start. As to whether I'd recommend it ... Well, for a fan of detective stories it is a must, but if you're going to tackle the series on the basis of the TV stories then I'd say that you need to treat them as separate things: if you don't get along with the first few books in the series then - even though they get better - the series will still turn out to be a slog. As for me - this final story made it all worthwhile.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Umbratikus
Not a fan of mystery novels, I was reluctant to read this book. I read it however, at the prompting of my brother, and am happy I did. Ironic that the first Morse book I read is the last one to be written. Despite a couple of glaring inconsistencies in the book, the writing was surprisingly
Show More
competent, the characters likable and easy to identify with, and the setting perfect for my tastes. The ending was very satisfying and emotionally stirring. This may be the last Morse novel, but it won't be the last one I read. Show Less
LibraryThing member ishtahar
The one that ends it all.
The one that makes me weep.
The one that makes me weep.
LibraryThing member otterley
I still find it difficult to like the Morse novels (where the essentially romantic Morse of the TV veers towards the leery and prurient - not to mention patronising), but this is better than the earlier ones and the detective story itself is intricate and well designed..
LibraryThing member leslie.98
While the mystery part was good, what made this book special was the personal aspects as Morse, Lewis, and Superintendent Strange come to terms with Morse's failing health and ultimate demise. In order for that aspect to have its full impact, the reader should approach this after reading the series
The mystery that provides the stage for the personal drama of course can stand alone. It was a bit too dragged out for my tastes but Dexter still can surprise, right up to the end!
Show More
(or watching the TV show) so that the personalities of characters (especially Morse and Lewis) are well understood.The mystery that provides the stage for the personal drama of course can stand alone. It was a bit too dragged out for my tastes but Dexter still can surprise, right up to the end!
Show Less
LibraryThing member smik
This is the last of the Morse series and again another excellent novel, and another excellent narration by Samuel West.
Morse met Yvonne Harrison when he was in hospital last and he fell for her, and she for him.
Her murder comes when he is involved in another case and he initially won't take on the
Lewis finds Morse's attitude hard to fathom and he worries about how involved Morse actually was with Yvonne Harrison, particularly after he discovers part of a letter that Morse sent to her.
This was also virtually the last of Colin Dexter's novels although he remained involved in the television series Lewis and Endeavour. Like the earlier novels in the series, it gave Dexter the chance to display his erudite knowledge and literary skills. These are not just police procedurals but display complicated interweaving of plot threads and character development.
Colin Dexter died in 2017. He won many awards for his novels and in 1997 was presented with a well deserved CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for outstanding services to crime literature. I think he raised crime fiction writing to a real literary level.
Morse met Yvonne Harrison when he was in hospital last and he fell for her, and she for him.
Her murder comes when he is involved in another case and he initially won't take on the
Show More
case and is fully aware of a conflict of interest. But he continues to take an interest in it, and when a second murder happens he agrees to become involved.Lewis finds Morse's attitude hard to fathom and he worries about how involved Morse actually was with Yvonne Harrison, particularly after he discovers part of a letter that Morse sent to her.
This was also virtually the last of Colin Dexter's novels although he remained involved in the television series Lewis and Endeavour. Like the earlier novels in the series, it gave Dexter the chance to display his erudite knowledge and literary skills. These are not just police procedurals but display complicated interweaving of plot threads and character development.
Colin Dexter died in 2017. He won many awards for his novels and in 1997 was presented with a well deserved CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for outstanding services to crime literature. I think he raised crime fiction writing to a real literary level.
Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999
Physical description
330 p.; 20.1 cm
ISBN
8779550126 / 9788779550124
Local notes
Omslag: Joyce Grosswiler
Omslagsfoto fra Central ITV fra tv-serien
Omslaget viser kommissær Morse i skikkelse af skuespilleren John Thaw. Morse kigger ud af et kæmpevindue i en gammel engelsk bygning
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "The Remorseful Day" af Gerd Have
Morse, bind 13
Side 5: Da jeg skrev mit 1997-brev, mente jeg, at jeg ikke havde meget at glæde mig til i 1998 men det har siden vist sig, at jeg var latterligt optimistisk. - David Mackenzie, On the Dole in Darlington.
Side 7: Folk kan dele seng, men ikke tanker - kinesisk ordsprog
Side 14: Når Napoleons falkeøje lynede ned over listen af officerer, der var indstillet til forfremmelse, havde han for vane i margenen ud for hvert enkelt navn at skrive, "Men er han også heldig?" -- Felix Kirkmarkham, The Genius of Napoleon.
Side 27: I de blindes rige, er den enøjede konge. - Afghansk ordsprog.
Side 30: Den engelske landadelsmand i galop efter en ræv - den unævnelige i fuld forfølgelse af den uspiselige. - Oscar Wilde
Side 44: Han havde selv arbejdet sig op og skyldte ingen sin mangel på succes. - Joseph Heller, Punkt 22.
Side 181: Nunquam ubi sub ubi - det er en ret indforstået joke - på latin giver den ingen mening, men ordret oversat til engelsk er det - never where under where - som udtales ligesom never wear underwear, dvs brug aldrig undertøj.
Omslagsfoto fra Central ITV fra tv-serien
Omslaget viser kommissær Morse i skikkelse af skuespilleren John Thaw. Morse kigger ud af et kæmpevindue i en gammel engelsk bygning
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "The Remorseful Day" af Gerd Have
Morse, bind 13
Side 5: Da jeg skrev mit 1997-brev, mente jeg, at jeg ikke havde meget at glæde mig til i 1998 men det har siden vist sig, at jeg var latterligt optimistisk. - David Mackenzie, On the Dole in Darlington.
Side 7: Folk kan dele seng, men ikke tanker - kinesisk ordsprog
Side 14: Når Napoleons falkeøje lynede ned over listen af officerer, der var indstillet til forfremmelse, havde han for vane i margenen ud for hvert enkelt navn at skrive, "Men er han også heldig?" -- Felix Kirkmarkham, The Genius of Napoleon.
Side 27: I de blindes rige, er den enøjede konge. - Afghansk ordsprog.
Side 30: Den engelske landadelsmand i galop efter en ræv - den unævnelige i fuld forfølgelse af den uspiselige. - Oscar Wilde
Side 44: Han havde selv arbejdet sig op og skyldte ingen sin mangel på succes. - Joseph Heller, Punkt 22.
Side 181: Nunquam ubi sub ubi - det er en ret indforstået joke - på latin giver den ingen mening, men ordret oversat til engelsk er det - never where under where - som udtales ligesom never wear underwear, dvs brug aldrig undertøj.
Other editions
The remorseful day by Colin Dexter (Paperback)
Similar in this library
Series
Pages
330
DDC/MDS
| 823.914 |