Death and the Dutch Uncle

Inspector Henry Tibbett Mystery #8

by Patricia Moyes

Professional sleuth, Henry Tibbett, finds that the murder of a kitchen worker is linked to an African boundary dispute

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, British Literature

245 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Moyes was born in Dublin on 19 January 1923 and was educated at Overstone girls' school in Northampton. She joined the WAAF in 1939. In 1946 Peter Ustinov hired her as technical assistant on his film School for Secrets. She became his personal assistant for the next eight years. In 1960 she wrote the screenplay for the film School for Scoundrels starring Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, and Alastair Sim. She married photographer John Moyes in 1951; they divorced in 1959. She later married James Haszard, a linguist at the International Monetary Fund in The Hague. She died at her home on the island of Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands) on 2 August 2000.

Her mystery novels feature C.I.D. Inspector Henry Tibbett. One of them, Who Saw Her Die (Many Deadly Returns in the US) was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1971. She also wrote several juveniles and short stories.

Series:
* Inspector Henry Tibbett Mystery

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is #9 in the Henry Tibbet series. Not too long ago I read #17, A Six Letter Word for Death . I have at least one more Tibbet title in my bookcase but I'm going to wait a bit before picking it up, because I am a bit annoyed with Superintendent Tibbet at the moment. Or maybe it is Ms. Moyes I am annoyed with....or the publishers of my edition of the book? Well, let's see if I can sort it all out.

Once again Tibbet is presented with what seems to be a 'simple' murder but turns out to be a very complex international situation that brings in people and locations from past books. I think that is one reason I am annoyed with the author: I really don't like reading footnotes telling me to See This Book in order to know who this or that character is. I understand about series and all, but it still irks me. I rarely get the urge to go back and read those other books I am told to read.

Anyway, eventually Tibbet and his loyal (WHY?!) wife Emmy go off on another fake vacation to try to prevent more skullduggery. Unlike in #17, this time around Emmy turns up in serious danger because of Tibbet using her as a prop for his undercover investigation. I want to smack Tibbet upside the head every time he tells Emmy to do anything. And Emmy for doing it, come to think of it.

This story was a bit confusing, with lots of people coming and going, and an ultimately boring reason for the entire sequence of events. The last few chapters were fast moving page-turners, but also too cut and dried with coincidences that happened at exactly the right moment in order to save the day. I could see the author tying up all of her loose ends, and I don't really like to notice such things.

My last whine is that my edition was missing four pages. Not torn out, simply missing. Just at the point where Inspector Tibbet tells Sergeant Reynolds that he has inside information about people Reynolds has been investigating, the scene switches to dinner at Tibbet's house. What a jolt! At least I could go back and refresh my memory about the information Tibbet was bragging about, but I missed the scene with Reynolds, one of the minor but interesting characters of these books.

So, with all of that going on, this was not as enjoyable a book as I expected it to be and when I visit Mom again in May it will be going with me, to be banished to the AZ bookshelves and make room here for something better.

[Louise Culmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A petty crook and gambler is shot dead in the gents at a seedy nightclub. What seems like a not particularly interesting case for Henry Tibbet becomes unexpectedly complex and it appears could. Ahve international repercussions. The case eventually takes Henry and Emmy to Amsterdam, and then to Friesland. There are some amusing parts, I particularly liked the fact that Henry Tibbet mentions how helpful ‘ Inspector Van der Valk’ was - evidently Patricia Moyes was an admirer of Nicholas Freeling. There is even a reference to Arlette ‘you know, Arlette, the charming Frenchwoman the inspector’s wife we met in Amsterdam.’ And when the get to Friesland and meet Koewteveen, he is a great character, he ‘glares at Henry with rather engaging balefulness, such as the Laughing Cavalier might have displayed had he caught another gallant drinking from his tankard’. But the last part of the book is really more thriller than detective story, with Henry engaged in mad chases,fights and rescues. And I thought it rather shocking that he calmly involved a young child in some very risky activities. Altogether this one is a bit strange

[Calum Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

C+:

Begins with a really interesting premise and then descends into a more of a crime/adventure caper with little opportunity for detection.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Tibbett sensed there was something strange about the death of Flutter Byers. There was nothing surprising that a small time crook like Byers might be murdered, but the circumstances around his death were peculiar nonetheless. But little does he think that he and his wife Emmy will find themselves in the Netherlands, trying to save the life of an eminent jurist, with the help of two adventurers who just relish a fight. I originally read this many years ago, so by the middle of the book I had some idea what was coming, yet the suspense of the action-packed conclusion got to me again, just as it had the first time.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death & the Dutch Uncle (1968) by Patricia Moyes opens just after the murder of a small-time gambler and crook. The shooting occurred in the gents in the private bar at the Pink Parrot--a meeting place for various members of the British crime scene which has somehow managed to steer just to the right side of the law. Nothing can ever be proven against anybody--not against the owner nor the patrons. And, of course, true to form, nobody saw or heard anything when "Flutter" Byers lost his last gamble. Superintendent Tibbett is annoyed by the blank innocence that greets the investigation, but there is little to be done when a whole roomful of people all claim to have been unaware of what happened. It seems that Flutter's murder is destined to be an unsolved crime.
But a then dinner with a man who works as an interpreter for an organization (PIFL) that handles international disputes over boundaries and the like makes Tibbett realize that Flutter had gotten mixed up in a very high-stakes game indeed. It soon becomes apparent that someone has been killing off members of the committee which will decide the boundary line between two obscure African countries. And they have their sights on a final member who holds the deciding vote. What can be so important about a barren piece of land in Africa? Why does Tibbett have to go to Amsterdam to look for the solution to the case? And...will he be in time to save the man in the crosshairs?

This is a fun mystery that does take a fair amount of suspension of disbelief. There are a number of coincidences; Tibbett's taking Emmy along straight into danger is a bit much; and the gentleman from PIFL deserves a bigger dressing down than he gets for deliberately losing his police guardian. But--if you're looking for an escapist read and an enjoyable time following Henry Tibbett as he ferrets out exactly who's behind it all, then this is a quite decent afternoon's read--fast moving (especially after the action moves to the Netherlands) and interesting.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspector Tibbett is rather bored with his new case: the execution of a small-time crook in a pub known to be a hang-out for London's criminal underworld. The usual code of silence prevails, and it looks like the investigation is going to sizzle out. On top of that, Gordon Trapp, a casual acquaintance, is wasting the Inspector's time with an unlikely story that someone is quietly murdering some geriatric diplomats, members of an obscure government agency that is soon to render judgment in a border dispute between two newly independent African nations.

But then the two cases begin to intersect in the most bizarre ways. Inspector Tibbett has to navigate his way through a complex story involving two beautiful women, a respectable hotel, a Dutch resistance hero, a daredevil pilot who escapes from Africa by the skin of his teeth, and a bottle of whisky. The action soon moves from London to Paris, then to Amsterdam, and eventually to a small village in Friesland. Canals, boats, windmills and even a pet chicken become part of the story.

The book was first published in 1968, and I rather enjoyed the description of Holland in those days. People still wearing clogs, an occasional glimpse of a woman in traditional costume, soggy fields, Dutch gin, and a farm called "Rustig Hoek" that the English protagonists interpret as "Rusty Hook".

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Superintendent Tibbett is investigating a shooting. Nothing major, the victim is a small-time crook; but attempting to get any information from the witnesses is extremely difficult. At the same time, Gordon Trapp approaches him, concerned that members of PIFL (the Permanent International Frontier Litigations Commission) are being murdered — two have recently died, one in an accident, the other by apparent natural causes. At first Tibbett is unconvinced, but then he discovers a connection with the shooting that starts him wondering. All this leads from London to the canals and windmills of Friesland for an exciting denouement. Recommended.

However, the title does not really make sense till almost the end of the book.

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good outing. Done with the usual Moyes intricate plotting, lots of characters, plenty of action and a good resolution. Here, Inspector Tibbett (and ever-present wife Emmy) begin investigationg the shooting of a small time criminal, but before long the ripples widen out into a much larger pond, involving the London based Permanent International Frontier Litigation organization…have two of their delegates been murdered in connected killings? And before long Henry and Emmy are off to Holland to avert yet another killing. Fun read, if a bit credulity straining…

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the couple I had read before(who saw her die and johnny underground) of this author . It started well enough but gets muddled once it reaches Holland. The plot is not bad but somehow feels implausible because of so much action happening in a Dutch village . Overall a bit too jumbled for my liking.

[David C Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

A seemingly ordinary gangland killing leads to an international plot and a showdown in Holland. Not the best Moyes, the plot is too ramshackle especially when it gets to Holland. Also, I don’t get why mystery writers don’t pay more attention to firearms: revolvers don’t eject their cartridges.

[Ethan Hulbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title was a little different than how the book ended up being. This was a pretty interesting and somewhat out-of-time thriller/intrigue/espionage novel. Good, but not extraordinary.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Tibbett Mystery #8

[thearcher89 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok. More of a spy thriller than a detective novel

[Kathleen Lustig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tibet’s

Very enjoyable English mystery in the late 1940s. Extremely well written and a page turner until the end. Very enjoyable characters.

[Arline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend all the Moyes books, you will certainly enjoy it.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a trip through Holland. Great story.

[Lila · Rating 3 out of 5]

An engaging adventure with wife Emmy playing an active role as the two stake out the rural waterways of the Netherlands. There's lots of action here.

[Jo Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Tibbett of New Scotland Yard is a wonderful detective. Patricia Moyes, creator of Henry, crafts a delightful tale that kept me guessing.

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully entriguing, a fun read

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always Learn Something New

Locations & lifestyles, new customs & a few words in a language! Great characters, suspense, action & super witty finales!!!

[Lyle Lawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't my favorite Tibbett book

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very different book in the 'older' genre of mysteries. It is written well and has a lovely 'twisty' plot that keeps a reader's interest.

[Pina Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by Patricia Moyes. While a bit long winded in places, it was a very enjoyable read with fleshed out characters. She writes well and in great detail. I especially got a great introduction to Amsterdam and learnt a lot when I looked up some references. I’ll definitely be reading more of Inspector Tibbett and his eager unofficial ‘partner’ wife Emmy! She is a darling.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opens with the murder of a small time crook. Patrons in the pub did see the murderer--a man wearing a false beard and dark glasses. Newly promoted Superintendent Henry Tibbett is puzzled by the murder, but even more puzzled by a friend's request to investigate the deaths of two elderly politicians. His friend is convinced the two men, both members of PIFL, a mythical division of the UN or something that solves minor border disbutes, were actually murdered. Henry is not convinced, since there appears to be no logical motive. But he investigates anyway, and soon, finds a link between the death of the crook and the deaths of two men involved in an African border dispute. Two beautiful sisters, one an employee of PIFL and one a frequent visitor to the pub where the man was murdered, know a lot more than they're saying. Henry follows the clues to Holland, accompanied by his wife, Emmy. Emmy should have stayed at home, though, because she become involved in the final confrontation with an international criminal determined to escape one more time.

I enjoyed this murder. The plot is really hard to summarize and probably sounds quite confusing, but it really works out quite well in the book. The pace is a little slow, but once the characters get to the Netherlands it proceeds very quickly. I really like Patricia Moyes. Henry and Emmy are great characters. If you like old-fashioned mysteries without a lot of graphic violence or sex and not as dark as many modern writers, I think you'd like this book. I am only sorry it's not in print.

[Two Envelopes And A Phone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Moyes channels her inner Desmond Bagley, and I had a fine time reading her doing it.

The plot is complicated, and political, and suspenseful - but Henry and Emmy, along with some new friends (how can I ever forget little Ineke!) get it sorted, as a murder mystery centering on a shady character in a private pub’s Gent’s Room gives a whiff of a multi-assassination plot well under way. Or is that all piffle? Henry collaborates with the organization PIFL to find out why PIFL people are dying, but who can be trusted? Meanwhile, PIFL tries to do its thing - settling a quiet little border dispute that is, well, not as quiet as it should be.

I come out of the book immediately wanting to arrange a flight to Holland, to see the beauty I’ve just had masterfully described to me in the late stages of the novel - but, impulse sadly quelled for the time being. Instead, I’ll recommend this book as a different sort of Moyes experience, but a fun one, especially for a spy-games fan like me.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

I now know why it was impossible to find a copy of this book until ebooks came along. This episode reads like James Bond , with all the improbable coincidences and gun waving. Up until the middle it was ok, then it fell to pieces. At least now I have read all of Patricia Moyes mysteries.

1 star. Only read if you have to read all the mysteries.

[Robyn]

This was a re-read, which I've read several times before though it had been a long time.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable story--I enjoyed the Friesland setting.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting plot, and a good Dutch adventure.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. I enjoy this author's mysteries very much.