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Joan Kahn-Harper #7
The Detling Secret
Rising Liberal M.P. Bernard Ross marries Dolly Detling, against her crusty Tory father's objections, and two sudden deaths and a startling Christmas tragedy shock many a Victorian sensibility
- GenresMystery
225 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1982
20 people want to read
About the author
Julian Symons
258 books67 followersJulian Gustave Symons is primarily remembered as a master of the art of crime writing. However, in his eighty-two years he produced an enormously varied body of work. Social and military history, biography and criticism were all subjects he touched upon with remarkable success, and he held a distinguished reputation in each field.
His novels were consistently highly individual and expertly crafted, raising him above other crime writers of his day. It is for this that he was awarded various prizes, and, in 1982, named as Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America - an honour accorded to only three other English writers before him: Graham Greene, Eric Ambler and Daphne Du Maurier. He succeeded Agatha Christie as the president of Britain's Detection Club, a position he held from 1976 to 1985, and in 1990 he was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writer.
Symons held a number of positions prior to becoming a full-time writer including secretary to an engineering company and advertising copywriter and executive. It was after the end of World War II that he became a free-lance writer and book reviewer and from 1946 to 1956 he wrote a weekly column entitled "Life, People - and Books" for the Manchester Evening News. During the 1950s he was also a regular contributor to Tribune, a left-wing weekly, serving as its literary editor.
He founded and edited 'Twentieth Century Verse', an important little magazine that flourished from 1937 to 1939 and he introduced many young English poets to the public. He has also published two volumes of his own poetry entitled 'Confusions about X', 1939, and 'The Second Man', 1944.
He wrote hie first detective novel, 'The Immaterial Murder Case', long before it was first published in 1945 and this was followed in 1947 by a rare volume entitled 'A Man Called Jones' that features for the first time Inspector Bland, who also appeared in Bland Beginning.
These novles were followed by a whole host of detective novels and he has also written many short stories that were regularly published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. In additin there are two British paperback collections of his short stories, Murder! Murder! and Francis Quarles Investigates, which were published in 1961 and 1965 resepctively.
His novels were consistently highly individual and expertly crafted, raising him above other crime writers of his day. It is for this that he was awarded various prizes, and, in 1982, named as Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America - an honour accorded to only three other English writers before him: Graham Greene, Eric Ambler and Daphne Du Maurier. He succeeded Agatha Christie as the president of Britain's Detection Club, a position he held from 1976 to 1985, and in 1990 he was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writer.
Symons held a number of positions prior to becoming a full-time writer including secretary to an engineering company and advertising copywriter and executive. It was after the end of World War II that he became a free-lance writer and book reviewer and from 1946 to 1956 he wrote a weekly column entitled "Life, People - and Books" for the Manchester Evening News. During the 1950s he was also a regular contributor to Tribune, a left-wing weekly, serving as its literary editor.
He founded and edited 'Twentieth Century Verse', an important little magazine that flourished from 1937 to 1939 and he introduced many young English poets to the public. He has also published two volumes of his own poetry entitled 'Confusions about X', 1939, and 'The Second Man', 1944.
He wrote hie first detective novel, 'The Immaterial Murder Case', long before it was first published in 1945 and this was followed in 1947 by a rare volume entitled 'A Man Called Jones' that features for the first time Inspector Bland, who also appeared in Bland Beginning.
These novles were followed by a whole host of detective novels and he has also written many short stories that were regularly published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. In additin there are two British paperback collections of his short stories, Murder! Murder! and Francis Quarles Investigates, which were published in 1961 and 1965 resepctively.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 3, 2016
"Justice and self-interest are often identical, he thought, and mentally noted this phrase as one to be used at some time in speech."
Julian Symons' The Detling Secret (1982) is a memorable book, but not because of its plot or literary value; instead it challenges the reader's pre-conceived notions. Consider this: some threads in the novel deal with concerns about terrorism and volatility of the stock market. There is some talk about restructuring companies to make them profitable. All this sounds quite contemporary, like the twenty-first-century stuff. On the other hand, after having read the first 30 pages of the novel I began mentally placing the story in the 1930s. But then, suddenly, Oscar Wilde appears at an engagement party for one of the main characters in the novel and does "more than anybody else could have done to make the party a success." So what is going on? Stock market concerns or Oscar Wilde? We soon learn it is the latter: the plot takes place in the fall and early winter of 1893, over a hundred and twenty years ago, and just five years after the Jack the Ripper's affair. The terrorism thread refers to the struggles of Irish nationalists who may be plotting dynamite explosions to blow up parts of public buildings. And stock market worries, and human greed... well, they seem to be forever.
Bernard Ross, a member of British Parliament, has an unusual past: he spent his youth in the United States and there is not much of a record of his activities there. He marries Dolly, the daughter of Sir Arthur Detling, a heir to "one of the most ancient baronetcies in the land." The story follows the Detling family, including the younger daughter, Nelly, Bernard, some of his friends, as well as a rich businessman, speculator, and a social climber, Joseph Blader, who is marketing a brand new concept in fountain pens - pens with exchangeable ink cartridges (one could say that Mr. Blader has a 1893 startup company). The socially conscious Dolly volunteers for the Association for the Assistance of Derelict Girls, and Nelly, an art student, is planning to elope with her boyfriend. The leisurely plot is interrupted by the first murder that happens in London and seems to be connected to Bernard and Nelly. All characters gather to celebrate Christmas at Chadderley, the Detlings' opulent residence in Kent, where the second murder occurs and - what's worse - the eggs are also overdone for breakfast on that day. "A bummer!" one would say, but perhaps not in December of 1893.
The characterizations are really strong, the portrait of the Victorian times is rich and vivid - it is amazing how little the people have changed since then - and the writing, as usual for Mr. Symons, is first class. Yet the novel is ultimately not that interesting, and the mystery/crime aspect is pretty weak. This is my ninth novel by the author, all reviews are on Goodreads, and with the exception of totally wonderful The Progress of a Crime , they all are two-star ratings. Yet I will keep reading Mr. Symons for good prose is always a pleasure.
Two and a half stars.
Julian Symons' The Detling Secret (1982) is a memorable book, but not because of its plot or literary value; instead it challenges the reader's pre-conceived notions. Consider this: some threads in the novel deal with concerns about terrorism and volatility of the stock market. There is some talk about restructuring companies to make them profitable. All this sounds quite contemporary, like the twenty-first-century stuff. On the other hand, after having read the first 30 pages of the novel I began mentally placing the story in the 1930s. But then, suddenly, Oscar Wilde appears at an engagement party for one of the main characters in the novel and does "more than anybody else could have done to make the party a success." So what is going on? Stock market concerns or Oscar Wilde? We soon learn it is the latter: the plot takes place in the fall and early winter of 1893, over a hundred and twenty years ago, and just five years after the Jack the Ripper's affair. The terrorism thread refers to the struggles of Irish nationalists who may be plotting dynamite explosions to blow up parts of public buildings. And stock market worries, and human greed... well, they seem to be forever.
Bernard Ross, a member of British Parliament, has an unusual past: he spent his youth in the United States and there is not much of a record of his activities there. He marries Dolly, the daughter of Sir Arthur Detling, a heir to "one of the most ancient baronetcies in the land." The story follows the Detling family, including the younger daughter, Nelly, Bernard, some of his friends, as well as a rich businessman, speculator, and a social climber, Joseph Blader, who is marketing a brand new concept in fountain pens - pens with exchangeable ink cartridges (one could say that Mr. Blader has a 1893 startup company). The socially conscious Dolly volunteers for the Association for the Assistance of Derelict Girls, and Nelly, an art student, is planning to elope with her boyfriend. The leisurely plot is interrupted by the first murder that happens in London and seems to be connected to Bernard and Nelly. All characters gather to celebrate Christmas at Chadderley, the Detlings' opulent residence in Kent, where the second murder occurs and - what's worse - the eggs are also overdone for breakfast on that day. "A bummer!" one would say, but perhaps not in December of 1893.
The characterizations are really strong, the portrait of the Victorian times is rich and vivid - it is amazing how little the people have changed since then - and the writing, as usual for Mr. Symons, is first class. Yet the novel is ultimately not that interesting, and the mystery/crime aspect is pretty weak. This is my ninth novel by the author, all reviews are on Goodreads, and with the exception of totally wonderful The Progress of a Crime , they all are two-star ratings. Yet I will keep reading Mr. Symons for good prose is always a pleasure.
Two and a half stars.
June 17, 2021
Not so much a murder mystery as a British novel of manners set in the 1890's. There is a murder but it doesn't take place until more than halfway through the book and then the killing is that of a minor character whose death no one is particularly interested in solving, least of all the police who are instead in hot pursuit of Irish terrorists. There's no suspense at all, only a faint curiosity in seeing how the matter will finally be resolved. Symons is a talented writer but not particularly profound and might best be viewed as a poor man's Angus Wilson.
January 17, 2019
For 175 of 225 pages this is a boring narrative of the Detlings, a prominent family in England - the patriarch Arthur, his son Roderick, and daughters Dolly and Nelly, and their spouses. We learn of their daily lives, their ambitions and their thoughts about politics, business and English society. Needless to say it is boring and disappointing since there is nothing about a mystery, murder, or other occurrences. In the last 50 pages which take place in a secluded manor in the countryside during the Christmas holidays, we learn of family secrets, and a murder is committed. Everything is wrapped up nicely, and the killer is uncovered and commits suicide, or does he?
This appears on some cozy Christmas mystery lists, but is neither cozy nor much of a mystery. Some of it does take place during Christmas so it qualifies, but I do not get how some of the other reviewers found this to be a 4-star experience.
This appears on some cozy Christmas mystery lists, but is neither cozy nor much of a mystery. Some of it does take place during Christmas so it qualifies, but I do not get how some of the other reviewers found this to be a 4-star experience.
November 12, 2017
Murder doesn't happen until 3/4 the way through the book, and never very satisfactorily resolved. Surprising to see the accolades as an exemplary detective author. Characters at least were consistent, and unique.
March 29, 2020
3.5 really - but the typos and mistakes were really annoying!
November 7, 2022
Interesting characters & storyline although I found it all a bit "dated"
September 5, 2016
The murder mystery in this book is quite interesting, even if the book is boring from time to time in the beginning. However, the book loses one star, because I really don't like the ending. I also think that all the necessary clues weren't given to the reader and there wasn't much of a change to guess the murderer.
March 22, 2012
A new to me British mystery author! I really like his wry style and characterization. The plot had good twists and of course I loved the setting: London mansions and country houses. Very much about class during the Victorian era.
July 25, 2015
Forgot that I read this one before. The mystery was very slight. Lots of build up to a not very interesting crime.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews