Dead in the Dog

by Bernard Knight

A fifties murders mystery set in Malaya from author of the ‘Crowner John’ books. - Arriving in Singapore, newly-qualified pathologist Tom Howden is still questioning his decision to sign on for three years in Her Majesty's Far East Land Forces. As he settles in, he discovers that his new home is a hotbed of scandal and intrigue. When an English planter is attacked one night, the finger of suspicion naturally points at local bandits, rather than a fellow Englishman. It soon becomes clear, however, that the situation is rather more complicated – and deadly – than it first appeared. Tom Howden’s newly-acquired forensic skills are about to be put to the ultimate test.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Detective, Audiobook, Historical Mystery

240 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2012

About the author

Aka Bernard Picton.

Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, (born 1931) became a Home Office pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, in 1980. He has been writing since before 1963, when his first crime novel was published. Since then, he has written about thirty books, including contemporary crime fiction, historical novels about Wales, biography, non-fiction popular works on forensic medicine, twelve medico-legal textbooks and the Crowner John Mysteries series of 12th-century historical mysteries.

In addition, he has written scripts for radio and television dramas and documentaries, including the forensic series The Expert starring Marius Goring, in the 1970s. He has contributed to many other textbooks and has edited several medical journals - he was Managing Editor of Elsevier's Forensic Science International, the leading international publication in the field.

Currently, he is a founder member of The Medieval Murderers, a select group of historical crime-writers within the Crime Writers' Association, who give presentations at literary festivals, libraries and bookshops, to promote their work amongst the public. He is also one of the non-fiction judges for the annual 'Dagger' Awards of the Crime Writers' Association and a regular reviewer of crime books for the Internet site Tangled Web.

He was born and lives in Cardiff and as well as being a doctor, he qualified as a barrister and was awarded the CBE in 1993 for services to forensic medicine. In the 1950s, he served as a Regular Army medical officer in Malaya during the terrorist campaign, in a military hospital which he compares with 'MASH'.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book set in a forgotton time, after WW2 when the British were gradually losing the empire. It is at least partly autobiographical, about a young pathologist in the Malay Crisis on his first time abroad, dealling with colonial rubber planters. The sense of time is good but I did not engage with any of the characters, hence the three stars.

[Linda Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Howden, a pathologist from the north-east of England, is set out to Malaysia. This is such a new experience, both in place and his job as he's only has a year or so to learn it. Serving with the Army is also an eye opener. Everyone is friendly and welcoming, including the planters who harvest the latex. Some shots are fired late at night at the house of one of the planters. No-one is harmed but is in the Communists or someone closer to home.
An atmospheric book which delves into a very tiny part of the war that no-one remembers. Best known for his 'Crowner John' series, this is a good departure.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reminded me of other stories of the British commonwealth which spoke of a time of trying to hang on to the Empire. I often wonder whether it was the failure of Britain in the fifties to counter the wave of communist inspired so-called freedom fighters which made the giving up of their African commonwealth countries a decade later an easier economic decision rather than a wholehearted attempt at allowing self rule. It’s an ok plot but I didn’t like any of the characters. Recommended to those in the normal crew who like tales set in an unusual time period and place.

[Lynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't get very far with this book, there's far too much detail about the hospital and army base in Malaya and the story was almost swamped by it. Life's too short to read a book you aren't enjoying

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read seven of Professor BERNARD KNIGHT's "Crowner" series set in 12th and 13th Century England (they are wonderful stories). DEAD IN THE DOG (ISBN 978-1847514240, trade paperback, $15.95) is a labor of love for Dr. Knight and a long-planned project. It is set in Malaya in the early 1950s during the 12 year "war" against Communist insurgents. Sounds like Britain's Vietnam. Dr. Knight is one of England's foremost forensic experts. He served in Malaya around the time period in which this story takes place.

Captain Tom Howden, fresh out of British military training, is assigned as forensic pathologist in an isolated British military hospital in Malaya (now Malaysia). Conditions are not what he was used to in England. Hot, humid, on guard against insurgents, primitive work conditions, etc. There are two components to Tom's new world - the military and the civilian rubber plantation owners.. There are numerous romantic liaisons between married personnel and their spouses and with others not their spouses. Lots of tension points.

This world is interrupted by the murder of one of the plantation owners. Howden is in the forefront of the investigation because he is the only forensic investigator on-site. The number of suspects is vast - both military and civilian. Tom, the local police and the military justice system try to discover the culprit. The perpetrator is a surprise.

I did not think the story was as well-written as Professor Knight's "Crowner" series but it is interesting because of the setting.and storyline. It is well worth the time to read.

GO! BUY! READ!

[John Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am an avid reader of this author's historical novels of Crowner John which I have thoroughly enjoyed. May be out of loyalty (or expectation) I have also read the three books in the Richard Prior series but whereas Crowner John had excitement, Richard Prior was more like Dr Finlay's Casebook. The Dead in the Dog is somewhere in between.
It is a who-done-it but somehow misses the suspense and excitement at the end which is usually found in that genre and on my final evenings reading I was asking myself "Do I care?".

In the story the old Lt Colonel in charge of the Army Hospital Unit may be losing his marbles (medical term !)and I wondered if this was reflected in certain passages of text which seem to have been repeated later. (or is it perhaps an editing error). I also found that I shared our narrators confusion about the numerous Army acronyms used for job/ranks etc particularly noticeable with the arrival of officials after the body had been discovered.

All in all it was still an enjoyable read which , if allowed I would have scored at 3.5 but on reflection I have rounded down to 3.

[Elli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Malaya in the 1950's; after WWII, but still plenty of terrorism and undeclared war. Communist groups are active. The British army is there and a governing body, still rather a part of the colonial regime. The Communist groups provide quite a threat, and the characters directly in the story don't necessarily get along well with one another. A new pathologist has joined the hospital staff, and his learning the ropes has happened fast with a murder happening involving the UK personnel.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like Knight's Richard Pryor series, our hero is a pathologist - but unlike Pryor, Tom Howden is inexperienced and on active duty in 1950s Malaya during a communist insurrection. The main interest for me was not the mystery (which Howden isn't actively trying to solve anyway - remember, he's 'just' the pathologist) but the portrait of life in the British armed forces at this time & place. Not sure I will bother with any future books in this series unless they end up available through the library.

[Leslie Zampetti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Knight has started a new mystery series featuring a pathologist with the British Army in Malaya in the 1950s. Great atmosphere and characters, but the plot fizzles out toward the end.

Still, I'd read the next book if it comes my way.

[Damien G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light book with historical interest centred in Malay of the late 1940's. I am a fan of all Bernard Knights books as they are best for travel. One does get emerced in the story and before you know it your at your destination

[Davidleask · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting setting in Malaya during the communist insurgency. The story line had potential and was written reasonably well but there just wasn't much of a plot.

[David Stimpson · Rating 2 out of 5]

hard to finish ..sooooooooooooo dull

[Dawn Barr · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my favourite genre!

[Anna Wildey · Rating 5 out of 5]

bit convoluted and repetitive

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting setting ok story