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Chief Superintendent Gently #4
Landed Gently
Having been invited to spend Christmas in the country, fishing for pike, Gently finds himself hunting a completely different predator when a guest at Merely Hall, a nearby stately home, is found dead at the foot of the grand staircase on Christmas morning.
At first the tragedy is assumed to be a simple accident, but Gently is not one to jump to conclusions and is soon in no doubt whatsoever that this was murder.
Merely produces the finest tapestries in England but the threads that Gently must unravel in his investigation are more complex than any weaver’s design, with everyone from the lord of the manor to his most lowly servant falling under suspicion.
At first the tragedy is assumed to be a simple accident, but Gently is not one to jump to conclusions and is soon in no doubt whatsoever that this was murder.
Merely produces the finest tapestries in England but the threads that Gently must unravel in his investigation are more complex than any weaver’s design, with everyone from the lord of the manor to his most lowly servant falling under suspicion.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1957
39 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Alan Hunter
106 books65 followersAlan Hunter was born at Hoveton, Norfolk and went to school across the River Bure in Wroxham. He left school at 14 and worked on his father's farm near Norwich. He enjoyed dinghy sailing on the Norfolk Broads, wrote natural history notes for the local newspaper, and wrote poetry, some of which was published while he was in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
He married, in 1944, Adelaide Cooper, who survives him with their daughter. After the war he managed the antiquarian books department of Charles Cubitt in Norwich. Four years later, in 1950, he established his own bookshop on Maddermarket in the city.
From 1955 until 1998 he published a Gently detective novel nearly every year. He retired to Brundall in Norfolk where he continued his interests in local history, natural history, and sailing
He married, in 1944, Adelaide Cooper, who survives him with their daughter. After the war he managed the antiquarian books department of Charles Cubitt in Norwich. Four years later, in 1950, he established his own bookshop on Maddermarket in the city.
From 1955 until 1998 he published a Gently detective novel nearly every year. He retired to Brundall in Norfolk where he continued his interests in local history, natural history, and sailing
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
September 8, 2016
Chief Inspector George Gently has been invited to stay with his Superintendent for Christmas in his rather luxurious country house. With the promise of pike fishing in the lake on the grounds, Gently is looking forward to a well-earned Christmas break.
Alas, things go awry when the corpse of another guest is found sprawled at the foot of the stairs on Christmas morning. A murder at Christmas?! That’s simply not cricket, old boy!
Despite the absence of faithful Sergeant Dutt (he’s having Christmas at home with the wife and kids) this is a cracking little murder mystery, with Gently back on top form after being plagued by self-doubt in the previous book. The country house setting makes it feel a bit Agatha Christie but that’s no bad thing. It would make for a good read on a cold winter’s day.
Alas, things go awry when the corpse of another guest is found sprawled at the foot of the stairs on Christmas morning. A murder at Christmas?! That’s simply not cricket, old boy!
Despite the absence of faithful Sergeant Dutt (he’s having Christmas at home with the wife and kids) this is a cracking little murder mystery, with Gently back on top form after being plagued by self-doubt in the previous book. The country house setting makes it feel a bit Agatha Christie but that’s no bad thing. It would make for a good read on a cold winter’s day.
October 15, 2019
“Džentlio Kalėdos”- jau ketvirtoji detektyvo iš ūkanotosios Anglijos dalis. Ei, bet kas skaičiuoja?!? Šįkart viskas vėl kitaip - knyga prasideda nuo didžiulio rūmų žemėlapio. Tai ne šiaip sau rūmai! Juose gausu užkaborių ir užkaborėlių, o jų dydis atvirkščiai proporcingas patogumui juose gyventi. Šiuose ištaigiuose rūmuose Džentlis švenčia Kalėdas ir nebūtų gi tai detektyvas - šventė baigiasi nuo laiptų nusiritusiu jaunu amerikiečiu, kuris, kaip įtariama, tiesiog padaugino ir neišsilaikė ant kojų. Čia kaip visad savo išmonę demonstruoja detektyvas Džentlis, kuris pasitelkdamas savo geležinę logiką drasiai konstatuoja - žmogžudystė! Tyrimas prasideda.
Skaičiau ir pagaudavau save mintyse galvojant, kad skaitau Agatha Christie. Ši dalis man išskirtinai primena detektyvų karaliene tituluojamos Christie kūrybą. Gal tuo, kad įtariamųjų ratas uždaras - visi šventėje dalyvavę svečiai. O gal tai, kad istorija remiasi žmonių tarpusavio santykiais. Žodžiu gero angliško detektyvo cinkelis čia yra.
Atomazga šiek tiek nuvylė, nes tai kaip istorija vystėsi norėjosi kažko labiau nustebinančio. Bet kaip visada sakau - skonio reikalas. Iš esmės tai gero klasikinio angliško detektyvo knyga, kuri jaukiai susiskaitys vėsiais rudens ar žiemos vakarais susisukus po šiltu pledu. Jaukaus skaitymo!
Skaičiau ir pagaudavau save mintyse galvojant, kad skaitau Agatha Christie. Ši dalis man išskirtinai primena detektyvų karaliene tituluojamos Christie kūrybą. Gal tuo, kad įtariamųjų ratas uždaras - visi šventėje dalyvavę svečiai. O gal tai, kad istorija remiasi žmonių tarpusavio santykiais. Žodžiu gero angliško detektyvo cinkelis čia yra.
Atomazga šiek tiek nuvylė, nes tai kaip istorija vystėsi norėjosi kažko labiau nustebinančio. Bet kaip visada sakau - skonio reikalas. Iš esmės tai gero klasikinio angliško detektyvo knyga, kuri jaukiai susiskaitys vėsiais rudens ar žiemos vakarais susisukus po šiltu pledu. Jaukaus skaitymo!
April 4, 2022
Landed Gently by Alan Hunter is the 4th book in his Chief Inspector George Gently mystery series. I always find it amazing that the books (so far, anyway) is so different from the TV series based on the books. But who knows, maybe at some point in the books Gently does go to Newcastle to work that. In the interim, he is a Chief Inspector in Scotland Yard.
This story is set during Christmas and find the good Inspector heading north to spend Christmas with the Chief Constable of North Northshire, Sir Daynes Broke. On the train journey he meets an American Air Force Lt, William Earle, also heading to the same area. Earle is the guest of Lord Somerhayes. His estate borders that of Sir Broke. Gently is hoping to get in some pike fishing with his host during his visit.
Unfortunately, the young American is found dead on Christmas morning, lying at the bottom of a stairway in the Great Hall of Merely Hall. While Sir Broke feels the death is simply an accident (Earle broke his neck falling down the staircase), his Inspector Dyson, along with the medical officer, believe a murder may have been committed. Gently tends to agree and is reluctantly brought into the investigation at the instigation of Lord Somerhayes.
Thus begins a criminal investigation at the manor. While Earle seems to have been a popular individual, there are also those who had reason to dislike the young man. The manor has become a commercial enterprise, a group of individuals working in one of the wings creating tapestries. Earle seems to have had designs on Lord Somerhayes' cousin, young widow Mrs. Page, and the murder may have been as a result of jealousy due to Earle's actions.
Like the other Gently mysteries, this is an entertaining story. Gently is a great character tending to rely on instincts when investigating. He feels he's being led in a certain direction as he wanders about, trying to stay out of the way of Sir Broke and Inspector Dyson, but he has to also try to temper the Chief Constable who jumps to conclusions and tries to keep the Lord out of police sights.
It's all very fascinating and very cold (there is a scene on the roof between Gently and Lord Somerhayes that left me shivering). There is relatively no action and it's a closed door type mystery but well-crafted and interesting to work through. The resulting conclusion is satisfying on the whole. I look forward to continuing my journey with George Gently, to see where his future lies. (4 stars)
This story is set during Christmas and find the good Inspector heading north to spend Christmas with the Chief Constable of North Northshire, Sir Daynes Broke. On the train journey he meets an American Air Force Lt, William Earle, also heading to the same area. Earle is the guest of Lord Somerhayes. His estate borders that of Sir Broke. Gently is hoping to get in some pike fishing with his host during his visit.
Unfortunately, the young American is found dead on Christmas morning, lying at the bottom of a stairway in the Great Hall of Merely Hall. While Sir Broke feels the death is simply an accident (Earle broke his neck falling down the staircase), his Inspector Dyson, along with the medical officer, believe a murder may have been committed. Gently tends to agree and is reluctantly brought into the investigation at the instigation of Lord Somerhayes.
Thus begins a criminal investigation at the manor. While Earle seems to have been a popular individual, there are also those who had reason to dislike the young man. The manor has become a commercial enterprise, a group of individuals working in one of the wings creating tapestries. Earle seems to have had designs on Lord Somerhayes' cousin, young widow Mrs. Page, and the murder may have been as a result of jealousy due to Earle's actions.
Like the other Gently mysteries, this is an entertaining story. Gently is a great character tending to rely on instincts when investigating. He feels he's being led in a certain direction as he wanders about, trying to stay out of the way of Sir Broke and Inspector Dyson, but he has to also try to temper the Chief Constable who jumps to conclusions and tries to keep the Lord out of police sights.
It's all very fascinating and very cold (there is a scene on the roof between Gently and Lord Somerhayes that left me shivering). There is relatively no action and it's a closed door type mystery but well-crafted and interesting to work through. The resulting conclusion is satisfying on the whole. I look forward to continuing my journey with George Gently, to see where his future lies. (4 stars)
May 24, 2015
I first ran across Chief Inspector Gently in the British TV series of the same name. All episodes were typically British dark, bordering on noir, and excellent, except for the pilot which was almost enough for me to junk watching. I’m glad I gave the show an extra chance.
I happened to notice that the series was based on a plethora of books by Alan Hunter, a name totally unknown to me, but, who, having written about fifty of these novels must have been more than popular in the fifties and sixties; so I located and ordered several (don’t you just love union catalogs.).
“Landed Gently” was the first I read. It concerns DCI Gently’s first Christmas holiday out of London in many years. He has been invited to indulge in his favorite pastime, fishing for pike, at the country estate of Chief Constable Daynes Broke in Northshire. On the train north he is accompanied in his first class compartment by a young American lieutenant, an ebullient and self-confident individual, who, it turns out, will be staying at Merely Hall with Lord Somerhayes, just across the fields from Broke’s manor.
Merely Hall, a rambling, enormous, old manor –the map in the beginning is confusing, be sure to check the compass rose– is also the site of a business where they produce tapestries. And we learn a lot about tapestry making. But when Lt. Earle is found at the bottom of the stairs with his head bashed in, and CC Broke and the local inspector are anxious to not involve Lord Somerhayes in the investigation, Gently notes certain anomalies in statements and actions. He also feels Somerhayes keeps trying to draw him into the investigation.
We soon realize that the widow Janice Page was the subject of more than friendly interest from several participants, including Earle and that Somerhayes’ will had an unusual beneficiary.
While the language seems a bit stilted to the modern ear more used to the overused and ubiquitous “motherfucker,” the book has an appeal that keeps drawing one back into it. I’ll have to read a couple more Gently’s before passing final judgment, however.
One phrase I particularly enjoyed was, “I believe Americans mature more slowly than Englishmen.” I also suspect that all the names are puns of some sort.
I happened to notice that the series was based on a plethora of books by Alan Hunter, a name totally unknown to me, but, who, having written about fifty of these novels must have been more than popular in the fifties and sixties; so I located and ordered several (don’t you just love union catalogs.).
“Landed Gently” was the first I read. It concerns DCI Gently’s first Christmas holiday out of London in many years. He has been invited to indulge in his favorite pastime, fishing for pike, at the country estate of Chief Constable Daynes Broke in Northshire. On the train north he is accompanied in his first class compartment by a young American lieutenant, an ebullient and self-confident individual, who, it turns out, will be staying at Merely Hall with Lord Somerhayes, just across the fields from Broke’s manor.
Merely Hall, a rambling, enormous, old manor –the map in the beginning is confusing, be sure to check the compass rose– is also the site of a business where they produce tapestries. And we learn a lot about tapestry making. But when Lt. Earle is found at the bottom of the stairs with his head bashed in, and CC Broke and the local inspector are anxious to not involve Lord Somerhayes in the investigation, Gently notes certain anomalies in statements and actions. He also feels Somerhayes keeps trying to draw him into the investigation.
We soon realize that the widow Janice Page was the subject of more than friendly interest from several participants, including Earle and that Somerhayes’ will had an unusual beneficiary.
While the language seems a bit stilted to the modern ear more used to the overused and ubiquitous “motherfucker,” the book has an appeal that keeps drawing one back into it. I’ll have to read a couple more Gently’s before passing final judgment, however.
One phrase I particularly enjoyed was, “I believe Americans mature more slowly than Englishmen.” I also suspect that all the names are puns of some sort.
February 11, 2015
Fourth in the Inspector George Gently series, and the first that I've read. This one was first pubished in 1957, and this affects some of the background details, but doesn't make much difference in the basic plot.
Gently is invited to spend Christmas at a country house. On the train down he meets a young American from a US Air Force base, who has wangled himself an invitation to the neighbouring country house. Lt Earle has an interest in both the tapestry workshop based at Merely, and in the young woman who runs the workshop. Gently likes the man, and isn't happy to hear that he's been found dead at the bottom of the grand staircase on Christmas morning. At first glance it looks like an accident, but Gently isn't satisfied with first appearances. He soon shows that it's not an accident, and then isn't satisfied with the suspect preferred by his hosts.
For a short novel, there are a surprising number of red herrings and plot twists. The clues are there, but neatly buried in competently written distractions. I'm inclined to find some more of this police procedural series.
Gently is invited to spend Christmas at a country house. On the train down he meets a young American from a US Air Force base, who has wangled himself an invitation to the neighbouring country house. Lt Earle has an interest in both the tapestry workshop based at Merely, and in the young woman who runs the workshop. Gently likes the man, and isn't happy to hear that he's been found dead at the bottom of the grand staircase on Christmas morning. At first glance it looks like an accident, but Gently isn't satisfied with first appearances. He soon shows that it's not an accident, and then isn't satisfied with the suspect preferred by his hosts.
For a short novel, there are a surprising number of red herrings and plot twists. The clues are there, but neatly buried in competently written distractions. I'm inclined to find some more of this police procedural series.
July 6, 2015
Nice mystery, should have known detectives never get vacation, especially George Gently. I dislike having to puzzle out written representations of English Dialect, and I don't think Mr Hunter ever spoke with an American, even if it was the 1950s. They both sounded like poorly educated cowpokes, but with less use of spittoons.
April 19, 2023
Gently's Working Christmas
Review of the Constable Kindle eBook edition (2010) of the Rinehart and Company hardcover original (1957).
Scotland Yard CID Chief Inspector George Gently is invited to spend Christmas with the Chief Constable of Northshire and to enjoy some local pike fishing. He is instead pulled into a local investigation when a guest at a neighbouring estate is found murdered on Christmas morning.
The Chief Constable is an interfering type and is quick to make decisions about the culprit. Gently is pushed aside but quietly draws his own conclusions to the case and explains all in the end as usual.
This had a lot of the standard tropes of the isolated country house seasonal mystery and it would make for perfect reading at that time of year. The foolishness of the Chief Constable was overdone though, and was somewhat of a drag on my enjoyment.
I could not trace a copy of the 1957 original cover, but this 1982 edition from Dell Publishing at least has an appropriate cover. Image sourced from Goodreads.
Other Review
Landed Gently by Katrina at Pining for the West, October 2017.
Trivia and Link
The George Gently books were adapted as a TV series Inspector George Gently (2008-2017) with actor Martin Shaw in the title role. Very few of the TV episodes are based on the original books though and the characters are quite different. The timeline for the TV series takes place in the 1960s only. A trailer for the first episode can be seen here.
Review of the Constable Kindle eBook edition (2010) of the Rinehart and Company hardcover original (1957).
Gently fished around in the pockets of his waistcoat and, after several failures, brought up a solitary, shop-soiled peppermint cream. ... Gently shrugged into his ulster and brought out his last, fluff-engrained peppermint cream. - Gently's trademark snacks make only a few appearances in Landed Gently.
Scotland Yard CID Chief Inspector George Gently is invited to spend Christmas with the Chief Constable of Northshire and to enjoy some local pike fishing. He is instead pulled into a local investigation when a guest at a neighbouring estate is found murdered on Christmas morning.
The Chief Constable is an interfering type and is quick to make decisions about the culprit. Gently is pushed aside but quietly draws his own conclusions to the case and explains all in the end as usual.
This had a lot of the standard tropes of the isolated country house seasonal mystery and it would make for perfect reading at that time of year. The foolishness of the Chief Constable was overdone though, and was somewhat of a drag on my enjoyment.
I could not trace a copy of the 1957 original cover, but this 1982 edition from Dell Publishing at least has an appropriate cover. Image sourced from Goodreads.
Other Review
Landed Gently by Katrina at Pining for the West, October 2017.
Trivia and Link
The George Gently books were adapted as a TV series Inspector George Gently (2008-2017) with actor Martin Shaw in the title role. Very few of the TV episodes are based on the original books though and the characters are quite different. The timeline for the TV series takes place in the 1960s only. A trailer for the first episode can be seen here.
April 23, 2019
Inspector Gently is invited to spend Christmas pike fishing with the Chief Constable of Northshire, but his break is soon impacted by a sudden death at a nearby stately home. While the local police jump from one theory to another, Gently quietly observes and begins to uncover a surprising course of events.
Although this mystery is set in the 1950s, it has a feel of 10-20 years earlier. This is partly due to the stately home setting with its servants and social conventions, and partly the dialogue between the aristocratic characters, especially when discussing romantic or sexual issues. Still, the mystery itself is quite intriguing, there are hints of the changing political situation in the outside world, and Gently quietly asserts his authority over suspects and police alike.
This is a pleasant series that I like to turn to for a quick undemanding read, and I will be picking up more George Gently mysteries in the future.
Although this mystery is set in the 1950s, it has a feel of 10-20 years earlier. This is partly due to the stately home setting with its servants and social conventions, and partly the dialogue between the aristocratic characters, especially when discussing romantic or sexual issues. Still, the mystery itself is quite intriguing, there are hints of the changing political situation in the outside world, and Gently quietly asserts his authority over suspects and police alike.
This is a pleasant series that I like to turn to for a quick undemanding read, and I will be picking up more George Gently mysteries in the future.
May 9, 2019
It was difficult to get through this book. It had virtually nothing to do with Christmas except for the first chapter, where the main character is enjoying the trimmings of the season. Then they get to the country house where the young earl is one of those who makes impassioned speeches about how it is unjust for a few to be rich and entitled while the middle and lower classes struggle. However, while he goes around sulky because of his huge house and accompanying fortune, he never seems to hate the injustice enough to give up his cushy life with the servants and etc. All in all, it was boring (due to his speeches about fortunes derived from the back breaking labor of the repressed) and there wasn't much action.
I wouldn't recommend this book and don't intend to read any of the others.
I wouldn't recommend this book and don't intend to read any of the others.
February 8, 2024
Gently has been invited to Christmas by Sir Danes Broke whom he encountered during the first case at Starmouth. They are planning on fishing during the holidays and Gently is greatly looking forward to it. They get in a good day fishing and then Christmas day get a call from Lord Somerhayes. One of his guests has been killed, an American airman. Of course, Sir Danes must go and Gently tags along. The case gets rather wild, but Gently manages to take it all in. He is indeed fun to watch solve a case.
December 19, 2014
Quality writing with a twist at the end.
June 22, 2015
Truly British and with a wry smile. Alan Hunter places his Chief Inspector in a crime scene while on vacation. Once again, using diligence and luck, Gently solves the mystery.
December 13, 2018
Secluded English countryside mansion - assorted guests spend the Christmas holidays there, including Chief Inspector Gently of London. One of the guests is found dead at the foot of a stairway. Murder! All guests are suspects. Agatha Christie formula, but poorly executed. Some sections contains long rambling narrative with nonsensical descriptive passages of everything. Other sections are just monotonous stilted dialogue.
This is the author's attempt at dialogue for an American military colonel: "By hokey, I've met some cases of obstruction since I came to this perishing island - I've met a few and then some! But don't nobody think they're going to get away with the murder of a United States citizen - don't let them think it for one teeny-weeny little moment - because you want to know something?" And this unnatural, ungrammatical, and somewhat comical speaking continues on and on. Have you known any American, much less a high-ranking military officer, to speak like this?
The solving of the mystery is meaningless and anti-climatic since who cares?
This is the author's attempt at dialogue for an American military colonel: "By hokey, I've met some cases of obstruction since I came to this perishing island - I've met a few and then some! But don't nobody think they're going to get away with the murder of a United States citizen - don't let them think it for one teeny-weeny little moment - because you want to know something?" And this unnatural, ungrammatical, and somewhat comical speaking continues on and on. Have you known any American, much less a high-ranking military officer, to speak like this?
The solving of the mystery is meaningless and anti-climatic since who cares?
February 1, 2020
Nesupratau, ar toks rašymo stilius, ar čia vertimas kaltas, bet skaitant kliuvo tam tikras žodžių, frazių pasirinkimas. Sakiniai suraizgyti taip, kad vietomis neatitinka konteksto, audėjų kalba man iš viso labai neskaniai susiskaitė- reikia suprast, kad jie kaimietiškai šneka ar tarmiškai, bet netiko ten tų lietuviškų tarmybių mišinys nors tu ką.
O šiaip paprastas, lengvas, klasikinis detektyvas, skaitosi maloniai, bet vargu ar pdaro didesnį įspūdį.
O šiaip paprastas, lengvas, klasikinis detektyvas, skaitosi maloniai, bet vargu ar pdaro didesnį įspūdį.
July 14, 2018
I'm very fond of the PBS Gently series and thought I'd give the books a try. This one was published in 1957, so I'll give it a little lee-way for having a constantly fainting, hysterical, mindless woman in the cast. Also annoying was the long-winded, unnecessay dialogues that lent nothing to the plot. I'm not going to explore any other Hunter books.
December 21, 2018
This is no action packed book but if you like a British country house cozy type book you'll love this one. By the end of the book, Inspector Gently became a highly appealing character. The mystery wasn't that hard to figure out but the characters and the setting are so well written that I hardly noticed any weakness of plot.
December 5, 2018
Not quite what I expected, but I suppose that's TV adaptations for you.
Very stereotyped cast of highly unlikely characters.
Unbelievable front cover, which I cannot believe wasn't stopped!
Not Christmassy.
Very stereotyped cast of highly unlikely characters.
Unbelievable front cover, which I cannot believe wasn't stopped!
Not Christmassy.
January 2, 2021
Watched an episode of Gently on Prime TV, then found one of the books by Alan Hunter. Lots of detail descriptions in the book. Many of the characters reminded me of characters I’ve read in other British mysteries.
September 3, 2023
I wanted to like this book because, well, inspector Gently is such a nice character. But the story was boring. I also disliked it that the police - Gently included, so it seemed - zoomed in on one person being guilty instead of investigating.
August 11, 2017
This was one of the early books made into the George Gently British TV series. It was different from the show but interesting from the 1950's style of detective fiction.
December 16, 2019
This was the most enjoyable of the Gently books I have read. An English Country house setting is one of my favourites to sink into.
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November 25, 2020vertimas siaubingas. " seras Deinsas apsižergė židinį", lordas ... suprato kad jis yra "socialistinis banditas", jau nekalbu apie linksnių derinimą sakinyje....
June 20, 2021
Book 4 in the series. I enjoyed it.
August 18, 2025
A quick easy read
December 7, 2012
This is the fourth of a very long series featuring the genial but persistent detective, George Gently. As the terrible pun of the title suggests, this episode sees Our Hero staying with the great and the good (or at least the rich and titled) over Christmas, where the festivities are inevitably interrupted by a murder. The setting, a large country house of some antiquity, gives the book the atmosphere of Agatha Christie fanfic. I usually enjoy the period details of these books, written in the fifties, but this is ground that has been covered a thousand times before - the creepy attics and winding stairs, the secret passages, billiard rooms and libraries, the butler and housemaids, the dressing for dinner and stuffy formality. There are some details of the meals which would interest foodies, but otherwise I found it a little ordinary.
The characters never quite seem to work in these books. Gently himself is almost too self-effacing, allowing others to take the lead in the investigation and then mildly asking the one crucial question that reveals the significant little detail. But this is better, perhaps, than the over-the-top buffoonery of his superior, who blusters and expostulates his way through the interrogations, completely confident in the innocence of the aristocracy and insistently looking for the murderer amongst the obviously less trustworthy lower classes. Then there is the lady of the house, who lies outright to the police and, when pressed, has hysterics or falls into a swoon at Gently's feet. Did women ever fall into swoons under stress? Perhaps Victorians struggling for breath in their tightly-laced stays, but certainly not normal, healthy women in the more accommodating fashions of the nineteen fifties.
The ending was slightly melodramatic, but not a huge surprise, on the whole. The murderer was apprehended, justice was done and so on and so forth, according to the conventions of such books, and no tricks were employed by the author to deceive the diligent reader keeping track of the likely suspects, so a satisfactory conclusion all round. The series isn’t great literature, and doesn’t compare with Agatha Christie, but this is a pleasant, undemanding read with an interesting backdrop of upper class and upper middle class life at the time. Three stars.
The characters never quite seem to work in these books. Gently himself is almost too self-effacing, allowing others to take the lead in the investigation and then mildly asking the one crucial question that reveals the significant little detail. But this is better, perhaps, than the over-the-top buffoonery of his superior, who blusters and expostulates his way through the interrogations, completely confident in the innocence of the aristocracy and insistently looking for the murderer amongst the obviously less trustworthy lower classes. Then there is the lady of the house, who lies outright to the police and, when pressed, has hysterics or falls into a swoon at Gently's feet. Did women ever fall into swoons under stress? Perhaps Victorians struggling for breath in their tightly-laced stays, but certainly not normal, healthy women in the more accommodating fashions of the nineteen fifties.
The ending was slightly melodramatic, but not a huge surprise, on the whole. The murderer was apprehended, justice was done and so on and so forth, according to the conventions of such books, and no tricks were employed by the author to deceive the diligent reader keeping track of the likely suspects, so a satisfactory conclusion all round. The series isn’t great literature, and doesn’t compare with Agatha Christie, but this is a pleasant, undemanding read with an interesting backdrop of upper class and upper middle class life at the time. Three stars.
July 6, 2023
Tai jau antra perskaityta Džentlio knyga. Ir, kad ir kaip keistai skambėtų kalbant apie detektyvus – kaip man mielai jos skaitosi! Mielai, nes Džentlis man taip primena mano mylimą Erkiulį Puaro. Tvarkingas, mandagus, taktiškas ir žiauriai įžvalgus. Tik gal ne toks originalus ir sąmojingas. Tačiau visa kita, kaip ir Alen Hunter pasirinkti siužetai, labai primena Christie kūrybą. Net pačios knygos tokios pat mažutės, popieriniais viršeliais ir be jokių skandinavams būdingų neišpasakytų žiaurumų ir detalumų.
Džentlis, negalvodamas apie darbus, išvyksta kalėdoti į užmiesčio dvarą. Jame, kaip ir įprasta turtingų žmonių šventėse, inspektorius susipažįsta su galybe naujų žmonių: tiek prabanga tviskančių ponų, tiek tarnų ir įvairiausio plauko giminaičių. Tačiau ne pažintys ir nauji draugai Džentliui rūpi. Jo laukia rami ir išsvajota lydekų žvejyba ir užtarnautas poilsis. Deja, visa tai ir lieka jo mintyse. Kalėdų rytą, kaimyniniuose Merilio rūmuuose randamas negyvas vienas iš svečio. Nors mirtis atrodo be jokių paslapčių, kūnas rastas greta stačių laiptų, Džentliui kyla ne vienas klausimas. Jis savarankiškai imasi tyrimo ir jo randami įkalčiai trigdo nė vieną rūmų gyevntoją.
Rudenį skaitau apie Kalėdas ir dar labiau jų laukt pradedu, Net nereikia paskaot koks tai nuostabus metas, o ir šis detektyvas visai neblogas. Tipiškas Agathos Christie ir jos personažų stilius: vienas lavonas, daug įtariamųjų ir visus klausinėjantis, atostogauti turintis inspektorius. Kas esat daugiau Christie skaitę, tikrai atpažinsite šitą šabloną. Nėra Džentlio istorijos sudėtingos, bet skaitosi labai smagiai. Kaip ir minėjau, skaitant daug šiuolaikinių detektyvų imi pavargti nuo smurto, kraujo ir bet kokią vaizduotė pranokstančių sužalojimų. Senosios mokyklos detektyvai tvarkingesni, saikingesni, tačiau su savo mįslių užtaisu. Gal ne visada nustebinančiu, bet visada intriguojančiu. Džentlio knygos man puikiai tinka kuomet pavargstu nuo modernumo, detalėmis apktrautų istorijų ir noriu tiesiog lengvos, įtraukiančios istorijos.
Džentlis, negalvodamas apie darbus, išvyksta kalėdoti į užmiesčio dvarą. Jame, kaip ir įprasta turtingų žmonių šventėse, inspektorius susipažįsta su galybe naujų žmonių: tiek prabanga tviskančių ponų, tiek tarnų ir įvairiausio plauko giminaičių. Tačiau ne pažintys ir nauji draugai Džentliui rūpi. Jo laukia rami ir išsvajota lydekų žvejyba ir užtarnautas poilsis. Deja, visa tai ir lieka jo mintyse. Kalėdų rytą, kaimyniniuose Merilio rūmuuose randamas negyvas vienas iš svečio. Nors mirtis atrodo be jokių paslapčių, kūnas rastas greta stačių laiptų, Džentliui kyla ne vienas klausimas. Jis savarankiškai imasi tyrimo ir jo randami įkalčiai trigdo nė vieną rūmų gyevntoją.
Rudenį skaitau apie Kalėdas ir dar labiau jų laukt pradedu, Net nereikia paskaot koks tai nuostabus metas, o ir šis detektyvas visai neblogas. Tipiškas Agathos Christie ir jos personažų stilius: vienas lavonas, daug įtariamųjų ir visus klausinėjantis, atostogauti turintis inspektorius. Kas esat daugiau Christie skaitę, tikrai atpažinsite šitą šabloną. Nėra Džentlio istorijos sudėtingos, bet skaitosi labai smagiai. Kaip ir minėjau, skaitant daug šiuolaikinių detektyvų imi pavargti nuo smurto, kraujo ir bet kokią vaizduotė pranokstančių sužalojimų. Senosios mokyklos detektyvai tvarkingesni, saikingesni, tačiau su savo mįslių užtaisu. Gal ne visada nustebinančiu, bet visada intriguojančiu. Džentlio knygos man puikiai tinka kuomet pavargstu nuo modernumo, detalėmis apktrautų istorijų ir noriu tiesiog lengvos, įtraukiančios istorijos.
February 5, 2012
Chief Inspector Gently is invited to a country manor for an old-fashioned Christmas, with some pike fishing thrown in for good measure. Alas, the festivities are disrupted when a body is found at the bottom of the stairs in a neighboring manor, the Great Hall. Gently recognizes the body as that of Bill Earle, a American lieutenant stationed at a nearby base, and an irrepressible, boyish charmer.
The Great Hall is inhabited by a motley cast of characters : the 6th Baronet of Summerhayes, his widowed cousin Mrs. Page, and a group of artisan-weavers led by the cheerfully egotistical artist/entrepreneur Leslie Brass. It turns out that Bill Earle's attentions to the the attractive Mrs. Page had not passed unnoticed by the others. Gently has to tread, well, gently (pun intended) among eccentric aristocrats, irritable police officers and various artistic types.
The book is a competent police procedural set in a bygone era. The identity of the murderer is pretty easy to guess - this is not a puzzler a la Agatha Christie. I enjoyed it as a period piece (it was published in 1957). Women still worried about their "virtue". Television was a luxury, as was central heating. The American are depicted as "oversexed, overpaid and over here". They speak in groan-inducing stereotypes ("Yes, sirree" and "gee" and "mighty fine" abound), but it struck me as affectionate mockery, not sarcasm.
An enjoyable read for those who like the classic British police procedurals.
The Great Hall is inhabited by a motley cast of characters : the 6th Baronet of Summerhayes, his widowed cousin Mrs. Page, and a group of artisan-weavers led by the cheerfully egotistical artist/entrepreneur Leslie Brass. It turns out that Bill Earle's attentions to the the attractive Mrs. Page had not passed unnoticed by the others. Gently has to tread, well, gently (pun intended) among eccentric aristocrats, irritable police officers and various artistic types.
The book is a competent police procedural set in a bygone era. The identity of the murderer is pretty easy to guess - this is not a puzzler a la Agatha Christie. I enjoyed it as a period piece (it was published in 1957). Women still worried about their "virtue". Television was a luxury, as was central heating. The American are depicted as "oversexed, overpaid and over here". They speak in groan-inducing stereotypes ("Yes, sirree" and "gee" and "mighty fine" abound), but it struck me as affectionate mockery, not sarcasm.
An enjoyable read for those who like the classic British police procedurals.
July 5, 2014
One of the better books in the Gently series of mysteries. Gently is aptly named as he is a gentle man but is steely enough to manage the criminals who cross his path. He may seem quiet an unagressive but both police colleagues and the criminals tend to underestimate him and so not realise that his brain is working overtime to solve the case.
In this book, Gently is invited to spend Christmas with the Chief Constable so they can get some fishing in. They are invited over to the mansion owned by a local earl who has converted part of his home into a workshop for high quality and artistic weavers. Thus Gently is on hand when someone is murdered...and of course...the local cops are brought in...but they arrest the wrong man and only when Gently works it out, do they come round to his way of thinking.
In this book, Gently is invited to spend Christmas with the Chief Constable so they can get some fishing in. They are invited over to the mansion owned by a local earl who has converted part of his home into a workshop for high quality and artistic weavers. Thus Gently is on hand when someone is murdered...and of course...the local cops are brought in...but they arrest the wrong man and only when Gently works it out, do they come round to his way of thinking.
April 11, 2020
The fourth book in Alan Hunter's Chief Inspector George Gently series finds Gently spending his Christmas holiday with Sir Daynes Broke, Chief Constable of Northshire. Sir Daynes receives an invitation to a Christmas party at neighbor Lord Somerhayes's manor, but the festivities are marred by the mysterious death of one of the guests, a young American airman.
This story is a throwback to Gently-as-observer rather than a direct participant in the procedural aspect, allowing for some side conversations and adventures that otherwise probably wouldn't have happened. It makes for some interesting exchanges, though, and one particularly well-described sequence on a blustery rooftop.
Mostly run-of-the-mill with few plot surprises. Sir Daynes is a charming addition to the cast of semi-recurring "Northshire" personalities. A pleasant enough bedtime or afternoon read.
This story is a throwback to Gently-as-observer rather than a direct participant in the procedural aspect, allowing for some side conversations and adventures that otherwise probably wouldn't have happened. It makes for some interesting exchanges, though, and one particularly well-described sequence on a blustery rooftop.
Mostly run-of-the-mill with few plot surprises. Sir Daynes is a charming addition to the cast of semi-recurring "Northshire" personalities. A pleasant enough bedtime or afternoon read.
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