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Mrs. Bradley #55
Nest of Vipers
A VINTAGE MURDER MYSTERY
Rediscover Gladys Mitchell – one of the 'Big Three' female crime fiction writers alongside Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers.
The tenants of Weston Pipers are horrified to discover that one among them, the reclusive Miss Minnie, has been elaborately and violently murdered, and that their young landlord, Chelion Piper, is the chief suspect. Piper is advised to write down his version of events for the noted criminologist and psychoanalyst Dame Beatrice Bradley, as her investigations uncover a junk shop with a secret room, a possible satanic cult and a veritable nest of vipers
Opinionated, unconventional, unafraid... If you like Poirot and Miss Marple, you’ll love Mrs Bradley.
Rediscover Gladys Mitchell – one of the 'Big Three' female crime fiction writers alongside Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers.
The tenants of Weston Pipers are horrified to discover that one among them, the reclusive Miss Minnie, has been elaborately and violently murdered, and that their young landlord, Chelion Piper, is the chief suspect. Piper is advised to write down his version of events for the noted criminologist and psychoanalyst Dame Beatrice Bradley, as her investigations uncover a junk shop with a secret room, a possible satanic cult and a veritable nest of vipers
Opinionated, unconventional, unafraid... If you like Poirot and Miss Marple, you’ll love Mrs Bradley.
- GenresMystery
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
19 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Gladys Mitchell
96 books141 followersAka Malcolm Torrie, Stephen Hockaby.
Born in Cowley, Oxford, in 1901, Gladys Maude Winifred Mitchell was the daughter of market gardener James Mitchell, and his wife, Annie.
She was educated at Rothschild School, Brentford and Green School, Isleworth, before attending Goldsmiths College and University College, London from 1919-1921.
She taught English, history and games at St Paul's School, Brentford, from 1921-26, and at St Anne's Senior Girls School, Ealing until 1939.
She earned an external diploma in European history from University College in 1926, beginning to write her novels at this point. Mitchell went on to teach at a number of other schools, including the Brentford Senior Girls School (1941-50), and the Matthew Arnold School, Staines (1953-61). She retired to Corfe Mullen, Dorset in 1961, where she lived until her death in 1983.
Although primarily remembered for her mystery novels, and for her detective creation, Mrs. Bradley, who featured in 66 of her novels, Mitchell also published ten children's books under her own name, historical fiction under the pseudonym Stephen Hockaby, and more detective fiction under the pseudonym Malcolm Torrie. She also wrote a great many short stories, all of which were first published in the Evening Standard.
She was awarded the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger Award in 1976.
Born in Cowley, Oxford, in 1901, Gladys Maude Winifred Mitchell was the daughter of market gardener James Mitchell, and his wife, Annie.
She was educated at Rothschild School, Brentford and Green School, Isleworth, before attending Goldsmiths College and University College, London from 1919-1921.
She taught English, history and games at St Paul's School, Brentford, from 1921-26, and at St Anne's Senior Girls School, Ealing until 1939.
She earned an external diploma in European history from University College in 1926, beginning to write her novels at this point. Mitchell went on to teach at a number of other schools, including the Brentford Senior Girls School (1941-50), and the Matthew Arnold School, Staines (1953-61). She retired to Corfe Mullen, Dorset in 1961, where she lived until her death in 1983.
Although primarily remembered for her mystery novels, and for her detective creation, Mrs. Bradley, who featured in 66 of her novels, Mitchell also published ten children's books under her own name, historical fiction under the pseudonym Stephen Hockaby, and more detective fiction under the pseudonym Malcolm Torrie. She also wrote a great many short stories, all of which were first published in the Evening Standard.
She was awarded the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger Award in 1976.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 1, 2021
3.5 - a very late 70s Gladys Mitchell story which see’s Mrs Bradley investigating the murder of an old women, for which a man may have been wrongly accused.
In many ways this is quite a straightforward and classic whodunnit - a murder, an accused, an investigation and a whodunnit at the end.
There are some very Mrs Bradley ingredients though - a witches coven, satanism, lesbianism and some slightly odd characters! Mrs Bradley also, as always, has the last say about what justice is.
I enjoyed this, and find the Mrs Bradley Kookiness makes the story stand out from the otherwise conventional. It’s by no means a great story, but it kept me entertained.
In many ways this is quite a straightforward and classic whodunnit - a murder, an accused, an investigation and a whodunnit at the end.
There are some very Mrs Bradley ingredients though - a witches coven, satanism, lesbianism and some slightly odd characters! Mrs Bradley also, as always, has the last say about what justice is.
I enjoyed this, and find the Mrs Bradley Kookiness makes the story stand out from the otherwise conventional. It’s by no means a great story, but it kept me entertained.
February 23, 2019
Yet another classic from this author !
When Miss Minnie is discovered dead in an elaborate murder the residents of Weston Pipers are appalled to find that their young landlord is down as the chief suspect . He is advised to write down his version of the truth for Dame Beatrice Bradley . If anyone can solve this she can . The noted criminologist and psychologist gets to work .Along the way she stiprs up a whole nest of vipers before the truth can be discovered .
When Miss Minnie is discovered dead in an elaborate murder the residents of Weston Pipers are appalled to find that their young landlord is down as the chief suspect . He is advised to write down his version of the truth for Dame Beatrice Bradley . If anyone can solve this she can . The noted criminologist and psychologist gets to work .Along the way she stiprs up a whole nest of vipers before the truth can be discovered .
September 26, 2015
3.5-4. I find it really hard to rate this one.
Minus one point for the slow opening and minus another point for Satanists. I'm sorry, Golden Age authors, but that is the one shock technique that never works for you.
Minus one point for the slow opening and minus another point for Satanists. I'm sorry, Golden Age authors, but that is the one shock technique that never works for you.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews