Death of a Literary Widow

by Robert Barnard

Novelist Walter Machin, with a minor literary reputation and out-of-print oeuvre, becomes fashionable after his death; escalating the import of his well-guarded papers. In the most peculiar setting his widow and ex-wife live in their manse, where multiple mysteries abound and a fatal competition ensues between them.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Aka Bernard Bastable.

Robert Barnard (born 23 November 1936) was an English crime writer, critic and lecturer.

Born in Essex, Barnard was educated at the Royal Grammar School in Colchester and at Balliol College in Oxford. His first crime novel, A Little Local Murder, was published in 1976. The novel was written while he was a lecturer at University of Tromsø in Norway. He has gone on to write more than 40 other books and numerous short stories.

Barnard has said that his favourite crime writer is Agatha Christie. In 1980 he published a critique of her work titled A Talent to Deceive: An Appreciation of Agatha Christie.

Barnard was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger in 2003 by the Crime Writers Association for a lifetime of achievement.

Under the pseudonym Bernard Bastable, Robert Barnard has published one standalone novel and three alternate history books starring Wolfgang Mozart as a detective, he having survived to old age.

Barnard lived with his wife Louise in Yorkshire.

Series:
* Perry Trethowan
* Charlie Peace

Reviews

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I take my writing seriously and consider comments the reward. Please do not leave “like button” clicks, until you are accompanying them with remarks for me. *

Our access to books is a constantly-replenished sea of discoveries, yet it’s thrilling the first time I try an author. The rarity is sitting down with one about whom we’d never heard; particularly if it is a long-published person who eluded us. Robert Barnard is an Englishman living in Norway. I chanced upon “Death Of A Literary Widow” at a garage sale where there was nothing else I wanted. He has famous titles and I was treated to a different approach and tone, from the mystery formats to which we’ve grown accustomed.

A teacher, Greg Hocking acquaints ladies who by unusual arrangement, are wives of one house and man. Hilda was divorced after a long marriage, Viola widowed after a brief tenure. Viola has a son from a first marriage, whose ex-husband gives bounce to this novel as a captivating figure. Walter and Hilda share a daughter. He was an author of small local repute, whose recently reprinted oeuvre has made a splash. An American newspaperman, wishing to make a thesis of Walter Machin, is permitted to organize his papers and complete a book that the Mrs. Machins deemed worth publishing. This work is restricted to their attic, where either wife monitors him.

Both trusting Greg: each prevails upon him to help spin the mounting publicity in their favour. My observation is that connectivity to a protagonist emerges slowly, as does the mystery. Intrigue increases, as Greg meets the ladies’ relatives. He finds himself in the most capable position to investigate the motive when one dies. It doesn’t matter that the secret is easy to guess. What begins to feel anticipatory is sifting all the way through to who perpetuated the secret, how, and why. Delving far into their pasts is essential. All of that is well-plotted and believably-conceived.

[Reggie Billingsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly I must say I have just discovered this writer's work. Much of it might even be out of print, or in that discard bin at one's library, and more's the pity. However I intend to explore thoroughly his back list and look forward to many hours of enjoyment from a wordsmith who truly wrote enticingly well.

With the untimely demise of Robert Barnard just this past September 2013 the prolific and witty writer's hand has been sadly and permanently stilled. If that's too cliche-ridden a phrase...then let's attribute it to someone like Viola Seymour-Strachey Machin whose fabulously irritating character, as Queen of the Banal, in Death of a Literary Widow completes a cast of characters we all recognise as just one part of Barnard's deft social insights. I have no problem with being entertained in my mysteries via a clever writing style, so that even the puzzle is almost secondary to the sharper commentary which makes me laugh out loud, often times with rueful recognition: "He sat at his desk,...meditating, cogitating, moulding his concrete blocks of critical prose." Oh yes! I remember those painfully tortuous grad papers I had to slog through...long ago and never again thank god.

Now the man who reminded us of that leaden literati is gone, and yet with his remarkable record of written work and active service to the literary history of others (eg the Brontes) we should be grateful that we can still enjoy the productivity of his dedicated life with all the good humour and accessibility Mr Barnard demonstrated in his substantial life time.

Thanks so much Robert, you were a good, generous, faithful and entertaining servant to the muse.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Definitely a cozy mystery. I throughly enjoyed the slower pace and getting to know the characters. I’m interested in trying another of this author’s offerings.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teacher Greg Hocking befriends perky, elderly Hilda, the ex-wife of a working class writer of the thirties whose works are about to come back in a big way. Hilda shares a house with Walter's widow, who is more upper class. The two women fight all the time, when they're not ignoring each other, but both have an interest in helping the American scholar who is putting Walter back on the literary map--royalties, if nothing else, provide a joint interest. When a fire kills one of the women, Greg thinks both the timing and the circumstances suspicious.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing little bit of amateur-detective fun.

[Clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a game-changing mystery by any means, but enjoyable nonetheless, if you like "cozy" British mysteries (I do). Barnard is a more-than-competent writer, and the amateur sleuth, a North Country small-town schoolteacher, is appealing. I picked this book up purely because of it's title. It was a short, easy read, perfect for airplane travel.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love Robert Barnard's books. All of his characters are interesting and you care about them. His writing is sharp, quick and witty while being insightful and careful about setting his scenes. This particular book had me guessing till the end which was not what one might expect but was great anyway.

[Ron Kerrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual, Barnard's witty writing is the star of this, not the plot about a death. I felt a little bogged down by the details of the lives of some of the characters, and wished for one of those Cast of Characters lists to help place some of the people involved. Not one of my favorite Barnard books, but still worth the time spent.

[Linda Fraley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like all the Robert Barnard books. He does a lot of English country village murder mysteries but they are not your Miss Marple ones. He has no ongoing "hero" so his books never got into the TV media. Each one is a gem. This is an earlier work.

[M Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely done. If you like Ngaio Marsh you'll like Robert Barnard. A very nice kharma-type ending as a bonus. I wish his books were easier to find as most are now out of print and only available in libraries (a no-go for me until vaccines).

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Barnard's mysteries and this one had escaped me. It works for me because I have taught in colleges and, thus, enjoyed the send-up of the obsessive American literary researcher. Nice act of future Karma at the end.

[Jeff Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Barnard gently poking fun at the working class writers who were adopted by the literati. If you are of a certain generation this murder mystery is great fun but maybe difficult for overseas and younger readers to get the joke.

[Jason McDonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reasonably clever solution, but a very plodding narrative and slow pacing. Nothing to the caliber of Christie.

[Glenn Hopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent at the sentence level. The writing style is the main attraction, along with the personalities of the characters.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me about 100 pages in to get interested in the characters & the story. Then it starts to come together & it’s an unusual story w/an unusual end.

[sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

was alright. ending was unsatisfying.

[Nichole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't care for the way the mystery resolved itself, but the rest of it was a decent read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Barnard has again created a fascinating cast of characters here, with the focus on the late Arthur Machin, whose ex-wife and widow live together in the home where he died. An American has taken on the task of organizing all of Machin's papers and manuscripts, with the idea of re-releasing his first novel and publishing other stories, letters, and critiques of his work. The widow, Viola, has pound signs in her eyes, but others have ideas, too. There are questions about how Viola stole Arthur away from Hilda, and whether her younger son was actually his, and it's a pretty sordid tale, but with Barnard's characteristic humor: "Viola Machin, seated in her bay window, watched from under hooded lids the approach of her daughter-in-law . . . Her elder son's wife was long-standing irritant,
like an ill-perforated toilet roll."

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Two wives – one the x and one the widow ---living in the same house and not really liking each other at all ---how they divided up the house is quite cute, one re-discovered novelist (who happens to be illiterate) and, a sudden windfall of fame and fortune ---that can (and does) only end in murder."

Clever, amusing and a puzzle to the last page! Pure delight to read! Was to the library that day to pick up more! And, haven’t been disappointed, yet!

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

What i most liked in it is the main character Greg Hocking, who is very observant. But the solution is predictible long before the end.

[Louis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't bear to finish this. It's staying in Venice. I did however like the second wife's confession that she was from New Zealand. Best part of the first two chapters.

[LDuchess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun--but don't remember when I read it.

[Marti]

Passed on to me by Mom.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read this several times over the last thirty years. It is an enjoyable read though the ending is predictable.

[Janice · Rating 1 out of 5]

No more Barnard for me.

[Anne Ponder · Rating 2 out of 5]

so-so

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absorbing, literate, and fair with the clues; a little wordy, and the ending--while somewhat realistic--was a little disappointing. I will read more of this author.

[Jeannine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diverting but not one of his best.