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Chief Inspector Littlejohn #42
Death Spins the Wheel
When a lady gambler’s luck runs out, Detective Littlejohn follows a trail of deception and danger across Europe in this classic mystery.
When professional gambler Sylvia Garnier arrives at the casino on the Isle of Man, everyone is intrigued to see what drama unfolds. Knowing all the tricks and betting on all the right numbers, she seems to be enjoying a solid winning streak. That is until she’s found dead on the beach.
As theories about her murder run wild, Inspector Littlejohn is called in to get to the bottom of her mysterious demise. Dredging through years of family secrets and wartime betrayal, Littlejohn must untangle a conspiracy that takes him to France and Switzerland and leads all the way back to the French Resistance, if he is to solve this perplexing case.
When professional gambler Sylvia Garnier arrives at the casino on the Isle of Man, everyone is intrigued to see what drama unfolds. Knowing all the tricks and betting on all the right numbers, she seems to be enjoying a solid winning streak. That is until she’s found dead on the beach.
As theories about her murder run wild, Inspector Littlejohn is called in to get to the bottom of her mysterious demise. Dredging through years of family secrets and wartime betrayal, Littlejohn must untangle a conspiracy that takes him to France and Switzerland and leads all the way back to the French Resistance, if he is to solve this perplexing case.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1965
145 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
George Bellairs
73 books100 followersAKA Hilary Landon
George Bellairs is the nom de plume of Harold Blundell, a crime writer and bank manager born in Heywood, near Rochdale, Lancashire, who settled in the Isle of Man on retirement. He wrote more than 50 books, most featuring the series' detective Inspector Littlejohn. He also wrote four novels under the alternative pseudonym Hilary Landon.
George Bellairs is the nom de plume of Harold Blundell, a crime writer and bank manager born in Heywood, near Rochdale, Lancashire, who settled in the Isle of Man on retirement. He wrote more than 50 books, most featuring the series' detective Inspector Littlejohn. He also wrote four novels under the alternative pseudonym Hilary Landon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 14, 2020
The eponymous wheel refers not to the steering wheel but to the roulette wheel. Professional gambler Sylvia Garnier arrives and wins every night — not breaking the bank, but a hefty sum. When Madame Garnier is shot to death, Inspector Reggie Knell of Douglas CID on the Isle of Man once again summons Scotland Yard Superintendent Thomas Littlejohn, again spoiling the poor man’s attempt at a holiday.
Normally, I love author George Bellairs’ novels, particularly those set on the Isle of Man, where he retired and which he loved. But the premise of Madame Garnier’s winning gambit and too many implausibilities really spoils this novel. It’s still a three-star read, but it’s not up to Bellairs’ usual clever standard.
Normally, I love author George Bellairs’ novels, particularly those set on the Isle of Man, where he retired and which he loved. But the premise of Madame Garnier’s winning gambit and too many implausibilities really spoils this novel. It’s still a three-star read, but it’s not up to Bellairs’ usual clever standard.
March 9, 2025
WWII,spys gambling and murder.
A busman's holiday to France
A busman's holiday to France
September 13, 2018
I was delighted to find another Littlejohn book available through Kindle Unlimited as I thought I had tapped that well dry. Isle of Man again finds Littlejohn and wife visiting the Archdeacon, this time with the intention of building a conservatory. His housekeeper is outraged as only she can be when a roulette wheel is introduced into the household as aid in investigating the murder of a French woman who had been doing well at the new casino with her roulette bets.
Thus we have the great settings, the amusing characters, but this time the murder is not a simply solved puzzle. Action aplenty, war stories that must be examined, a bit of travel and police cooperation in many venues as Littlejohn follows the clues.
Thus we have the great settings, the amusing characters, but this time the murder is not a simply solved puzzle. Action aplenty, war stories that must be examined, a bit of travel and police cooperation in many venues as Littlejohn follows the clues.
September 22, 2018
My first George Bellairs and first Littlejohn as well. Didn’t know what to expect and so i went on this journey. I greatly enjoyed this book, fast, witty. Although I’m little fed up with ww2 stories this one was very enjoyable. Thank you to Agora and Netgalley
May 3, 2023
Upon re-reading I have upgraded my rating to 4 stars. Otherwise my original review as below still stands.
Another good page turner from Bellairs.
An elderly Frenchwomen, who turns out to be a professional gambler, is found shot dead on the beach on The Isle of Man. As always, Littlejohn is there on holiday so gets invited into the case. The action moves to France where old secrets going back to wartime are unearthed then back to I o M for the finale.
Three and a half stars would have been fairer.
Another good page turner from Bellairs.
An elderly Frenchwomen, who turns out to be a professional gambler, is found shot dead on the beach on The Isle of Man. As always, Littlejohn is there on holiday so gets invited into the case. The action moves to France where old secrets going back to wartime are unearthed then back to I o M for the finale.
Three and a half stars would have been fairer.
August 4, 2018
I liked everything about this book. "Death Spins the Wheel" is Bellairs at his very best. He incorporates his two favorite settings - the Isle of Man and France - into this one book to make for an absolutely wonderful read.
Sadly, I am getting to the end of my list of Chief Inspector Littlejohn books to read and it is going to be a sad day for me when I'm finished. Sure wish this author were still around but he did a great job on the more than 40 books he wrote. Will read them all again some day if I am spared.
Sadly, I am getting to the end of my list of Chief Inspector Littlejohn books to read and it is going to be a sad day for me when I'm finished. Sure wish this author were still around but he did a great job on the more than 40 books he wrote. Will read them all again some day if I am spared.
August 20, 2018
Death Spins the Wheel, is an Inspector Littlejohn murder mystery, which takes us on a fast paced journey from a Gambling Casino on the Isle of Man back to the French Resistance during WWII. Scotland Yard Inspector Littlejohn, now Superintendent, happens to be on holidays helping a friend when he becomes embroiled in solving the murder of an elderly lady at a local casino. Death Spins the Wheel is one of many books written by Harold Blundell under the pseudonym George Bellairs.
Madame Garnier spends the evening gambling and winning. Shortly after finishing for the evening she takes a walk along the beach and is found dead within less than thirty minutes, shot through the head. Although everyone initially feels her gambling is to blame, Inspector Littlejohn quickly ascertains that the woman’s past may be even more significant.
I like this book because it is fast paced and takes many twists and turns before it finally becomes clear what has occurred. The characters in the story are unique and interesting enough to hold the readers interest. Although written in the 60’s and I find it a bit dated in style, there is intrigue and humour throughout the book. I recommend this book because I found it entertaining and surprising and I give it a 4 on 5.
I want to thank NetGalley and Agora Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Madame Garnier spends the evening gambling and winning. Shortly after finishing for the evening she takes a walk along the beach and is found dead within less than thirty minutes, shot through the head. Although everyone initially feels her gambling is to blame, Inspector Littlejohn quickly ascertains that the woman’s past may be even more significant.
I like this book because it is fast paced and takes many twists and turns before it finally becomes clear what has occurred. The characters in the story are unique and interesting enough to hold the readers interest. Although written in the 60’s and I find it a bit dated in style, there is intrigue and humour throughout the book. I recommend this book because I found it entertaining and surprising and I give it a 4 on 5.
I want to thank NetGalley and Agora Books for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
December 29, 2018
Another enjoyable Superintendent Littlejohn story. Here he is again on the Isle of Man - an island I would now like to visit. The murder of an elderly tourist with no island connections poses a problem for Littlejohn, Knell and the Bishop. To work it out they must fly to Evian in France and delve into the wartime exploits of a family involved in the French Resistance.
I found the story quite intriguing and the echoes of the war were interesting.
The police characters are always well drawn and they all seem decent coves.
An enjoyable series.
I found the story quite intriguing and the echoes of the war were interesting.
The police characters are always well drawn and they all seem decent coves.
An enjoyable series.
October 20, 2025
Superindentent Littlejohn hits the jackpot without entering the casino.
It's 1965 and (to the horror of the more conservative faction) the Isle of Man now has a gambling casino. It's not Monte Carlo, but it's too close for comfort for the Archdeacon Kinrade and like-minded Manxmen.
There's nothing he can do about it and the gamblers (local people and visitors) continue their games of fortune. Everyone is intrigued when an aristocratic elderly woman shows up and signs for membership as Madame Garnier. She calls herself a professional gambler, although no one could be less like the stereotype.
The Manx don't know that Sylvie Garnier's husband was a distinguished professor who left her badly off, but with a system for winning at the roulette wheel that provides for her nicely. She moves from casino to casino and now she's come to the Isle of Man. The casino officials watch nervously as she wins, slowly but consistently several times a day. What if she breaks the bank?
Before that can happen, Madame Garnier decides to take a night off, starting with a short walk before bedtime. She never returns from her walk and Littlejohn's friend Inspector Knell discovers someone shot her with a small caliber pistol. Almost a toy gun, but still quite deadly.
Madame Garnier is a Frenchwoman who married into a wealthy family that includes a lawyer, a doctor, and a trouble-making sister. While on the Isle of Man, she sees a man from her past and that sets off a deadly chain of events.
WWII is twenty years in the rear view mirror, but the memories are still sharp for those who lived through it. To the horror of the world, Hitler's army invaded France and swept to the sea without serious resistance. They set up a government (the Vichy) but the Frenchmen who participated in it took orders from the German military.
The French Resistance fought gallantly to make life as hard for the Germans as possible. The Garnier family were all involved in the Resistance and Sylvie's husband paid with his life. It was a complicated story of spys and betrayal and men and women falling in love and becoming vulnerable and endangering their comrades.
Professor Garnier and his bodyguard (an Englishman sent to help the Resistance) both fall in love with beautiful Alice, neither one knowing that she's a Vichy spy. The information she sends back to the Germans ends in the bloody failure of a mission and only Professor Garnier and his bodyguard survive. Later it was discovered the professor died from a bullet wound and it wasn't a German bullet.
So did the professor kill himself to avoid falling into German hands and being tortured to reveal his knowledge of nuclear weapons? Or did his bodyguard kill him to avoid him being taken prisoner? Or was his wife jealous of his girlfriend and took revenge at an opportune moment?
The Garnier family has wondered for two decades how their son and brother died and now Sylvie Garnier has spotted the bodyguard living on the Isle of Man under an assumed name. She calls for her brother-in-law, but she's killed before he can reach her. Doctor Garnier takes up the mission, but he ends up on a burning boat in the ocean. Will he survive or become another victim?
Littlejohn is in hog heaven. He and his wife are comfortably berthed at the home of their old friend Archdeacon Kinrade. He gets to work with Inspector Knell, one of his greatest admirers. AND he can call in his friend Inspector Dorange of the French police to help him uncover the history of the Garnier family. To find out who killed Sylvie Garnier, he must know how the family's experiences in the French Resistance changed their lives and left all of them with a strong need to avenge their brother's death.
Archdeacon Kinrade is even happier, since there's nothing he likes better than a murder investigation. As a prominent clergyman, he's able to get into a French monastery to talk to the elderly friar who knows all about the French Resistance in that area and the Garnier family's role in it. When knowledge of the past is needed to solve a present-day murder, the elders are the ones with the insider knowledge that can help.
I've read several account of the French Resistance during WWII and there's no question they were a potent force in keeping the German occupation forces busy while the Allies readied themselves for D-Day. I can't imagine anything worse than being occupied by an enemy army and not knowing who's on your side and who is collaborating with the Germans. Bellairs makes it all come alive in the story of one family and their bravery and tragedies. I think this is one of his best mysteries.
It's 1965 and (to the horror of the more conservative faction) the Isle of Man now has a gambling casino. It's not Monte Carlo, but it's too close for comfort for the Archdeacon Kinrade and like-minded Manxmen.
There's nothing he can do about it and the gamblers (local people and visitors) continue their games of fortune. Everyone is intrigued when an aristocratic elderly woman shows up and signs for membership as Madame Garnier. She calls herself a professional gambler, although no one could be less like the stereotype.
The Manx don't know that Sylvie Garnier's husband was a distinguished professor who left her badly off, but with a system for winning at the roulette wheel that provides for her nicely. She moves from casino to casino and now she's come to the Isle of Man. The casino officials watch nervously as she wins, slowly but consistently several times a day. What if she breaks the bank?
Before that can happen, Madame Garnier decides to take a night off, starting with a short walk before bedtime. She never returns from her walk and Littlejohn's friend Inspector Knell discovers someone shot her with a small caliber pistol. Almost a toy gun, but still quite deadly.
Madame Garnier is a Frenchwoman who married into a wealthy family that includes a lawyer, a doctor, and a trouble-making sister. While on the Isle of Man, she sees a man from her past and that sets off a deadly chain of events.
WWII is twenty years in the rear view mirror, but the memories are still sharp for those who lived through it. To the horror of the world, Hitler's army invaded France and swept to the sea without serious resistance. They set up a government (the Vichy) but the Frenchmen who participated in it took orders from the German military.
The French Resistance fought gallantly to make life as hard for the Germans as possible. The Garnier family were all involved in the Resistance and Sylvie's husband paid with his life. It was a complicated story of spys and betrayal and men and women falling in love and becoming vulnerable and endangering their comrades.
Professor Garnier and his bodyguard (an Englishman sent to help the Resistance) both fall in love with beautiful Alice, neither one knowing that she's a Vichy spy. The information she sends back to the Germans ends in the bloody failure of a mission and only Professor Garnier and his bodyguard survive. Later it was discovered the professor died from a bullet wound and it wasn't a German bullet.
So did the professor kill himself to avoid falling into German hands and being tortured to reveal his knowledge of nuclear weapons? Or did his bodyguard kill him to avoid him being taken prisoner? Or was his wife jealous of his girlfriend and took revenge at an opportune moment?
The Garnier family has wondered for two decades how their son and brother died and now Sylvie Garnier has spotted the bodyguard living on the Isle of Man under an assumed name. She calls for her brother-in-law, but she's killed before he can reach her. Doctor Garnier takes up the mission, but he ends up on a burning boat in the ocean. Will he survive or become another victim?
Littlejohn is in hog heaven. He and his wife are comfortably berthed at the home of their old friend Archdeacon Kinrade. He gets to work with Inspector Knell, one of his greatest admirers. AND he can call in his friend Inspector Dorange of the French police to help him uncover the history of the Garnier family. To find out who killed Sylvie Garnier, he must know how the family's experiences in the French Resistance changed their lives and left all of them with a strong need to avenge their brother's death.
Archdeacon Kinrade is even happier, since there's nothing he likes better than a murder investigation. As a prominent clergyman, he's able to get into a French monastery to talk to the elderly friar who knows all about the French Resistance in that area and the Garnier family's role in it. When knowledge of the past is needed to solve a present-day murder, the elders are the ones with the insider knowledge that can help.
I've read several account of the French Resistance during WWII and there's no question they were a potent force in keeping the German occupation forces busy while the Allies readied themselves for D-Day. I can't imagine anything worse than being occupied by an enemy army and not knowing who's on your side and who is collaborating with the Germans. Bellairs makes it all come alive in the story of one family and their bravery and tragedies. I think this is one of his best mysteries.
January 9, 2020
George Bellairs’ Inspector Littlejohn series was published from the 1940s until just barely into the 1980s. This particular title, Death Spins the Wheel, was originally published in 1965 and is about three-quarters of the way through the series. It is now being reissued in e-book, and I was happy to be lucky enough to receive an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve only read a couple of titles in this series, each of which was quite different from the other, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this one, other than some sort of classic British mystery. And that turns out to be what this book is - one of the many British mysteries from the time following WW II (the end of which was only about 20 years previous at the time this was written) in which the war is a central element in the plot. And, although the plot was not too puzzling (I thought I had figured out the murderer quite early on, and was, in fact, correct), this still was an enjoyable book, with an enjoyable setting on the Isle of Man, with the investigation proceeding in logical steps, and with a few quick visits to spots in and around Evian, France, to liven things up a bit.
If I have any complaints at all, in fact, it would be about a little bit of “social class” based smugness that peeks through now and then, but I think that, FWIW, that is probably an accurate reflection of the attitudes of the time. I also get the impression that many of the characters in the book are continuing characters in the series, and that I might be missing a little bit by not being familiar with many of the other books in the series.
Still, all-in-all, this was an enjoyable read, and I’ll definitely keep an eye out for more Inspector Littlejohn titles in the future.
Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. And also please keep in mind that I try to fight “star-inflation” a little bit. I reserve 5 stars for a very few of my most favorite books, ones I’m likely to read and reread time-and-again, and 4 stars is a great rating from me.
I’ve only read a couple of titles in this series, each of which was quite different from the other, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this one, other than some sort of classic British mystery. And that turns out to be what this book is - one of the many British mysteries from the time following WW II (the end of which was only about 20 years previous at the time this was written) in which the war is a central element in the plot. And, although the plot was not too puzzling (I thought I had figured out the murderer quite early on, and was, in fact, correct), this still was an enjoyable book, with an enjoyable setting on the Isle of Man, with the investigation proceeding in logical steps, and with a few quick visits to spots in and around Evian, France, to liven things up a bit.
If I have any complaints at all, in fact, it would be about a little bit of “social class” based smugness that peeks through now and then, but I think that, FWIW, that is probably an accurate reflection of the attitudes of the time. I also get the impression that many of the characters in the book are continuing characters in the series, and that I might be missing a little bit by not being familiar with many of the other books in the series.
Still, all-in-all, this was an enjoyable read, and I’ll definitely keep an eye out for more Inspector Littlejohn titles in the future.
Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. And also please keep in mind that I try to fight “star-inflation” a little bit. I reserve 5 stars for a very few of my most favorite books, ones I’m likely to read and reread time-and-again, and 4 stars is a great rating from me.
July 22, 2018
4 stars
This book was originally published in 1965.
Mdme. Garnier was an elderly lady from France. She turned up on the Isle of Man and wanted to gamble. She booked a room at the casino hotel for two weeks and proceeded to the casino. She took modest winnings from the casino night after night. She was found on the beach near the casino by a passerby and had been shot in the head.
Superintendent Littlejohn was vacationing there with his wife when the murder occurred. He was asked by Inspector Reginald Knell to take a look at the case. Littlejohn, Knell and the Archdeacon join together to investigate the case. Littlejohn was supposed to be helping the Archdeacon build a greenhouse, but thought him joining the investigation would keep him out of trouble.
Obtaining a copy of her secret diary from Inspector Knell, the Archdeacon looks it over and almost immediately sees what’s going on. Mdme. Garnier has a form of precognition. Remarkable!
The investigation leads Littlejohn and the Archdeacon to Evian, France to interview the people who knew the elderly lady and to visit the university where she and her now deceased husband worked. They learn quite a bit there. Meanwhile, back on the Isle of Man a stranger who seems to be French attacks a local citizen and Knell.
The identity of the attacker and Mdme. Garnier’s killer comes as quite a surprise.
This is a very good book. Mr. Bellaris was way ahead of his time when writing his little stories. There is action, drama, likeable characters and of course, the brilliant Superintendent Littlejohn and his gracious wife. During a time when the only “forensic” tool was fingerprints, Littlejohn does a remarkable job in clearing his cases.
I want to thank NetGalley and Agora Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read and enjoy. It made a great addition to the Littlejohn collection.
This book was originally published in 1965.
Mdme. Garnier was an elderly lady from France. She turned up on the Isle of Man and wanted to gamble. She booked a room at the casino hotel for two weeks and proceeded to the casino. She took modest winnings from the casino night after night. She was found on the beach near the casino by a passerby and had been shot in the head.
Superintendent Littlejohn was vacationing there with his wife when the murder occurred. He was asked by Inspector Reginald Knell to take a look at the case. Littlejohn, Knell and the Archdeacon join together to investigate the case. Littlejohn was supposed to be helping the Archdeacon build a greenhouse, but thought him joining the investigation would keep him out of trouble.
Obtaining a copy of her secret diary from Inspector Knell, the Archdeacon looks it over and almost immediately sees what’s going on. Mdme. Garnier has a form of precognition. Remarkable!
The investigation leads Littlejohn and the Archdeacon to Evian, France to interview the people who knew the elderly lady and to visit the university where she and her now deceased husband worked. They learn quite a bit there. Meanwhile, back on the Isle of Man a stranger who seems to be French attacks a local citizen and Knell.
The identity of the attacker and Mdme. Garnier’s killer comes as quite a surprise.
This is a very good book. Mr. Bellaris was way ahead of his time when writing his little stories. There is action, drama, likeable characters and of course, the brilliant Superintendent Littlejohn and his gracious wife. During a time when the only “forensic” tool was fingerprints, Littlejohn does a remarkable job in clearing his cases.
I want to thank NetGalley and Agora Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read and enjoy. It made a great addition to the Littlejohn collection.
July 28, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Agora Books for an advance copy of Death Spins the Wheel, the forty second novel to feature Superintendent Littlejohn of Scotland Yard, originally published in 1965.
Littlejohn is on the Isle of Man visiting his friend Archdeacon Kinrade when Inspector Knell asks if he could advise on his murder investigation into the death of French pensioner and professional gambler, Mme Garnier, shot dead on the beach late at night.
I thoroughly enjoyed Death Spins the Wheel which is a traditional whodunit with several excellent twists. It held my attention from start to finish with its great plotting and misdirection, because nothing is as it seems and Mme Garnier is not your typical French little old lady. The action is split between the Isle of Man and Evian-les-Bains on the Swiss border, Mme Garnier's home town, which Littlejohn and the Archdeacon visit to excavate her past. What they uncover pushes their thinking in a new direction. The plotting is fairly standard, a well concealed perpetrator, a missing stranger and some explosive discoveries, but it is well constructed with the reveals coming in a logical manner, just enough at a time to truly whet the appetite for more. I also really enjoy Mr Bellairs' style of writing. It is not humourous but it has a certain knowing tone telling the reader that it is entertainment and not to be taken too seriously. You really get the sense that he thoroughly enjoyed writing it.
As with most novels written in a previous generation characterisation takes second place to the plot so there isn't much to say about it. Superintendent Littlejohn drives the action so he is smart and sociable but that's about it. I don't think the novel suffers for this lack because it's all about the plot and as it's well done it's a very readable novel which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Littlejohn is on the Isle of Man visiting his friend Archdeacon Kinrade when Inspector Knell asks if he could advise on his murder investigation into the death of French pensioner and professional gambler, Mme Garnier, shot dead on the beach late at night.
I thoroughly enjoyed Death Spins the Wheel which is a traditional whodunit with several excellent twists. It held my attention from start to finish with its great plotting and misdirection, because nothing is as it seems and Mme Garnier is not your typical French little old lady. The action is split between the Isle of Man and Evian-les-Bains on the Swiss border, Mme Garnier's home town, which Littlejohn and the Archdeacon visit to excavate her past. What they uncover pushes their thinking in a new direction. The plotting is fairly standard, a well concealed perpetrator, a missing stranger and some explosive discoveries, but it is well constructed with the reveals coming in a logical manner, just enough at a time to truly whet the appetite for more. I also really enjoy Mr Bellairs' style of writing. It is not humourous but it has a certain knowing tone telling the reader that it is entertainment and not to be taken too seriously. You really get the sense that he thoroughly enjoyed writing it.
As with most novels written in a previous generation characterisation takes second place to the plot so there isn't much to say about it. Superintendent Littlejohn drives the action so he is smart and sociable but that's about it. I don't think the novel suffers for this lack because it's all about the plot and as it's well done it's a very readable novel which I have no hesitation in recommending.
August 26, 2018
My thanks to Netgalley and Agora books for an ARC of this novel in return for an honest review Having now read several of George Bellairs detective novels, each featuring his lead character Superintendent Littlejohn, I have become a great fan. This novel, first published in 1965, is again set on the author’s beloved Isle of Man, but this time also in the South of France near the Swiss border, another area that Bellairs enjoyed and knew well. I’m afraid that I was lost by the intricacies of gambling with the roulette wheel, although the character of Littlejohn and his friend the Archdeacon seemed to understand it well. The Archdeacon appears in many of these books, being the person Littlejohn is conveniently staying with when a crime is committed so he’s on hand to help out with his specialised Scotland Yard expertise. Policing has certainly moved on. But this ruse doesn’t detract from the novel in any way. Despite all the modern technologies that we now enjoy (?) at home and work this tale doesn’t feel dated. It’s just a straight forward telling of a murder case with all the clues there if the reader can follow them. With the fashion now for “physiological” thrillers with so called twists at the end, this style is an absolute joy. There are however look backs to incidents that happened during the Second World War, which when this book was published was only twenty plus years away and well within the times of all the main characters..
It’s wonderful to have this series of novels revived and brought back to a whole new audience.
It’s wonderful to have this series of novels revived and brought back to a whole new audience.
July 22, 2018
Three cheers for another Bellairs re-issue!
Set on the Isle of Man and in France, the investigation of the murder of Madame Sylvie Garnier, a visitor from Evian, involves not only Superintendent Littlejohn (yet again on holiday from Scotland Yard), but also Inspector Knell, Archdeacon Kinrade and Dorange of the French Police. The only “regular” missing here, is Cromwell.
Madame Garnier has been playing roulette, with some success, at the recently-opened casino, but the motive for her shooting is not robbery. It soon emerges that the solution may lie back in her personal history and her involvement in the Maquis (the rural guerrilla bands of French Resistance fighters) during World War Two.
As with many of the stories from the 1960’s and ’70’s, the plot is fairly straightforward and the culprit and probable motive are discernible before the half-way mark. However, the characterisation is strong, with little by way of caricature. Occasionally, the writing is a little choppy, and there are a few misprints, but, overall, this is excellent light reading.
Originally published in 1965, “Death Spins the Wheel” is number 42 in the Littlejohn series, but can be read easily as a standalone by newcomers to the books.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Agora Books for the digital review copy.
Set on the Isle of Man and in France, the investigation of the murder of Madame Sylvie Garnier, a visitor from Evian, involves not only Superintendent Littlejohn (yet again on holiday from Scotland Yard), but also Inspector Knell, Archdeacon Kinrade and Dorange of the French Police. The only “regular” missing here, is Cromwell.
Madame Garnier has been playing roulette, with some success, at the recently-opened casino, but the motive for her shooting is not robbery. It soon emerges that the solution may lie back in her personal history and her involvement in the Maquis (the rural guerrilla bands of French Resistance fighters) during World War Two.
As with many of the stories from the 1960’s and ’70’s, the plot is fairly straightforward and the culprit and probable motive are discernible before the half-way mark. However, the characterisation is strong, with little by way of caricature. Occasionally, the writing is a little choppy, and there are a few misprints, but, overall, this is excellent light reading.
Originally published in 1965, “Death Spins the Wheel” is number 42 in the Littlejohn series, but can be read easily as a standalone by newcomers to the books.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and Agora Books for the digital review copy.
August 2, 2018
Superintendant Littlejohn is visiting his old friend the Archdeacon of Man when an elderly Frenchwoman, who had been gambling at the casino, is found murdered on the beach. The local Inspector, who knows Littlejohn well, hares round to offer him a busman's holiday, and all three get involved with the investigation. The motive for the crime eludes them: the lady had only been on the island a short time; she had been winning at the casino, but not outrageously; she had not been robbed. Then they hear of a mysterious Frenchman who appeared then rapidly vanished again. Could he be the murderer?
The action moves to Evian in France, where another friend — Inspector Dorange, of the Nice Sûreté — joins them. As they learn more about the background of the victim, potential motives and supects begin to appear.
I have read quite a few of Bellairs' books now and always find them enjoyable. He lived in and loved the locations he wrote about and had a fine touch for description, so that you feel that you have been taken inside the community, not just skimmed the surface, like a tourist. If you like "classic crime" novels, you will enjoy this.
Disclaimer. I received a free copy of this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The action moves to Evian in France, where another friend — Inspector Dorange, of the Nice Sûreté — joins them. As they learn more about the background of the victim, potential motives and supects begin to appear.
I have read quite a few of Bellairs' books now and always find them enjoyable. He lived in and loved the locations he wrote about and had a fine touch for description, so that you feel that you have been taken inside the community, not just skimmed the surface, like a tourist. If you like "classic crime" novels, you will enjoy this.
Disclaimer. I received a free copy of this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2018
Death Spins the Wheel is definitely one of George Bellairs’s more compelling mysteries. Part of what makes it so intriguing is how easy it is to accept a convincing story, and how difficult it can be to establish the truth.
Madame Garnier is a professional gambler. She is extremely successful, but casinos are never troubled as she never breaks the bank, is always polite, and her winning encourages others to play more. Then, after spending time at the new casino on the Isle of Man, she is found dead on the beach. Meanwhile, her brother shows up injured miles away, before disappearing again. Madame Garnier is traced back to France, where Inspector Littlejohn comes to discover a complex history dating back to the war. (WWII)
Part police procedural, part spy drama, Death Spins the Wheel is a fascinating mystery. I loved Bellairs writing style, particularly his depictions of the various individuals Littlejohn and the Archdeacon encounter. Bellairs is good at portraying individual quirks and foibles. While there is plenty of danger and suspense, there is also a sense that justice will be served and all put to right.
4 / 5
I received a copy of Death Spins the Wheel from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
— Crittermom
Madame Garnier is a professional gambler. She is extremely successful, but casinos are never troubled as she never breaks the bank, is always polite, and her winning encourages others to play more. Then, after spending time at the new casino on the Isle of Man, she is found dead on the beach. Meanwhile, her brother shows up injured miles away, before disappearing again. Madame Garnier is traced back to France, where Inspector Littlejohn comes to discover a complex history dating back to the war. (WWII)
Part police procedural, part spy drama, Death Spins the Wheel is a fascinating mystery. I loved Bellairs writing style, particularly his depictions of the various individuals Littlejohn and the Archdeacon encounter. Bellairs is good at portraying individual quirks and foibles. While there is plenty of danger and suspense, there is also a sense that justice will be served and all put to right.
4 / 5
I received a copy of Death Spins the Wheel from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
— Crittermom
August 3, 2018
I’ve been a fan of George Bellairs Inspector Littlejohn mysteries, since I discovered him back in 2014. Thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books for the ARC copy that I received for review. I enjoyed this novel very much.
This particular novel was written in the 1960s, and it has aged well. It has a well thought out plot that is interesting, very readable,and quite easy to follow. The story both begins and ends on the Isle of Man, with a trip to France sandwiched in the middle. The plot involves an elderly French woman, who describes herself as a professional gambler and who is murdered on the Isle of Man. The search for clues and a motive take the detectives to France, where they uncover facets of the murdered woman’s life that both complicate and illuminate their investigations, and ultimately send them back to the Isle of Man.
Many of the familiar characters from other novels in the series make an appearance in this book. Archdeacon Kinrade, inspector Knell, Maggie Keggins and Inspector Dorange all play a part in the story. I really enjoy these books and hope that we will be seeing more from this series.
This particular novel was written in the 1960s, and it has aged well. It has a well thought out plot that is interesting, very readable,and quite easy to follow. The story both begins and ends on the Isle of Man, with a trip to France sandwiched in the middle. The plot involves an elderly French woman, who describes herself as a professional gambler and who is murdered on the Isle of Man. The search for clues and a motive take the detectives to France, where they uncover facets of the murdered woman’s life that both complicate and illuminate their investigations, and ultimately send them back to the Isle of Man.
Many of the familiar characters from other novels in the series make an appearance in this book. Archdeacon Kinrade, inspector Knell, Maggie Keggins and Inspector Dorange all play a part in the story. I really enjoy these books and hope that we will be seeing more from this series.
August 11, 2018
What is it about?
George Bellairs has written a thrilling murder mystery, that was first published in 1965 and is set in the Isle of Man. A new casino opened and Madame Garnier visits to gamble using her secret system and always wins good amounts but not enough to ‘break the bank’. When Madame Garner is murdered the initial thought is it was her winnings, the murderer was after. But, the investigation, by Inspector Littlejohn uncovers past members of the French resistance, Vichy spies and betrayals.
What did I like?
George Bellairs, the author, has created an intriguing Inspector Littlejohn, and great characters in Knell and the Archdeacon to name just a few. The writing is This is a vintage novel and is in the same vein as authors such as Josephine Tey and is easily as good. I’m so glad I’ve discovered Mr Bellairs and will be searching for more of his novels,.
Would I recommend?
Definitely, The writing is so good I was totally enthralled and didn’t want it to end.
I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review
August 11, 2018
Madame Garnier, long a widow, goes to the Isle of Mann to play roulette at the Casino. She seems to have a knack and each night after winning about 200 pounds she goes for a walk and to bed. One night on the beach, she is shot by a small gun close to her. Fortunately, Chief Inspector Littlejohn has just arrived to visit the Archdeacon and help him build a Solarium. Thus, when the local Inspector Knell arrives at the Archdeacon's house, the Archdeacon and Littlejohn were ready to help. Although someone had broken into Madame Garnier's hotel room, they hadn't found her money which was cleverly hidden in a false bottom of her suitcase. The Archdeacon and Littlejohn go to Evian to try to find out some of the history of the family. They also find out that Madame had called her brother in law Ambroise, and asked him to come to Mann, but no one knew why. It seems that an Englishman, Colonel Springer, who lives on Mann had been assigned to the same resistance cell as Madame Garnier, her husband, and Ambroise, but it isn't clear at first why this is important. The plot is well planned with lots of twists and turns and keeps the reader turning pages as new information or activities keep happening.
July 30, 2018
This is a good read. Although it is an older book revisited it is still a timely mystery. The hero, Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard, has been featured in a multitude of books by this author. This particular tale deals with happenings in the French Resistance during the Second World War and how events then have come to effect the lives of those caught up in a murder years later. Inspector Littlejohn is a calm, quiet policeman whom the author has keeping his thoughts to himself. He shares the stage with the Archbishop of the Isle of Man and the local Constable Knell. Of course he is enlisted while on vacation but that never stops the true crime solver. Together the three men unwrap the mystery layer by layer in both the Isle of Wright and France by constantly digging for information from the past. Although the ending was not a complete surprise, the revelation of why and how was completely unexpected. I will look for more of this author’s work.
July 29, 2018
This is the forty second novel to feature Superintendent Littlejohn of Scotland Yard & was originally published in 1965.
Set on the Isle of Man and in France.
Littlejohn is on holiday on the Isle of Man when Inspector Knell asks if he could advise on his murder investigation into the death of French pensioner and professional gambler, Mme Sylvie Garnier, shot dead on the beach late at night.
She was a visitor from Evian so the investigation not only involves Superintendent Littlejohn but also Inspector Knell, Archdeacon Kinrade and Dorange of the French Police.
Another very good read the story is straight forward & it’s not hard to work out the culprit but strong characters & a well written plot make this a light easy enjoyable read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Set on the Isle of Man and in France.
Littlejohn is on holiday on the Isle of Man when Inspector Knell asks if he could advise on his murder investigation into the death of French pensioner and professional gambler, Mme Sylvie Garnier, shot dead on the beach late at night.
She was a visitor from Evian so the investigation not only involves Superintendent Littlejohn but also Inspector Knell, Archdeacon Kinrade and Dorange of the French Police.
Another very good read the story is straight forward & it’s not hard to work out the culprit but strong characters & a well written plot make this a light easy enjoyable read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
August 4, 2018
This is the 42nd book featuring Superintendent Littlejohn. Set on the Isle of Man and originally published in 1965.
Superintendent Littlejohn is on the Isle of Man visiting his friend the Archdeacon of Man. There's a new casino on the Isle of Man and a guest, Madame Garnier, is killed on the beach. Superintendent Littlejohn and the Archdeacon investigate the murder with the help of the Isle of Man police and various police officers in France.
This is a traditional mystery with excellent twists and turns in the plot. It kept my attention throughout. This is a plot-driven tale and characterization is minimal which was standard when this book was written. The book has aged well and is well-worth reading or re-reading.
Thanks to NetGally and Crime Classics Advance Readers Club for the arc of this book.
Superintendent Littlejohn is on the Isle of Man visiting his friend the Archdeacon of Man. There's a new casino on the Isle of Man and a guest, Madame Garnier, is killed on the beach. Superintendent Littlejohn and the Archdeacon investigate the murder with the help of the Isle of Man police and various police officers in France.
This is a traditional mystery with excellent twists and turns in the plot. It kept my attention throughout. This is a plot-driven tale and characterization is minimal which was standard when this book was written. The book has aged well and is well-worth reading or re-reading.
Thanks to NetGally and Crime Classics Advance Readers Club for the arc of this book.
November 8, 2020
"Death Spins the Wheel "was a very late, very tired attempt by George Bellairs to get a little more mileage out of poor old Inspector Littlejohn. This book had more detectives than suspects, even without Littlejohn's traditional sidekick. The story starts out with a lady (later found murdered) using a suspicious method of winning at a gambling casino, but then it soon seems to say, "never mind" and completely drops that theme as it goes on to explore the characters' ties to the French Resistance in WWII. That allows Littlejohn to have a number of meals at French restaurants while occasionally giving some thought to his clergyman's greenhouse and, oh yes, the murder. The solution is so contrived it is not worth trying to follow its convolutions. When an author gets tired of his characters, he should just stop writing, instead of spoiling the pleasant memory of his earlier works..
August 2, 2018
This was a review copy courtesy of Crime Classics, Agora books and Netgalley. I like George Bellairs, and in this one his strengths are to the fore. While maintaining the engaging setting on the Isle of Man, he very successfully locates the motivation and background in Vichy France, unravelling the story through what was, at the time, very recent history. Bellairs rises above a black and white view of WWII and presents a nuanced view of human behaviour and historical context.
It is a change to encounter friendship and collaboration between detectives across the English Channel as well as between clergy of varying traditions. I like Bellairs’ ease in writing of friendship and respect. It is thoughtful, competent and relatively sophisticated Golden Age Crime Fiction.
It is a change to encounter friendship and collaboration between detectives across the English Channel as well as between clergy of varying traditions. I like Bellairs’ ease in writing of friendship and respect. It is thoughtful, competent and relatively sophisticated Golden Age Crime Fiction.
August 15, 2018
Yet another excellent read. Formulaic but in a comforting way, like meeting old friends in the pub for a blether.
Two things become apparent the more I read these books. First, the amount of alcohol consumed over the course of a day would put James Bond to shame. Second, the length of each day seems reminiscent of childhood when you could fit much more into 24 hours than you can as an adult - Littlejohn can travel the length of Lake Geneva, interview a suspect, imbibe 3 glasses of cognac and still be back in time for breakfast. Perhaps the elasticity of the days is how he fits in so much booze.
I should disclose that I received this book free and in exchange for an unbiased review. Which is what this is!
Two things become apparent the more I read these books. First, the amount of alcohol consumed over the course of a day would put James Bond to shame. Second, the length of each day seems reminiscent of childhood when you could fit much more into 24 hours than you can as an adult - Littlejohn can travel the length of Lake Geneva, interview a suspect, imbibe 3 glasses of cognac and still be back in time for breakfast. Perhaps the elasticity of the days is how he fits in so much booze.
I should disclose that I received this book free and in exchange for an unbiased review. Which is what this is!
August 28, 2018
An elderly French lady,after spending some pleasant time in the Isle of Man's brand new casino ,is found shot on the beach. Inspector Littlejohn ,while helping the Archdeacon assembling a conservatory,is asked by the local force to give a helping hand. It is clear that part of the solution is to be found in France,to be precise, in Evian. And everybody knows that old sins have long shadows..think Résistance ,betrayal,passion...
The storyline is undoubtedly good,but what makes Bellairs such a wonderful, relaxing read is the rather benign atmosphere,great characters and a sniff of a bygone era.
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The storyline is undoubtedly good,but what makes Bellairs such a wonderful, relaxing read is the rather benign atmosphere,great characters and a sniff of a bygone era.
www.booksdogsandcats.wordpress.com
October 8, 2018
The deeds and misdeeds of French Resistance volunteers come back to haunt Inspector Littlejohn and friends; there's a lot of spy talk and not a lot of inspector-ish activities here, and Mr. Bellairs has a super weird relationship with his female characters, but it's still one of the more enjoyable entries in this series. Kind of a light version of a Le Carre novel., enjoyable if that's your bag. Also, there's some talk of being successful at gambling because of psychic abilities, which isn't really explored but isn't dismissed either, it's really odd. A recommend.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2021
Thoroughly Enjoyable
If you enjoy period mysteries you'll enjoy this one. A visiting French lady is murdered after winning money at a newly opened casino on the Isle of Man. Inspector Littlejohn gets involved in the case as he's on vacation there visiting his friend the Archbishop. It turns out that the murdered woman was a member of the French resistance as are other local residents. The mystery requires traveling to France to unravel events during her resistance work that led to her death. The combination of the present murder with past wartime adventures makes this really interesting reading. I highly recommend it.
If you enjoy period mysteries you'll enjoy this one. A visiting French lady is murdered after winning money at a newly opened casino on the Isle of Man. Inspector Littlejohn gets involved in the case as he's on vacation there visiting his friend the Archbishop. It turns out that the murdered woman was a member of the French resistance as are other local residents. The mystery requires traveling to France to unravel events during her resistance work that led to her death. The combination of the present murder with past wartime adventures makes this really interesting reading. I highly recommend it.
July 22, 2018
A wonderful mystery! Even if it's more than 50 years old it aged well and it was an engaging and pleasant read.
The book is full of humour with an interesting plot and a likeable cast of characters.
It was my first book in this series but there was no problem in understanding the characters and their relationships.
I loved the historical part about the French Resistance to nazis and I was engrossed by the plot since the beginning.
A wonderful discovery and I hope to be able to read other books in this series soon.
Highly recommended
Many thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for this ARC
The book is full of humour with an interesting plot and a likeable cast of characters.
It was my first book in this series but there was no problem in understanding the characters and their relationships.
I loved the historical part about the French Resistance to nazis and I was engrossed by the plot since the beginning.
A wonderful discovery and I hope to be able to read other books in this series soon.
Highly recommended
Many thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for this ARC
August 10, 2018
I really enjoy Bellairs books, this is not really one of my favourites, although it moves along really fast and is very easy to read, but unfortunately it is also pretty predictable and I like a few more twist to a mystery.
Having said that, I think that anyone that like a mystery with a past will very much enjoy this book. And of course, Inspector Littlejohn and The Isle of Man feature in this book.
Having said that, I think that anyone that like a mystery with a past will very much enjoy this book. And of course, Inspector Littlejohn and The Isle of Man feature in this book.
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