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Inspector Hazlerigg #1
Close Quarters
Close Michael Close Rue FIRST First Edition Thus, First Printing. Not price-clipped. Published by Rue Morgue, 2007. Octavo. Paperback. Book is like new with very light edgewear. 100% positive feedback. 30 day money back guarantee. NEXT DAY SHIPPING! Excellent customer service. Please email with any questions. All books packed carefully and ship with free delivery confirmation/tracking. All books come with free bookmarks. Ships from Sag Harbor, New York.Seller 361929 Mystery/Thriller We Buy Books! Collections - Libraries - Estates - Individual Titles. Message us if you have books to sell!
190 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1947
4 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Michael Gilbert
143 books91 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Born in Lincolnshire in 1912, Michael Francis Gilbert was educated in Sussex before entering the University of London where he gained an LLB with honours in 1937. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America - an achievement many thought long overdue. He won the Life Achievement Anthony Award at the 1990 Boucheron in London, and in 1980 he was knighted as a Commander in the Order of the British Empire. Gilbert made his debut in 1947 with Close Quarters, and since then has become recognized as one of our most versatile British mystery writers.
He was the father of Harriett Gilbert.
Born in Lincolnshire in 1912, Michael Francis Gilbert was educated in Sussex before entering the University of London where he gained an LLB with honours in 1937. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America - an achievement many thought long overdue. He won the Life Achievement Anthony Award at the 1990 Boucheron in London, and in 1980 he was knighted as a Commander in the Order of the British Empire. Gilbert made his debut in 1947 with Close Quarters, and since then has become recognized as one of our most versatile British mystery writers.
He was the father of Harriett Gilbert.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 4, 2024
If you've read Anthony Trollope's Barchester novels you probably know what a cathedral close is, but I had no idea. Now I do. Close Quarters is set in such an area, and is the first novel in a long career by Michael Gilbert, introducing his detective Inspector Hazlerigg. Interesting, intelligent, clever, but just a little too complex with too many characters to be as good as it could've been. The author was a schoolmaster at Salisbury.
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February 2, 2022This is Gilbert's first book, very much out of print, about a murder in a tiny cathedral community where the murderer can only be one of the very small number of people who live on site. It's clever and enjoyable but I think just a bit too complicated - I couldn't quite keep up with all the twists and turns. Very good though and I'm still digging up the others in the series.
September 14, 2024
Very entertaining - but dark not cosy.
June 24, 2019
An excellent "closed community " mystery
"The evidence of vice and virtue are not confined to famous accomplishments: often some trivial event, a word, a joke, will serve better than great campaigns as a revelation of character." -Plutarch
Under the normal headings of motives and methods Pollock could find little to help him...Anyway, motive was likely to prove a broken reed in a case like this...Obsession Mania-complexes of all sorts...was difficult to diagnose in practice: more difficult still to detect. The most saintly countenance might mask a seething fury of inhibitions. The most ordinary-looking breast pocket might contain a poison pen. As a rough plan of campaign Pollock felt that the first thing to do was to obtain the Fingerprints of every resident in the Close and send them to London with the Dean's anonymous letter for expert scrutiny.
"The evidence of vice and virtue are not confined to famous accomplishments: often some trivial event, a word, a joke, will serve better than great campaigns as a revelation of character." -Plutarch
Under the normal headings of motives and methods Pollock could find little to help him...Anyway, motive was likely to prove a broken reed in a case like this...Obsession Mania-complexes of all sorts...was difficult to diagnose in practice: more difficult still to detect. The most saintly countenance might mask a seething fury of inhibitions. The most ordinary-looking breast pocket might contain a poison pen. As a rough plan of campaign Pollock felt that the first thing to do was to obtain the Fingerprints of every resident in the Close and send them to London with the Dean's anonymous letter for expert scrutiny.
May 21, 2016
A wonderful older murder mystery published in 1947, the setting probably based on Salisbury Cathedral as the author was a schoolmaster in Salisbury when he wrote this first novel in 1938. It is atmospheric, intelligent, peopled with truly interesting members and residents of the Close. There are anonymous letters and a general campaign against the oldest canon of the Close, carefully executed by someone with enough malice that the concerned Dean invites his nephew Sargent Bobby Pollock who is attached to Scotland Yard for a visit. On the morning after Pollock's first night in Melchester a body is discovered, the victim of the smear campaign. Pollock calls in Chief Inspector Hazlerigg to assist in the investigation and before they can uncover the truth others will die.
March 9, 2010
There's trouble at Melchester cathedral, but fortunately the Dean has a young nephew who's at Scotland Yard. Who better to unofficially look into the anonymous letters that have attacked the senior verger? So Bobby Pollock comes to Melchester in time to meet the case of characters before the verger is found dead. Then Inspector Hazlerigg joins him, and they begin to interview the clerical company. There's a clue in a crossword puzzle, in clothing that's too wet and a hat that's too dry, and in a strange handwritten note. I've labeled this "historical" since it is set pre-World War II and written after the war.
May 3, 2020
Gilbert's first mystery has a few problems of construction--action is definitely poorly paced, and the second half of the mystery totally unexpected--not really in a good way. Also, there are like 50 very similar characters/suspects so that by the end I just gave up trying to remember if the person was a verger or a canon or choral whatever and just let it flow over me. It flows pretty smoothly, though, and the Inspector is rather a pleasant character, so that I didn't even get mad that a whole chapter is a cryptic crossword. Looking forward to finding others in the series.
February 6, 2019
It's 1937. Residents of the Melchester Cathedral Close are receiving poison pen letters, and the Dean asks his nephew, Sergeant Pollock of Scotland Yard, to investigate. When one of the vergers is found dead, Pollock calls in Inspector Hazelrigg, his superior and a brilliant detective.
This first novel is written in a classic British style, with clear but well-hidden clues, diagrams, and even a crossword puzzle.
This first novel is written in a classic British style, with clear but well-hidden clues, diagrams, and even a crossword puzzle.
October 18, 2022
Although this book was first published in the late 1940s, it didn't feel dated. This is a solid police procedural set in an abbey in England with well-defined characters.
June 1, 2017
The book is set in and around Melchester cathedral close. A year before the book opens the unfortunate Canon Whyte fell from the roof and was killed. His death seems to be casting a long shadow still. There has been a spate of anonymous letters sent to people living in the close and graffiti has been appearing on walls - casting aspersions on the quality of the head verger's work. Appledown is not popular but the Dean has no real complaints about the standard of the work.
Then a murder takes place and Inspector Hazlerigg is called in from Scotland Yard to investigate. At first it seems as though there are just too many suspects and that everyone could be lying about something. But Hazlerigg is nothing is not persistent and the murderer is eventually tracked down. This is the first book I've read by Michael Gilbert and it won't be the last. I loved the descriptions of people and places and there is plenty of humour in the book
I loved the episode in which a suspect is followed by one of Hazlerigg's team which reminded me of Bunter's efforts at following the murderer in Dorothy L Sayers' Have His Carcase. The end of the chase is priceless and one of the best scenes in the book. This book has stood the test of time extremely well and I recommend it to anyone who loves Golden Age crime fiction and to anyone who wants to try it for the first time.
Then a murder takes place and Inspector Hazlerigg is called in from Scotland Yard to investigate. At first it seems as though there are just too many suspects and that everyone could be lying about something. But Hazlerigg is nothing is not persistent and the murderer is eventually tracked down. This is the first book I've read by Michael Gilbert and it won't be the last. I loved the descriptions of people and places and there is plenty of humour in the book
I loved the episode in which a suspect is followed by one of Hazlerigg's team which reminded me of Bunter's efforts at following the murderer in Dorothy L Sayers' Have His Carcase. The end of the chase is priceless and one of the best scenes in the book. This book has stood the test of time extremely well and I recommend it to anyone who loves Golden Age crime fiction and to anyone who wants to try it for the first time.
January 23, 2013
I enjoyed this very much. It's one of my first Michael Gilbert mysteries. It was a slowish, procedural-type police mystery, but gradually, it began to twist and turn nicely. Inspector Hazelrigg was an excellent police inspector with an intelligence and ability to work his way through the crime. I also liked the peripheral characters and how they contributed to the plot and investigation. Nice conclusion, very interesting.
October 5, 2023
I liked this a lot, and what I didn't particularly care for won't be an issue in the future (I assume). All the suspects, essentially, were middle-aged to old white men working as Canons (whatever that means) in some quasi-religious organization ... I'm so unfamiliar with the trappings of organized religion in general and the Anglican Church in particular ... and thus it was hard to tell everyone apart.
While the detectives discussed them in detail, it made sense ("Oh, right, it's the one with the sister," etc.) but if they threw out a name later ("turns out Johnson saw Boyle just after he spoke with Frockminster") I wouldn't have a clue who they meant.
This is something Agatha Christie was particularly good at: I generally felt like she had a nice mix of suspects, all easily differentiable. Interestingly modern writers are equally bad/good at it, it's not like lessons were learned and everyone makes sure to spice up their suspect list a bit, no, I still find mysteries set at, say, an Accounting firm, where all the suspects are white men in their 40s, sigh. But I digress.
Despite that, I did enjoy it. I'll take the detective's word that they solved it, because the solution was overly complex and I hadn't bothered to keep track of clues and wonder myself who it might be (no point when I can't distinguish the characters in the first place). But young Mr. Gilbert show promise, and given that this was written in the 1930s and was his first, I'm sure later works of his will be worth the reading. (In fact I know this: I've already read a later work, which is why I've turned back time to read them in order).
I did essentially skip the entire crossword puzzle chapter ... it may as well have been in a different language. One fellow would read a clue like "upended boulder surrounded by Swedes" and the other would say something like "Ah, it must be THRIFTY, yes, that's seven letters, it fits," and I'd just stare at it blankly and then turn the pages faster. I'm not a British-style-crossword-puzzler myself, which you would have to be to follow that section with any enthusiasm.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
While the detectives discussed them in detail, it made sense ("Oh, right, it's the one with the sister," etc.) but if they threw out a name later ("turns out Johnson saw Boyle just after he spoke with Frockminster") I wouldn't have a clue who they meant.
This is something Agatha Christie was particularly good at: I generally felt like she had a nice mix of suspects, all easily differentiable. Interestingly modern writers are equally bad/good at it, it's not like lessons were learned and everyone makes sure to spice up their suspect list a bit, no, I still find mysteries set at, say, an Accounting firm, where all the suspects are white men in their 40s, sigh. But I digress.
Despite that, I did enjoy it. I'll take the detective's word that they solved it, because the solution was overly complex and I hadn't bothered to keep track of clues and wonder myself who it might be (no point when I can't distinguish the characters in the first place). But young Mr. Gilbert show promise, and given that this was written in the 1930s and was his first, I'm sure later works of his will be worth the reading. (In fact I know this: I've already read a later work, which is why I've turned back time to read them in order).
I did essentially skip the entire crossword puzzle chapter ... it may as well have been in a different language. One fellow would read a clue like "upended boulder surrounded by Swedes" and the other would say something like "Ah, it must be THRIFTY, yes, that's seven letters, it fits," and I'd just stare at it blankly and then turn the pages faster. I'm not a British-style-crossword-puzzler myself, which you would have to be to follow that section with any enthusiasm.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = really enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
December 26, 2023
There is a lot of deciding the times and places of the characters. In fact, that is the majority of the novel. So, when the first red herring comes upon the reader, he feels like he certainly is at the end of the matter and the Scotland Yard chaps are about to solve the situation. But wait! What are all these pages left to still be read? Well, because even if we have a red herring and more eliminations of suspects and theories – we never really looked into motive! So, it feels like we are constantly having to start over, remind ourselves where everyone was at what time, and now also think of motives. Meanwhile, the little interferences and spats between the canons and members of the Close are pulling the detectives, and reader, this way and that with their un/helpfulness.
Overall, this is a good read. It is not a story that all readers will enjoy. There is too much detail work, maybe there are just too many characters? Sure, Golden Age mystery readers should read it. They should also expect to keep notes about the characters, I guess. The author certainly did a lot of work here – he must have painstakingly clarified every detail – every minute of his many characters. However, as a novel, this sort of detail is not always very entertaining.
Overall, this is a good read. It is not a story that all readers will enjoy. There is too much detail work, maybe there are just too many characters? Sure, Golden Age mystery readers should read it. They should also expect to keep notes about the characters, I guess. The author certainly did a lot of work here – he must have painstakingly clarified every detail – every minute of his many characters. However, as a novel, this sort of detail is not always very entertaining.
June 7, 2020
Kesädekkarit jatkuvat, ja tämä olikin sitten jo tosissaan nostalgista menoa englantilaisella maaseudulla maailmansotien välisenä aikana. Mysteerikin on aluksi varsin leppoisa, selvitellään katedraalin alueella leviäviä häväistyskirjeitä ja ilkivaltaa, mutta varsin pian tapahtuu murha, eikä uhri jää viimeiseksi. Samalla kaivaudutaan syvemmälle kaniikkien ja suntioiden (molempia on katedraalissa useampi) sun muiden kirkonmiesten välisiin kaunoihin ja menneisyyden salaisuuksiin.
Meno on leppeään alkuun nähden välillä yllättävänkin vauhdikasta takaa-ajoineen ja varjostuksineen, ja ruumiitakin tosiaan tulee useampi. Henkilöitä on aika paljon ja osa jää väistämättä sivuun, mutta useimmille saadaan hyvin luotua ainakin karrikoitu persoonallisuus, ja vanhan ajan mallin herraskainen kirkollinen yhteisö on miljöönä kiinnostava. Kirjan alussa on myös nimilista, josta huonomuistisempi voi tarkistaa kuka kukin on. Etsivähahmot jäävät eksentrisiä pappismiehiä tavanomaisemmiksi, mutta ilmeisesti tämä onkin vasta ensimmäinen osa sarjaa joten hahmoilla on vielä aikaa kehittyä.
Meno on leppeään alkuun nähden välillä yllättävänkin vauhdikasta takaa-ajoineen ja varjostuksineen, ja ruumiitakin tosiaan tulee useampi. Henkilöitä on aika paljon ja osa jää väistämättä sivuun, mutta useimmille saadaan hyvin luotua ainakin karrikoitu persoonallisuus, ja vanhan ajan mallin herraskainen kirkollinen yhteisö on miljöönä kiinnostava. Kirjan alussa on myös nimilista, josta huonomuistisempi voi tarkistaa kuka kukin on. Etsivähahmot jäävät eksentrisiä pappismiehiä tavanomaisemmiksi, mutta ilmeisesti tämä onkin vasta ensimmäinen osa sarjaa joten hahmoilla on vielä aikaa kehittyä.
December 5, 2024
The first Hazlerigg--I am determined to read them all if I can get them, as they are older publications. Smallbone Deceased is still the best so far.
Many of the other reviewers have expressed my same thoughts--too complex, too many characters to keep track of when they are all men in a religious school. But there were some interesting humorous moments and apt descriptions that do portend how Gilbert's writing will evolve. The resolution with the crossword puzzle and how it was even found was ingenious, but several pages of reading clues to solve the puzzle was too much.
What I think I found most interesting in the book was the quote at the beginning of Chapter 5 from a book entitled "Kai Lung" by Ernest Bramah. Kai Lung was a fictional character in a series of fantasy books that were first published in 1900. In looking this up, I found that Dorothy L. Sayers has quotes from the series in several of her mysteries. Something more to read someday--and interesting to think about how it might have impacted Gilbert's writing.
Many of the other reviewers have expressed my same thoughts--too complex, too many characters to keep track of when they are all men in a religious school. But there were some interesting humorous moments and apt descriptions that do portend how Gilbert's writing will evolve. The resolution with the crossword puzzle and how it was even found was ingenious, but several pages of reading clues to solve the puzzle was too much.
What I think I found most interesting in the book was the quote at the beginning of Chapter 5 from a book entitled "Kai Lung" by Ernest Bramah. Kai Lung was a fictional character in a series of fantasy books that were first published in 1900. In looking this up, I found that Dorothy L. Sayers has quotes from the series in several of her mysteries. Something more to read someday--and interesting to think about how it might have impacted Gilbert's writing.
January 26, 2024
Synopsis
It has been more than a year since Cannon Whyte fell 103 feet from the cathedral gallery, yet unease still casts a shadow over the peaceful lives of the Close's inhabitants. In an apparently separate incident, head verger Appledown is being persecuted: a spate of anonymous letters and random acts of vandalism imply that he is inefficient and immoral. But then the notes turn threatening, and when Appledown is found dead, Inspector Hazelrigg is called in. Investigations suggest that someone directly connected to the cathedral is responsible, and it is up to Hazelrigg to get to the heart of the corruption.
Review
An excellent early effort from Gilbert. The mystery was clever but some of the loose ends were left dangling which was frustrating.
Highly recommended though.
It has been more than a year since Cannon Whyte fell 103 feet from the cathedral gallery, yet unease still casts a shadow over the peaceful lives of the Close's inhabitants. In an apparently separate incident, head verger Appledown is being persecuted: a spate of anonymous letters and random acts of vandalism imply that he is inefficient and immoral. But then the notes turn threatening, and when Appledown is found dead, Inspector Hazelrigg is called in. Investigations suggest that someone directly connected to the cathedral is responsible, and it is up to Hazelrigg to get to the heart of the corruption.
Review
An excellent early effort from Gilbert. The mystery was clever but some of the loose ends were left dangling which was frustrating.
Highly recommended though.
March 23, 2022
I only picked this up to read, having owned the book for fifty years, because I was about to pop off for a weekend with friends and the cover (not this one) matched the colours of the tube of ibuprofen gel I was taking. (Those long country walks.)
It's more of a series of logic puzzles than a story. There's even a crossword puzzle that is part of the mystery. I probably would have lost interest if I hadn't caught covid on the weekend away, and thus happy enough with an amiably unchallenging '40s whodunit.
It's more of a series of logic puzzles than a story. There's even a crossword puzzle that is part of the mystery. I probably would have lost interest if I hadn't caught covid on the weekend away, and thus happy enough with an amiably unchallenging '40s whodunit.
June 27, 2019
Technically well done, but suffers from the problem that puzzle-mysteries often suffer from - because it relies entirely on the puzzle, there's no real sense of the suspects as suspects. And, conversely, it's solvable based on the conventions of the puzzle-mystery.
I think puzzle-mysteries really only work for me when adapted as shows. Having the thing acted out tends to paper over the flaws and bring more...humanity, I guess...to the stories.
I think puzzle-mysteries really only work for me when adapted as shows. Having the thing acted out tends to paper over the flaws and bring more...humanity, I guess...to the stories.
July 19, 2022
This story just seemed deadly dull to me. Might be the discordant note it struck with me that it seemed like it should be an older period piece but was a modern time period. Characters phrasing of speech and thought felt awkward and was a bit confusing. Just couldn’t invest in it. The mystery had a nice twist though.
November 22, 2018
As Michael Gilbert said of his first book: It's a "little busy." But charming, nevertheless. There's a cast of characters to help you keep track of who's who, a map of the close, and even a crossword puzzle for you to solve (or not).
July 1, 2019
A very satisfying mystery set in a cathedral close and featuring timetables, a cryptic English crossword, and many secrets. When the crossword came up, it rang a faint bell, so I think this must have been among the English mysteries on my parents' well-filled shelves.
June 7, 2020
This is, I believe, the first novel in a long and extremely successful career, and it is outstanding. There is a huge cast of characters, most of them called Canon. While I needed to keep a reference list, Mr.Gilbert had no problems keeping his many characters distinct and straight. He makes writing a complex story seem easy.
October 23, 2021
3.5 stars. The author's first book and it shows. The Cathedral Close setting is beautifully done and the writing is a pleasure but the second half of the book starts to get increasingly convoluted and the ending seems rushed. I still enjoyed it and some of the characters were great fun.
March 22, 2022
The mystery is good as there are plenty of suspects, the maps help keep the reader oriented, though there was one view that didn't work yet played a part. Some of the language was a bit obscure, but manageable.
March 15, 2020
I found this a bit hard to get into but once I did I found it to be a great mystery, with lovely characters and story. Very recommended.
January 11, 2022
A bit turgid- but it was his first book!!
April 9, 2022
Gilbert's first outing, and as he himself admitted, it's a bit overcomplicated. Still enjoyable for the setting, conversation, and characters.
April 9, 2023
Really enjoyed this book. Surprised this was his first published book because it didn't seem like it and shows why he was such a successful author for so many years.
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October 21, 2023Found this through ChatGPT (asking about books like Sayers, Marsh and Christie, but not these). A bit too incrowd-lawyery for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews