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Inspector Troy #3
A Little White Death
“[Lawton’s] work stands head and shoulders above most other contemporary thrillers, earning those comparisons to Le Carré.” —The Boston Globe The latest novel from the master spy novelist John Lawton follows Inspector Troy, now Scotland Yard’s chief detective, deep into a scandal reminiscent of the infamous Profumo affair. England in 1963 is a country set to explode. The old guard, shocked by the habits of the war baby youth, sets out to fight back. The battle reaches uncomfortably close to Troy. While he is on medical leave, the Yard brings charges against an acquaintance of his, a hedonistic doctor with a penchant for voyeurism and young women, two of which just happen to be sleeping with a senior man at the Foreign Office as well as a KGB agent. But on the eve of the verdict, a curious double case of suicide drags Troy back into active duty. Beyond bedroom acrobatics, the secret affairs now stretch to double crosses and deals in the halls of power, not to mention murder. It’s all Troy can do to stay afloat in a country immersed in drugs and up to its neck in scandal. “John Lawton is so captivating a storyteller that I’d happily hear him out on any subject.” —Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review
441 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 1998
209 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
John Lawton
34 books330 followersJohn Lawton is a producer/director in television who has spent much of his time interpreting the USA to the English, and occasionally vice versa. He has worked with Gore Vidal, Neil Simon, Scott Turow, Noam Chomsky, Fay Weldon, Harold Pinter and Kathy Acker. He thinks he may well be the only TV director ever to be named in a Parliamentary Bill in the British House of Lords as an offender against taste and balance. He has also been denounced from the pulpit in Mississippi as a `Communist,’ but thinks that less remarkable.
He spent most of the 90s in New York – among other things attending the writers’ sessions at The Actors’ Studio under Norman Mailer – and has visited or worked in more than half the 50 states. Since 2000 he has lived in the high, wet hills ofDerbyshire England, with frequent excursions into the high, dry hills of Arizona and Italy.
He is the author of 1963, a social and political history of the Kennedy-Macmillan years, six thrillers in the Troy series and a stand-alone novel, Sweet Sunday.
In 1995 the first Troy novel, Black Out, won the WH Smith Fresh Talent Award. In 2006 Columbia Pictures bought the fourth Troy novel Riptide. In 2007 A Little White Death was a New York Times notable.
In 2008 he was one of only half a dozen living English writers to be named in the London Daily Telegraph‘s `50 Crime Writers to Read before You Die.’ He has also edited the poetry of DH Lawrence and the stories of Joseph Conrad. He is devoted to the work of Franz Schubert, Cormac McCarthy, Art Tatum and Barbara Gowdy. (source: http://www.johnlawtonbooks.com)
He was born in 1949 in England.
He spent most of the 90s in New York – among other things attending the writers’ sessions at The Actors’ Studio under Norman Mailer – and has visited or worked in more than half the 50 states. Since 2000 he has lived in the high, wet hills ofDerbyshire England, with frequent excursions into the high, dry hills of Arizona and Italy.
He is the author of 1963, a social and political history of the Kennedy-Macmillan years, six thrillers in the Troy series and a stand-alone novel, Sweet Sunday.
In 1995 the first Troy novel, Black Out, won the WH Smith Fresh Talent Award. In 2006 Columbia Pictures bought the fourth Troy novel Riptide. In 2007 A Little White Death was a New York Times notable.
In 2008 he was one of only half a dozen living English writers to be named in the London Daily Telegraph‘s `50 Crime Writers to Read before You Die.’ He has also edited the poetry of DH Lawrence and the stories of Joseph Conrad. He is devoted to the work of Franz Schubert, Cormac McCarthy, Art Tatum and Barbara Gowdy. (source: http://www.johnlawtonbooks.com)
He was born in 1949 in England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
October 1, 2025
Enjoyable Book 3 of this series moves the storyline from the WW2 era to Cold War England in 1962. As Inspector Troy is now head of the Detective Bureau at Scotland Yard, and has to deal with a friend who is a Soviet spy, cold war espionage, at least 3 deaths, corrupt politicians, as well as having caught Tuberculosis. That is quite a lot for one book and the book begins with a spy, then shifts to debauchery and a sex trial, and then goes back to spies and corrupt politicos. A 4-star for me because it is a really complicated plot and characters might come and not return for hundreds of pages. Very well written!
April 23, 2018
The 1960s witnesses a social and sexual revolution throughout the western world. England was no exception with the Profumo-Keeler Affair that eventually brought down Harold MacMillan’s Conservative Party and led to the Labour government’s rise to power in 1964. The sexual revolution and the remnants of the Cuban Missile Crisis form the background of John Lawton’s novel A LITTLE WHITE DEATH. The story is the third iteration of his Inspector Troy series set in New York, Moscow, but mostly London. At the outset the reader is drawn to a Manhattan street where Clarissa, a pseudonym for Tosca, or whatever name she chose at the time, who was also the recent spouse of Inspector Frederick Troy of Scotland Yard. Tosca meets Dr. Patrick Fitzgerald, and after a conversation about medical treatment for the American president she asks him to convey a letter to her husband who she has not seen for three years.
Inspector Troy has suffered through a rough patch in the novel. He is exposed to sexual mores that he has never experienced before. He must deal with his close friend and possible member of the Cambridge Five spy ring, Charles Leigh-Hunt, the suicide of his physician and the niece of his former boss and mentor, Stanley Onions, and cope with a medical leave that was caused by a bout with tuberculosis.
Lawton immediately reintroduces Rod Troy, Frederick’s brother, and spokesman for the opposition Labour Party, as they continue to muse over the life of their father who had been a revolutionary in early twentieth century Russia but came to America in 1910 and left them a fortune upon his death. They always wondered if he was a spy or a legitimate businessman. Each would receive a telegram, Rod would be summoned to London as Hugh Gaitskell, ticketed to be the next Prime Minister is near death. Troy receives a missive from Leigh-Hunt who he had not heard from since 1956 to meet him in Beirut.
Lawton offers a realistic portrayal of Beirut in a very pleasant manner. He describes its history, political factions, and the tenuous nature of its government. The author continues his habit of presenting literary references as he has in other novels with the mention of Hemingway, Graves, Greene, and especially Tolstoy who had a relationship with Troy’s grandfather and father. Troy will meet Said Hussein in Beirut who will bring Troy up to snuff about his former “colleague” and possible spy and provide the airline tickets to travel to Moscow. Troy would become the first member of his family to return to Moscow in 58 years. Troy soon learns that Leigh-Hunt has been contacted by Tim Woodbridge, MP, Minister of State, and second in command at the Foreign Office informing him that after seven years the body of a Special Branch officer, Troy had killed in 1957 had turned up. The British government wants Leigh-Hunt to return to England for the first time since the murder. At the same time these conversations were occurring, both gentlemen were being surveilled by the KGB, even as Troy visited Tolstoy’s home.
The second plot centers on a “sexual procurement trial” in London involving Troy’s doctor, Patrick Fitzgerald and MP Time Wooldridge. It seems that Fitzpatrick known as “Fitz” had a “den of iniquity” at his Uphill Manor in Sussex where woman below and above the legal age of sixteen engaged in orgies and other types of amusements with Fitz’s friends. Even Troy visited at one time, which would come back to haunt him later on. Lawton expounds on the wonders of the English social revolution through the dialogue between Troy and Leigh-Hunt. It seems that they believed that World War II had bound society together with shared values, but by 1963 those values were fast changing. The author focuses on the drugs and sex that are beginning to permeate English society as is reflected at Fitz’s Uphill Manor. Woodbridge was not the only important figure to visit Uphill. It seemed that Anton Tereshkov, who Troy remembered as Khrushchev’s “man” during his 1956 visit to London, was a constant visitor and with Troy’s visit to Moscow, the Scotland Yard inspector grew concerned.
Lawton introduces several interesting characters both real and fictitious. The writer, Rebecca West appears and engages Troy in a wonderful conversation, as does Sir Harold Wilson and several historical figures. As to the fictitious ones, Alex Troy, Frederick Troy’s nephew, a reporter for the family owned Sunday Post, the Fifitch sisters, Caro and Tara, residents of Uphill Manor, and keys to the prosecution court case; Clover Browne, a.k.a. Jackie, Stan Onions daughter; Moira Twelvetress, a prostitute who engages the prosecuting attorney at trial in a wonderful argument concerning the correct definition of prostitution, and a number of others.
Troy soon learns that he is being placed on medical leave by his doctor and is placed in a TB sanitorium. Troy’s disease allows Lawton to contemplate the English health system and its relation to politics. It would have been heresy for the brother of the number two man in the Foreign Office to be treated in a private facility, hence Troy was committed to a state institution. Inside, Troy describes medical care and how it reflects the British social class system.
As British tabloids zone in on events at Uphill and the salacious trial of Woodbridge and Fitzgerald, Troy develops a moral conundrum as he had witnessed the mores on display at Uphill, and he wondered if he was out of place, or whether he really wanted to participate. Lawton presents a trial transcript which is funny, demeaning, and sad all at the same time as the different characters are called to testify. The prosecution must prove that the women at Uphill were prostitutes and paying off Fitz which leads to a fascinating array of examination and cross examination at the trial. This along with the incompetence of Inspector Percy Flood of the Scotland Yard Vice Squad makes for an interesting investigation. Lawton’s dialogue makes one wonder if the trial represented “the new England” putting the old on trial since it appeared a social revolution was in the making, or perhaps “old England” was putting the new on trial.
One of the women involved cannot be located and it is feared she was underage when she lived at Uphill. As the trial ends it appears that a double suicide has taken place. On the same day, Fitz, and the women who could not be located by the police commit what appears to be suicide. For Troy, who convinced his life long friend and medical examiner, Dr. Ladislaw Gronkiewicz to declare him fit to return to work after four months in order for the cases be to explored further. Troy was not convinced that the deaths were suicides and he feared his Scotland Yard replacement would not investigate the cases, particularly when one of the victims was Stanley Onions’ granddaughter. This launches Troy on dangerous journey to locate the killer or killers. Where the culprits from inside Scotland Yard, MI5, or politicians who held grudges. To learn who was responsible Troy relies on his masterful use of deductive logic and his refusal to trust those that others might think highly of. At times difficult to follow the logic that Troy employs but by the end of the book the reader and Troy will be on the same page.
The question in my mind as I read on was how did Leigh-Hunt’s situation, the murder/suicides, and other aspects of the plot fit together. Rest assured that they all do in true “Lawton” style. The book itself is advertised as a spy and murder thriller, but in this case, though true, it is also a social commentary on early 1960s England and is enlightening for those who have forgotten what that period in English history was like. For Troy, once the murders were solved, with British politics in an uproar, he had to deal with several suppressed emotions and move on with his life, a decision whose light of day must wait as Lawton’s next book, RIPTIDE (also known as BLUFFING MR. CHURCHILL) is a prequel to the Inspector Troy series.
Inspector Troy has suffered through a rough patch in the novel. He is exposed to sexual mores that he has never experienced before. He must deal with his close friend and possible member of the Cambridge Five spy ring, Charles Leigh-Hunt, the suicide of his physician and the niece of his former boss and mentor, Stanley Onions, and cope with a medical leave that was caused by a bout with tuberculosis.
Lawton immediately reintroduces Rod Troy, Frederick’s brother, and spokesman for the opposition Labour Party, as they continue to muse over the life of their father who had been a revolutionary in early twentieth century Russia but came to America in 1910 and left them a fortune upon his death. They always wondered if he was a spy or a legitimate businessman. Each would receive a telegram, Rod would be summoned to London as Hugh Gaitskell, ticketed to be the next Prime Minister is near death. Troy receives a missive from Leigh-Hunt who he had not heard from since 1956 to meet him in Beirut.
Lawton offers a realistic portrayal of Beirut in a very pleasant manner. He describes its history, political factions, and the tenuous nature of its government. The author continues his habit of presenting literary references as he has in other novels with the mention of Hemingway, Graves, Greene, and especially Tolstoy who had a relationship with Troy’s grandfather and father. Troy will meet Said Hussein in Beirut who will bring Troy up to snuff about his former “colleague” and possible spy and provide the airline tickets to travel to Moscow. Troy would become the first member of his family to return to Moscow in 58 years. Troy soon learns that Leigh-Hunt has been contacted by Tim Woodbridge, MP, Minister of State, and second in command at the Foreign Office informing him that after seven years the body of a Special Branch officer, Troy had killed in 1957 had turned up. The British government wants Leigh-Hunt to return to England for the first time since the murder. At the same time these conversations were occurring, both gentlemen were being surveilled by the KGB, even as Troy visited Tolstoy’s home.
The second plot centers on a “sexual procurement trial” in London involving Troy’s doctor, Patrick Fitzgerald and MP Time Wooldridge. It seems that Fitzpatrick known as “Fitz” had a “den of iniquity” at his Uphill Manor in Sussex where woman below and above the legal age of sixteen engaged in orgies and other types of amusements with Fitz’s friends. Even Troy visited at one time, which would come back to haunt him later on. Lawton expounds on the wonders of the English social revolution through the dialogue between Troy and Leigh-Hunt. It seems that they believed that World War II had bound society together with shared values, but by 1963 those values were fast changing. The author focuses on the drugs and sex that are beginning to permeate English society as is reflected at Fitz’s Uphill Manor. Woodbridge was not the only important figure to visit Uphill. It seemed that Anton Tereshkov, who Troy remembered as Khrushchev’s “man” during his 1956 visit to London, was a constant visitor and with Troy’s visit to Moscow, the Scotland Yard inspector grew concerned.
Lawton introduces several interesting characters both real and fictitious. The writer, Rebecca West appears and engages Troy in a wonderful conversation, as does Sir Harold Wilson and several historical figures. As to the fictitious ones, Alex Troy, Frederick Troy’s nephew, a reporter for the family owned Sunday Post, the Fifitch sisters, Caro and Tara, residents of Uphill Manor, and keys to the prosecution court case; Clover Browne, a.k.a. Jackie, Stan Onions daughter; Moira Twelvetress, a prostitute who engages the prosecuting attorney at trial in a wonderful argument concerning the correct definition of prostitution, and a number of others.
Troy soon learns that he is being placed on medical leave by his doctor and is placed in a TB sanitorium. Troy’s disease allows Lawton to contemplate the English health system and its relation to politics. It would have been heresy for the brother of the number two man in the Foreign Office to be treated in a private facility, hence Troy was committed to a state institution. Inside, Troy describes medical care and how it reflects the British social class system.
As British tabloids zone in on events at Uphill and the salacious trial of Woodbridge and Fitzgerald, Troy develops a moral conundrum as he had witnessed the mores on display at Uphill, and he wondered if he was out of place, or whether he really wanted to participate. Lawton presents a trial transcript which is funny, demeaning, and sad all at the same time as the different characters are called to testify. The prosecution must prove that the women at Uphill were prostitutes and paying off Fitz which leads to a fascinating array of examination and cross examination at the trial. This along with the incompetence of Inspector Percy Flood of the Scotland Yard Vice Squad makes for an interesting investigation. Lawton’s dialogue makes one wonder if the trial represented “the new England” putting the old on trial since it appeared a social revolution was in the making, or perhaps “old England” was putting the new on trial.
One of the women involved cannot be located and it is feared she was underage when she lived at Uphill. As the trial ends it appears that a double suicide has taken place. On the same day, Fitz, and the women who could not be located by the police commit what appears to be suicide. For Troy, who convinced his life long friend and medical examiner, Dr. Ladislaw Gronkiewicz to declare him fit to return to work after four months in order for the cases be to explored further. Troy was not convinced that the deaths were suicides and he feared his Scotland Yard replacement would not investigate the cases, particularly when one of the victims was Stanley Onions’ granddaughter. This launches Troy on dangerous journey to locate the killer or killers. Where the culprits from inside Scotland Yard, MI5, or politicians who held grudges. To learn who was responsible Troy relies on his masterful use of deductive logic and his refusal to trust those that others might think highly of. At times difficult to follow the logic that Troy employs but by the end of the book the reader and Troy will be on the same page.
The question in my mind as I read on was how did Leigh-Hunt’s situation, the murder/suicides, and other aspects of the plot fit together. Rest assured that they all do in true “Lawton” style. The book itself is advertised as a spy and murder thriller, but in this case, though true, it is also a social commentary on early 1960s England and is enlightening for those who have forgotten what that period in English history was like. For Troy, once the murders were solved, with British politics in an uproar, he had to deal with several suppressed emotions and move on with his life, a decision whose light of day must wait as Lawton’s next book, RIPTIDE (also known as BLUFFING MR. CHURCHILL) is a prequel to the Inspector Troy series.
July 6, 2013
I love the Frederick Troy series of novels (and they are proper novels): so vividly realised is the social history of England through these unconventional murder mysteries. The writing is deft and subtle, the characters interesting and fully rounded. Troy himself is real enough that I sometimes find myself wondering what he would say to his creator if he met him, so often is he injured, wounded and generally made a victim of extreme ill health. Poor Troy: Lawton really does have it in for him in this one.
This one is set in 1963, and, at least at first, closely follows the story of the Kilby defection and the Profumo affair, though Lawton, in his afterword, emphatically denies that he has written a roman a clef; indeed, towards the end of the novel, the 'Profumo' character refers to a year of scandals, including his own as well as that of Profumo: cheeky!
Lawton is a master of the set piece: the weekend at the aristocratic country house (Uphill, which is obviously NOT Cliveden etc.), a visit to Moscow; and the sex is as surprising as ever. I have to admit that I'm not so keen on Troy's sometimes rather questionable choice of sexual partners, another characteristic of the series, but I do share Lawton's pleasure in the addition of a little grit in the oyster in the form of the sometimes rather vulgar diction in the mouths of the most sophisticated people.
The wittiest element, though, I think, is Lawton's use of anachronism: characters are made to seem amazingly prescient in their opinions with the benefit of the author's hindsight: predictions about the political future, or judgements of the character of, say, Harold Wilson, are (as we now know!) spot on. This is delicious.
If you've read Troy before, all your favourite characters appear and you're sure to enjoy this as a classic of the genre; if this is your first, I hope you come to love Troy as much as I do, and welcome to the club!
My one slight cavil with the whole series is the difficulty I've had in reading them in the proper sequence: they seem to have been written - or at least published - out of chronological order. But of course that just gives me the perfect excuse to read them all again, in the right order this time.
Oh, I nearly forgot: the murders and their solutions are, indeed, ingenious!
This one is set in 1963, and, at least at first, closely follows the story of the Kilby defection and the Profumo affair, though Lawton, in his afterword, emphatically denies that he has written a roman a clef; indeed, towards the end of the novel, the 'Profumo' character refers to a year of scandals, including his own as well as that of Profumo: cheeky!
Lawton is a master of the set piece: the weekend at the aristocratic country house (Uphill, which is obviously NOT Cliveden etc.), a visit to Moscow; and the sex is as surprising as ever. I have to admit that I'm not so keen on Troy's sometimes rather questionable choice of sexual partners, another characteristic of the series, but I do share Lawton's pleasure in the addition of a little grit in the oyster in the form of the sometimes rather vulgar diction in the mouths of the most sophisticated people.
The wittiest element, though, I think, is Lawton's use of anachronism: characters are made to seem amazingly prescient in their opinions with the benefit of the author's hindsight: predictions about the political future, or judgements of the character of, say, Harold Wilson, are (as we now know!) spot on. This is delicious.
If you've read Troy before, all your favourite characters appear and you're sure to enjoy this as a classic of the genre; if this is your first, I hope you come to love Troy as much as I do, and welcome to the club!
My one slight cavil with the whole series is the difficulty I've had in reading them in the proper sequence: they seem to have been written - or at least published - out of chronological order. But of course that just gives me the perfect excuse to read them all again, in the right order this time.
Oh, I nearly forgot: the murders and their solutions are, indeed, ingenious!
December 20, 2018
Nineteen sixty-three, think the Profumo affair, Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies, the death of Stephen Ward, Kim Philby defecting to Russia, a Member of Parliament deceiving the House, the downfall of a government and you have the essence of this novel, particularly in its early stages.
All those characters and events are depicted through the invented characters of the tale and 'A Little White Death' does, therefore, start promisingly with Commander Freddie Troy of Scotland Yard the key character.
Thereafter, an excellent picture of the society of England in 1963 with its focus on the cold war, spying and social and sexual revolution is vividly painted but the storyline, despite the occasional sensational element, fails to keep up its high intensity.
Yes, there is sex, drugs and murder and as Troy investigates he is drawn into various tricky situations and meets with various scandals, lies and deceit at every turn, attempts on his life and also has difficult times with his brother Rod, who is a Member of Parliament and therefore firmly attached to the establishment. In so doing, as the author weaves his tale, the reader comes across many true life characters such as Harold Wilson and George Brown, who intermingle with his own well constructed fictional characters.
'A Little White Death' is rather like the curate's egg - good in parts - but for me it too often wanders off into humdrum pedestrian mode and therefore one tends to lose interest to a degree. But, as I mentioned, it does capture moments in time of 1963 England and for that alone it has some appeal.
All those characters and events are depicted through the invented characters of the tale and 'A Little White Death' does, therefore, start promisingly with Commander Freddie Troy of Scotland Yard the key character.
Thereafter, an excellent picture of the society of England in 1963 with its focus on the cold war, spying and social and sexual revolution is vividly painted but the storyline, despite the occasional sensational element, fails to keep up its high intensity.
Yes, there is sex, drugs and murder and as Troy investigates he is drawn into various tricky situations and meets with various scandals, lies and deceit at every turn, attempts on his life and also has difficult times with his brother Rod, who is a Member of Parliament and therefore firmly attached to the establishment. In so doing, as the author weaves his tale, the reader comes across many true life characters such as Harold Wilson and George Brown, who intermingle with his own well constructed fictional characters.
'A Little White Death' is rather like the curate's egg - good in parts - but for me it too often wanders off into humdrum pedestrian mode and therefore one tends to lose interest to a degree. But, as I mentioned, it does capture moments in time of 1963 England and for that alone it has some appeal.
March 19, 2023
Contained everything including the kitchen sink... just to broad of an approach for me... too much going on that was peripheral to the main plot. For me this made the book drag - especially in the beginning. It appears this is becoming Mr. Lawton's modus operandai. If so, I'll be moving on as it's not my cup of tea.
August 6, 2018
A Little White Death is the third book in the Inspector Troy series. While the first was set in 1944, near the start of Troy’s career, and the second in 1956, this outing takes place in 1963. Despite various career set-backs, Troy has risen to head of CID at Scotland Yard. He’s still as head-strong and reckless as ever, willing to take risks that others would think foolhardy. This includes continuing a friendship with a known Russian spy, even following him to Moscow, and attending retreats organized by a well-connected doctor where ministers, lords, and the head of KGB at the Soviet embassy party with young girls. With echoes of Kim Philby’s defection and the Profumo Affair, Lawton tells the tale of Troy’s entanglements with the various actors and his attempt to battle illness, police politics, and the Establishment to protect those being stitched-up in the aftermath of scandal and discover who murdered two key players. It’s an ambitious, sprawling story with a number of intersecting plot-lines, which Lawton weaves nicely together, and there is nice intertextual references to events and personalities of the time. As ever, his voice is a delight to read and there is plenty of interesting asides, intrigue, and twists and turns. Troy is an interesting lead with a devil-may-care attitude, though his actions when asked to protect his old boss’ granddaughter did feel somewhat out-of-character, and the other actors are well-penned. The tale only works if one suspends disbelief that Troy would be already personally embedded in all the various networks, with the power to pull strings with the Establishment and to lead an investigation he has a conflict of interest in running, but Lawton does a good job of executing those sleights of hand. The result is an engaging, thoughtful read about spies, sex, scandal and suicide in 1960s Britain.
May 14, 2020
This book is a total mess!
Firstly, the editing is a mess: I read the Kindle edition and the incredible amount of typos and spelling mistakes was simply irritating.
Then the book in itself....the story makes no sense whatsoever, it meanders for more than 400 pages without any sense of direction; just to give an idea of how disjointed this is:
page 1-70: a promising start, a lot of espionage stuff, the defection of a British spy to the USSR, etc
page 70- 120: the promising lead is abandoned abruptly; change of setting: human interest piece in the UK context of 1963, with political/sexual intrigues (inspired by the Profumo scandal) against a socio-cultural background dominated by miniskirts and the Beatles
page 120-170: Troy's sick leave interlude, the political/sexual intrigues blast on the tabloids and end up in court; there are bits and pieces of courtroom drama but not thrilling enough to look like a legal thriller....
page 170-350: Troy goes back to work to investigate two presumed murders from the political/sexual intrigues
page 350-end (440): here the author attempts to bring everything home, by trying to connect the dots he disseminated all along the book (espionage, sex scandals, political intrigues, murders)....but they are just too many, and I struggled a lot to get my head around the plot developments. Here you will find finally the solution to the mystery of the two murders: one is quite logical, almost linear hence boring. The other one is instead a glorious rabbit from the hat....murder and motive completely out of the blue, and how the heroic Troy could discover this is nothing but magical. In fact the only real mystery of the book is how the phenomenal Troy manages to uncover so many secrets...the linkages are totally obscure to me...
In essence, an excruciating read....many reviews suggest you need to read all books of the series in sequence; my advise is, you need not to inflict yourself such pain, I read just Old Flames (which was less painful) before this and I can tell you that was more than enough....good bye mr Lawton!
Firstly, the editing is a mess: I read the Kindle edition and the incredible amount of typos and spelling mistakes was simply irritating.
Then the book in itself....the story makes no sense whatsoever, it meanders for more than 400 pages without any sense of direction; just to give an idea of how disjointed this is:
page 1-70: a promising start, a lot of espionage stuff, the defection of a British spy to the USSR, etc
page 70- 120: the promising lead is abandoned abruptly; change of setting: human interest piece in the UK context of 1963, with political/sexual intrigues (inspired by the Profumo scandal) against a socio-cultural background dominated by miniskirts and the Beatles
page 120-170: Troy's sick leave interlude, the political/sexual intrigues blast on the tabloids and end up in court; there are bits and pieces of courtroom drama but not thrilling enough to look like a legal thriller....
page 170-350: Troy goes back to work to investigate two presumed murders from the political/sexual intrigues
page 350-end (440): here the author attempts to bring everything home, by trying to connect the dots he disseminated all along the book (espionage, sex scandals, political intrigues, murders)....but they are just too many, and I struggled a lot to get my head around the plot developments. Here you will find finally the solution to the mystery of the two murders: one is quite logical, almost linear hence boring. The other one is instead a glorious rabbit from the hat....murder and motive completely out of the blue, and how the heroic Troy could discover this is nothing but magical. In fact the only real mystery of the book is how the phenomenal Troy manages to uncover so many secrets...the linkages are totally obscure to me...
In essence, an excruciating read....many reviews suggest you need to read all books of the series in sequence; my advise is, you need not to inflict yourself such pain, I read just Old Flames (which was less painful) before this and I can tell you that was more than enough....good bye mr Lawton!
January 15, 2013
I have had this on my bookshelf for over ten years without reading it. I can't see how I overlooked it. Most of the book was excellent with a good feel for the period - 1963 and the Profumo affair, Mandrax, amphetamines and the Beatles. The title refers to tuberculosis which Troy contracts in Moscow - the drug resistant form so common in Russian jails, otherwise known as 'Krushchev 'Flu'. I found the ending dragged a bit as various individuals reflected upon the times and loose end were closed. 1963 feels like the 'end' of Troy - that there would be no novels set at a later date.
October 23, 2019
Ostensibly A Little White Death is a police procedural, the third in the Inspector Troy series. But this book is that and so much more. Taking place in London in 1963 and loosely based on some incidents that actually took place there, this story is also an insight into the changing face of England both socially and politically, a bit of international intrigue, a sex scandal, and corruption.
John Lawton gives the reader great bang for his/her reading buck; the plot is meaty and mature. There's no rushing through paragraphs or pages because you'll miss a detail essential to the understanding of the intricate plot.
John Lawton gives the reader great bang for his/her reading buck; the plot is meaty and mature. There's no rushing through paragraphs or pages because you'll miss a detail essential to the understanding of the intricate plot.
July 7, 2014
A LITTLE WHITE DEATH is set in 1963-64 (yea, the Beatles!) and offers a plot loosely based on the Profumo Affair and the Kim Philby spy scandal. Of course, there are murders to solve. Frederick Troy is 48, now Commander of Scotland Yard's CID, but he still is sometimes referred to as “Alex Troy’s boy” (p10). Sidelined by a surprise case of tuberculosis, Commander Troy spends his sick time “listening out for England going ‘boom’” (p186), meaning the imagined sound of the up-and-coming, war-babies generation separating from the “my-war” storytellers like sections of a solid-fuel rocket coming apart. These are the years when “the hitherto time-honoured entitlement to respect-regardless-of-worth [is] ditched” (p346) and our cynical jazz-loving, pig-raising “toff” begins to feel like a relic of another era. An old pal rightly tells Troy that he was “born old” and “earth-weary from the first day” (p264). Forced out of convalescence, Troy depends on the little white pills to sleep and the little yellow pills to kick-start his body and brain. In A LITTLE WHITE DEATH, our series hero is struggling to reinvigorate and redefine himself while moving away from life among the dead.
I’ve never much cared for books that, at about Page 400, do a Poirot-like summing of all of the particulars and the suspects in a case and explicate “whodunnit” and why. Too often, if you look at the details of the big revelation, the reader has been misled about or denied key information, which makes the conclusion less a mystery than a sleight-of-hand stunt. That’s a rare flaw in A LITTLE WHITE DEATH, and it seems as symptomatic as the hero’s T.B. that the series’ narrative is not as robust as it once was.
I’ve never much cared for books that, at about Page 400, do a Poirot-like summing of all of the particulars and the suspects in a case and explicate “whodunnit” and why. Too often, if you look at the details of the big revelation, the reader has been misled about or denied key information, which makes the conclusion less a mystery than a sleight-of-hand stunt. That’s a rare flaw in A LITTLE WHITE DEATH, and it seems as symptomatic as the hero’s T.B. that the series’ narrative is not as robust as it once was.
December 20, 2018
This was a REALLY long slog. I came close to stopping a few times. There were long passages where it seemed like not a lot happened. It took a great deal of time before things got to any kind of point. I am not a prude, but there was a LOT of sex in this book. I guess that happens, but it was a little shocking at times. There is surely more to life, after all?
Anyway...there was a fairly decent mystery, after a while. I had to work up any real sympathy for any of the characters. Very few of them were likable, at all. Almost no one in the book had anything resembling any kind of moral compass. This book is based on a true story, although it has been fictionalized and many/most of the facts altered. The writing itself was fine. There were quite a few minor typos in the ebook version I read - such as YOU, instead of YOUR, and that kind of thing. It did not really detract from the overall story, but that kind of thing is always disappointing.
Anyway...there was a fairly decent mystery, after a while. I had to work up any real sympathy for any of the characters. Very few of them were likable, at all. Almost no one in the book had anything resembling any kind of moral compass. This book is based on a true story, although it has been fictionalized and many/most of the facts altered. The writing itself was fine. There were quite a few minor typos in the ebook version I read - such as YOU, instead of YOUR, and that kind of thing. It did not really detract from the overall story, but that kind of thing is always disappointing.
October 15, 2010
Mr. Lawton comes up with excellent story lines but when it comes to the women in his books - well, it is best just to ignore them. Either Mr. Lawton has a very poor opinion of women or he knows nothing about them. So, if you read this story - focus on the great story line and ignore the poor characterization when it comes to the women involved with the story.
August 7, 2014
I like John Lawton and thought that "Now We Take Berlin" was an excellent spy novel. However, I can't say the same thing for this book. At his best, Lawton is wordy, but in this book it gets out of control. For most of the this book of over 400 pages, the action is slow moving with too much fat on the narrative meat. It's only in the last hundred pages or so that things pick up.
August 23, 2025
This review is based on my fourth reading of the book. I’ll try to write part of it as if I had only read the first and second books before this one, while also including comments that reflect its place within the entire series.
My first observation is that, although I initially thought it would be hard to top the second book, this one, while quite different, was just as impressive. It felt very much like the third book in a trilogy (if you haven't already, check out the author’s recent interview with Mike Ripley, it's easy to find online). In fact, the book gives a strong sense of closure to the story, Troy’s retirement, for instance, though a few threads are left unresolved (such as what happened to Charlie, or the future of Troy and Tosca’s relationship).
Fortunately, the author later returned to explore earlier events in the timeline (again, see the previous mentioned interview for an explanation), expanding the universe beyond the scope of these first three books. In my opinion, continuing the story beyond this point would have required introducing new characters, something the author successfully did later on, especially with the Wilderness series and its eventual connection to the Troy books.
I also reread this book as the final one, chronologically, among the “Troy” novels, paying close attention to how it reflects on the past. Although there are a few minor inconsistencies, it is impressive how well the author integrates and foreshadows events that are depicted in books written later. Although the author revisits many past events in subsequent books, there’s still a sense that more remains untold—particularly regarding Troy’s father, his uncle, and the true nature of their past history.
Note also that reading this book might spoil part of the ending of the 1959 novel, Blue Rondo, about the Ryan brothers. One can't help but wonder if John Lawton would have been so specific had he known he'd later go on to write that story. However, this does not diminish the enjoyment or narrative strength of the 1959 novel
The preface already reflects some of the points I mentioned earlier. We find out what happened to Tosca, or at least where she ended up, after her disappearance in Old Flames. In the end, Troy reunites with her, but the book leaves their future relationship uncertain.
This book is structured in several parts, some continuing events from the previous novel, and others introducing new elements, particularly those that set the historical and political context of England in 1963.
The first section, set primarily in Beirut and Moscow, opens with an extended conversation between the two brothers, Rod and Troy, which soon shifts to focus on their enigmatic father. Also, a mystery concerning their father, originally hinted at in Blackout, is touched upon again here, with Charlie playing a key role in its partial revelation (though it remains unclear whether it’s fully resolved).
This section of the novel leans heavily into the spy genre, revisiting the fate of Charlie following the events of Old Flames. While many pending questions are eventually answered by the end, some details remain obscure even after the end.
The story then shifts back to England, and while the rest of the book—though still fairly lengthy—might seem slower at first, I believe it continues to be very compelling. The chapter centered around the "party" in Uphill highlights John Lawton's skill in storytelling through subtle clues (I noticed at least two) that help guide Troy toward uncovering later events.
John Lawton's stories often place Troy in unexpected situations with female characters, as shown in this book by the consequences of his encounter with his former boss, Stan.
Then there are the two suspicious suicides. The investigation into these deaths, with its gradual uncovering of the truth, including a political conspiracy and a supposed spy plot, reminds me of the methodical unraveling of Cockerel’s scam in the previous book. It showcases Lawton's skill in crafting a complex narrative with twists and unexpected turns. In my opinion, this is one of those parts in Troy’s books where multiple readings are especially rewarding (or even necessary).
To be fair, one could criticize the coincidental comment in a conversation between two characters that proves crucial to solving one of the suspicious suicides. However, the remark is delivered so subtly that it's not immediately clear to the reader how it contributes to the case. Even in the following pages, once it's apparent that Troy has figured it out, the reader is still left wondering what exactly led him to that understanding.
The story ends on a bleak note: Troy is retired, unable to do what he does best, and alone. One former lover chooses another man over him, a potential relationship with another past lover remains unresolved, and the future of his relationship with his wife, Tosca, following their final meeting after a long separation, remains uncertain.
My first observation is that, although I initially thought it would be hard to top the second book, this one, while quite different, was just as impressive. It felt very much like the third book in a trilogy (if you haven't already, check out the author’s recent interview with Mike Ripley, it's easy to find online). In fact, the book gives a strong sense of closure to the story, Troy’s retirement, for instance, though a few threads are left unresolved (such as what happened to Charlie, or the future of Troy and Tosca’s relationship).
Fortunately, the author later returned to explore earlier events in the timeline (again, see the previous mentioned interview for an explanation), expanding the universe beyond the scope of these first three books. In my opinion, continuing the story beyond this point would have required introducing new characters, something the author successfully did later on, especially with the Wilderness series and its eventual connection to the Troy books.
I also reread this book as the final one, chronologically, among the “Troy” novels, paying close attention to how it reflects on the past. Although there are a few minor inconsistencies, it is impressive how well the author integrates and foreshadows events that are depicted in books written later. Although the author revisits many past events in subsequent books, there’s still a sense that more remains untold—particularly regarding Troy’s father, his uncle, and the true nature of their past history.
Note also that reading this book might spoil part of the ending of the 1959 novel, Blue Rondo, about the Ryan brothers. One can't help but wonder if John Lawton would have been so specific had he known he'd later go on to write that story. However, this does not diminish the enjoyment or narrative strength of the 1959 novel
The preface already reflects some of the points I mentioned earlier. We find out what happened to Tosca, or at least where she ended up, after her disappearance in Old Flames. In the end, Troy reunites with her, but the book leaves their future relationship uncertain.
This book is structured in several parts, some continuing events from the previous novel, and others introducing new elements, particularly those that set the historical and political context of England in 1963.
The first section, set primarily in Beirut and Moscow, opens with an extended conversation between the two brothers, Rod and Troy, which soon shifts to focus on their enigmatic father. Also, a mystery concerning their father, originally hinted at in Blackout, is touched upon again here, with Charlie playing a key role in its partial revelation (though it remains unclear whether it’s fully resolved).
This section of the novel leans heavily into the spy genre, revisiting the fate of Charlie following the events of Old Flames. While many pending questions are eventually answered by the end, some details remain obscure even after the end.
The story then shifts back to England, and while the rest of the book—though still fairly lengthy—might seem slower at first, I believe it continues to be very compelling. The chapter centered around the "party" in Uphill highlights John Lawton's skill in storytelling through subtle clues (I noticed at least two) that help guide Troy toward uncovering later events.
John Lawton's stories often place Troy in unexpected situations with female characters, as shown in this book by the consequences of his encounter with his former boss, Stan.
Then there are the two suspicious suicides. The investigation into these deaths, with its gradual uncovering of the truth, including a political conspiracy and a supposed spy plot, reminds me of the methodical unraveling of Cockerel’s scam in the previous book. It showcases Lawton's skill in crafting a complex narrative with twists and unexpected turns. In my opinion, this is one of those parts in Troy’s books where multiple readings are especially rewarding (or even necessary).
To be fair, one could criticize the coincidental comment in a conversation between two characters that proves crucial to solving one of the suspicious suicides. However, the remark is delivered so subtly that it's not immediately clear to the reader how it contributes to the case. Even in the following pages, once it's apparent that Troy has figured it out, the reader is still left wondering what exactly led him to that understanding.
The story ends on a bleak note: Troy is retired, unable to do what he does best, and alone. One former lover chooses another man over him, a potential relationship with another past lover remains unresolved, and the future of his relationship with his wife, Tosca, following their final meeting after a long separation, remains uncertain.
July 8, 2022
A Little White Death by John Lawton is the 3rd book of the Frederick Troy mystery series, set in England and (briefly) in Beirut, Russia, New York City. I love the beginning lines: When the snow lay round about. Deep. And crisp. And even. England stopped.
This chunkster tale meanders about, incorporating many plots, akin to stringing 'beads' of anecdotes. Troy abruptly departs for Beirut, then Moscow, when summoned by a desperate former (schoolmate? pal?). His brief stay in dreary Moscow isn't followed up for quite some time...
Although he's now a Commander (high up) in Scotland Yard, for the first part (half?) of the book, he never seems to go to work, or think of it. For six months, he whiles away his time at jazz clubs and country houses with anything-goes sex. Then he's suddenly, unexpectedly stricken with disease, quarantined another six months.
After he returns from the sanatorium, he first tries to convalesce at home, but is called back to work (finally!) by conscientious colleagues. He's got murders to solve. The Yard prefers to write off the deaths as suicides, but Troy knows better. It's a really tough uphill struggle to gain evidence, with plenty of resistance.
So much espionage, so much politics - probably meaningful to someone who lived in England in the 1960s (a bit gibberish to me). Eventually Troy solves all the mysteries, puts the right amount of pressure on guilty parties to "take them out" (either by suicide or resigning from government). He too resigns from The Yard...in just a few days is bored, seeks previous lovers.
I'm sure this would be far more interesting to someone who lived in England in the early 1960s. A theme throughout is "the end of an era" (the World Wars), and "England about to go Boom!".
Fascinating (for me) that it ends shortly after midnight on November 22, 1963.
This chunkster tale meanders about, incorporating many plots, akin to stringing 'beads' of anecdotes. Troy abruptly departs for Beirut, then Moscow, when summoned by a desperate former (schoolmate? pal?). His brief stay in dreary Moscow isn't followed up for quite some time...
Although he's now a Commander (high up) in Scotland Yard, for the first part (half?) of the book, he never seems to go to work, or think of it. For six months, he whiles away his time at jazz clubs and country houses with anything-goes sex. Then he's suddenly, unexpectedly stricken with disease, quarantined another six months.
After he returns from the sanatorium, he first tries to convalesce at home, but is called back to work (finally!) by conscientious colleagues. He's got murders to solve. The Yard prefers to write off the deaths as suicides, but Troy knows better. It's a really tough uphill struggle to gain evidence, with plenty of resistance.
So much espionage, so much politics - probably meaningful to someone who lived in England in the 1960s (a bit gibberish to me). Eventually Troy solves all the mysteries, puts the right amount of pressure on guilty parties to "take them out" (either by suicide or resigning from government). He too resigns from The Yard...in just a few days is bored, seeks previous lovers.
I'm sure this would be far more interesting to someone who lived in England in the early 1960s. A theme throughout is "the end of an era" (the World Wars), and "England about to go Boom!".
Fascinating (for me) that it ends shortly after midnight on November 22, 1963.
April 26, 2024
The Profumo Affair in the British Parliament of 1963 also made enduring headlines in Australia as the case came to court and marked the swift decay of the Macmillan ‘You never had it so good’ government. It was a sexually titivating scandal involving a government minister and the possibility of even more penetration of the Foreign Office and the Secret Service after the defections of Philly and McLean to the USSR. Lawton’s fictional account explores the various attempts to cover up before the press exposed the sexual adventures of those upperclass Lords, ministers and Harley Street society doctors with their fun girls less than half their age and the occasional Russian spy. It should be no surprise that if it were a film, it would be R rated.
The third person narrative is from the point of view of Freddie Troy, a commander in the special branch of Scotland Yard and in the tradition of police fiction, an experienced policeman with a few skeletons on his closet. Of coursed his uptight, knighted Commissioner is opposed to further investigation once the usual suspects are found and Troy battles on through complications and twists in the plot that move the reading along as swiftly as you like. Troy is an anti-hero, deeply involved in the sexual events of his friends and contacts but there is a serious strain here concerning the manipulation of justice by those who have the power to do that.
An enjoyable factor is that Lawton is very well read as well as being politically and socially aware: his references range from Cymbeline to Yeats and I wonder whether he was thinking of Thomas Hardy’s Trumpet Major when he named Troy. It is a thoroughly entertaining story and I found that it’s book 3 in a series featuring Troy, so next time I want some light relief, I’ll look out for book 1 which is Black Out.
The third person narrative is from the point of view of Freddie Troy, a commander in the special branch of Scotland Yard and in the tradition of police fiction, an experienced policeman with a few skeletons on his closet. Of coursed his uptight, knighted Commissioner is opposed to further investigation once the usual suspects are found and Troy battles on through complications and twists in the plot that move the reading along as swiftly as you like. Troy is an anti-hero, deeply involved in the sexual events of his friends and contacts but there is a serious strain here concerning the manipulation of justice by those who have the power to do that.
An enjoyable factor is that Lawton is very well read as well as being politically and socially aware: his references range from Cymbeline to Yeats and I wonder whether he was thinking of Thomas Hardy’s Trumpet Major when he named Troy. It is a thoroughly entertaining story and I found that it’s book 3 in a series featuring Troy, so next time I want some light relief, I’ll look out for book 1 which is Black Out.
July 30, 2024
Commander Troy is Scotland Yard's most senior detective. England is in turmoil, roiled by several political scandals that appear set to imminently bring down the current Conservative government. At the outset, Troy is summoned to see an old friend, Charlie, a reporter in Beirut - a man who the government several years ago had been forced to deny was a spy. When Troy arrives in Beirut he finds Charlie boarded a ship to Russia, and Troy must follow him there. It transpires the government had been wrong, Charlie was a spy after all and he's defected.
Back in England, Troy gets drawn into a case where an old friend, Patrick Fitzpatrick, is on trial for living off ill-gotten gains. Two teenage women were staying at his country pile and sleeping with men for money. It seems that some of these men were in positions of power and they wanted Fitzpatrick dead, because all too soon Fitzpatrick appears to have committed suicide - but Troy doesn't believe it.
Troy investigates, being dragged into a cat and mouse game with spies - both Russian and British - and politicians, all trying to cover their backsides, while Troy's own colleagues and bosses attempting to stop him...
Set in 1963, this historical crime thriller makes a highly interesting read. It's atmospheric, and seemingly very true to the era (I'm making an assumption, it's a few years before I was even born!). The characters are well drawn and the plot intriguing. In general the story, which tends towards dialogue (which I prefer), clips along. The middle third slows somewhat (Troy becomes ill and is put on extended sick leave), although the first and final sections are pacy and good fun. The dialogue is racy, there's plenty of swearing, along with a few phrases of the time.
Overall, an enjoyable and different read worthy of 4.5 / 5.0.
Back in England, Troy gets drawn into a case where an old friend, Patrick Fitzpatrick, is on trial for living off ill-gotten gains. Two teenage women were staying at his country pile and sleeping with men for money. It seems that some of these men were in positions of power and they wanted Fitzpatrick dead, because all too soon Fitzpatrick appears to have committed suicide - but Troy doesn't believe it.
Troy investigates, being dragged into a cat and mouse game with spies - both Russian and British - and politicians, all trying to cover their backsides, while Troy's own colleagues and bosses attempting to stop him...
Set in 1963, this historical crime thriller makes a highly interesting read. It's atmospheric, and seemingly very true to the era (I'm making an assumption, it's a few years before I was even born!). The characters are well drawn and the plot intriguing. In general the story, which tends towards dialogue (which I prefer), clips along. The middle third slows somewhat (Troy becomes ill and is put on extended sick leave), although the first and final sections are pacy and good fun. The dialogue is racy, there's plenty of swearing, along with a few phrases of the time.
Overall, an enjoyable and different read worthy of 4.5 / 5.0.
August 27, 2018
John Lawton writes good stories, and I mean that as high praise. Too many authors can't write all that well, including some very successful ones. A Little White Death had more sex than I'd expected, and the story wasn't quite what I'd come to expect from other books of his I'd read. Even so, the story flows so well, and the characters are relatable, even though I have virtually nothing in common with most of them.
Mr. Lawton doesn't follow a linear timeline from book to book. In this book, Troy has reached very high rank, now serving as the top detective at Scotland Yard. His drive and skills got him there, but he's more concerned about justice than politics, a dangerous approach for someone at that level. He's also a flawed hero, refreshing in these days of too many superhero-protagonists. Instead, Troy is human, subject to human failings. So this smart, skillful detective also is capable of doing things that we wish he wouldn't. Again, that makes for a better story.
I very much enjoyed A Little White Death, and I look forward to catching up on the John Lawton books I've missed!
Mr. Lawton doesn't follow a linear timeline from book to book. In this book, Troy has reached very high rank, now serving as the top detective at Scotland Yard. His drive and skills got him there, but he's more concerned about justice than politics, a dangerous approach for someone at that level. He's also a flawed hero, refreshing in these days of too many superhero-protagonists. Instead, Troy is human, subject to human failings. So this smart, skillful detective also is capable of doing things that we wish he wouldn't. Again, that makes for a better story.
I very much enjoyed A Little White Death, and I look forward to catching up on the John Lawton books I've missed!
June 29, 2021
Third in the Inspector Troy series and now set in 1963 with intrigue in the British Parliament involving Inspector Troy of course. Interesting and well-written book. I would give it 5 stars if it hadn't been quite so long and so obsessed with every little detail. Some of those details were interesting though. I remember seeing "Beyond the Fringe" in NYC and enjoyed how he works things like that, and the Beatles, into the novel although they do increase the length. I never knew John Kennedy had Addison's disease, had to look it up to make sure it was truth. Many famous names were dropped along with the fictitious ones. The plot was full of red herring and a bit hard to follow with so many sexual encounters mixed in, not sure why they were necessary.
I found the ending where Tosca carved their initials and date into the window glass with her diamond so they didn't forget and then Troy saying otherwise Nov. 22, 1963 would not be remembered to be an insult to the reader's intelligence. Still, I will continue reading the series.
I found the ending where Tosca carved their initials and date into the window glass with her diamond so they didn't forget and then Troy saying otherwise Nov. 22, 1963 would not be remembered to be an insult to the reader's intelligence. Still, I will continue reading the series.
January 26, 2020
England in 1963 is the background for the Inspector Troy novel "A Little White Death." A government minister is embroiled in a scandal involving having sexual relations with two sisters and a possible involvement with an underage girl. Inspector Troy, now a Commander at Scotland Yard, knows of the minister, the two sisters, and the underage girl, especially when the minister is brought to trial on charges of pandering. Shortly after the trial's conclusion, the minister is found dead in his home, an apparent suicide. The underage girl is also found dead from an overdose of sleeping pills. Troy, however, suspects murder most foul has occurred and sets out to seek the truth... This is another excellent book from author John Lawton, written with a nice touch regarding this period in English history. If you enjoy reading mysteries that are a little different, give "A Little White Death" a look.
November 13, 2017
I thought this was quite good and have been enjoying this series. We are now in 1963 and the life and times are described well, which is always good with such books.
The main plot revolves around something which sounds very like the Profumo affair-until late in the book reference is made to the Profumo affair, so this must have happened at about the same time but is actually another one! Also have a Kim Philby type spy defecting to Russia so it has an authentic feel.
My only problem was that the story seemed quite long winded and could, I think, have been shortened by a good hundred pages without losing too much. It did meander a lot in the middle sections, which I have not found previously with this author.
The main plot revolves around something which sounds very like the Profumo affair-until late in the book reference is made to the Profumo affair, so this must have happened at about the same time but is actually another one! Also have a Kim Philby type spy defecting to Russia so it has an authentic feel.
My only problem was that the story seemed quite long winded and could, I think, have been shortened by a good hundred pages without losing too much. It did meander a lot in the middle sections, which I have not found previously with this author.
December 22, 2024
not his best but still better than most books in the genre
I love John Lawton’s writing. I only discovered him a year ago and have already read more than half of the books about his two different protagonists. Although both are splendid, I enjoy Troy more. There’s so much more going on, politically, socially, sexually, and detectively (for want of a better word).
With all that said, this isn’t one of the best. It could have benefitted from editing, perhaps cutting 10-15% of the text. Troy’s illness and subsequent activities arising from his illness didn’t need so much attention. It felt like a bit of a slog at some times. Having said that, the mystery is excellent (as it is in all Lawton’s books). I’m not saying don’t read it. I’m saying read the others first. Once you come to love them, you will end up reading this because when you are hooked, you can’t get enough John Lawton.
I love John Lawton’s writing. I only discovered him a year ago and have already read more than half of the books about his two different protagonists. Although both are splendid, I enjoy Troy more. There’s so much more going on, politically, socially, sexually, and detectively (for want of a better word).
With all that said, this isn’t one of the best. It could have benefitted from editing, perhaps cutting 10-15% of the text. Troy’s illness and subsequent activities arising from his illness didn’t need so much attention. It felt like a bit of a slog at some times. Having said that, the mystery is excellent (as it is in all Lawton’s books). I’m not saying don’t read it. I’m saying read the others first. Once you come to love them, you will end up reading this because when you are hooked, you can’t get enough John Lawton.
September 6, 2024
Inspector Troy #3/#8. This is the 3rd book Lawton published in the Troy series but is the last in the Troy story. It's 1963 in London and it's the start of the Swingin' 60's. Troy helps an old friend defect to Russia and when he returns to England soon becomes entangled in 2 suicides which might be murder, along with the political and social upheaval of the time. Spies and lies abound as Troy works to sort out the truth and punish the wicked as he tries to not get beat up or shot again. Sorry to say this is the end of the Troy series although Lawton is still alive so there's hope. This is authorship at a high level -- 4 stars.
November 11, 2023
I have now read several of the Troy books . I feel I should like them more than I do .Lawton is a clever writer and this book conveys the atmosphere of the early sixties with a plot line with parallels to the Profumo case and a. Political background of the crumbling conservative government and the dawn of the Wilson administration.Troy is an interesting and not totally likeable person .the trouble i found myself switching on and off the narrative ,the plot wandered at times ,the characters including Troy did not engage consistently and to be honest I was quite glad it ended
September 10, 2025
This is a very entertaining story atmospheric with a real feel for time and place, taking me back in time to my childhood. Well written with superb characters throughout clever descriptive intelligent storytelling. Completely engaging from first to last page. The first half of the book deals with our heroes illness of the title and the changes British society is going through, setting the scene for the second halfb of the book, oh and throw in a spy story by way of distraction. Then we move on to the mystery with plenty of surprises and twists along the way.
Completely recommended.
Completely recommended.
October 24, 2019
4++ stars
So many superb stories linked within one masterful novel. The continuing epic chronicles of the Troys, an espionage thriller, the privations of postwar London, the politics haunting Britain at that era and a heartbreaking tale of Auschwitz prisoners.
This series is best read in the chronological order of the plot, rather than the publication dates. See the Wikipedia entry for John Lawton for that list.
So many superb stories linked within one masterful novel. The continuing epic chronicles of the Troys, an espionage thriller, the privations of postwar London, the politics haunting Britain at that era and a heartbreaking tale of Auschwitz prisoners.
This series is best read in the chronological order of the plot, rather than the publication dates. See the Wikipedia entry for John Lawton for that list.
November 27, 2025
It is all interrelated for now Chief Supt Troy, Commander of the Yard's CID. So, a defection to the USSR, a case of tuberculosis, a carnal weekend at a country house (of course)....with Anne's MD partner and some Parliamentary heavy weights......then, a double murder (or is it?), a fatal ambush, there are two trips off a bridge into the Thames (1 fatal).....and of course Troy cracks it all at the end. Justice? Vengeance? Just desserts?
.....and has Troy really retired?
.....and has Troy really retired?
June 24, 2019
So much to enjoy in this series featuring Inspector Troy, particularly all the references to the politics of the day. As in the previous 2 books I am not totally sure that I manage to "get" every nuance of the double dealings by the spooks but I still find myself trying to read a few more pages at every opportunity. Have ordered the next book from the library, can't wait for it to arrive.
February 3, 2021
Though not the final book in the series by publication date, chronologically by plot it would appear to be so. Splendid writing and wonderful characters. Having now read them all in chronological rather than publication order, I will really miss the adventures of Freddie Troy and the rest of the cast that are still extant in the same way Bernie Gunter is sorely missed.
April 24, 2022
The first third of the book could have been covered in a couple of chapters. Once we finally got to the murders, I was done with the book and the series. The last third of the book was very good, but things tied off well enough to stop reading the series, so I’m done. These are good mysteries, but there’s just too much unnecessary swearing, sex, and politicizing for me to continue.
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