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Andrew Basnett #4
The other devil's name
It was with a sense of resignation that Andrew Basnett, retired botany professor, accompanied an old friend to her home in a Berkshire village because her sister had received a blackmail letter. The letter had obviously been put in the wrong envelope, but it seemed to indicate that a murder had been committed in Lindleham, where, strangely, several people were missing from their homes. Had the old man really gone to visit his son in Australia? Was the little boy who had run away still alive? Had the doctor's wife walked out on him, as he reported? What had happened to the businessman who failed to return from his mysterious work in the City and whom his wife believed to be working for MI5? Quietly Andrew investigates his friends' neighbours and discovers situations of deepening complexity. Not the least disconcerting is the dawning realization that his friends too have something to hide. Elizabeth Ferrars is a mistress of mystification and shrewd observation. Both talents are employed with her usual skill in this latest addition to her considerable oeuvre.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1986
54 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Ferrars
91 books26 followersAka E.X. Ferrars.
Born Morna Doris McTaggart in Rangoon, Burma of a Scottish father and an Irish-German mother, she grew up in England where she moved at age six. She attended Bedales school and then took a diploma in journalism at London University.
Her first two novels, 'Turn Single' (1932) and 'Broken Music' (1934), came out under her own name, Morna McTaggart. In the early 1930s she married her first husband but she left him, moved to Belsize Park in London and lived with Dr Robert Brown, a lecturer in botany at Bedford College in 1942. She eventually divorced her first husband in October 1945 and married Dr, later Professor, Brown.
It was in 1940 that her first crime novel 'Give a Corpse a Bad Name' was published under the pseudonymn that she had adopted, Elizabeth (sometimes Elizabeth X. - particularly in the USA) Ferrars, the Ferrars her mother's maiden name. This novel featured her young detective Toby Dyke, who was to feature in four other of her novels.
When her husband was offered a post at Cornell University in the USA, the couple moved there but remained only a year before returning to Britain. They travelled with her husband's work, on one occasion visiting Adelaide when he was a visiting professor at the University of South Australia, and later moved to Edinburgh where her husband was appointed Regius Professor of Botany and they lived in the city until 1977 when, on her husband's retirement, they moved to Blewsbury in Oxfordshire where they lived until her sudden death in 1995.
She continued to write a crime novel almost every year and in 1953 she was a founding member of the Crime Writers' Association of which she later became chairperson in 1977.
As well as her short series of works featuring Toby Dyke, she wrote a series featuring retired botanist Andrew Basnett and another series featuring a semi-estranged married couple, Virginia and Felix Freer. All in all she wrote over seventy novels, her final one 'A Thief in the Night' being published posthumously.
Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor described her as having "a sound enough grasp of motives and human relations and a due regard for probability and technique, but whose people and plot are so standard".
Gerry Wolstenholme
November 2010
Born Morna Doris McTaggart in Rangoon, Burma of a Scottish father and an Irish-German mother, she grew up in England where she moved at age six. She attended Bedales school and then took a diploma in journalism at London University.
Her first two novels, 'Turn Single' (1932) and 'Broken Music' (1934), came out under her own name, Morna McTaggart. In the early 1930s she married her first husband but she left him, moved to Belsize Park in London and lived with Dr Robert Brown, a lecturer in botany at Bedford College in 1942. She eventually divorced her first husband in October 1945 and married Dr, later Professor, Brown.
It was in 1940 that her first crime novel 'Give a Corpse a Bad Name' was published under the pseudonymn that she had adopted, Elizabeth (sometimes Elizabeth X. - particularly in the USA) Ferrars, the Ferrars her mother's maiden name. This novel featured her young detective Toby Dyke, who was to feature in four other of her novels.
When her husband was offered a post at Cornell University in the USA, the couple moved there but remained only a year before returning to Britain. They travelled with her husband's work, on one occasion visiting Adelaide when he was a visiting professor at the University of South Australia, and later moved to Edinburgh where her husband was appointed Regius Professor of Botany and they lived in the city until 1977 when, on her husband's retirement, they moved to Blewsbury in Oxfordshire where they lived until her sudden death in 1995.
She continued to write a crime novel almost every year and in 1953 she was a founding member of the Crime Writers' Association of which she later became chairperson in 1977.
As well as her short series of works featuring Toby Dyke, she wrote a series featuring retired botanist Andrew Basnett and another series featuring a semi-estranged married couple, Virginia and Felix Freer. All in all she wrote over seventy novels, her final one 'A Thief in the Night' being published posthumously.
Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor described her as having "a sound enough grasp of motives and human relations and a due regard for probability and technique, but whose people and plot are so standard".
Gerry Wolstenholme
November 2010
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 23, 2023
I love this series featuring Andrew Basnett, a retired botany professor. But then I haven't read anything by E.X. Ferrars that I haven't liked. Her characters are well developed, and the women especially are intelligent and real.
I do keep waiting for Basnett's botanical expertise to figure into the plot, but so far it's rather a side issue. In fact, he seems more literary than scientific. It's more about who he's known over the course of his 70ish life and coming to their aid and support when he's needed.
In this case a retired female professor calls for his help when her sister with whom she lives receives a threatening blackmail letter. But the letter is not meant for the sister and Basnett quickly figures out that the blackmailer put the wrong letter in the wrong envelope. Where did the letter intended for her go? There are many secrets in this small village (and aren't those the best in British mysteries?). Closed circle of suspects provides for many possibilities, all within easy range of investigating.
I highly recommend Ferrars as a vintage writer and if you prefer series, this is a good one to try!
I do keep waiting for Basnett's botanical expertise to figure into the plot, but so far it's rather a side issue. In fact, he seems more literary than scientific. It's more about who he's known over the course of his 70ish life and coming to their aid and support when he's needed.
In this case a retired female professor calls for his help when her sister with whom she lives receives a threatening blackmail letter. But the letter is not meant for the sister and Basnett quickly figures out that the blackmailer put the wrong letter in the wrong envelope. Where did the letter intended for her go? There are many secrets in this small village (and aren't those the best in British mysteries?). Closed circle of suspects provides for many possibilities, all within easy range of investigating.
I highly recommend Ferrars as a vintage writer and if you prefer series, this is a good one to try!
November 28, 2024
4th of 8 books in the Andrew Basnett, a retired botany prof, mystery series.
Whenever I need a comfortable, easy read, I turn to this series.
For me, the best of the 4 so far. Rural setting, and a bit of academia. But there is still something two-dimensional about the lead character. Ferrars introduces her other characters early on, and gives us their background. For some reason these stood out from each other better than in the episodes from the past.
And my, they pour drinks often!
A nice, pleasant Brit cozy read that will keep you wondering until the end, "Who-done-it?".
Whenever I need a comfortable, easy read, I turn to this series.
For me, the best of the 4 so far. Rural setting, and a bit of academia. But there is still something two-dimensional about the lead character. Ferrars introduces her other characters early on, and gives us their background. For some reason these stood out from each other better than in the episodes from the past.
And my, they pour drinks often!
A nice, pleasant Brit cozy read that will keep you wondering until the end, "Who-done-it?".
November 2, 2024
Felony and Mayhem
Are very aptly named. This press has a series of authors, which i am reading my way through. This set is an english jaunt - i am pleased there are two more to read. They are on the intellectual side, there are so many different personalities, all fitting the atmosphere. This one had rather more than one murder, starting with blackmail in a small town. Much festering beneath charming facades. But a lovely cosy read.
Are very aptly named. This press has a series of authors, which i am reading my way through. This set is an english jaunt - i am pleased there are two more to read. They are on the intellectual side, there are so many different personalities, all fitting the atmosphere. This one had rather more than one murder, starting with blackmail in a small town. Much festering beneath charming facades. But a lovely cosy read.
January 19, 2023
unfortunately I didn’t like this one as much as the first one I read.
I thoughts I’d like this series. Read one and it was ok. But this one just went on and on and didn’t make much sense. So I read about 40% and then got too bored, skipped to the last few pages and wrapped it up. It seemed poorly plotted to me. Nothing was very clear all through.
I thoughts I’d like this series. Read one and it was ok. But this one just went on and on and didn’t make much sense. So I read about 40% and then got too bored, skipped to the last few pages and wrapped it up. It seemed poorly plotted to me. Nothing was very clear all through.
August 5, 2025
Up to book #4 now and Andrew has yet to stay home, which makes me tired for him. All the same this is the kind of book that feels comforting when you open it - as a great fan of comfort I will carry on with #5.
December 3, 2025
B+:
The best of the series so far. Goes back to a close-knit English village setting. The identity of the victim(s) is fairly surprising. The ending made sense without seeming obvious.
Very satisfying.
The best of the series so far. Goes back to a close-knit English village setting. The identity of the victim(s) is fairly surprising. The ending made sense without seeming obvious.
Very satisfying.
June 10, 2023
A pleasant light read. None of the characters were particularly engaging but the ending did surprise me. Seemed to all drink a lot.
December 21, 2025
I like the main character but overall the stories are too short.
November 14, 2022
Excellent story
In just 200 pages, the author does a terrific job of defining the characters and creating the twists and turns that make you read far into the night. This series is wonderful.
In just 200 pages, the author does a terrific job of defining the characters and creating the twists and turns that make you read far into the night. This series is wonderful.
April 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews