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Antony Maitland #1
Bloody Instructions
The elderly family solicitor preferred to take his four o’clock tea in chambers. But this afternoon, tea was served with sudden death. Any of the clients who consulted him that day had the opportunity to sneak back and do the deed. But London’s leading actor, Joseph Dowling, had a motive. And in his current performance of Macbeth he also had a bloody dagger—the same one found lethally lodged in the lawyer’s back. Now a British courtroom could be the setting for Dowling’s last public performance—unless barrister-detective Antony Maitland can put the spotlight on the real killer before an innocent Macbeth takes his curtain call as a condemned prisoner. (Publisher’s description)
Hardcover
First published June 1, 1961
7 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Sara Woods
115 books18 followers(Lana Hutton Bowen-Judd)
UK (1922 - 1986)
aka Anne Burton, Mary Challis, Margaret Leek
Born in England, she was educated at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Filey, Yorkshire.
During the Second World War, she worked in a bank and as a solicitor's clerk in London. Here she gained much of the information later used in her novels. Lana married Anthony George Bowen-Judd on April 25, 1946. They ran a pig breeding farm between 1948 and 1954. In 1957 they moved to Nova Scotia, Canada. She worked as a registrar for St. Mary's University until 1964. In 1961 she wrote her first novel, Bloody Instructions, introducing the hero of forty-nine of her mysteries, Anthony Maitland, an English barrister.
Her last years she lived with her husband at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
UK (1922 - 1986)
aka Anne Burton, Mary Challis, Margaret Leek
Born in England, she was educated at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Filey, Yorkshire.
During the Second World War, she worked in a bank and as a solicitor's clerk in London. Here she gained much of the information later used in her novels. Lana married Anthony George Bowen-Judd on April 25, 1946. They ran a pig breeding farm between 1948 and 1954. In 1957 they moved to Nova Scotia, Canada. She worked as a registrar for St. Mary's University until 1964. In 1961 she wrote her first novel, Bloody Instructions, introducing the hero of forty-nine of her mysteries, Anthony Maitland, an English barrister.
Her last years she lived with her husband at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 19, 2024
3.5🌟 I'm always so eager for new Dean Street Press books to be published—I've got such an addiction to the Furrowed Middlebrow and Golden Age Mystery series! I thought it was about time that I tried one of their crime classics, especially since they introduced a newly republished author this month.
I'm usually not a fan of crime dramas on television, but mystery books are sometimes different. They are a lot more interesting and less stressful in book form. (Also, reading books that take place between the 20s and 60s makes them even better, in my opinion!) It took me a bit of time to get used to Sara Woods' writing style, but it's mainly because courtroom dialogue and lawyer language sometimes makes my head spin.
The characters in this novel were solid and interesting. I was grateful for the map drawing and, though I had no idea how this murder was going to be solved, it was fun trying to figure it out. I was really surprised to find out who the killer was in the end. Seriously unexpected!
The relationship and conversations between Antony, his wife Jenny, and his uncle Sir Nicholas were the parts I enjoyed the most in 'Bloody Instructions'. They were amusing and a bit cozy (with a lot of banter), which I like.
If you're highly entertained by workplace murders, courtroom conversations and a slew of suspicious characters, you will LOVE this crime classic by Sara Woods!
I'm usually not a fan of crime dramas on television, but mystery books are sometimes different. They are a lot more interesting and less stressful in book form. (Also, reading books that take place between the 20s and 60s makes them even better, in my opinion!) It took me a bit of time to get used to Sara Woods' writing style, but it's mainly because courtroom dialogue and lawyer language sometimes makes my head spin.
The characters in this novel were solid and interesting. I was grateful for the map drawing and, though I had no idea how this murder was going to be solved, it was fun trying to figure it out. I was really surprised to find out who the killer was in the end. Seriously unexpected!
The relationship and conversations between Antony, his wife Jenny, and his uncle Sir Nicholas were the parts I enjoyed the most in 'Bloody Instructions'. They were amusing and a bit cozy (with a lot of banter), which I like.
If you're highly entertained by workplace murders, courtroom conversations and a slew of suspicious characters, you will LOVE this crime classic by Sara Woods!
March 9, 2025
Three stars for the mystery but a fourth for the excellent characters. Plot a bit convoluted with lots of interaction within the British system of lawyers.
June 7, 2025
I’m loving old murder mystery books right now and this one hit just right.
November 18, 2015
Many readers are OCD when reading a series. They have to start with the first book. However, the first book is not usually the best written book in the series and a reader might not continue the series if the first book is not very readable. This is the case with the Antony Maitland series.
Bloody Instructions introduces Antony, his wife, Jenny, his uncle Sir Nicholas and Inspector Sykes as well as Briggs, who turns into an arch enemy later in the series. We also meet Meg, the actress, who plays a major role in later books, as well as many minor characters. That makes the book fun to read. Jenny was delightful and more personable. I'm not quite sure why the author diminishes her role in later books.
However there was several big negatives. The plot was convoluted and the ending didn't really make sense. There was a lot of British vernacular, which I did not comprehend. The writing was not as smooth and easy to read as others in the series.
Still, if you MUST read the books in order, remember to not judge the whole series based on this book.
Bloody Instructions introduces Antony, his wife, Jenny, his uncle Sir Nicholas and Inspector Sykes as well as Briggs, who turns into an arch enemy later in the series. We also meet Meg, the actress, who plays a major role in later books, as well as many minor characters. That makes the book fun to read. Jenny was delightful and more personable. I'm not quite sure why the author diminishes her role in later books.
However there was several big negatives. The plot was convoluted and the ending didn't really make sense. There was a lot of British vernacular, which I did not comprehend. The writing was not as smooth and easy to read as others in the series.
Still, if you MUST read the books in order, remember to not judge the whole series based on this book.
September 20, 2014
Antony Maitland is sent by his uncle to pick up some legal papers from a fellow solicitor's office. When he gets there, he finds the lawyer slumped over his desk, a knife in his back.
Early suspicion falls on a friend of his, the dead man's law partner. But instead, the father of another friend is arrested. It seems he was seen leaving the office. But Antony is a witness to the contrary. And the outcome of this trial will also decide the outcome of Antony's future career.
I enjoyed this one. This first book introduces Margaret Hamilton, future friend of the Maitlands, and the Maitland household as well. Really good.
Early suspicion falls on a friend of his, the dead man's law partner. But instead, the father of another friend is arrested. It seems he was seen leaving the office. But Antony is a witness to the contrary. And the outcome of this trial will also decide the outcome of Antony's future career.
I enjoyed this one. This first book introduces Margaret Hamilton, future friend of the Maitlands, and the Maitland household as well. Really good.
February 28, 2025
I love trying new Golden Age books that have come back into print. Although this was first published in 1961, so a little beyond the GA period, it does have a nostalgic feel. That is partly due to the fact that Sara Woods (Sara Hutton Bowen-Judd) moved from Britain to Canada after the war and based her main character, Antony Maitland, after her brother, who died during WWII. I thought that was very sweet and so, having read the introduction, perhaps I was predisposed to enjoy this, but enjoy it I did.
Antony Maitland lives in London with his wife, Jenny, in the house of Antony's uncle, Sir Nicholas Harding. One day, Uncle Nick sends Antony to the offices of Messrs Ling, Curtis, Winter & Winter solicitors for a missing affidavit. During his visit, senior partner James Winter is found with a knife in his back and the prime suspect is famous actor, Joe Dowling.
The scene is set for Sir Nicholas to defend Joe Downlin, for Antony to investigate the real killer and for - in good GA tradition - Jenny can do a little match-making along the way. This had some good courtroom scenes, I enjoyed the characters and like Sarah Woods (I suspect) also enjoyed the warm portrait of post-war London. I will definitely be reading on.
Antony Maitland lives in London with his wife, Jenny, in the house of Antony's uncle, Sir Nicholas Harding. One day, Uncle Nick sends Antony to the offices of Messrs Ling, Curtis, Winter & Winter solicitors for a missing affidavit. During his visit, senior partner James Winter is found with a knife in his back and the prime suspect is famous actor, Joe Dowling.
The scene is set for Sir Nicholas to defend Joe Downlin, for Antony to investigate the real killer and for - in good GA tradition - Jenny can do a little match-making along the way. This had some good courtroom scenes, I enjoyed the characters and like Sarah Woods (I suspect) also enjoyed the warm portrait of post-war London. I will definitely be reading on.
March 28, 2025
I very much enjoyed this first mystery featuring the young barrister Antony Maitland and his short-tempered, somewhat curmudgeonly uncle (and boss, and landlord) Sir Nicholas Maitland. The legal aspects of the book appealed to me, of course, but I also very much enjoyed the characters. It also provides interesting insight into post-WWII England - for example, the ubiquity of the black market in the face of rationing.
July 2, 2017
Turns out that this one was just not my cup of tea.
It was slow initially, and did not grab my interest.
I like Jenny, but the rest of the cast will take some time to warm up to.
I will try more in this series, as it has been highly recommended.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
It was slow initially, and did not grab my interest.
I like Jenny, but the rest of the cast will take some time to warm up to.
I will try more in this series, as it has been highly recommended.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
October 24, 2025
A bit tedious but engaging enough to compel me to read the next one.
January 15, 2026
A new mystery series for me!
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December 9, 2024
3.5🌟 I'm always so eager for new Dean Street Press books to be published—I've got such an addiction to the Furrowed Middlebrow and Golden Age Mystery series! I thought it was about time that I tried one of their crime classics, especially since they introduced a newly republished author this month.
I'm usually not a fan of crime dramas on television, but mystery books are sometimes different. They are a lot more interesting and less stressful in book form. (Also, reading books that take place between the 20s and 60s makes them even better, in my opinion!) It took me a bit of time to get used to Sara Woods' writing style, but it's mainly because courtroom dialogue and lawyer language sometimes makes my head spin.
The characters in this novel were solid and interesting. I was grateful for the map drawing and, though I had no idea how this murder was going to be solved, it was fun trying to figure it out. I was really surprised to find out who the killer was in the end. Seriously unexpected!
The relationship and conversations between Antony, his wife Jenny, and his uncle Sir Nicholas were the parts I enjoyed the most in 'Bloody Instructions'. They were amusing and a bit cozy (with a lot of banter), which I like.
If you're highly entertained by workplace murders, courtroom conversations and a slew of suspicious characters, you will LOVE this crime classic by Sara Woods!
I'm usually not a fan of crime dramas on television, but mystery books are sometimes different. They are a lot more interesting and less stressful in book form. (Also, reading books that take place between the 20s and 60s makes them even better, in my opinion!) It took me a bit of time to get used to Sara Woods' writing style, but it's mainly because courtroom dialogue and lawyer language sometimes makes my head spin.
The characters in this novel were solid and interesting. I was grateful for the map drawing and, though I had no idea how this murder was going to be solved, it was fun trying to figure it out. I was really surprised to find out who the killer was in the end. Seriously unexpected!
The relationship and conversations between Antony, his wife Jenny, and his uncle Sir Nicholas were the parts I enjoyed the most in 'Bloody Instructions'. They were amusing and a bit cozy (with a lot of banter), which I like.
If you're highly entertained by workplace murders, courtroom conversations and a slew of suspicious characters, you will LOVE this crime classic by Sara Woods!
April 23, 2008
I am very excited to have discovered this series, written between 1962 and 1987. Classic British law mysteries.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews