The Original Inspector George Gently Collection

by Alan Hunter

The first of Gently's cases, 'Gently Does It', has him enduring the holiday from hell when he is caught up in a mysterious murder and locks horns with the local police over their handling of the affair. In the second book, 'Gently By The Shore', other people's holidays are disturbed when Gently is called in to investigate the discovery of a body on a pleasure beach.

Genres: Mystery

528 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2013

About the author

Alan Hunter was born at Hoveton, Norfolk and went to school across the River Bure in Wroxham. He left school at 14 and worked on his father's farm near Norwich. He enjoyed dinghy sailing on the Norfolk Broads, wrote natural history notes for the local newspaper, and wrote poetry, some of which was published while he was in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

He married, in 1944, Adelaide Cooper, who survives him with their daughter. After the war he managed the antiquarian books department of Charles Cubitt in Norwich. Four years later, in 1950, he established his own bookshop on Maddermarket in the city.

From 1955 until 1998 he published a Gently detective novel nearly every year. He retired to Brundall in Norfolk where he continued his interests in local history, natural history, and sailing

Reviews

[Rose]

After watching the George Gently BBC series, I decided to try the books and was not disappointed. Gently is well portrayed in the series, a near match for the character in the books, which I like. Though I wonder why the series left out Gently's penchant for peppermint cremes. There are 46 books and I'm not sure I'll read them all, but I've started working my way through them as they are a relaxing read, quite " gentle" in fact.

[Elizabeth]

I am a huge George Gently fan from having watched the show on PBS and then most recently on Acorn. He is tough on crime and has integrity, he is intelligent and has a dry wit. I wanted to read the words that inspired the series. This is two books in one. Crime comes to the seaside in both cases. And naturally, George Gently solves both of the cases. There is no back story here. We don't learn about his wife. And he doesn't have a partner until the second story. But having watched the shows, I was completely immersed in his world and smiled every time that he nailed a clue and was able to conquer the situation. GREAT WRITING!

[Pam Keevil]

I came to this thrugh the TV series which was set in the North East in the 60s , rather than Norfolk in the 50s. I missed the interplay between Bacchus and Gently from the series but it's an easy, entertaining crime read without the blood and gore of so many writers.

[Carol]

Enjoyable low-key detective series. Esp. enjoyed the first book. Will look for more of his Gently books at the library.

[G.J.]

Fond of this series because I was born and grew up in the North East Of England, also liked the "innocence" of the TV series with the charming Martin Shaw !

[K O]

great writing, love the Gently Books

Mostly we read books and enjoy them, taking the writing as a necessary tool to bring things to fruition. Then you get an author like Alan Hunter who truly knows how to write. His love of words shines through and it isn’t merely a story, it’s poetry in its purest form. If you love to read, love books, can lose yourself in them for hours, then go get some of Mr Hunters books and settle in for a wonderful afternoon.

[Linda Munroe]

These two stories Gently does it and Gently by the Shore- follow Inspector Gently as he builds a case that will result in a conviction. He faces obstacles inside the olive department as well as outside. He faces them all thoughtfully and steers events with calm, polite advice.

[andrew holling]

Very old fashioned in writing style. Good story telling though.

[Donald]

I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoy this series!

[Jane]

I read this because I remember and enjoyed the PBS series. A pleasant read.

[David Campton]

An anthology of the first two Inspector George Gently books. The second is slightly faster paced than the first, which is good given how soporific the first was. But Gently does it will always be the watchword of this series.

[Judi]

First one was better than the second one in the set. Frank agreed

[Mike Emett]

3.5

[Tony Parkin]

Should definitely now be considered a historical novel, rather than crime fiction. As one who lived through this era, a reminder of how different policing was in the 40s and 50s. Or at least, according to crime fiction. This collection contains two novels included in the TV adaptations, featuring Martin Shaw as George Gently. To say the character in the book is far-removed from the Martin Shaw portrayal is an understatement. The plot lines are relatively unchanged, but the novels are definitely from an earlier, more innocent time.