The Wooden Overcoat

The Asterisk Club #1

by Pamela Branch

Clifford Flush founded the Asterisk Club in Chelsea to provide a home for wrongfully acquitted murderers, being one himself. Qualified prospective members need only name the club as beneficiary in their wills in order to avail themselves of its comforts and unique services. Unfortunately, there isn't room for Benjamin Cann, a gentleman's outfitter newly acquitted of murdering his mistress. So Flush arranges for Benjamin to be temporarily quartered next door in a rat-infested house inhabited by two artistic couples. When Benjamin and a female member of the Asterisk Club turn up dead, the two households both have reason to avoid the police and dispose of the bodies ...'Ingenious and successful farce' Sunday Times

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Humor, Fiction, Comedy, Mystery Thriller

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1951

About the author

An author of comic-mysteries remembered for her wicked sense of humor, Pamela Byatt was born in 1920 on a tea estate in Ceylon, and was educated in England & France; studying art and theater. In England, Pamela married Newton Branch. They traveled extensively, living in places such as Cyprus and Ireland; and, amongst other jobs, both tried writing. The Branches divorced in the late 1950s. In 1962, she married James Edward Stuart-Lyon. Around this time, she was rumored to have been working on a fifth book, but no one knows what became of it. Pamela Branch died of cancer in 1967. http://www.ruemorguepress.com/authors...

Reviews

[mark monday · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is an amiable murder mystery farce featuring a house full of murderers who were wrongfully acquitted and have come together to form some sort of support network, since society can be really judgmental towards murderers who got off scot-free due to some technicality. which is a pretty funny concept. this house sits next to another, which is full of bohemian types. the latter house has to deal with one dead new lodger, and then another, which involves many scenes of corpses being dragged about as the residents try and fail again and again to get rid of these pesky bodies. naturally, the two houses come into conflict, which results in a wonderful extended set piece when murderer house invades bohemian house in an effort to steal the bodies which they feel are rightfully theirs. Pamela Branch is a spry and witty novelist and she aims to please readers who appreciate both sly black comedy and broad physical comedy.

one thing that really stood out: there are no protagonists in this book! just a bunch of rather creepy murderers and a bunch of rather hapless bohemians, all of whom have roughly the same amount of time on the page.

character I enjoyed the most: an incredibly petty and disrespectful manservant who works for Murderer Mansion. he's not a murderer himself, because the snooty residents would never employ someone at their own level, that would be too degrading for a murderer. he's a mere thief and home invader, and so quite suitable for domestic-level work.

if you've enjoyed the Miss Marple movies staring the incredible Margaret Rutherford, then you'll probably like this book. if you've never heard of Margaret Rutherford, well I'm sorry about that, please educate yourself. but you may still want to check this out if Weekend at Bernie's by way of 1950s suburban London sounds fun to you.

[🐴 🍖]

a million billion stars out of ten. it's prob clear from prior reviews that comic crime fiction is a bit of a fav... beyond doing that rly well, branch is a master of "chicken fat" in the will elder sense, figuratively always doodling sth in the margins for you: the intramural sniping among the asterisk club as they try to stay outta gaol is funny enough but at the same time somebody's e.g. accidentally gluing themselves to a glue trap, or a cat's stealing filets of sole. the rue morgue press edition is set in like 12pt times new roman; be thankful it's not papyrus & persevere!!

[K.J. Charles]

This was WTF squared. Written in 1951 and it's hard not to feel the experience of massive global war had skewed the author's sense of humour just a tad. Basically a little artists' collective is next door to a club of wrongfully acquitted murderers. Two of said murderers turn up dead in the artists' house and the entire book is an accelerating farce as they try and fail to get rid of the bodies while the murderers try to get them back.

It is genuinely extremely funny at points and very well constructed, but seriously marred by casual antisemitism and nasty femmephobia (interestingly it also has a gay main character who is as likeable as anyone else in the plot, which is admittedly not much) so I am not recommending it at all to anyone. Interesting to see the more out-there excesses of the 50s detective novel. You can feel the 60s looming.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of two novels featuring Clifford Flush, founder of the Asterisk Club – a home for wrongly acquitted murderers. Published in 1951, the story begins with Benjamin Cann, who has suddenly found himself back on the streets of London after being found (to his own surprise) Not Guilty of the murder of his mistress. Approached by Flush, Cann finds himself whisked off to No 13 Flood Walk, Chelsea; where a delightfully unpleasant group of murderers live in anonymity. The only thing Cann has to do is make his will in favour of the club, and he will be allowed to join Mr Flush, Mrs Barratt, Colonel Quincey, ‘The Creaker’ and the very friendly Lilli Cluj. However, as there is presently no room free , and he is undecided about whether or not to take up their offer, Flush boards him temporarily next door. Neighbours to the Asterisk Club, Fan and Peter Hilford and Hugo and Bertha Berko, are two artistic couples currently looking for lodgers for the rat infested house which they share. However, when their new lodger turns up dead, there is the beginning of a delightfully dark murder mystery/farce. For both Mr Flush and his fellow club members have reason to wish the crime solved quietly, and Fan – who discovers the death – has her own reason to wish to leave the police out of the equation.

Fan, along with her childhood friend Rex, attempt to hide the body – but that is harder said than done... Before long, we are almost in Ealing Comedy territory, with a cast of wonderful possible murderers in both houses, and everybody getting into all sorts of bizarre situations. This is really a delightful novel, with a great cast of characters and 1951 London as an interesting setting. The next book to feature Clifford Flush was Murder Every Monday, published in 1954. I have to admit that I had not read Pamela Branch before, but I am glad that I have discovered her – this will appeal to everyone who enjoys light hearted mysteries.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read 1990?
Reread 2024

[Jim Puskas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pamela Branch manages to have a lot of fun with a trail of dead bodies and a cast of characters who might feel right at home with Sweeney Todd. The notion of an exclusive club to benefit wrongly acquitted murderers offers the ideal scenario within which to stage this very British farce. I expected to find myself laughing a great deal but in that I was a bit disappointed. I think the book would fare better as the basis for a staged play, where the comedic skill of the actors and the ludicrous personalities they portray would make for a more enjoyable experience.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was laughing uproariously. What a caper! Pamela Branch is a genius. Thank you Rue Morgue Press for bringing her back into print.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

got this as a mystery pick (wrapped in brown paper) enjoyed it but ultimately hated the lack of plot, not enough twists and turns for a mystery for me

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started off kind of slow. Benjamin Cain was just acquitted of murder. He's adjusting to life outside of prison and thinking about what to do next when a stranger approaches and invites him to lunch at his club.

Cain enjoys his meal at the Asterisk Club until he learns that all the members there are also acquitted murderers - at least one charged with multiple murderers. He begins to wonder if the soup tasted a little off.

His new friend finds him a room in a boarding house just next door to the club. After one night in the house, his new landlady discovers Cain - dead.

As I said, the book got off to a slow start, and I was almost ready to give in. Then it started getting interesting. Then not much later, it got funny. Then it got completely hilarious! In a dark way, all right, but still - hilarious. An unexpectedly great read.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fantastic Screwball Comedy! I got this as a Radio Play starring David Tennant and Julia Davis. It’s a macabre mystery that’s well worth the time (less than 1 hour). Don’t read/listen to it for the “Whodunit”, as it’s pretty obvious from the start. The main attraction to the story is the absurd situation Branch creates. Three normal, albeit neurotic, people suddenly have to find a way of disposing of some bodies. Well, how would you go about it!? Chock full of misunderstandings, highly logical reasoning, and over-the-top characters, I laughed my way right through it!

[Kathe]

Usually I zip through a book-and-a-bit every week. But these are, to put it mildly, destabilizing and distracting times, and it took me a while (by my standards) to finish this book. It's very funny, in a dated sort of way, but there are many characters to keep track of. Anyway, if you're fond of classic British mysteries you will probably enjoy this one. My favourite character was Mr. Beesum, the Rodent Officer (capitals the author's). Diverting, but not enough for me in January 2017, when every newscast seems to bring fresh horrors.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The two young, artistic couples who share the house in Chelsea don't know that the Asterisk Club, next door, is very exclusive indeed--only acquitted suspects--who should have been convicted--are admitted. When Ben Cann is acquitted of killing his girlfriend, the club is full, and the president (at least three deaths) arranges for him to rent a room next door. So the mayhem begins...

[Laura Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insanely hilarious screwball murder-comedy! Fan, Rex, and the others' various attempts to dispose of the bodies had me in stitches. I will be checking my library for more from Pamela Branch, post-haste.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A neglected gem from the same cheerfully morbid school of British fiction that gave us films like Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Ladykillers.

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Asterisk Club's members are all murderers who escaped conviction. Benjamin Cann arrives after being found innocent of murdering his wife, and is sent next door to find lodgings with two arty couples who have nothing to do with the club - until Cann is found murdered in their house. While they try to get rid of the bodies, without success, the president of the club is keen to retrieve their latest late member. Plenty of absurd situations follow.

I'm surprised Pamela Branch isn't better known. I think she's really funny, although as with most writers of the time, you have to put up with various prejudices.

[Martina Sartor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Preso e letto giusto per non avere un 'buco' nella mia collezione quasi completa dei Bassotti. Altrimenti se ne può fare tranquillamente a meno: di giallo ha poco, la narrazione si svolge da una situazione paradossale all'altra e il finale non soddisfa per nulla. Se proprio si vuol cercare un indizio che punti verso 'quel' colpevole, l'unico che trovo non è un vero indizio, ma la solita sensazione che viene dall'aver letto un sacco di gialli: nessun personaggio compare mai per caso in un giallo e quindi anche "quello" doveva avere il suo perché.

[Elaine Rosemary Goh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Fun

I thoroughly enjoyed this rather silly romp. It smacked of the Ealing comedies of the day and was a wonderful spoof of the detective stories of the day. Loved all the natural inclusions of the post-war period, too, with references to rationing, housing shortages, the hangman etc.

[Katie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hilarious, madcap story with a lot of dark sharp silly humor. A club for murderers! Some normal people next door who get caught up in murder shenanigans! Lots of bodies everywhere!

Reminded me a good deal of Arsenic and Old Lace -- which I love, so unsurprisingly I enjoyed this one.

Wanted slightly more character development.

[dmayr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benjamin Cann escapes conviction for the murder of his mistress and gets invited to the Asterisk Club but he meets his demise at the rat-filled house of the Hilfords and the Berkos. And so our amateurs find themselves against the highly professional members of the Asterisk Club. Just remembering how the bodies were tried and failed to be disposed of still gets me laughing every time.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird, morbidly amusing 1951 murder romp (as strange as that sounds, it's an accurate description). A bit slow at times and dated, of course...but still, I may read more by this author, who is a favorite of Rue Morgue Press fans.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christ but they smoked a lot in the forties. I enjoyed this. It was on course for amoowr rating because it got a bit boring in the middle and I couldn't concentrate on it but the ending was a lot of fun so I warmed to it again.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like farcical fiction with a murder mystery background then this is for you. Some parts are very funny. However, I love the genre too well to get true enjoyment from this.

[Laura Paulescu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originale l'idea ma deludente lo svolgimento.
Il mistery sfocia in rocambolesco.
Non mi ha entusiasmato particolarmente.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mad cap caper; of its time.

[Michael Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and intelligent, but my copy (which was print on demand) was missing the last ten pages, so however it all tied up, I'm never going to know.

[Katie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky characters that kept me engaged and entertained. A comedy of errors.

[Marie-Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

Curious comedy caper - successful murderers, unsuccessful artists and an infestation of rats converge in 1950s Bohemian Chelsea. A period piece.

[David Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started so I finished it but this was quite a struggle. There’s an interesting premise: that falsely acquitted murderers who find it hard to adjust to their notoriety must live somewhere - and where better than lodging anonymously with a group of similarly freed killers. The Asterix Club.
When the rat infested artists’ colony next door unwittingly takes one of the members as a lodger they are surprised to find him dead the very next day. This leads to confusion as they all suspect each other of the murder and try to dispose of the body which soon becomes more difficult as the next lodger also dies unexpectedly.
It all becomes rather tiresome as they attempt to take the bodies in a borrowed Rolls Royce to be buried in the countryside which proves tricky. Meanwhile the rodent exterminator goes about his business in the house, seemingly oblivious of the human corpses about the place.
Unfortunately the two-dimensional characters lacked my sympathy and the whole thing plays out like a bad farce. I’m sure neither Brian Rix nor Sheila Hancock would have given it the time of day.

[4cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

/What do you say about Pamela Branch's The Wooden Overcoat. Having never heard of Pamela Branch, I was expecting an Agatha Christie/Patricia Wentworth type of read, however this isn't the case, Branch's style is more like Gladys Mitchell meets the Marx Brothers. This isn't a police procedural read or even a quirky detective type of crime novel, it is a zany, off centre novel with a cast of unusual yet entertaining characters.

The novel centers around two sets of neighbours, they are not your typical neighbour either, firstly there is the Asterisk Club whose members have all been acquitted of committing murder, their newest possible member has just managed to escape justice and they suggest that he stays at the boarding house next door. Enter Fan and Peter Hilford and Hugo and Bertha Berko, artists who are letting rooms out to earn extra cash. Unfortunately they have been overrun with rats and the exterminator has been called in leaving a trail of arsenic and other poisons to clear the house of it's vermin, however.......... murder or is it ensues!

Written in 1951, this is a remarkable crime novel, which although totally absurd at times, is entertaining with the dark humour increasing throughout the novel.

[Rallen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I heard of this obscure and little know book from a delightful Book podcast the comedian Robin Ince does (called Bookshambles) his guest – the amazing comedian and writer Mark Gatiss who chose this. The plot is one of the greatest plots I have ever heard of – basically it’s about a club for murderers who although they are killers someone got acquitted in a court of law. Everyone knows they are guilty so society effectively shuns them so they all end up living in a big house together next door to some students and one by one murders start happening… Anyway I immediately tracked down several copies of this out of print book for myself and close friends – foolishly given them as presents before I read it myself. Big mistake – it’s such a boring book, I nearly couldn’t finish it. What a waste of an amazing plot, it is a tragedy.