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Luke Pagan #3
Over and Out (Luke Pagan) by Michael Gilbert
The slaughter of World War I in the trenches continues unabated. Luke Pagan finds himself in the Intelligence Corps, investigating an illegal organisation controlled by a Belgian, which is encouraging British soldiers to desert and move across to the German side. What began as a trickle now threatens to develop into a flood in the fourth year of war. Pagan enters dangerous territory and faces disaster.
The Author: Born in Lincolnshire, England, Michael Francis Gilbert graduated in law from the University of London in 1937, shortly after which he first spent some time teaching at a prep-school which was followed by six years serving with the Royal Horse Artillery. During World War II he was captured following service in North Africa and Italy, and his prisoner-of-war experiences later leading to the writing of the acclaimed novel ‘Death in Captivity’ in 1952.
After the war, Gilbert worked as a solicitor in London, but his writing continued throughout his legal career and in addition to novels he wrote stage plays and scripts for radio and television. He is, however, best remembered for his novels, which have been described as witty and meticulously-plotted espionage and police procedural thrillers, but which exemplify realism.
HRF Keating stated that ‘Smallbone Deceased’ was amongst the 100 best crime and mystery books ever published. "The plot," wrote Keating, "is in every way as good as those of Agatha Christie at her best: as neatly dovetailed, as inherently complex yet retaining a decent credibility, and as full of cunningly-suggested red herrings." It featured Chief Inspector Hazlerigg, who went on to appear in later novels and short stories, and another series was built around Patrick Petrella, a London based police constable (later promoted) who was fluent in four languages and had a love for both poetry and fine wine. Other memorable characters around which Gilbert built stories included Calder and Behrens. They are elderly but quite amiable agents, who are nonetheless ruthless and prepared to take on tasks too much at the dirty end of the business for their younger colleagues. They are brought out of retirement periodically upon receiving a bank statement containing a code.
Much of Michael Gilbert’s writing was done on the train as he travelled from home to his office in London: "I always take a latish train to work," he explained in 1980, "and, of course, I go first class. I have no trouble in writing because I prepare a thorough synopsis beforehand.". After retirement from the law, however, he nevertheless continued and also reviewed for ‘The Daily Telegraph’, as well as editing ‘The Oxford Book of Legal Anecdotes’.
Gilbert was appointed CBE in 1980. Generally regarded as ‘one of the elder statesmen of the British crime writing fraternity, he was a founder-member of the British Crime Writers' Association and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, before receiving the Lifetime ‘Anthony’ Achievement award at the 1990 Boucheron in London.
Michael Gilbert died in 2006, aged ninety three, and was survived by his wife and their two sons and five daughters.
The Author: Born in Lincolnshire, England, Michael Francis Gilbert graduated in law from the University of London in 1937, shortly after which he first spent some time teaching at a prep-school which was followed by six years serving with the Royal Horse Artillery. During World War II he was captured following service in North Africa and Italy, and his prisoner-of-war experiences later leading to the writing of the acclaimed novel ‘Death in Captivity’ in 1952.
After the war, Gilbert worked as a solicitor in London, but his writing continued throughout his legal career and in addition to novels he wrote stage plays and scripts for radio and television. He is, however, best remembered for his novels, which have been described as witty and meticulously-plotted espionage and police procedural thrillers, but which exemplify realism.
HRF Keating stated that ‘Smallbone Deceased’ was amongst the 100 best crime and mystery books ever published. "The plot," wrote Keating, "is in every way as good as those of Agatha Christie at her best: as neatly dovetailed, as inherently complex yet retaining a decent credibility, and as full of cunningly-suggested red herrings." It featured Chief Inspector Hazlerigg, who went on to appear in later novels and short stories, and another series was built around Patrick Petrella, a London based police constable (later promoted) who was fluent in four languages and had a love for both poetry and fine wine. Other memorable characters around which Gilbert built stories included Calder and Behrens. They are elderly but quite amiable agents, who are nonetheless ruthless and prepared to take on tasks too much at the dirty end of the business for their younger colleagues. They are brought out of retirement periodically upon receiving a bank statement containing a code.
Much of Michael Gilbert’s writing was done on the train as he travelled from home to his office in London: "I always take a latish train to work," he explained in 1980, "and, of course, I go first class. I have no trouble in writing because I prepare a thorough synopsis beforehand.". After retirement from the law, however, he nevertheless continued and also reviewed for ‘The Daily Telegraph’, as well as editing ‘The Oxford Book of Legal Anecdotes’.
Gilbert was appointed CBE in 1980. Generally regarded as ‘one of the elder statesmen of the British crime writing fraternity, he was a founder-member of the British Crime Writers' Association and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America, before receiving the Lifetime ‘Anthony’ Achievement award at the 1990 Boucheron in London.
Michael Gilbert died in 2006, aged ninety three, and was survived by his wife and their two sons and five daughters.
Paperback
First published September 1, 1999
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About the author
Michael Gilbert
143 books90 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Born in Lincolnshire in 1912, Michael Francis Gilbert was educated in Sussex before entering the University of London where he gained an LLB with honours in 1937. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America - an achievement many thought long overdue. He won the Life Achievement Anthony Award at the 1990 Boucheron in London, and in 1980 he was knighted as a Commander in the Order of the British Empire. Gilbert made his debut in 1947 with Close Quarters, and since then has become recognized as one of our most versatile British mystery writers.
He was the father of Harriett Gilbert.
Born in Lincolnshire in 1912, Michael Francis Gilbert was educated in Sussex before entering the University of London where he gained an LLB with honours in 1937. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America - an achievement many thought long overdue. He won the Life Achievement Anthony Award at the 1990 Boucheron in London, and in 1980 he was knighted as a Commander in the Order of the British Empire. Gilbert made his debut in 1947 with Close Quarters, and since then has become recognized as one of our most versatile British mystery writers.
He was the father of Harriett Gilbert.
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December 7, 2021
Proverbs say that the past is a different country, and the Luke Pagan series is a comfortable, saccrin trip into the Britain that was. Written towards the end of a long and prolific career, and published only intermittently in small runs, the three books are a reminiscing send-off from a fading master. I came across the first only by accident (it was 50 cents in a library bin) and immediately appreciated the style. Affectionately, familiarly, Gilbert builds up the pre-WWI setting, forestalling the modern elements of the second half for a yeoman beginning. There's little nostalgia for the days of stratified social-class or rural life, but the author's memory and warmth for the age practically drips off the page.
From there the story expands into a police procedural and then an espionage thriller, drawing heavily on the events and cultural overtones of the time. The language can be confusing (particularly for non-Commonwealth types) and some of the formatting is downright archaic, but in no way is the series bad. In fact, it's quite good, and the first book is one of the best I've ever read. It's ending is a triumphant high note for a character you've come to love, and any casual reader can revel in this literature done well. Similarly, the middle book is just as compelling, at least for a while. There is quite a long slog that can be deterring if you're not invested in the characters or plot, or not interested in the minute detail of early century politics and law. The third suffers from this as well, although in smaller amounts and the use of more characters breaks it up into manageable sections.
This series is truly something, the last familiar wave backwards as a professional slips away to his fate. I've never read anything else of Gilbert's, and I don't think I will. These books are so homely, so affectionate and well-worn, that you can tell how often the author must have visited these memories. These are warm, personal recollections of a time now long gone, with a satisfying and unique story built around them. If you can get the first book from your library, invest a few days and enjoy how it unfolds. If you really like it, try and track down the other two, because the experience will be immensely rewarding.
From there the story expands into a police procedural and then an espionage thriller, drawing heavily on the events and cultural overtones of the time. The language can be confusing (particularly for non-Commonwealth types) and some of the formatting is downright archaic, but in no way is the series bad. In fact, it's quite good, and the first book is one of the best I've ever read. It's ending is a triumphant high note for a character you've come to love, and any casual reader can revel in this literature done well. Similarly, the middle book is just as compelling, at least for a while. There is quite a long slog that can be deterring if you're not invested in the characters or plot, or not interested in the minute detail of early century politics and law. The third suffers from this as well, although in smaller amounts and the use of more characters breaks it up into manageable sections.
This series is truly something, the last familiar wave backwards as a professional slips away to his fate. I've never read anything else of Gilbert's, and I don't think I will. These books are so homely, so affectionate and well-worn, that you can tell how often the author must have visited these memories. These are warm, personal recollections of a time now long gone, with a satisfying and unique story built around them. If you can get the first book from your library, invest a few days and enjoy how it unfolds. If you really like it, try and track down the other two, because the experience will be immensely rewarding.
Displaying 1 of 1 review