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Inspector Holly #1
Somebody at the Door
One bleak Friday evening in January, 1942, Councillor Henry Grayling boards an overcrowded train with £120 in cash wages to be paid out the next day to the workers of Barrow and Furness Chemistry and Drugs Company. When Councillor Grayling finally finds the only available seat in a third-class carriage, he realises to his annoyance that he will be sharing it with some of his disliked acquaintances: George Ransom, with whom he had a quarrel; Charles Evetts, who is one of his not-so-trusted employees; a German refugee whom Grayling has denounced; and Hugh Rolandson, whom Grayling suspects of having an affair with his wife.
The train journey passes uneventfully in an awkward silence but later that evening Grayling dies of what looks like mustard gas poisoning and the suitcase of cash is nowhere to be found. Inspector Holly has a tough time trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, for the unpopular Councillor had many enemies who would be happy to see him go, and most of them could do with the cash he was carrying. But Inspector Holly is persistent and digs deep into the past of all the suspects for a solution, starting with Grayling's travelling companions. Somebody at the Door, first published in 1943, is an intricate mystery which, in the process of revealing whodunit, "paints an interesting picture of the everyday life during the war."
The train journey passes uneventfully in an awkward silence but later that evening Grayling dies of what looks like mustard gas poisoning and the suitcase of cash is nowhere to be found. Inspector Holly has a tough time trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, for the unpopular Councillor had many enemies who would be happy to see him go, and most of them could do with the cash he was carrying. But Inspector Holly is persistent and digs deep into the past of all the suspects for a solution, starting with Grayling's travelling companions. Somebody at the Door, first published in 1943, is an intricate mystery which, in the process of revealing whodunit, "paints an interesting picture of the everyday life during the war."
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1943
43 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Raymond W. Postgate
36 books9 followersRaymond William Postgate (6 November 1896 – 29 March 1971) was an English socialist, writer, journalist and editor, social historian, mystery novelist, and gourmet who founded the Good Food Guide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
April 14, 2021
EXCERPT: "The German, too, is a possible line. Refugees are a Home Office matter, and Inspector Atkins deals with them. But I remember him telling me one, who sounds very like this man, whom Grayling was making a dead set at. I can't remember the name, but Atkins will when he comes in. Grayling had written both to us and to the Home Secretary charging the man with being a spy, possessing a bicycle and a radio, and passing himself off falsely as a refugee, using the name of someone the Nazis had, in fact, killed. We didn't pay much attention, because Grayling had recently become very violent about such things and talked rather wildly. But I seem to remember Atkins spoke as if an arrest wasn't unlikely."
THE BLURB: One bleak Friday evening in January, 1942, Councillor Henry Grayling boards an overcrowded train with £120 in cash wages to be paid out the next day to the workers of Barrow and Furness Chemistry and Drugs Company. When Councillor Grayling finally finds the only available seat in a third-class carriage, he realises to his annoyance that he will be sharing it with some of his disliked acquaintances: George Ransom, with whom he had a quarrel; Charles Evetts, who is one of his not-so-trusted employees; a German refugee whom Grayling has denounced; and Hugh Rolandson, whom Grayling suspects of having an affair with his wife.
The train journey passes uneventfully in an awkward silence but later that evening Grayling dies of what looks like mustard gas poisoning and the suitcase of cash is nowhere to be found. Inspector Holly has a tough time trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, for the unpopular Councillor had many enemies who would be happy to see him go, and most of them could do with the cash he was carrying. But Inspector Holly is persistent and digs deep into the past of all the suspects for a solution, starting with Grayling's travelling companions. Somebody at the Door," first published in 1943, is an intricate mystery which, in the process of revealing whodunit, "paints an interesting picture of the everyday life during the war."
MY THOUGHTS: Oh dear. I was so looking forward to reading Somebody at the Door by Raymond Postgate. I usually love these old murder mysteries with their ambience. Unfortunately, this falls a little short.
Somebody at the Door, and I really can't see the relevance of the title, could easily have been a short story, or novella. The actual mystery itself, although a little obvious, is entertaining. What killed the book for me was the interminable back stories for each and every suspect in Grayling's death. Each one examined and relayed every minute detail starting from the suspect's childhood through to the present time. Each one could have been a book on its own. And most of it was irrelevant to the plot. 'Filling' I think they call it. I skimmed large tracts of text.
I could not make up my mind between 2 or 3 stars, so 2.5 it is.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Somebody at the Door by Raymond Postgate for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. A lot of people will like this book more than I did, therefore if you enjoyed the excerpt and like the sound of the blurb, please take a chance and read Somebody at the Door. I will enjoy reading your reviews.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about'page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
THE BLURB: One bleak Friday evening in January, 1942, Councillor Henry Grayling boards an overcrowded train with £120 in cash wages to be paid out the next day to the workers of Barrow and Furness Chemistry and Drugs Company. When Councillor Grayling finally finds the only available seat in a third-class carriage, he realises to his annoyance that he will be sharing it with some of his disliked acquaintances: George Ransom, with whom he had a quarrel; Charles Evetts, who is one of his not-so-trusted employees; a German refugee whom Grayling has denounced; and Hugh Rolandson, whom Grayling suspects of having an affair with his wife.
The train journey passes uneventfully in an awkward silence but later that evening Grayling dies of what looks like mustard gas poisoning and the suitcase of cash is nowhere to be found. Inspector Holly has a tough time trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, for the unpopular Councillor had many enemies who would be happy to see him go, and most of them could do with the cash he was carrying. But Inspector Holly is persistent and digs deep into the past of all the suspects for a solution, starting with Grayling's travelling companions. Somebody at the Door," first published in 1943, is an intricate mystery which, in the process of revealing whodunit, "paints an interesting picture of the everyday life during the war."
MY THOUGHTS: Oh dear. I was so looking forward to reading Somebody at the Door by Raymond Postgate. I usually love these old murder mysteries with their ambience. Unfortunately, this falls a little short.
Somebody at the Door, and I really can't see the relevance of the title, could easily have been a short story, or novella. The actual mystery itself, although a little obvious, is entertaining. What killed the book for me was the interminable back stories for each and every suspect in Grayling's death. Each one examined and relayed every minute detail starting from the suspect's childhood through to the present time. Each one could have been a book on its own. And most of it was irrelevant to the plot. 'Filling' I think they call it. I skimmed large tracts of text.
I could not make up my mind between 2 or 3 stars, so 2.5 it is.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Somebody at the Door by Raymond Postgate for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. A lot of people will like this book more than I did, therefore if you enjoyed the excerpt and like the sound of the blurb, please take a chance and read Somebody at the Door. I will enjoy reading your reviews.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about'page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 13, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance copy of Somebody at the Door, a police procedural set in Croxburn, a London suburb, originally published in 1943.
Henry Greyling staggers home after a train commute with several people he has angered or threatened and dies that evening in strange circumstances. Inspector Holly takes the case but is confused by the number of suspects and motives and the means. All he can do is interview the suspects until he arrives at a solution.
Somebody at the Door is an interesting novel. It is a product of its time so the war and prevailing morals inform it although Mr Postgate's atheism and left wing politics also peek through. Mr Edwards's illuminating forward expounds these themes far better than I can.
The mystery element of the novel is spot on. I lived the investigation with Inspector Holly who is mostly clueless until he realises who the perpetrator is but I had to wait until he told me. The bulk of the novel, however, is taken up with the back story of what led to the characters' putative murder of the unpleasant Henry Greyling. These stories are varied but have the common denominator of Henry Greyling being a threat to their way of life.
The detail of wartime life is fascinating and informative as only contemporary writing can be, for example my knowledge of the Home Guard is limited to childhood watching of Dad's Army, but it seems that by 1942 there was a push towards a greater professionalism and conscription.
Somebody at the Door is interesting, if slightly boring in style with an excellent mystery at the heart of it.
Henry Greyling staggers home after a train commute with several people he has angered or threatened and dies that evening in strange circumstances. Inspector Holly takes the case but is confused by the number of suspects and motives and the means. All he can do is interview the suspects until he arrives at a solution.
Somebody at the Door is an interesting novel. It is a product of its time so the war and prevailing morals inform it although Mr Postgate's atheism and left wing politics also peek through. Mr Edwards's illuminating forward expounds these themes far better than I can.
The mystery element of the novel is spot on. I lived the investigation with Inspector Holly who is mostly clueless until he realises who the perpetrator is but I had to wait until he told me. The bulk of the novel, however, is taken up with the back story of what led to the characters' putative murder of the unpleasant Henry Greyling. These stories are varied but have the common denominator of Henry Greyling being a threat to their way of life.
The detail of wartime life is fascinating and informative as only contemporary writing can be, for example my knowledge of the Home Guard is limited to childhood watching of Dad's Army, but it seems that by 1942 there was a push towards a greater professionalism and conscription.
Somebody at the Door is interesting, if slightly boring in style with an excellent mystery at the heart of it.
August 29, 2018
Murder on the Home Front...
Councillor Grayling is an unpleasant man, meaning that plenty of people would be quite happy to see him got out of the way. One evening he turns up at his own door seriously ill and later that night he dies. When the autopsy is carried out, it becomes clear he was poisoned by mustard gas. Suspicion falls on the people he most recently spent time with – his fellow travellers in the carriage of the train he took home from work, each of whom may have had a motive to do away with him. It’s up to Inspector Holly to discover which of them did it, and how...
In Verdict of Twelve, Postgate told the stories of the various jurors who were to serve on a murder trial, showing how their own lives and experiences impacted on the decision they would finally reach. In this one, he adopts a similar approach by telling each of the stories of the train travellers, showing how their lives crossed with Councillor Grayling’s. The result is that the book reads almost like a collection of linked short stories and some of them are excellent in their own right.
First published in 1943, the book is set in the winter of 1942, when WW2 was at its height and Britain was shrouded in the darkness of the blackout. A couple of the stories relate directly to wartime experiences, not to mention the mustard gas being used as the weapon. The others are less directly connected but still give a fascinating picture of life on the Home Front. Postgate’s descriptive writing is first-class, with the ability to conjure an atmosphere or a scene or a character so that they feel entirely real. Some of the characterisation is brilliant, creating people we feel sorry for, or hate, or despise.
I don’t want to say too much about the individual stories, since the joy is in seeing them develop, so I’ll try to give just a brief idea of them. The first tells of a young man who gets a girl pregnant – this at a time when such a thing was still scandalous and when abortion was illegal. He’s a deeply unpleasant character, but Postgate makes the study of his psychology compelling. This is a dark and disturbing story, and very well told. As is the next one, which tells the story of a Corporal in the Home Guard. Postgate takes us through his life story, and uses it to look bitterly at the class divisions of Britain between the wars. Postgate was himself a socialist, and his political leanings show through clearly here. It’s a story of a fall and a redemption, and paints a frightening picture of wartime London in the blackout, with the constant threat of bombing. I was totally involved in the Corporal’s story and so hoped it might have a happy ending...
Next we are taken into the world of Nazi Germany as we witness the attempt to smuggle a man out of Berlin. This is a great short story, utterly absorbing in its depiction of Berlin in 1938 as a place of growing fear and suspicion, followed by the extreme tension of the journey. It also provides a look at the way German refugees were treated in Britain during the war, often feared as being part of the Fifth Column, resulting in them being objects of suspicion and resentment and in strict curtailment of their liberties. Fabulous stuff that had me on the edge of my seat! I so hoped it might have a happy ending...
Unfortunately the final story isn’t up to the same standard. It tells at too great length of a somewhat mundane love affair between two people who each failed to get my sympathy. The man works for a publisher, so Postgate takes the chance to include a lot of self-indulgent stuff about writers and publishing – a subject that is endlessly fascinating to some writers but perhaps less so to many readers. However, even here Postgate lifts an unremarkable episode by taking our lovers to Paris just before the occupation, and shows his usual skill in drawing a fascinating picture of a place at a particular point in time.
This last section did undoubtedly pull the book down for me, and I intended to give it four stars. However, writing the review has reminded me just how good the other stories are, and they more than made up for my mild disappointment with the lovers. The main story is actually somewhat secondary to the suspects’ own stories, but Postgate wraps it up well. The overall effect is dark and rather bleak, and as a result suits its wartime setting perfectly. Postgate has been a real find for me through the British Library Crime Classics. I get the impression he didn’t write a huge number of crime novels, but I do hope they manage to find at least one or two more. And I highly recommend this one for the quality of the stories within the story.
NB This book was provided for review by the publishers.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Councillor Grayling is an unpleasant man, meaning that plenty of people would be quite happy to see him got out of the way. One evening he turns up at his own door seriously ill and later that night he dies. When the autopsy is carried out, it becomes clear he was poisoned by mustard gas. Suspicion falls on the people he most recently spent time with – his fellow travellers in the carriage of the train he took home from work, each of whom may have had a motive to do away with him. It’s up to Inspector Holly to discover which of them did it, and how...
In Verdict of Twelve, Postgate told the stories of the various jurors who were to serve on a murder trial, showing how their own lives and experiences impacted on the decision they would finally reach. In this one, he adopts a similar approach by telling each of the stories of the train travellers, showing how their lives crossed with Councillor Grayling’s. The result is that the book reads almost like a collection of linked short stories and some of them are excellent in their own right.
First published in 1943, the book is set in the winter of 1942, when WW2 was at its height and Britain was shrouded in the darkness of the blackout. A couple of the stories relate directly to wartime experiences, not to mention the mustard gas being used as the weapon. The others are less directly connected but still give a fascinating picture of life on the Home Front. Postgate’s descriptive writing is first-class, with the ability to conjure an atmosphere or a scene or a character so that they feel entirely real. Some of the characterisation is brilliant, creating people we feel sorry for, or hate, or despise.
I don’t want to say too much about the individual stories, since the joy is in seeing them develop, so I’ll try to give just a brief idea of them. The first tells of a young man who gets a girl pregnant – this at a time when such a thing was still scandalous and when abortion was illegal. He’s a deeply unpleasant character, but Postgate makes the study of his psychology compelling. This is a dark and disturbing story, and very well told. As is the next one, which tells the story of a Corporal in the Home Guard. Postgate takes us through his life story, and uses it to look bitterly at the class divisions of Britain between the wars. Postgate was himself a socialist, and his political leanings show through clearly here. It’s a story of a fall and a redemption, and paints a frightening picture of wartime London in the blackout, with the constant threat of bombing. I was totally involved in the Corporal’s story and so hoped it might have a happy ending...
Next we are taken into the world of Nazi Germany as we witness the attempt to smuggle a man out of Berlin. This is a great short story, utterly absorbing in its depiction of Berlin in 1938 as a place of growing fear and suspicion, followed by the extreme tension of the journey. It also provides a look at the way German refugees were treated in Britain during the war, often feared as being part of the Fifth Column, resulting in them being objects of suspicion and resentment and in strict curtailment of their liberties. Fabulous stuff that had me on the edge of my seat! I so hoped it might have a happy ending...
Unfortunately the final story isn’t up to the same standard. It tells at too great length of a somewhat mundane love affair between two people who each failed to get my sympathy. The man works for a publisher, so Postgate takes the chance to include a lot of self-indulgent stuff about writers and publishing – a subject that is endlessly fascinating to some writers but perhaps less so to many readers. However, even here Postgate lifts an unremarkable episode by taking our lovers to Paris just before the occupation, and shows his usual skill in drawing a fascinating picture of a place at a particular point in time.
This last section did undoubtedly pull the book down for me, and I intended to give it four stars. However, writing the review has reminded me just how good the other stories are, and they more than made up for my mild disappointment with the lovers. The main story is actually somewhat secondary to the suspects’ own stories, but Postgate wraps it up well. The overall effect is dark and rather bleak, and as a result suits its wartime setting perfectly. Postgate has been a real find for me through the British Library Crime Classics. I get the impression he didn’t write a huge number of crime novels, but I do hope they manage to find at least one or two more. And I highly recommend this one for the quality of the stories within the story.
NB This book was provided for review by the publishers.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
February 10, 2018
A forgotten gem. It's true as critics have pointed out, that Postgate does meander a little in his story telling style so that the second half of the book becomes a series of vignettes giving detailed background to all the suspects that sometimes makes the book feel a little uneven. Herr Manheim's story in particular might have been better placed at the start of the story being long and complex.
Nevertheless I found the story compelling and fascinating in particular in it's period detail. Postgate writes about the time he was living in... The war years, and the deep authenticity of this description would be hard for someone who had not experienced it to create. Tiny details, likely to be deemed historically insignificant elevate the story and give the present day reader a great sense of place and time.
i loved too the occasional sociopolitical comment. Sharp succinct observations that made me pause and reflect .....
Postgate is also surprisingly direct in describing the personal relationships of some of the characters. Many crime writers of this period prefer an oblique approach, hinting rather than being specific. A vivid detail here and there stands out sharply in the mind. This feels like an artists eye. But an artist who is also politically, socially and psycho-analytically aware. I found I could not read this book without feeling deeply sympathetic towards many of the characters. In this perhaps Postgate prefigures later crime writers who progressively move away from a black and white approach to crime as the C20 progresses.
Nevertheless I found the story compelling and fascinating in particular in it's period detail. Postgate writes about the time he was living in... The war years, and the deep authenticity of this description would be hard for someone who had not experienced it to create. Tiny details, likely to be deemed historically insignificant elevate the story and give the present day reader a great sense of place and time.
i loved too the occasional sociopolitical comment. Sharp succinct observations that made me pause and reflect .....
Postgate is also surprisingly direct in describing the personal relationships of some of the characters. Many crime writers of this period prefer an oblique approach, hinting rather than being specific. A vivid detail here and there stands out sharply in the mind. This feels like an artists eye. But an artist who is also politically, socially and psycho-analytically aware. I found I could not read this book without feeling deeply sympathetic towards many of the characters. In this perhaps Postgate prefigures later crime writers who progressively move away from a black and white approach to crime as the C20 progresses.
October 5, 2017
"Somebody at the Door" is a mystery set in 1942 in England and was originally published in 1943. A man is murdered using mustard gas, and the police investigate his fellow train passengers. Instead of a typical investigation, we get a series of short stories showing the background of each suspect with events occurring from his point of view. One of these stories was quite exciting. Some were interesting and showed what England was like at the time (Home Guard duties, blackout, etc.). The Inspector also learned this background information, and it helped eliminate some suspects and provided motive and opportunity for others.
I did figure out whodunit from those stories and my guess was confirmed when the Inspector questioned a few people and turned up the final clues. Yet much of the information in the stories was filler--maybe interesting in a historical sense but having little to do with the mystery. Even the exciting sub-story could have been summarized in a paragraph as that person wasn't a strong suspect. Basically, this story may appeal more to fans of historical novels than of whodunit mysteries.
There were no sex scenes, though there was a description of a nude female's breasts. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical mystery.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I did figure out whodunit from those stories and my guess was confirmed when the Inspector questioned a few people and turned up the final clues. Yet much of the information in the stories was filler--maybe interesting in a historical sense but having little to do with the mystery. Even the exciting sub-story could have been summarized in a paragraph as that person wasn't a strong suspect. Basically, this story may appeal more to fans of historical novels than of whodunit mysteries.
There were no sex scenes, though there was a description of a nude female's breasts. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this historical mystery.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
October 17, 2022
I thought this was a very interesting and unusual wartime mystery. Unusual in that each character involved had a backstory - the characterisation was so well done that you felt sympathy for some, despised others. I especially enjoyed the (long) chapter about the German refugee, it was very tense and exciting, almost a novella in itself!
The descriptions and detail of warime London in the blackout, cold and dark were so atmospheric. I really enjoyed this.
The descriptions and detail of warime London in the blackout, cold and dark were so atmospheric. I really enjoyed this.
October 10, 2017
Originally published in 1943, “Somebody at the Door" was the author’s second of three forays into the world of crime fiction. I admired the technique of "Verdict of Twelve", but did not rate it as highly as other reviewers. This novel I found somewhat tedious.
The murder is ingenious and very much in keeping with the WW2 setting. The murderee is an unpleasant councillor named Grayling who is carrying a case containing £124.
There is a potentially interesting group of suspects including a vicar, a wife and her lover, a German refugee scientist, an amorous chemist, and a petty-thief/cobbler. All have cause to dislike Grayling and some also need money. Most of them have fairly unedifying back stories. Some of these I found interminably long, especially the tale of the German refugee, or very grim.
As with “Verdict of Twelve”, in the end the backgrounds had little to do with the solving of the crime which arose from a pretty sordid and unoriginal motive.
Postgate has too many axes to grind here and the political posturing got in the way of the story which, apart from the method, was really quite straightforward. There are pot shots at established religion, publishing firms, corrupt local government and Fascism, some of which is a bit preachy in tone.
I did not much enjoy reading this. It was poorer in design and execution than “Verdict of Twelve “ and rather unrelentingly dismal in outlook.
This is not for readers expecting a classic British 1940’s crime story. I kept thinking of the old “News of the World “ newspaper and its sensational, salacious and titillating stories.
Martin Edwards’ Introduction gives a decent summary of the book and provides useful background on the author. Again, however, I think he overrates Postgate’s achievements as a crime writer and I may be tempted to give “The Ledger is Kept” a miss should it be republished.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen for the ARC.
The murder is ingenious and very much in keeping with the WW2 setting. The murderee is an unpleasant councillor named Grayling who is carrying a case containing £124.
There is a potentially interesting group of suspects including a vicar, a wife and her lover, a German refugee scientist, an amorous chemist, and a petty-thief/cobbler. All have cause to dislike Grayling and some also need money. Most of them have fairly unedifying back stories. Some of these I found interminably long, especially the tale of the German refugee, or very grim.
As with “Verdict of Twelve”, in the end the backgrounds had little to do with the solving of the crime which arose from a pretty sordid and unoriginal motive.
Postgate has too many axes to grind here and the political posturing got in the way of the story which, apart from the method, was really quite straightforward. There are pot shots at established religion, publishing firms, corrupt local government and Fascism, some of which is a bit preachy in tone.
I did not much enjoy reading this. It was poorer in design and execution than “Verdict of Twelve “ and rather unrelentingly dismal in outlook.
This is not for readers expecting a classic British 1940’s crime story. I kept thinking of the old “News of the World “ newspaper and its sensational, salacious and titillating stories.
Martin Edwards’ Introduction gives a decent summary of the book and provides useful background on the author. Again, however, I think he overrates Postgate’s achievements as a crime writer and I may be tempted to give “The Ledger is Kept” a miss should it be republished.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen for the ARC.
November 29, 2017
I've been enjoying all of the re-releases of classic British mysteries by Poisoned Pen Press that I was more than ready to like this one as well. Unfortunately, that was not the case with Somebody at the Door.
Set during WWII, you'd think that the background of the war would make it more interesting. Instead, it led to long side roads that went on so long that I honestly forgot I was reading a murder mystery and when it got back to the actual plot, it was jarring and I found myself looking at the synopsis to refresh my mind on just what in the heck I was reading.
Yes, there were a lot of suspects because Grayling (the victim) was not a well-loved guy, so I can understand why Postgate had to go into, a bit, why each suspect was under suspicion. However, the tangents that this lead to were just too freaking long and other than the Home Guard and the mention of black-out curtains, you'd have hardly known that the war was touching most of the characters. Sure there were mentions and one tangent was a story something that happened before the war yet involving the suspect being helped out of pre-war Nazi Germany because he was, I assume, Jewish. For a blurb that includes, "paints an interesting picture of the everyday life during the war" it seemed like everyday life was going on as usual for most of them. No mention of rationing, no constant fear of bombing in Grayling's town, etc, it was a backdrop and an excuse for tangents, nothing more.
Hey, this is just my opinion and you may like it. I'm never one to be fond of pointless tangents, that's why I usually stay away from literary fiction and grab mysteries.
Set during WWII, you'd think that the background of the war would make it more interesting. Instead, it led to long side roads that went on so long that I honestly forgot I was reading a murder mystery and when it got back to the actual plot, it was jarring and I found myself looking at the synopsis to refresh my mind on just what in the heck I was reading.
Yes, there were a lot of suspects because Grayling (the victim) was not a well-loved guy, so I can understand why Postgate had to go into, a bit, why each suspect was under suspicion. However, the tangents that this lead to were just too freaking long and other than the Home Guard and the mention of black-out curtains, you'd have hardly known that the war was touching most of the characters. Sure there were mentions and one tangent was a story something that happened before the war yet involving the suspect being helped out of pre-war Nazi Germany because he was, I assume, Jewish. For a blurb that includes, "paints an interesting picture of the everyday life during the war" it seemed like everyday life was going on as usual for most of them. No mention of rationing, no constant fear of bombing in Grayling's town, etc, it was a backdrop and an excuse for tangents, nothing more.
Hey, this is just my opinion and you may like it. I'm never one to be fond of pointless tangents, that's why I usually stay away from literary fiction and grab mysteries.
December 1, 2017
For my full review click on the link below:
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https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
May 21, 2022
Unpopular Councillor Grayling is murdered after a train ride with a number of dubious characters.
Cleverly written with chapters dealing with the back stories of the characters Grayling shared a train carriage with. Some of the stories were slightly long winded, which put the pacing of the book off. The ending - fairly predictable.
Cleverly written with chapters dealing with the back stories of the characters Grayling shared a train carriage with. Some of the stories were slightly long winded, which put the pacing of the book off. The ending - fairly predictable.
February 14, 2024
A smart read. The style of writing is unique to the early war years with phrases and slang of the period. If you enjoy Christie you may like one of the collection of British Library Crime Classics.
January 23, 2020
This review can also be found on my blog
The setup of this story is not that that unusual: Henry Grayling, a not particularly liked man, shares his train carriage with a handful of people who either have a good reason to want him dead (like the man his wife is having an affair with) or who simply don’t like him much but could very much do with the £120 he was carrying. Not long after he has left the train he’s dead and the money gone.
The way it continues is then not quite as typical. We see very little of the police doing any investigating for most of the book. Instead, each chapter focusses on one of Grayling's travelling companions and tells us how they got to the point where they are a viable suspect in great detail. For example, the chapter on the German refugee begins with a group of students who discover by chance that somebody is taking money from German Jews who want to leave the country and promises to help them escape but actually betrays them to the Gestapo. They also acquire a list of names and discover that one of the men hasn’t yet attempted to flee and one of the students sets out to save him. We then witness their escape, including several near-misses that had me biting my nails, even though I knew that the man had to be the German that was in the train and therefore had to survive. It was brilliantly written but I also wondered if all of this was really necessary. Red herrings are of course one thing, but each chapter contained so many things that couldn’t even be called red herrings. The above-mentioned students had nothing to do with the murder – and it was almost immediately obvious that they couldn’t have – yet half the chapter was just about them.
Only at the end of the chapter, we see the police discussing the suspect in question and from their conversation, we can see that their investigation has led them to a rough idea of the motive this person has for killing Grayling. But usually, they don’t know as many details as the reader does. At the same time, they’re also trying to figure out how Grayling was murdered which is also far from obvious but then maybe once they have figured that out, the who follows automatically.
In the end, I can see how this book isn’t for everybody. Especially people who expect a more traditional mystery, where the police uncover clue after about the suspect’s past will likely end up disappointed. But I enjoyed the different stories too much to really care about not getting what I expected. Now not all of them are as nail-biting as the refugee-story (and some of them are a bit heavy-handed where the moral is concerned) but they’re still great and that makes the whole book an enjoyable read.
The setup of this story is not that that unusual: Henry Grayling, a not particularly liked man, shares his train carriage with a handful of people who either have a good reason to want him dead (like the man his wife is having an affair with) or who simply don’t like him much but could very much do with the £120 he was carrying. Not long after he has left the train he’s dead and the money gone.
The way it continues is then not quite as typical. We see very little of the police doing any investigating for most of the book. Instead, each chapter focusses on one of Grayling's travelling companions and tells us how they got to the point where they are a viable suspect in great detail. For example, the chapter on the German refugee begins with a group of students who discover by chance that somebody is taking money from German Jews who want to leave the country and promises to help them escape but actually betrays them to the Gestapo. They also acquire a list of names and discover that one of the men hasn’t yet attempted to flee and one of the students sets out to save him. We then witness their escape, including several near-misses that had me biting my nails, even though I knew that the man had to be the German that was in the train and therefore had to survive. It was brilliantly written but I also wondered if all of this was really necessary. Red herrings are of course one thing, but each chapter contained so many things that couldn’t even be called red herrings. The above-mentioned students had nothing to do with the murder – and it was almost immediately obvious that they couldn’t have – yet half the chapter was just about them.
Only at the end of the chapter, we see the police discussing the suspect in question and from their conversation, we can see that their investigation has led them to a rough idea of the motive this person has for killing Grayling. But usually, they don’t know as many details as the reader does. At the same time, they’re also trying to figure out how Grayling was murdered which is also far from obvious but then maybe once they have figured that out, the who follows automatically.
In the end, I can see how this book isn’t for everybody. Especially people who expect a more traditional mystery, where the police uncover clue after about the suspect’s past will likely end up disappointed. But I enjoyed the different stories too much to really care about not getting what I expected. Now not all of them are as nail-biting as the refugee-story (and some of them are a bit heavy-handed where the moral is concerned) but they’re still great and that makes the whole book an enjoyable read.
November 16, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Verdict of Twelve’ by this author so I was really looking forward to this one. The synopsis sounds superb – a man leaves his usual train and by the time he gets home, he’s dead. The suspects are all fellow passengers with a grudge. The opening chapters of the book set the scene, we come to know Councillor Henry Grayling and it soon becomes apparent he is not a nice man, it’s easy to see why someone would want to murder him.
The rest of the book focuses on the suspects – there’s the German refugee, a suspicious employee of Grayling’s, a vicar, an army corporal and a handsome young man, fond of women. I had expected to enjoy this approach to a crime novel, we get to know about the suspects in depth and build our own ideas on who did the deed. But I did start to lose interest about half way through, the back story of the suspects was a little too detailed for me and it did feel I was reading a collection of short stories rather than one whole mystery.
This book is set during the winter of 1942 whilst England was in a wartime blackout, this for me makes a great setting for a crime. It’s cold, miserable, everyone is on edge and is untrusting and most importantly it’s dark. Anything can happen and not be witnessed. It’s perfect and Raymond Postgate does a wonderful job of illustrating that grim period of time.
It is a very clever mystery with a clever cause of death, so although I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected or as much as previous British Library Crime Classics, there were elements that made the book readable and entertaining.
The rest of the book focuses on the suspects – there’s the German refugee, a suspicious employee of Grayling’s, a vicar, an army corporal and a handsome young man, fond of women. I had expected to enjoy this approach to a crime novel, we get to know about the suspects in depth and build our own ideas on who did the deed. But I did start to lose interest about half way through, the back story of the suspects was a little too detailed for me and it did feel I was reading a collection of short stories rather than one whole mystery.
This book is set during the winter of 1942 whilst England was in a wartime blackout, this for me makes a great setting for a crime. It’s cold, miserable, everyone is on edge and is untrusting and most importantly it’s dark. Anything can happen and not be witnessed. It’s perfect and Raymond Postgate does a wonderful job of illustrating that grim period of time.
It is a very clever mystery with a clever cause of death, so although I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected or as much as previous British Library Crime Classics, there were elements that made the book readable and entertaining.
November 25, 2017
On a miserably bitter January evening in 1942 Councillor Henry Grayling catches a crowded train at London Euston which will carry him home to the suburbs. The blackout, makes for poor visibility, and Grayling is irritated by the crowds at Euston. Carrying over £120 in wages from the firm he is employed by – which he will distribute the following day – Grayling fights his way onto the overdue train. Sharing the compartment with Grayling are a few strangers; a couple of workmen, a middle-aged woman and her daughter, as well as several people he knows from his home in Croxburn. Evetts, a despised colleague from the Barrow and Furness Chemistry and Drugs Company, is the first. Sat next to Grayling is the local vicar, and opposite him is a German refugee who Grayling has denounced on no evidence but his own suspicions. George Ransom a corporal in the home guard, who Grayling has had reason to take to task, and another local young man named Hugh Rolandson are all crammed into Grayling’s carriage.
Later that evening the vicar receives a frantic telephone call from Grayling’s wife, pleading with him to come to her house – where her husband is dying. When he arrives, the doctor has already been, but it is too late and Mrs Grayling, tells a spine chilling tale of hearing a noise at her door – and having found her husband collapsed – obviously dreadfully unwell. His case is missing – as of course are the wages that were in it.
Full review: https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2017/...
Later that evening the vicar receives a frantic telephone call from Grayling’s wife, pleading with him to come to her house – where her husband is dying. When he arrives, the doctor has already been, but it is too late and Mrs Grayling, tells a spine chilling tale of hearing a noise at her door – and having found her husband collapsed – obviously dreadfully unwell. His case is missing – as of course are the wages that were in it.
Full review: https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2017/...
November 18, 2017
The cover seems to indicate pastoral calm. Almost village like. The train was the pivotal scene or so it seemed on a return journey, like any other. Everyone returning after work on a dreary, very cold, winter like day. The usual clerks, the workmen, an odd woman and her child, all generally known to each other all travelling on the same line not on a daily basis but accountable and all found.
Mr. Grayling our victim one of them. An unlikeable character if ever there was one and in this carriage there were many who would have been very glad if he was dead. So how do you pinpoint who could have killed him. The method of murder was particularly violent. Mustard gas no longer in use but strangely enough could be obtained by any number of those in this carriage. The war was not long over and supplies were around if you knew where to look.
The story proceeds in a methodical way, a bit slow, a bit pedantic but you do know you are getting there!
A different style to a mystery murder but appealing in its own way.
Mr. Grayling our victim one of them. An unlikeable character if ever there was one and in this carriage there were many who would have been very glad if he was dead. So how do you pinpoint who could have killed him. The method of murder was particularly violent. Mustard gas no longer in use but strangely enough could be obtained by any number of those in this carriage. The war was not long over and supplies were around if you knew where to look.
The story proceeds in a methodical way, a bit slow, a bit pedantic but you do know you are getting there!
A different style to a mystery murder but appealing in its own way.
December 13, 2017
"Somebody at the Door" is about a man who commutes back home from work as usual is killed on his way home. Investigation shows few people sharing the same coach with the deceased on the train have their motives of finishing off the deceased. The majority of the book is to dig deep into the backgrounds of the few main suspects. While the concept is interesting, but I felt I was reading few short stories of the individuals more than trying to solve the puzzle.
This isn't the strongest book from the British Crime Library Classic series but nonetheless still a good read from the golden age of detective fiction era. Another re-released by Poisoned Pen Press, "Verdict of Twelve," to me, is a better choice to get acquainted to Postage's ingenuity of writing classic crime works.
This isn't the strongest book from the British Crime Library Classic series but nonetheless still a good read from the golden age of detective fiction era. Another re-released by Poisoned Pen Press, "Verdict of Twelve," to me, is a better choice to get acquainted to Postage's ingenuity of writing classic crime works.
February 14, 2018
Somebody at the Door is a war-time murder mystery by Raymond Postgate. Published during the war, much of the plot hinges on the war-time environment, the dangerous darkness of the London blackouts and the training of citizens for para-military home guard and civil defense. A disagreeable man is murdered on his way home, dragging himself to his door. Coincidentally, nearly everyone in his train compartment is someone who has reason to dislike him enough to kill him. I think that says more about his character than anything else.
Inspector Holly is a highly organized and methodical detective investigating the murder. He is frustrated because there are simply too many suspects. Nearly everyone he investigates, it turns out, has plenty of motive, means, and opportunity. Henry Grayling is just a disagreeable, miserable cuss and worked at making other people miserable, though I am certain he thought himself a thoroughly proper gentleman.
I enjoyed the investigation in Somebody at the Door. It was methodical, clear, fair and everything a classical detective lover would hope for. It also is a fascinating insight into the lives of people during the War. There are so many narratives that come together on that train ride and so many secrets: theft, corruption, adultery, illegal abortions, espionage, all on one train. It seems Grayling knew no ordinary people.
I was disappointed in the resolution, though it is totally in keeping with the character. I wanted someone else to be the murderer, but sometimes that happens. I followed a couple red herrings, something I hardly ever fall for. I am always happy when I don’t know for certain who the killer is within five paragraphs of his/her introduction. When a red herring succeeds in leading me down a false path, I like it even better. So there is a lot to like about Somebody at the Door. It just ended somewhat anti-climactically–totally in character, but not satisfying for the reader.
I received an e-galley of Somebody at the Door from the publisher through NetGalley.
Somebody at the Door at Poisoned Pen Press
Raymond Postgate – Wikipedia
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
Inspector Holly is a highly organized and methodical detective investigating the murder. He is frustrated because there are simply too many suspects. Nearly everyone he investigates, it turns out, has plenty of motive, means, and opportunity. Henry Grayling is just a disagreeable, miserable cuss and worked at making other people miserable, though I am certain he thought himself a thoroughly proper gentleman.
I enjoyed the investigation in Somebody at the Door. It was methodical, clear, fair and everything a classical detective lover would hope for. It also is a fascinating insight into the lives of people during the War. There are so many narratives that come together on that train ride and so many secrets: theft, corruption, adultery, illegal abortions, espionage, all on one train. It seems Grayling knew no ordinary people.
I was disappointed in the resolution, though it is totally in keeping with the character. I wanted someone else to be the murderer, but sometimes that happens. I followed a couple red herrings, something I hardly ever fall for. I am always happy when I don’t know for certain who the killer is within five paragraphs of his/her introduction. When a red herring succeeds in leading me down a false path, I like it even better. So there is a lot to like about Somebody at the Door. It just ended somewhat anti-climactically–totally in character, but not satisfying for the reader.
I received an e-galley of Somebody at the Door from the publisher through NetGalley.
Somebody at the Door at Poisoned Pen Press
Raymond Postgate – Wikipedia
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
May 13, 2019
1). Postgate is almost as depressed and cynical as George Orwell.
2). This mystery is intriguing and rich in detail. Postgate cares about his characters, I think.
3). His contempt for religious and old-fashioned people seems sometimes cruel--and sometimes kind of amusing.
4). "He was not a fool, though he was often foolish" (100). "Now, for the first time, a man in charge of the civil power...was calling on him for advice and help, deferring to him as one who knew the truth about the parish. (How wise Holly had been to use the word 'parish,' how nearly he had forgotten to do so!)" (28).
This kind of omniscient viewpoint, when the author goes into the characters' heads and hearts without their consent and tells us authoritatively about their...characters, is old-fashioned itself. It has always made me uneasy, because I wonder if there's some great Author somewhere, one level above this plane, who's summarizing me in a few pithy sentences.
2). This mystery is intriguing and rich in detail. Postgate cares about his characters, I think.
3). His contempt for religious and old-fashioned people seems sometimes cruel--and sometimes kind of amusing.
4). "He was not a fool, though he was often foolish" (100). "Now, for the first time, a man in charge of the civil power...was calling on him for advice and help, deferring to him as one who knew the truth about the parish. (How wise Holly had been to use the word 'parish,' how nearly he had forgotten to do so!)" (28).
This kind of omniscient viewpoint, when the author goes into the characters' heads and hearts without their consent and tells us authoritatively about their...characters, is old-fashioned itself. It has always made me uneasy, because I wonder if there's some great Author somewhere, one level above this plane, who's summarizing me in a few pithy sentences.
June 19, 2019
Don't be fooled by the beautiful British Library Crime Classics reissue cover: this is far from a run-of-the-mill 40s whodunit. In fact, I like it better than his much more famous Verdict of Twelve, which is itself a terrific mystery novel.
In this one, Postgate tweaks mystery conventions in a very innovative way through his attitudes toward people's behavior, the war (it's set [and was written] in 1940s Blackout London), and the social construct. I'd say that its discursive and harsh nature might be off-putting if you are looking for a cosy read. But the fully-rounded, fully-drawn characters are gripping. Think of it as Agatha Christie's Murder On the Orient Express turned inside-out, where the back stories don't intersect the way you thought they might.
One of the best novels about wartime Britain that I've read. For wartime mysteries, very comparable to Green For Danger.
In this one, Postgate tweaks mystery conventions in a very innovative way through his attitudes toward people's behavior, the war (it's set [and was written] in 1940s Blackout London), and the social construct. I'd say that its discursive and harsh nature might be off-putting if you are looking for a cosy read. But the fully-rounded, fully-drawn characters are gripping. Think of it as Agatha Christie's Murder On the Orient Express turned inside-out, where the back stories don't intersect the way you thought they might.
One of the best novels about wartime Britain that I've read. For wartime mysteries, very comparable to Green For Danger.
April 14, 2025
Another in the ongoing British Library series. This is set in WW2, in an England, subject to blackout, which doesn't help the police when a Commuter is murdered after getting off his train home. Interesting construction in that the story proceeds by the back story of all the suspects being told, chapter by chapter. Otherwise, fairly mediocre.
July 7, 2019
An unpleasant man is murdered; there is a plethora of suspects, each with their own motive; many threads need unraveling before the the crime is solved and the killer brought to book. Another classic crime novel given a new shelf life.
February 21, 2022
Well written and a great sense of atmosphere, but peopled with unpleasant people doing unpleasant things and without any sense of redemption. The jumping back into the past of each character was an interesting concept and I felt that it worked well here, in the "towards zero" vein, showing these unrelated people before they reached the crucial moment where one took an irrevocable step.
February 12, 2021
I don't really know how I feel about this book. The murder mystery itself is sort of by-the-bye since most of the book is taken up with short stories about the suspects. These are all fairly compelling and range from melancholy to horrific.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 6, 2021This was a lot of story for the murderer to end up being . That was disappointing.
October 6, 2018
Very very good, it’s an exercise in character and world building first and foremost. Very “modern” for it’s age.
January 31, 2018
It’s a cold January evening in 1942 and Councillor Henry Grayling steps off the evening train carrying £120. Hours later he is dead, and it’s down to Inspector Holly to establish a list of suspects. As he investigates it becomes apparent that many of fellow passengers on the 6.12 from Euston had their own reasons for wish Councillor Grayling dead.
The more I read of the British Library crime classics the more I get drawn into the wonderful echo of the past they provide. They are fascinating little glimpses into the way of living from a that few of us today would recognise. Somebody at the Door is no exception.
Set during the Second World War, the story is not just a murder mystery but also a look at how lives continued at home whilst the war was being fought overseas. There are scenes set during bombing raids, where conversations continue as bombs and bullets sound out in the night, where the response to such events is a mixture of relief at survival and an almost nonchalent acceptance that such events will occur.
The story is less a detective story but rather one of character analysis. The story progresses as if each suspect is being ticked off that list. As a suspect is highlighted his or her history is told as a story. There are few scenes of actual interaction between a suspect and Inspector Holly. Rather, each suspect is dealt with almost like a short story, tying them to Councillor Grayling in some teneous or more direct link, dependant upon the character. Some characters are more likeable than others. There are ones who the reader will hope to be the culprit, once their story has been read, others where the reader will hope they aren’t the guilty party.
There were some parts of the novel where I felt that the story wasn’t progressing as quickly as I would have liked, and that too much time was spent on the back story of a character. That said, I did enjoy the novel as I assessed or dismissed each suspect intent as I was on unmasking the killer before the big reveal.
British Library crime classics are great, atmospheric steps back in time, from the beautiful covers to the language contained in the pages and Somebody at the Door has both a beautiful cover and transportative language that takes you back to another age. There are just over 50 classics in the collection and I can’t wait to tick them all off my list.
The more I read of the British Library crime classics the more I get drawn into the wonderful echo of the past they provide. They are fascinating little glimpses into the way of living from a that few of us today would recognise. Somebody at the Door is no exception.
Set during the Second World War, the story is not just a murder mystery but also a look at how lives continued at home whilst the war was being fought overseas. There are scenes set during bombing raids, where conversations continue as bombs and bullets sound out in the night, where the response to such events is a mixture of relief at survival and an almost nonchalent acceptance that such events will occur.
The story is less a detective story but rather one of character analysis. The story progresses as if each suspect is being ticked off that list. As a suspect is highlighted his or her history is told as a story. There are few scenes of actual interaction between a suspect and Inspector Holly. Rather, each suspect is dealt with almost like a short story, tying them to Councillor Grayling in some teneous or more direct link, dependant upon the character. Some characters are more likeable than others. There are ones who the reader will hope to be the culprit, once their story has been read, others where the reader will hope they aren’t the guilty party.
There were some parts of the novel where I felt that the story wasn’t progressing as quickly as I would have liked, and that too much time was spent on the back story of a character. That said, I did enjoy the novel as I assessed or dismissed each suspect intent as I was on unmasking the killer before the big reveal.
British Library crime classics are great, atmospheric steps back in time, from the beautiful covers to the language contained in the pages and Somebody at the Door has both a beautiful cover and transportative language that takes you back to another age. There are just over 50 classics in the collection and I can’t wait to tick them all off my list.
January 5, 2018
I always like British Library Crime Classics as they help me to discover hidden gems of the Golden Age of mystery.
This is a hidden gem that somehow reminds me of Christie's Murder on the Orient Express as there are both a train involved and the stories of the different suspects.
The grime atmosphere reflects the historical period and even if it is nearly 70 years old it aged well.
Recommended
Many thanks to Poison Pen Press and Netgalley
This is a hidden gem that somehow reminds me of Christie's Murder on the Orient Express as there are both a train involved and the stories of the different suspects.
The grime atmosphere reflects the historical period and even if it is nearly 70 years old it aged well.
Recommended
Many thanks to Poison Pen Press and Netgalley
March 8, 2021
this was the strangest murder mystery I have ever read. It made my head hurt. There were times when I wondered if Postgate had started a second novel without letting anyone know. Rather than an enjoyable crime solving foray it felt like hard work
August 31, 2024
Like his thoughtful Verdict of Twelve, Raymond Postgate’s Somebody at the Door serves as both an intriguing puzzle to solve and as commentary on mysteries in general. The novel begins with a character sketch of the disagreeable town Councillor Henry James Greyling. We follow him from work to the train home, where he shares a compartment with eight others. The next thing we know, Greying is dead of gas poisoning. Investigator Holly begins asking questions, only to find that most of the people in that train compartment plus two others have motive to kill the man. So, who done it? And, which of the several motives is enough to drive someone to kill?
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration.
October 23, 2017
With thanks to Poison Pen and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Previously published in WWII, 1943, it is of it's time and quite interesting for that. Set in Croxburn were Cllr Henry Grayling has taken the train home from his work in London, with wages for delivery the next day. He is not well and later dies. The money is missing. The police investigate and we read accounts of his fellow passengers, a somewhat laborious procedure, several of whom have possible reason to dispose of the Counsellor. These mini stories have some interest for the time it is set in, some background and some historical information. It is however not difficult to spot 'whodunnit'. In spite of all this it is not the worst book I've read and just about gets the 3* rating.
Previously published in WWII, 1943, it is of it's time and quite interesting for that. Set in Croxburn were Cllr Henry Grayling has taken the train home from his work in London, with wages for delivery the next day. He is not well and later dies. The money is missing. The police investigate and we read accounts of his fellow passengers, a somewhat laborious procedure, several of whom have possible reason to dispose of the Counsellor. These mini stories have some interest for the time it is set in, some background and some historical information. It is however not difficult to spot 'whodunnit'. In spite of all this it is not the worst book I've read and just about gets the 3* rating.
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