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Mrs. Bradley #15
The Worsted Viper
Mrs. Bradley is not unaccustomed to receiving fan mail, but the anonymous letter that she opens one morning at breakfast has not been sent by a well-wisher. The letter evokes memories for Mrs. Bradley of a past criminal investigation, in which she had played a minor role in convicting a particularly unpleasant murderer and Satanist.
The letter, too, provides a link to a sudden spate of gruesome and ritualistic murders occurring in the normally tranquil surroundings of the Norfolk Broads and not for the first time, Mrs. Bradley finds herself drawn into a race to track down a killer.
Aided by her nephew Jonathan, and only occasionally hampered by her three former pupils—Laura, Kitty and Alice—Mrs. Bradley takes to the myriad waterways where she is pitted against a dark occultist sect, a deadly line in knitwear and a plot to dismantle an ancient monument, and where she finds herself the object of a long-harboured plan for revenge.
The letter, too, provides a link to a sudden spate of gruesome and ritualistic murders occurring in the normally tranquil surroundings of the Norfolk Broads and not for the first time, Mrs. Bradley finds herself drawn into a race to track down a killer.
Aided by her nephew Jonathan, and only occasionally hampered by her three former pupils—Laura, Kitty and Alice—Mrs. Bradley takes to the myriad waterways where she is pitted against a dark occultist sect, a deadly line in knitwear and a plot to dismantle an ancient monument, and where she finds herself the object of a long-harboured plan for revenge.
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1943
19 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Gladys Mitchell
94 books142 followersAka Malcolm Torrie, Stephen Hockaby.
Born in Cowley, Oxford, in 1901, Gladys Maude Winifred Mitchell was the daughter of market gardener James Mitchell, and his wife, Annie.
She was educated at Rothschild School, Brentford and Green School, Isleworth, before attending Goldsmiths College and University College, London from 1919-1921.
She taught English, history and games at St Paul's School, Brentford, from 1921-26, and at St Anne's Senior Girls School, Ealing until 1939.
She earned an external diploma in European history from University College in 1926, beginning to write her novels at this point. Mitchell went on to teach at a number of other schools, including the Brentford Senior Girls School (1941-50), and the Matthew Arnold School, Staines (1953-61). She retired to Corfe Mullen, Dorset in 1961, where she lived until her death in 1983.
Although primarily remembered for her mystery novels, and for her detective creation, Mrs. Bradley, who featured in 66 of her novels, Mitchell also published ten children's books under her own name, historical fiction under the pseudonym Stephen Hockaby, and more detective fiction under the pseudonym Malcolm Torrie. She also wrote a great many short stories, all of which were first published in the Evening Standard.
She was awarded the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger Award in 1976.
Born in Cowley, Oxford, in 1901, Gladys Maude Winifred Mitchell was the daughter of market gardener James Mitchell, and his wife, Annie.
She was educated at Rothschild School, Brentford and Green School, Isleworth, before attending Goldsmiths College and University College, London from 1919-1921.
She taught English, history and games at St Paul's School, Brentford, from 1921-26, and at St Anne's Senior Girls School, Ealing until 1939.
She earned an external diploma in European history from University College in 1926, beginning to write her novels at this point. Mitchell went on to teach at a number of other schools, including the Brentford Senior Girls School (1941-50), and the Matthew Arnold School, Staines (1953-61). She retired to Corfe Mullen, Dorset in 1961, where she lived until her death in 1983.
Although primarily remembered for her mystery novels, and for her detective creation, Mrs. Bradley, who featured in 66 of her novels, Mitchell also published ten children's books under her own name, historical fiction under the pseudonym Stephen Hockaby, and more detective fiction under the pseudonym Malcolm Torrie. She also wrote a great many short stories, all of which were first published in the Evening Standard.
She was awarded the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger Award in 1976.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 12, 2022
Some definite clues so I knew who the main bad guy was despite Mrs. Bradley. 3.5 rounded to 4.
May 6, 2019
the funny thing about these type of murder mysteries is that the way it's written is so matter-of-fact and dry, that you don't often pause to think about how horrifying some of these scenes are. and this book is chockfull of blood and gore and Satanic rituals - makes me wish it were a movie.
March 19, 2021
One of the Worst Mrs B Mysteries
I read a Golden Age Mystery Mitchell for sheer bubblegum. She always begins well, loses the thread in the middle, and ends lamely. That's to be expected, but this one really is one of the worst I've read. Don't bother.
I read a Golden Age Mystery Mitchell for sheer bubblegum. She always begins well, loses the thread in the middle, and ends lamely. That's to be expected, but this one really is one of the worst I've read. Don't bother.
March 24, 2022
I'm normally a fan of Mrs Bradley mysteries, but this one was pretty cringeworthy! I picked it up looking for more hijinks with Laura, Kitty, and Alice after enjoying the three musketeers in Laurels are Poison. And there are some good scenes with the three of them, but there's also a boatload of racism and ableism.
Even accounting for the normal amount of stuck-in-its-time-ness, The Worsted Viper reaches a new low. A major part of the plot revolves around a Romani family who is portrayed very negatively stereotyped. They are portrayed as not only poor, but slovenly, and as superstitious and untrustworthy. And these stereotypes really aren't questioned much at all. The family is involved in a larger cult-like group that mixes satanism, voodoo, and a mishmash of lurid practices.
Mitchell seems to be going for more of a thriller vibe with this book and while the boat chases and adventures are exciting, the satanist cult angle is just very awkward.
The other big issue for me was a side plot involving an intellectually disabled character. I know that different terms were common at the time the book was written, but even allowing for that, the language used to describe her is quite awful. On top of that, it follows the tired trope of the caregiver resenting the disabled person and wishing they were dead. Ick.
TL;DR Skip this one!
Even accounting for the normal amount of stuck-in-its-time-ness, The Worsted Viper reaches a new low. A major part of the plot revolves around a Romani family who is portrayed very negatively stereotyped. They are portrayed as not only poor, but slovenly, and as superstitious and untrustworthy. And these stereotypes really aren't questioned much at all. The family is involved in a larger cult-like group that mixes satanism, voodoo, and a mishmash of lurid practices.
Mitchell seems to be going for more of a thriller vibe with this book and while the boat chases and adventures are exciting, the satanist cult angle is just very awkward.
The other big issue for me was a side plot involving an intellectually disabled character. I know that different terms were common at the time the book was written, but even allowing for that, the language used to describe her is quite awful. On top of that, it follows the tired trope of the caregiver resenting the disabled person and wishing they were dead. Ick.
TL;DR Skip this one!
September 17, 2023
Another mad story from the pen of 'the Great Gladys' although I am not entirely sure I understood it.
The central image of the little knitted viper in a wound of each of the hapless victim is certainly macabre enough but don't let that put you off the boating shenanigans on the Norfolk Broads. This book combines classic crime with one of Mitchell's central preoccupations: witchcraft. But witchcraft dealt with in rather a breezy and matter of fact way.
The downsides are the cheesy husband and wife interactions between horrible bossy Jonathan and the babyish Deborah and the significantly more upsetting attitudes towards an unfortunate female character with disabilities.
On the upsides are the Famous Five-style adventures of Kitty, Laura and Alice and of course Mitchell's trademark bizarre touches.
The central image of the little knitted viper in a wound of each of the hapless victim is certainly macabre enough but don't let that put you off the boating shenanigans on the Norfolk Broads. This book combines classic crime with one of Mitchell's central preoccupations: witchcraft. But witchcraft dealt with in rather a breezy and matter of fact way.
The downsides are the cheesy husband and wife interactions between horrible bossy Jonathan and the babyish Deborah and the significantly more upsetting attitudes towards an unfortunate female character with disabilities.
On the upsides are the Famous Five-style adventures of Kitty, Laura and Alice and of course Mitchell's trademark bizarre touches.
August 6, 2025
#15 in the British Mrs Bradley mystery series.
Mrs. Bradley has been receiving threatening anonymous letters referencing a past criminal investigation in which she had played a minor role behind the scenes role in convicting a particularly unpleasant murderer and Satanist that happened around 3 years ago. The letters also appear to be connected to a series of gruesome and ritualistic murders occurring in the Norfolk Broads. Mrs. Bradley finds herself drawn into a race to track down a killer. Aided by her nephew Jonathan and her three former pupils—Laura, Kitty and Alice—Mrs. Bradley is pitted against a dark occultist sect, a deadly line in knitwear, and she is the object of a long-harbored plan for revenge for the past case.
Mrs. Bradley has been receiving threatening anonymous letters referencing a past criminal investigation in which she had played a minor role behind the scenes role in convicting a particularly unpleasant murderer and Satanist that happened around 3 years ago. The letters also appear to be connected to a series of gruesome and ritualistic murders occurring in the Norfolk Broads. Mrs. Bradley finds herself drawn into a race to track down a killer. Aided by her nephew Jonathan and her three former pupils—Laura, Kitty and Alice—Mrs. Bradley is pitted against a dark occultist sect, a deadly line in knitwear, and she is the object of a long-harbored plan for revenge for the past case.
November 12, 2024
I enjoyed this though it was confusing and not rational in the least. It was about the practice of satanism and a very weird murder for revenge plot.
January 8, 2026
Gladys Mitchell's continued determination to put us all off heterosexuality would be admirable if not for the side of eugenics.
June 11, 2024
Three girls in a boat. Not to mention the dog. (There isn't one.)
This book is a follow-up to "Laurels are Poison" which is one of my favorites. In "Laurels", Mrs Bradley finds a murderer at a women's college that trains teachers. Three students become involved in the investigation and the trio shows up again here.
Laura Menzies is an attractive young Amazon with a taste for adventure. Her friend Alice is quiet, sensible, and gentle, but surprisingly athletic and daring. She can run like the wind and slings a mean stone when necessary. Blonde Kitty is the girly-girl of the group, but she follows her more aggressive friends loyally.
On vacation from school, the friends have rented a cabin cruiser and plan to explore "The Broads" - a system of navigable rivers, lakes, and ponds in Norfolk. It's a popular vacation spot for those who like boating of all types. Of course, none of the vacationers expects to find a dead body, but the three young ladies do and (naturally) they yell for Mrs Bradley.
She's interested because of her fondness for the three young women and because of the possible connection to another crime - the murder of a London prostitute by a man later declared to be insane. Both Mrs Bradley and her older son were involved in that one. Now she's receiving threatening letters about her part in sending Mr Bone to Broadmoor, where he died.
Then a strange man refers himself to Mrs Bradley as a patient. She thinks he's faking, but can't decide if he's a friend or foe. When other London prostitutes turn up murdered, the police have to decide if the criminal is a copy-cat or someone seeking revenge for Mr Bone. All that's sure is that the bodies are being discovered in The Broads and that all their wounds have a unique knitted snake attached.
Mrs Bradley calls in her nephew to help in her investigations. His wife insists on coming along and staying, in spite of Mrs Bradley's fears. She's also trying to persuade the three young students to go home, but Laura's curiosity and love of adventure override that advice.
One of the most appealing things about Mrs Bradley is her love of young people and her desire for their safety and happiness. She values their fresh look on life and never underestimates their intelligence or ability to deal with new situations, even dangerous ones.
Mrs Bradley herself is an elderly woman, with middle-aged sons. That she has the wisdom that comes with experience is never in doubt. But (unlike some older detectives) she's willing to share the spotlight and the credit with younger folks. She'd prefer to shield them from harm, but knows it's impossible. Danger is part of life and we must all share in it equally.
This book was published in 1943, but set in pre-WWII England. Perhaps the author stressed the involvement of young people in the investigation of a murderous gang in honor of the young men who were losing their lives in defense of their country against Nazi Germany. In any war, the average age of the dead is nineteen years. Some of the WWII dead would have been Gladys Mitchell's former students. It was a brutal war that touched everyone.
The story is a complicated one, with local folks and Londoners mixed together on both sides. I was never clear if the victims were picked because they were "drabs" (old English slang for a streetwalker) or if they were just easy to lure into isolated settings. Also never quite got the significance of those knitted snakes. Oddly, the only venonous snake in England is the adder and it's only deadly to small children or frail, elderly folks. The motive also strikes me as unconvincing.
No matter. If you want authenticity and the latest forensic methods, there are plenty of modern mysteries. I love this series because of the fascinating personality of Mrs Bradley herself, the charm of the settings, and the constant surprises that Mitchell incorporated into her stories. You may not be sure who they're chasing, but you'll be glued to your Kindle as Mrs Bradley and her co-horts risk drowning and bullets to rescue one of the girls from the evil mastermind. I hadn't guessed his identity, but maybe you're smarter.
This book is a follow-up to "Laurels are Poison" which is one of my favorites. In "Laurels", Mrs Bradley finds a murderer at a women's college that trains teachers. Three students become involved in the investigation and the trio shows up again here.
Laura Menzies is an attractive young Amazon with a taste for adventure. Her friend Alice is quiet, sensible, and gentle, but surprisingly athletic and daring. She can run like the wind and slings a mean stone when necessary. Blonde Kitty is the girly-girl of the group, but she follows her more aggressive friends loyally.
On vacation from school, the friends have rented a cabin cruiser and plan to explore "The Broads" - a system of navigable rivers, lakes, and ponds in Norfolk. It's a popular vacation spot for those who like boating of all types. Of course, none of the vacationers expects to find a dead body, but the three young ladies do and (naturally) they yell for Mrs Bradley.
She's interested because of her fondness for the three young women and because of the possible connection to another crime - the murder of a London prostitute by a man later declared to be insane. Both Mrs Bradley and her older son were involved in that one. Now she's receiving threatening letters about her part in sending Mr Bone to Broadmoor, where he died.
Then a strange man refers himself to Mrs Bradley as a patient. She thinks he's faking, but can't decide if he's a friend or foe. When other London prostitutes turn up murdered, the police have to decide if the criminal is a copy-cat or someone seeking revenge for Mr Bone. All that's sure is that the bodies are being discovered in The Broads and that all their wounds have a unique knitted snake attached.
Mrs Bradley calls in her nephew to help in her investigations. His wife insists on coming along and staying, in spite of Mrs Bradley's fears. She's also trying to persuade the three young students to go home, but Laura's curiosity and love of adventure override that advice.
One of the most appealing things about Mrs Bradley is her love of young people and her desire for their safety and happiness. She values their fresh look on life and never underestimates their intelligence or ability to deal with new situations, even dangerous ones.
Mrs Bradley herself is an elderly woman, with middle-aged sons. That she has the wisdom that comes with experience is never in doubt. But (unlike some older detectives) she's willing to share the spotlight and the credit with younger folks. She'd prefer to shield them from harm, but knows it's impossible. Danger is part of life and we must all share in it equally.
This book was published in 1943, but set in pre-WWII England. Perhaps the author stressed the involvement of young people in the investigation of a murderous gang in honor of the young men who were losing their lives in defense of their country against Nazi Germany. In any war, the average age of the dead is nineteen years. Some of the WWII dead would have been Gladys Mitchell's former students. It was a brutal war that touched everyone.
The story is a complicated one, with local folks and Londoners mixed together on both sides. I was never clear if the victims were picked because they were "drabs" (old English slang for a streetwalker) or if they were just easy to lure into isolated settings. Also never quite got the significance of those knitted snakes. Oddly, the only venonous snake in England is the adder and it's only deadly to small children or frail, elderly folks. The motive also strikes me as unconvincing.
No matter. If you want authenticity and the latest forensic methods, there are plenty of modern mysteries. I love this series because of the fascinating personality of Mrs Bradley herself, the charm of the settings, and the constant surprises that Mitchell incorporated into her stories. You may not be sure who they're chasing, but you'll be glued to your Kindle as Mrs Bradley and her co-horts risk drowning and bullets to rescue one of the girls from the evil mastermind. I hadn't guessed his identity, but maybe you're smarter.
February 28, 2017
Mrs. Bradley is the recipient of anonymous letters involving a murderer called Bone, and is subsequently called in to aid with the investigation when three young friends (Laura Menzies, Alice Boorman, and Kitty Trevelyan, whom we last met at the Cataret Teachers' Training College in Laurels Are Poison) on a boating holiday find a body in a remote cottage. As the number of corpses increases, and her own friends and family are threatened, will Mrs. Bradley detect the villain -- or villains -- in time? Once again, Mitchell has done a superb job in evoking landscape and character; the Norfolk Broads are an evocative setting, and if you don't know the geography and watercourses around Norwich, you will want a good map as you read along. This attention to detail almost serves to make up for the mystery, which is not as enticing as it could have been. Attentive, French-speaking readers will also detect the villain(s) fairly quickly, much quicker, in fact, than even Mrs. Bradley seems to. But as with most Mitchell books, you can never be quite certain when she is gaming both the story and the reader. Nevertheless, and interesting tale, with a lot of positively brilliant bits. 3.5 Stars.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
March 26, 2015
Delightfully odd.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews