What do you think?
Rate this book
Dr. Priestley #68
Licensed for Murder
''Licensed for Murder'' concerns the new managers of an English country inn, who, during the inn's renovation, discover the grisly, burned remains of a man behind corrugated sheeting in the inn's main fireplace. With the man's identity impossible to determine, Superintendent Jimmy Waghorn calls on the now elderly Dr. Priestley for much needed assistance in solving this gruesome case of murder.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1958
32 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
John Rhode
135 books32 followersAKA Miles Burton, Cecil Waye, Cecil J.C. Street, I.O., F.O.O..
Cecil John Charles Street, MC, OBE, (1884 - January 1965), known as CJC Street and John Street, began his military career as an artillery officer in the British army. During the course of World War I, he became a propagandist for MI7, in which role he held the rank of Major. After the armistice, he alternated between Dublin and London during the Irish War of Independence as Information Officer for Dublin Castle, working closely with Lionel Curtis. He later earned his living as a prolific writer of detective novels.
He produced two long series of novels; one under the name of John Rhode featuring the forensic scientist Dr Priestley, and another under the name of Miles Burton featuring the investigator Desmond Merrion. Under the name Cecil Waye, Street produced four novels: The Figure of Eight; The End of the Chase; The Prime Minister's Pencil; and Murder at Monk's Barn. The Dr. Priestley novels were among the first after Sherlock Holmes to feature scientific detection of crime, such as analysing the mud on a suspect's shoes. Desmond Merrion is an amateur detective who works with Scotland Yard's Inspector Arnold.
Critic and author Julian Symons places this author as a prominent member of the "Humdrum" school of detective fiction. "Most of them came late to writing fiction, and few had much talent for it. They had some skill in constructing puzzles, nothing more, and ironically they fulfilled much better than S. S. Van Dine his dictum that the detective story properly belonged in the category of riddles or crossword puzzles. Most of the Humdrums were British, and among the best known of them were Major John Street.
-Wikipedia
Cecil John Charles Street, MC, OBE, (1884 - January 1965), known as CJC Street and John Street, began his military career as an artillery officer in the British army. During the course of World War I, he became a propagandist for MI7, in which role he held the rank of Major. After the armistice, he alternated between Dublin and London during the Irish War of Independence as Information Officer for Dublin Castle, working closely with Lionel Curtis. He later earned his living as a prolific writer of detective novels.
He produced two long series of novels; one under the name of John Rhode featuring the forensic scientist Dr Priestley, and another under the name of Miles Burton featuring the investigator Desmond Merrion. Under the name Cecil Waye, Street produced four novels: The Figure of Eight; The End of the Chase; The Prime Minister's Pencil; and Murder at Monk's Barn. The Dr. Priestley novels were among the first after Sherlock Holmes to feature scientific detection of crime, such as analysing the mud on a suspect's shoes. Desmond Merrion is an amateur detective who works with Scotland Yard's Inspector Arnold.
Critic and author Julian Symons places this author as a prominent member of the "Humdrum" school of detective fiction. "Most of them came late to writing fiction, and few had much talent for it. They had some skill in constructing puzzles, nothing more, and ironically they fulfilled much better than S. S. Van Dine his dictum that the detective story properly belonged in the category of riddles or crossword puzzles. Most of the Humdrums were British, and among the best known of them were Major John Street.
-Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 3, 2025
Two and a half stars.
Another fairly mundane Priestley story. How Jimmy Waghorn ever got promotion beats me. He would never solve a case if he didn't pay a weekly visit to Dr Priestley and get set on the right path.
Another fairly mundane Priestley story. How Jimmy Waghorn ever got promotion beats me. He would never solve a case if he didn't pay a weekly visit to Dr Priestley and get set on the right path.
June 19, 2021
Entertaining read
I picked the murderer and the motive early but it was an entertaining read with interesting characters and bucolic insights. Dr Priestly was not as intrusive as in some of the series
I picked the murderer and the motive early but it was an entertaining read with interesting characters and bucolic insights. Dr Priestly was not as intrusive as in some of the series
May 21, 2019
John Rhodes latest mystery novel is a good read.
Licensed for Murder is as good a mystery as his other mystery s.I'm looking forward to his next novel.Highly recommended.
Licensed for Murder is as good a mystery as his other mystery s.I'm looking forward to his next novel.Highly recommended.
January 2, 2023
Good basic work by Priestley to keep the law on the right track... somewhat puzzling story which comes together in a satisfying way at the end - engaging and enjoyable.
May 22, 2024
Not his best work but a clever read
Lots of meaningless comments by the detectives and others on the case but not as much as his worst novels.
Lots of meaningless comments by the detectives and others on the case but not as much as his worst novels.
December 22, 2025
Well thought out and well written. Clever twists.
March 28, 2017
A most twisted murder!
This was quite a story! Just when you think you know the answers it changes! Wow, these book are sometimes long & boring in spots, but not this one. I was so sad at the cold bloodedness of the murder! The fact that it happens in real life is what gets to a person. The characters were so well written that they were real people. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, & I hope I didn't give anything away. Thanks, g gassen
This was quite a story! Just when you think you know the answers it changes! Wow, these book are sometimes long & boring in spots, but not this one. I was so sad at the cold bloodedness of the murder! The fact that it happens in real life is what gets to a person. The characters were so well written that they were real people. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, & I hope I didn't give anything away. Thanks, g gassen
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews