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The Blotting Book
The print of an incriminating letter in a blotting book threatens to seal the conviction of Morris Assheton for the murder of Godfrey Mills
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1908
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156 people want to read
About the author
E.F. Benson
1,126 books361 followersEdward Frederic "E. F." Benson was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist and short story writer.
E. F. Benson was the younger brother of A.C. Benson, who wrote the words to "Land of Hope and Glory", Robert Hugh Benson, author of several novels and Roman Catholic apologetic works, and Margaret Benson, an author and amateur Egyptologist.
Benson died during 1940 of throat cancer at the University College Hospital, London. He is buried in the cemetery at Rye, East Sussex.
Last paragraph from Wikipedia
E. F. Benson was the younger brother of A.C. Benson, who wrote the words to "Land of Hope and Glory", Robert Hugh Benson, author of several novels and Roman Catholic apologetic works, and Margaret Benson, an author and amateur Egyptologist.
Benson died during 1940 of throat cancer at the University College Hospital, London. He is buried in the cemetery at Rye, East Sussex.
Last paragraph from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 11, 2024
my first foray into Benson since reading the Mapp & Lucia novels was... not so great? I get why this is a classic of the murder mystery genre, perhaps because it was one of the first, but also because the alternately dry & arch wit and the precision of the prose that would make the Mapp & Lucia books such a treat are both here, in full. unfortunately, the mystery itself is pallid and the main impression for me of the narrative was spinning wheels. Benson is an impudent fellow, and I love that about him, but this felt like more of an experiment than something he took seriously.
that said, one of the things that makes Benson special is his ability to get into the heads of monstrous characters and so making them, somehow, rather less monstrous and rather more comic. the villain of this novel, spry old attorney Mr. Taynton, is one such wonderfully monstrous creation. (and that was not a spoiler, it's clear what kind of person he is by the second chapter.) my God, all the damage & manipulation he cheerfully enacts, while still making sure both his ego and his optimistic nature remain fully intact. and still wishing the best for all of his victims, whose problems he really, really sympathizes with, despite being the person who actually created those problems. he slays.
that said, one of the things that makes Benson special is his ability to get into the heads of monstrous characters and so making them, somehow, rather less monstrous and rather more comic. the villain of this novel, spry old attorney Mr. Taynton, is one such wonderfully monstrous creation. (and that was not a spoiler, it's clear what kind of person he is by the second chapter.) my God, all the damage & manipulation he cheerfully enacts, while still making sure both his ego and his optimistic nature remain fully intact. and still wishing the best for all of his victims, whose problems he really, really sympathizes with, despite being the person who actually created those problems. he slays.
June 15, 2019
An excellent vintage...
Morris Assheton is due to come into his inheritance when he’s twenty-five. However, a clause in his father’s will allows him to take control of his money earlier, should he marry a woman of whom his mother approves. Morris has met and fallen in love with just such a woman, so his trustee, Edward Taynton, suggests he might want to look over the accounts of the trust. Young Morris has other more important things to think of, though – his future wife, and his new car which he loves with at least as much fervour. This is lucky for Edward, since he and his partner Godfrey Mills have been gambling unsuccessfully with the trust funds. So all seems well, but things are about to go wrong and when they do, it will all lead to murder...
More of a long novella than a novel, this isn’t really a mystery, or at least the possibilities are so limited that most readers will be able to work out whodunit with a fair degree of certainty pretty early on. Instead, it’s an entertaining and quite insightful character study of the three main characters, Morris and the two trustees, and mostly of Edward Taynton.
Edward isn’t a bad man – in fact, his gambles were meant as much to benefit Morris as himself and he still hopes to make good the losses before the trust is wound up. He’s worked hard to give himself a comfortable life, and hopes to retire soon to enjoy life before he’s too old. But we see how he’s affected by pressure as his secret looks in danger. He makes some odd decisions, but happily manages to justify his behaviour himself. A kindly, friendly man whom everyone likes and respects – with a streak of narcissism hidden beneath the surface.
Morris too is a pleasant character, leading a contented, pampered and happy life and with every reason to expect that to continue. However, when things go wrong, suddenly he becomes filled with a rage that surprises everyone, including himself, by its intensity. Godfrey, Edward’s partner, is somewhat less well drawn, and to a degree is a bit of a plot device. He too suddenly behaves in a way that surprises his partner, but I didn’t feel I knew him nearly as well as the other characters so didn’t feel the same surprise.
The murder happens quite late on and Benson builds a great atmosphere of approaching dread, with some fine dramatic writing. After a police investigation in which the police show themselves to be sharper than the murderer anticipated, the whole thing winds up in a courtroom drama where there’s an excellent revelation around a physical clue that turns the prosecution’s whole case on its head at the last minute. It is fair play in that the reader was made aware of the clue at the appropriate place, but this reader, while I had spotted that it was A Clue, couldn’t work it out, which always adds to the fun!
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It can easily be read in an evening and my interest never flagged despite having very little doubt as to whodunit or how it would end. It’s the character of Edward that makes it entertaining – he may be a cheat and a fraudster, but I found him good company anyway. Highly recommended.
I downloaded this one from the excellent www.fadedpage.com
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Morris Assheton is due to come into his inheritance when he’s twenty-five. However, a clause in his father’s will allows him to take control of his money earlier, should he marry a woman of whom his mother approves. Morris has met and fallen in love with just such a woman, so his trustee, Edward Taynton, suggests he might want to look over the accounts of the trust. Young Morris has other more important things to think of, though – his future wife, and his new car which he loves with at least as much fervour. This is lucky for Edward, since he and his partner Godfrey Mills have been gambling unsuccessfully with the trust funds. So all seems well, but things are about to go wrong and when they do, it will all lead to murder...
More of a long novella than a novel, this isn’t really a mystery, or at least the possibilities are so limited that most readers will be able to work out whodunit with a fair degree of certainty pretty early on. Instead, it’s an entertaining and quite insightful character study of the three main characters, Morris and the two trustees, and mostly of Edward Taynton.
Edward isn’t a bad man – in fact, his gambles were meant as much to benefit Morris as himself and he still hopes to make good the losses before the trust is wound up. He’s worked hard to give himself a comfortable life, and hopes to retire soon to enjoy life before he’s too old. But we see how he’s affected by pressure as his secret looks in danger. He makes some odd decisions, but happily manages to justify his behaviour himself. A kindly, friendly man whom everyone likes and respects – with a streak of narcissism hidden beneath the surface.
Morris too is a pleasant character, leading a contented, pampered and happy life and with every reason to expect that to continue. However, when things go wrong, suddenly he becomes filled with a rage that surprises everyone, including himself, by its intensity. Godfrey, Edward’s partner, is somewhat less well drawn, and to a degree is a bit of a plot device. He too suddenly behaves in a way that surprises his partner, but I didn’t feel I knew him nearly as well as the other characters so didn’t feel the same surprise.
The murder happens quite late on and Benson builds a great atmosphere of approaching dread, with some fine dramatic writing. After a police investigation in which the police show themselves to be sharper than the murderer anticipated, the whole thing winds up in a courtroom drama where there’s an excellent revelation around a physical clue that turns the prosecution’s whole case on its head at the last minute. It is fair play in that the reader was made aware of the clue at the appropriate place, but this reader, while I had spotted that it was A Clue, couldn’t work it out, which always adds to the fun!
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It can easily be read in an evening and my interest never flagged despite having very little doubt as to whodunit or how it would end. It’s the character of Edward that makes it entertaining – he may be a cheat and a fraudster, but I found him good company anyway. Highly recommended.
I downloaded this one from the excellent www.fadedpage.com
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
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November 9, 2018for me, somewhere in the ballpark of a 3.6
Although I'm very familiar with the ghostly tales of EF Benson, I had no absolutely no idea that he had written a crime novel or two until I read Martin Edwards' The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books. This edition is part of Hogarth's Gaslight Crime series; I have quite of few of these little gems sitting in my British reading room, including another one by this author called The Luck of the Vails.
The Blotting Book ends up as a story of murder, but it is not a detective story. It often feels like it moves at snail's pace, but while it may not be the most exciting mystery of its day, I stayed engrossed throughout wondering how things would turn out, largely due to Benson's writing. One great thing he does here is to get into the inner workings of the main characters, especially that of the criminal. In this sense, Benson's done a top-notch job despite the fact that the mystery is just too easy to figure out, especially for seasoned crime readers. He also leaves a trail of clues, and in one brilliant scene, adds in a dream sequence that had the armchair detective in me second guessing myself for a while.
While I can see that many modern crime readers could easily grow bored with this book, anyone into vintage crime and mysteries really at least ought to give it a try, keeping in mind that it was published in 1908. I actually liked it, and found myself turning pages quickly.
more here at my reading journal:
http://www.crimesegments.com/2018/11/...
Although I'm very familiar with the ghostly tales of EF Benson, I had no absolutely no idea that he had written a crime novel or two until I read Martin Edwards' The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books. This edition is part of Hogarth's Gaslight Crime series; I have quite of few of these little gems sitting in my British reading room, including another one by this author called The Luck of the Vails.
The Blotting Book ends up as a story of murder, but it is not a detective story. It often feels like it moves at snail's pace, but while it may not be the most exciting mystery of its day, I stayed engrossed throughout wondering how things would turn out, largely due to Benson's writing. One great thing he does here is to get into the inner workings of the main characters, especially that of the criminal. In this sense, Benson's done a top-notch job despite the fact that the mystery is just too easy to figure out, especially for seasoned crime readers. He also leaves a trail of clues, and in one brilliant scene, adds in a dream sequence that had the armchair detective in me second guessing myself for a while.
While I can see that many modern crime readers could easily grow bored with this book, anyone into vintage crime and mysteries really at least ought to give it a try, keeping in mind that it was published in 1908. I actually liked it, and found myself turning pages quickly.
more here at my reading journal:
http://www.crimesegments.com/2018/11/...
May 22, 2019
Good, early mystery.
It's not up there with his best work, but this is a short, easy to read, murder mystery. The mystery is easy to figure out, but getting there was quite fun.
It's not up there with his best work, but this is a short, easy to read, murder mystery. The mystery is easy to figure out, but getting there was quite fun.
August 7, 2019
Set partly in Brighton and partly in Falmer (on the road east to Lewes, East Sussex) this crime novel -- less a whodunit, more a courtroom drama -- is a stylish period piece, an Edwardian mystery with just a hint of the supernatural in the guise of a prophetic dream. In a way this novella doesn't quite make up its mind what kind of genre it intends to be so includes a bit of everything, even including a bit of financial advice along the lines of *the value of your investments may go down as well as up*.
The essential plot is so simple that to do more than recount the basic set-up would be to give the game away. Let me introduce the two lawyer partnership based in Brighton of Edward Taynton and Godfrey Mills. Then let's meet two of their clients, the widow Mrs Assheton and her son Morris, a young man soon to be of age, a 'racey' chap who likes fast cars. Morris hopes to be engaged to Madge Templeton, daughter of Sir Richard and Lady Templeton.
When one of these individuals disappears an Inspector Figgis gets involved, and when matters eventually come to court we finally learn not so much who-did-what as how-it-all-happened, amidst all the to and fro of legal proceedings and timely revelations. Fraud, gambling, blackmail, slander, forgery, murder -- it's all here, but as this involves the upper middle classes rest assured that it's mostly quite genteel, there's little or no gratuitous violence and the lower classes know their place.
Benson is interested in character, particularly that of two individuals: the lawyer Taynton and Morris Assheton. We view the action through their eyes, along with their emotional states, but here's the rub: there are discrepancies in the respective accounts that the author allows us to glimpse. One or other must be an unreliable witness, and the reader's sympathies may well seesaw from one to another.
Here the blotting book of the title becomes both a key fulcrum in the plotting and a symbol indicating that a reversed image can be misleading -- or reflect the truth. At a time when inkwells and fountain pens are rapidly becoming incomprehensible to new generations, the importance of blotting paper a century ago cannot be underestimated, when a handsome blotting book may well have been a suitable birthday present.
As a novella this is a narrative of two unequal halves. The first part sets up the premise and the flawed characters, playing with the reader, inviting us to invest sympathy in first one then another, right up to when the police investigation yields results. The second part focuses on the court procedure following an inquest, with the case for the prosecution succeeded by the defence, all infused by a leavening of humour. While we may well guess the guilty party before the final reveal, Benson's feints makes cat's paws of any unsuspecting readers.
Finally, The Blotting Book opens a window onto the early years of the 20th-century: the life of a privileged class serviced by an underclass; formal, almost regimented, daily routines and a rigid sense of propriety; railways and horse carriages starting to be challenged as everyday transport by the novelty of private cars. How much society has altered in the interim, how much material has disappeared, and yet how little has intrinsic human nature changed!
The essential plot is so simple that to do more than recount the basic set-up would be to give the game away. Let me introduce the two lawyer partnership based in Brighton of Edward Taynton and Godfrey Mills. Then let's meet two of their clients, the widow Mrs Assheton and her son Morris, a young man soon to be of age, a 'racey' chap who likes fast cars. Morris hopes to be engaged to Madge Templeton, daughter of Sir Richard and Lady Templeton.
When one of these individuals disappears an Inspector Figgis gets involved, and when matters eventually come to court we finally learn not so much who-did-what as how-it-all-happened, amidst all the to and fro of legal proceedings and timely revelations. Fraud, gambling, blackmail, slander, forgery, murder -- it's all here, but as this involves the upper middle classes rest assured that it's mostly quite genteel, there's little or no gratuitous violence and the lower classes know their place.
Benson is interested in character, particularly that of two individuals: the lawyer Taynton and Morris Assheton. We view the action through their eyes, along with their emotional states, but here's the rub: there are discrepancies in the respective accounts that the author allows us to glimpse. One or other must be an unreliable witness, and the reader's sympathies may well seesaw from one to another.
Here the blotting book of the title becomes both a key fulcrum in the plotting and a symbol indicating that a reversed image can be misleading -- or reflect the truth. At a time when inkwells and fountain pens are rapidly becoming incomprehensible to new generations, the importance of blotting paper a century ago cannot be underestimated, when a handsome blotting book may well have been a suitable birthday present.
As a novella this is a narrative of two unequal halves. The first part sets up the premise and the flawed characters, playing with the reader, inviting us to invest sympathy in first one then another, right up to when the police investigation yields results. The second part focuses on the court procedure following an inquest, with the case for the prosecution succeeded by the defence, all infused by a leavening of humour. While we may well guess the guilty party before the final reveal, Benson's feints makes cat's paws of any unsuspecting readers.
Finally, The Blotting Book opens a window onto the early years of the 20th-century: the life of a privileged class serviced by an underclass; formal, almost regimented, daily routines and a rigid sense of propriety; railways and horse carriages starting to be challenged as everyday transport by the novelty of private cars. How much society has altered in the interim, how much material has disappeared, and yet how little has intrinsic human nature changed!
April 27, 2013
A good novel, literature rather than fiction in that the focus of the work is on the human character and condition rather than on action and story. It has a slightly slow start (nothing like as slow as _Love in a Time of Cholera_, thankfully) but by a third of the way in it was gripping and was a must-read.
It is an older style of writing, and the author makes a compassionate analysis of human weakness, without being mawkish or offering excuses for defective moral behaviour.
A memorable book, and a nice balance of an interesting story while also informing the reader of an important aspect of the crooked timber of humanity.
It is an older style of writing, and the author makes a compassionate analysis of human weakness, without being mawkish or offering excuses for defective moral behaviour.
A memorable book, and a nice balance of an interesting story while also informing the reader of an important aspect of the crooked timber of humanity.
January 27, 2019
E.F. Benson's style is sprightly, with tongue-in-cheek omniscient narration. Stories are hit and miss, this is not Benson's greatest work, and we who now see Agatha Christie-style murder mysteries as preeminent examples may find _The Blotting Book_ curious; those familiar with police procedurals may be dulled or put off. I'm not spoiling the joy for the prospective reader by mentioning the title object, the blotting book, figures prominently in the story. But the ineptitude of detection and absence of scientific detection are critical to the drama in the last third of the book. I say this so your expectation does not lead to disappointment. There is no narration by a detective. Pathetic fallacy, the trope of using weather to convey mood, tension and atmosphere, abounds.
E.F. Benson fans may like this, fans of post-Holmes but pre-Golden Age era (1887-1913) novels will enjoy this; mystery lovers reliant on the detective and scientific deduction won't find much fun here.
E.F. Benson fans may like this, fans of post-Holmes but pre-Golden Age era (1887-1913) novels will enjoy this; mystery lovers reliant on the detective and scientific deduction won't find much fun here.
Want to Read
July 24, 2025Synopsis: a young man, soon to be wealthy with an inheritance trust, is planning to get married. But his trustees have fiddled the books.
January 5, 2023
[The Hogarth Press] (1987). SB. 255 Pages.
An interesting, innovative tale. Well written bar occasional over-engineering.
It’s a shame that E. F. Benson didn’t produce more criminous fiction. Same deal with H. R. Wakefield, C. S. Forester and A. A. Milne - a handful of masterful ventures.
An interesting, innovative tale. Well written bar occasional over-engineering.
It’s a shame that E. F. Benson didn’t produce more criminous fiction. Same deal with H. R. Wakefield, C. S. Forester and A. A. Milne - a handful of masterful ventures.
July 3, 2020
A classic tale from the the turn of the century, when stories carried a fair amount of melodrama. Not quite the length that modern readers have come to expect, this tale, which was written in 1908, is not so much a mystery but a thriller that slowly builds as the reader follows the situation over a period of not quite a week. The lead into the crime is long — it takes time to build up the situation, introduce the major characters and then slowly add the layers that create the tension and suspense. Be patient, it will come.
Twenty-two year old Morris Assheton, with his whole future infront of him, meets in a social setting with one of this trustees, Edward Taynton. Taynton has handled the young man's inheritance for 20 years and, indeed, brags during the conversation that the monies have grown under his care. He also leads the young man to believe that his holdings are so secure that while Assheton could review the books to see how his funds have been handled, there is really no need to do so. Assheton, who will come into his inheritance when he is 25 — earlier if he marries — discusses his intentions to become engaged.
Everything seems rosy until the next scene when the two trustees, business partners Taynton and Godfrey Mills, meet and discuss what is the reality. They used the young man's inheritance for some risky stock purchases and the funds have been squandered.
The story builds with the development of a sense of dread and drama until there is a revelation that has serious and deadly consequences.
I was not sure where the story was going but it's to E.F. Benson's credit that through his writing, I continued to read and wonder what was going to happen until the revelation and then the very end of the story. This is not a modern shoot'ed up action but a slow development with all its psychological signs and as I said earlier, a big dose of melodrama. It is easy, fast and ultimately, a satisfactory read.
Twenty-two year old Morris Assheton, with his whole future infront of him, meets in a social setting with one of this trustees, Edward Taynton. Taynton has handled the young man's inheritance for 20 years and, indeed, brags during the conversation that the monies have grown under his care. He also leads the young man to believe that his holdings are so secure that while Assheton could review the books to see how his funds have been handled, there is really no need to do so. Assheton, who will come into his inheritance when he is 25 — earlier if he marries — discusses his intentions to become engaged.
Everything seems rosy until the next scene when the two trustees, business partners Taynton and Godfrey Mills, meet and discuss what is the reality. They used the young man's inheritance for some risky stock purchases and the funds have been squandered.
The story builds with the development of a sense of dread and drama until there is a revelation that has serious and deadly consequences.
I was not sure where the story was going but it's to E.F. Benson's credit that through his writing, I continued to read and wonder what was going to happen until the revelation and then the very end of the story. This is not a modern shoot'ed up action but a slow development with all its psychological signs and as I said earlier, a big dose of melodrama. It is easy, fast and ultimately, a satisfactory read.
September 15, 2017
This murder mystery was first published in 1908, four years before R. Austin Freeman’s “The Singing Bone” in which his first inverted detective stories appeared.
I mention this as, in some senses, this is an inverted detective novel. We know who the criminal is, what the crime is, and why the crime is committed, early on. The story centres round “ will he get away with it?” and “how will the truth come out?”. In other words, this is a psychological study of a criminal, the “investigation”, such as it is, being secondary to the detail of the criminal mind and conscience at work.
There are few major characters in this short work which is set in and around Brighton. We have Maurice Assheton and his mother; Madge Templeton whom he loves, and, her parents; his trustee, Mr Taynton and Taynton’s business partner, Mills; Charles Martin, his servant; and Superintendent Figgis.
Maurice is 22 years old and about to become engaged to be married. On that occasion, or at age 25, he will gain control of his inheritance. He discovers that Mills has slandered him to his prospective father-in law and is enraged. Mills disappears and is then found dead on the Sussex Downs. Maurice is charged with murder and put on trial.
There is not a lot of “mystery” in this finely-written novel. The character sketches are excellent and the setting well-done. Do not look for the social satire found in other Benson works but appreciate the gentle skill in the depiction of a variety of people shown by a writer at the height of his powers.
I mention this as, in some senses, this is an inverted detective novel. We know who the criminal is, what the crime is, and why the crime is committed, early on. The story centres round “ will he get away with it?” and “how will the truth come out?”. In other words, this is a psychological study of a criminal, the “investigation”, such as it is, being secondary to the detail of the criminal mind and conscience at work.
There are few major characters in this short work which is set in and around Brighton. We have Maurice Assheton and his mother; Madge Templeton whom he loves, and, her parents; his trustee, Mr Taynton and Taynton’s business partner, Mills; Charles Martin, his servant; and Superintendent Figgis.
Maurice is 22 years old and about to become engaged to be married. On that occasion, or at age 25, he will gain control of his inheritance. He discovers that Mills has slandered him to his prospective father-in law and is enraged. Mills disappears and is then found dead on the Sussex Downs. Maurice is charged with murder and put on trial.
There is not a lot of “mystery” in this finely-written novel. The character sketches are excellent and the setting well-done. Do not look for the social satire found in other Benson works but appreciate the gentle skill in the depiction of a variety of people shown by a writer at the height of his powers.
June 23, 2016
A short murder mystery from the author of the Mapp and Lucia books. Written in 1908 and set in Brighton. The "mystery" aspect of this murder mystery doesn't really exist, as the reader always knows who did it. The narrative drive, instead, is to see if the murderer gets away with blaming the deed on someone else.
The book is also not a police procedural, as the evidence is collected away from the pages of the novel and only laid out in the final courtroom conclusion.
Mildly interesting and thankfully brief.
The book is also not a police procedural, as the evidence is collected away from the pages of the novel and only laid out in the final courtroom conclusion.
Mildly interesting and thankfully brief.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2012
This is not my favorite Benson book by any means. I had to force myself to finish it. It was the most insipid mystery I have ever read and the ending only surprised me by the degree of it's vapidity.
August 22, 2019
Quick and simple and interesting. There's no real nail-biting suspense to identify the culprit, no countless motives and red herrings. But the descriptions of people and their habits and thoughts make this an engaging read.
March 26, 2013
This might have been a mystery in 1908 but as it's obvious from the start which character is an unreliable narrator the book is more convoluted writing style than substance.
July 3, 2025
The Blotting Book - E.F. Benson - (England)
Genera: Mystery/Crime
5★
This is a 72-page novella, originally published in 1908. It's the story of a crime and of how easily justice can be thwarted, with a little bit of detection, but the outcome depends more on the behavior of the criminal than anything else.
Morris Assheton is due to come into his inheritance when he’s twenty-five. A clause in his father’s will allows him to take control of his money earlier, if he marries a woman that his mother approves of.
Morris has met and fallen in love with a woman that meets that criteria, so his trustee, Edward Taynton, suggests he might want to take a look at his accounts of the trust. Morris has other more important things to think about, though, like his future wife, and his shinny brand-new car which he loves with at least as much fervor as he has for his future wife. Morris's hesitancy is a lucky thing for his attorneys Edward, and his partner Godfrey Mills. He lawyers have been gambling unsuccessfully with Morris's trust funds. So all seems well, but things are about to go wrong and when they do, it will all lead to murder.
This is listed as a mystery, but it really isn’t... or at least the possibilities are so limited that even me as an 11-year-old, was able to figure out "whodunit" pretty early on. What it really is, is an entertaining and insightful character study of the three main characters, Morris and the two trustees, but mostly of Edward Taynton.
Edward is not a bad man. In fact, his gambling was meant to benefit Morris as much as himself...and he still hoped to replace the money that was lost before the trust is used up. He’s worked hard to give himself a comfortable life and he hopes to retire soon to enjoy life before he’s too old. We see how he’s affected by all the pressure of what they have done. He makes some rather odd decisions but somehow manages to justify his behavior. A kind, friendly man that everyone likes and respects, with a slight streak of narcissism beneath the surface.
Morris, one of the trustees, is also a pleasant character, who leads a contented, pampered happy life and has every reason to expect that to continue. However, when things go wrong, suddenly he becomes angry...filled with rage that shocks and surprises everyone, including himself. He suddenly is behaving in a way that surprises his partner.
When the murder happens, it's quite late in the story, but remember the entire book is only 72-pages. The author builds a great atmosphere of dread, with some good dramatic writing. After a police investigation in which the police show themselves to be smarter than the murderer thought they were, it should be no surprise that they all end up in a courtroom drama where there’s an excellent, unexpected revelation that surrounds a physical clue that turns the prosecution’s whole case upside down at the last minute. The reader is only made aware of the clue at just the appropriate place and time, but while I had read this little book what seems like at least a thousand times, I remember spotting that it was THE CLUE...the one that as an 11-year old, I couldn’t figure out, but as an adult I caught right away and just added to the fun!
I thoroughly enjoyed this little venture into my younger days. Unless you are the world's slowest reader you can easily read this in a few hours. My interest never flagged despite knowing "whodunit" and how it would end. I think that it's the character of Edward that makes it so entertaining. He may be a cheat and a bit of an untalented crook, but I found him to be welcome company in my delve into my past. My apologizes, but thank you, if you have read this entire review which is almost longer than the book:)
My grandmother brought this book with her from Ireland in 1926. It was a gift from her father in 1919. Throughout my childhood years I read almost all her many books both with her and alone. She gave this one to me...one of my many favorites of hers, in 1979 when I left Florida to come to Michigan.
Genera: Mystery/Crime
5★
This is a 72-page novella, originally published in 1908. It's the story of a crime and of how easily justice can be thwarted, with a little bit of detection, but the outcome depends more on the behavior of the criminal than anything else.
Morris Assheton is due to come into his inheritance when he’s twenty-five. A clause in his father’s will allows him to take control of his money earlier, if he marries a woman that his mother approves of.
Morris has met and fallen in love with a woman that meets that criteria, so his trustee, Edward Taynton, suggests he might want to take a look at his accounts of the trust. Morris has other more important things to think about, though, like his future wife, and his shinny brand-new car which he loves with at least as much fervor as he has for his future wife. Morris's hesitancy is a lucky thing for his attorneys Edward, and his partner Godfrey Mills. He lawyers have been gambling unsuccessfully with Morris's trust funds. So all seems well, but things are about to go wrong and when they do, it will all lead to murder.
This is listed as a mystery, but it really isn’t... or at least the possibilities are so limited that even me as an 11-year-old, was able to figure out "whodunit" pretty early on. What it really is, is an entertaining and insightful character study of the three main characters, Morris and the two trustees, but mostly of Edward Taynton.
Edward is not a bad man. In fact, his gambling was meant to benefit Morris as much as himself...and he still hoped to replace the money that was lost before the trust is used up. He’s worked hard to give himself a comfortable life and he hopes to retire soon to enjoy life before he’s too old. We see how he’s affected by all the pressure of what they have done. He makes some rather odd decisions but somehow manages to justify his behavior. A kind, friendly man that everyone likes and respects, with a slight streak of narcissism beneath the surface.
Morris, one of the trustees, is also a pleasant character, who leads a contented, pampered happy life and has every reason to expect that to continue. However, when things go wrong, suddenly he becomes angry...filled with rage that shocks and surprises everyone, including himself. He suddenly is behaving in a way that surprises his partner.
When the murder happens, it's quite late in the story, but remember the entire book is only 72-pages. The author builds a great atmosphere of dread, with some good dramatic writing. After a police investigation in which the police show themselves to be smarter than the murderer thought they were, it should be no surprise that they all end up in a courtroom drama where there’s an excellent, unexpected revelation that surrounds a physical clue that turns the prosecution’s whole case upside down at the last minute. The reader is only made aware of the clue at just the appropriate place and time, but while I had read this little book what seems like at least a thousand times, I remember spotting that it was THE CLUE...the one that as an 11-year old, I couldn’t figure out, but as an adult I caught right away and just added to the fun!
I thoroughly enjoyed this little venture into my younger days. Unless you are the world's slowest reader you can easily read this in a few hours. My interest never flagged despite knowing "whodunit" and how it would end. I think that it's the character of Edward that makes it so entertaining. He may be a cheat and a bit of an untalented crook, but I found him to be welcome company in my delve into my past. My apologizes, but thank you, if you have read this entire review which is almost longer than the book:)
My grandmother brought this book with her from Ireland in 1926. It was a gift from her father in 1919. Throughout my childhood years I read almost all her many books both with her and alone. She gave this one to me...one of my many favorites of hers, in 1979 when I left Florida to come to Michigan.
July 7, 2018
I read this book as part of Martin Edwards - The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books - which shows the development of Crime Fiction Novels from 1901 - 1950. I had tried in the past to read a Mapp & Lucia novel but the campy/bitchy chit chat style of Benson didn't appeal to me at the time. This short novel/novella (it has 149 pages) still had the same style however it was more focused & refined. Published in 1908 before the advent of the Whodunits and Police Procedurals - the novel follows Morris Assheton a young adonis (according to the author's regular descriptions of him) being slandered to his potential father-in-law Sir Richard Templeton by one of his father executors - Godfrey Mills who says "I said I had seen him three nights ago in Piccadilly, not quite sober, in company with the class of person to whom one does not refer to in polite society." (it is not made explicit if he was seen with male or female prostitutes). Morris is quite rightly angered at Mills as Sir Richard then prevents his daughter from meeting up with Morris. Morris is desperately seeking Mills to know why he has slandered him and what further action he should take - however Mills never returns to his home town of Brighton but ends up being found murdered in woodland in a nearby village. The novel makes it clear from the beginning (to me anyway) who the culprit is and even for those who are not sure there are only two contestants. By today's standards it is very simplistic and even in it's day it wouldn't have been a touch on Sherlock Holmes or Thorndyke stories - however it's easily readable and Benson has tried his best to get past the Censor's of his time by making nearly all young males as excessively attractive and older males as bachelors (even belonging to bachelor men's club) and the constant allusion to Mr. Taynton (the other executor of Morris' father's will) as being a benevolent avuncular type for all young men who want to improve themselves - and for him to ogle. This was quite brave as the Oscar Wilde trails of 1895 tended to make more people aware of secondary meanings and motives. For this reason I would give the book 6.5 out of 10 - however without this factor playing in his favour I would have given the book 5.
August 2, 2024
EF Benson is more famous for his Mapp and Lucia series, but he was, in fact, an equally good crime novelist before the Golden Age really kicked in. The other greats in the genre really belonged earlier: Edgar Allan Poe, Wilkie Collins, Conan Doyle and Fergus Hume, despite their profound and lasting influence on later writers, were all writing well before the Golden Age, which is really the period following the end of World War I in 1918, until about the start of World War II in 1939.
This particular gem from EF Benson lets you know almost from page one who the culprit is, and who the victim, although there are quite a treasury of unsavoury people with pleasant pastimes such as blackmail, theft and forgery other than murder added to the mix for our delectation.
There is no clever amateur here who solves the case, no professional investigator with his bumbling Watson. Without quite being a procedural as we understand, it is a mournful set of rural coppers who set about looking for evidence. In fact, the case seems to be solved in a courtroom, with quite remarkable details about the proceedings in an English trial at the start of the twentieth century.
The whole book conveys in almost every sentence that charm of moneyed and valeted leisure exclusive to the moneyed class in the years before World War I, that time of elegance, cut glass and flowers, horses and house parties that lasted for several weeks, a period when the word “pastime” had a very literal meaning. The very word “murder” was repulsive to an aesthete like EF Benson, who nevertheless, excelled in the stark elegance of the perfect crime.
A most enjoyable book.
This particular gem from EF Benson lets you know almost from page one who the culprit is, and who the victim, although there are quite a treasury of unsavoury people with pleasant pastimes such as blackmail, theft and forgery other than murder added to the mix for our delectation.
There is no clever amateur here who solves the case, no professional investigator with his bumbling Watson. Without quite being a procedural as we understand, it is a mournful set of rural coppers who set about looking for evidence. In fact, the case seems to be solved in a courtroom, with quite remarkable details about the proceedings in an English trial at the start of the twentieth century.
The whole book conveys in almost every sentence that charm of moneyed and valeted leisure exclusive to the moneyed class in the years before World War I, that time of elegance, cut glass and flowers, horses and house parties that lasted for several weeks, a period when the word “pastime” had a very literal meaning. The very word “murder” was repulsive to an aesthete like EF Benson, who nevertheless, excelled in the stark elegance of the perfect crime.
A most enjoyable book.
December 9, 2020
Dreams, the long shadow of a crime disrupt the life of a young man, the heir of some fortune whom the forces of justice and society snatch up, toss around, and expose to truths he’s been shuddering from in his dreams. Part murder mystery, part psychological trauma; all mingled with a slice of genteel English life of the time come together in this story where the humble blotting book plays such an innocuous, yet significant role, becoming an instrument of both lies and truth. Some may find the pacing of this book slow, the events not visceral enough, but I was drawn into the picture painted in words and the style created of quiet, polite everyday life disturbed by crime, the emotions provoked by it, and the reaction of the general public to it. The words and style provided a striking contrast to the events of the plot itself, a dash of classic horror, and classic mystery to the whole.
May 15, 2023
This tale is set in a bustling solicitor's office in Edwardian England, where we meet the clients and lawyers that gossip, slander and backstab to get ahead using a tangled web of uncontrolled passions lies and deceptions. Two solicitors, Mr. Taynton and Mr. Godfrey Mills, have embezzled the inheritance of Morris Assheton who recently returned from Cambridge University. They attempt to cover their tracks, but when one of them turns up dead Assheton is suspected of his murder. The case hinges around a forged letter in a blotting book.
May 23, 2025
It feels unfair to give this book only three stars since it was written in 1908. I may re-read it again in the future and see if my opinion changes. It was just a bit too slow for me, even by the standards of the day, and because it’s a very early entrant in the inverted mystery genre (which I prefer to call a “howdunnitorhowcaughtem” but I can see that doesn’t roll off the tongue) it feels like it’s not doing the genre to full effect, but that’s because the genre didn’t really exist yet.
February 27, 2025
Short and quick, didn't seem very surprising as there were two suspects and it was pretty clearly not one of them. Still had fun though. I'm still laughing at the last name "Assheton" which REALLY looks like it should be pronounced "Ass-HEE-tin" but of course is Ashton.
February 9, 2019
Quite charming but very dated. Interesting to see how life has changed since 1905 but not exactly a gripping read.
May 21, 2019
Nicely written, and interesting view of middle-class life in early 20th century southern England. No mystery though - very predictable.
December 12, 2019
Great little mystery from the early 1900s. Combination court-room, Perry Mason-type thriller with Hitchcock, wrong-man-set up scenario. Entertaining.
May 19, 2020
A really good well written Crime Novel. I enjoyed the story and the mannered world of Edwardian Brighton.
June 11, 2020
Great story even it wasn't written yesterday!
June 11, 2020
Only a handful of characters and a fairly straight-forward mystery plot. A much easier book to read than the Benson to which I have become accustomed. Not necessarily a bad thing, just unexpected.
October 5, 2024
It’s always fun to get into the heads of E.F. Benson’s characters.
August 4, 2015
I only discovered this writer recently, through the BBC's Mapp and Lucia adaptation, and saw this on the library shelf. I like reading early examples of genres, and early courtroom/murder stories appealed.
This really is early, written in 1908, pre-dating Agatha Christie's own first murder mysteries.
Mostly out of the courtroom though, the set-up involves a young man, Morris Assheton, fond of his new fast car and his girl, who finds himself slandered. The Assheton's lawyer discovers it is his own partner besmirching Morris's good name to the father of his affianced, and also hears Morris's angry threats. When Mills, the slanderer is found murdered, Morris is arrested.
I was surprised to find myself at this point in the plot and already closing in on the end. I expected a more lengthy and tense courtroom battle, but that seems to be a later addition to the genre. Still, a lot of conventions we would expect are there - twists and surprise evidence (though if you've been paying attention, to the title alone, the final revelations are hardly shocking).
It's a lovely period piece, some interesting characters - the family lawyer and Morris are both neither one thing nor another - but if you're looking for a Grisham you may be disappointed.
I intend to read more of the Mapp and Lucia series, as I think Benson's writing is more suited to genteel wit and putdowns, but am glad I tried this. It was the work of only a couple of hours to polish it off.
This really is early, written in 1908, pre-dating Agatha Christie's own first murder mysteries.
Mostly out of the courtroom though, the set-up involves a young man, Morris Assheton, fond of his new fast car and his girl, who finds himself slandered. The Assheton's lawyer discovers it is his own partner besmirching Morris's good name to the father of his affianced, and also hears Morris's angry threats. When Mills, the slanderer is found murdered, Morris is arrested.
I was surprised to find myself at this point in the plot and already closing in on the end. I expected a more lengthy and tense courtroom battle, but that seems to be a later addition to the genre. Still, a lot of conventions we would expect are there - twists and surprise evidence (though if you've been paying attention, to the title alone, the final revelations are hardly shocking).
It's a lovely period piece, some interesting characters - the family lawyer and Morris are both neither one thing nor another - but if you're looking for a Grisham you may be disappointed.
I intend to read more of the Mapp and Lucia series, as I think Benson's writing is more suited to genteel wit and putdowns, but am glad I tried this. It was the work of only a couple of hours to polish it off.
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