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Herring Mysteries #5
Crooked Herring
Ethelred Tressider, mid-list crime writer, is surprised when fellow author Henry Holiday unexpectedly turns up on his doorstep. He's even more surprised when Henry confesses that he may have committed murder while drunk on New Year's Eve. Though he has little recollection of the night, Henry fears he may have killed drinking companion and fellow crime writer Crispin Vynall, and asks Ethelred to discreetly make enquiries in order to discover the truth. As Ethelred and his trusty agent Elsie begin to investigate, they discover that Henry has been set up, and now all that remains is for them to find out why and, more importantly ...whodunnit?
319 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2014
11 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
L.C. Tyler
34 books90 followersL. C. Tyler grew up in Essex and studied geography at Jesus College Oxford University and systems analysis at City University in London. During a career with the British Council he lived in Malaysia, Sudan, Thailand and Denmark. More recently he has been based in Islington and West Sussex and is an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, of which he was previously Chief Executive. He is married and has two children and one dog.
Series:
* Elsie and Ethelred Mystery
* John Grey Historical Mystery
Series:
* Elsie and Ethelred Mystery
* John Grey Historical Mystery
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 20, 2015
It seemed such a long time since hapless crime writer Ethelred Tressider and his chocolate loving literary agent Elsie Thirkettle found themselves entangled in criminal doings, and I had begun to think that I might never see them again.
I was delight when I found that they had returned, in Crooked Herring, but when I opened the book the very first page told me that things had changed, and that this might be a last farewell.
Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but if it is it’s a fabulous final act.
Ethelred was sceptical when another – rather more successful – crime writer told him that he feared that he might have murdered someone on New Year’s Eve.
Henry Holiday explained that he couldn’t remember exactly what had happened on New Year’s Eve, because he had partied rather too hard. But he was sure that he had killed another crime writer – Crispin Vynall.
He couldn’t – or wouldn’t – explain how, why or where. He wanted Ethelred to apply his understanding of crime and his investigative skills to find out. Ethelred was flattered to have been chosen from so many other possible candidates in the CWA, and so he didn’t stop to think why Henry had chosen him.
After all, Elsie pointed out, solving the case would win him such kudos, and some great reviews.
She wasn’t at his side for this investigation – and it wasn’t entirely clear whether that was her decision or his – but she did offer advice in numerous phone calls and an occasional lunch meeting.
Her actions and her input were documented in extracts from her diary. That was a significant change. Elsie was a little more ruthless that I remembered, and Ethelred a little more his own man.
As Ethelred investigated he became entangled with the wife of the supposed victim, he learned about sock-puppets and the manipulation of Amazon reviews, he learned even more about certain members of the CWA. And then he found himself in serious trouble.
Could – or would – Elsie save him?
Or could this really be the end?
It’s definitely the end of something – and there’s a jaw-dropping surprise at the end of this book – but it may not the end of everything.
Time will tell.
The plotting is very, very clever. There were times when I thought I knew – and sometimes I did but there were as many times when I was wonderfully surprised. The way that Amazon Reviews and the CWA were used was fabulous. And the balance of plot, wit and character was very well done.
The details are lovely, and the whole is a wonderful entertainment. Clever crime writing and wonderful wit!
This book stands alone, it’s my favourite to date; but if you like the sound of this one you really should read all five Ethelred and Elsie books.
I can recommend them all.
I was delight when I found that they had returned, in Crooked Herring, but when I opened the book the very first page told me that things had changed, and that this might be a last farewell.
Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but if it is it’s a fabulous final act.
Ethelred was sceptical when another – rather more successful – crime writer told him that he feared that he might have murdered someone on New Year’s Eve.
Henry Holiday explained that he couldn’t remember exactly what had happened on New Year’s Eve, because he had partied rather too hard. But he was sure that he had killed another crime writer – Crispin Vynall.
He couldn’t – or wouldn’t – explain how, why or where. He wanted Ethelred to apply his understanding of crime and his investigative skills to find out. Ethelred was flattered to have been chosen from so many other possible candidates in the CWA, and so he didn’t stop to think why Henry had chosen him.
After all, Elsie pointed out, solving the case would win him such kudos, and some great reviews.
She wasn’t at his side for this investigation – and it wasn’t entirely clear whether that was her decision or his – but she did offer advice in numerous phone calls and an occasional lunch meeting.
Her actions and her input were documented in extracts from her diary. That was a significant change. Elsie was a little more ruthless that I remembered, and Ethelred a little more his own man.
As Ethelred investigated he became entangled with the wife of the supposed victim, he learned about sock-puppets and the manipulation of Amazon reviews, he learned even more about certain members of the CWA. And then he found himself in serious trouble.
Could – or would – Elsie save him?
Or could this really be the end?
It’s definitely the end of something – and there’s a jaw-dropping surprise at the end of this book – but it may not the end of everything.
Time will tell.
The plotting is very, very clever. There were times when I thought I knew – and sometimes I did but there were as many times when I was wonderfully surprised. The way that Amazon Reviews and the CWA were used was fabulous. And the balance of plot, wit and character was very well done.
The details are lovely, and the whole is a wonderful entertainment. Clever crime writing and wonderful wit!
This book stands alone, it’s my favourite to date; but if you like the sound of this one you really should read all five Ethelred and Elsie books.
I can recommend them all.
January 28, 2021
I love the Elsie and Ethelred series by L C Tyler - and this is another winner. It is a well-written book with good characters, a steady plot and some laughs along the way. As is the case with all these books, the murder and solution are outrageous - but that doesn't detract in any way from the quality of the story and writing. The main characters are, as always, wonderfully written - and the side characters are brilliant too. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, cosy mystery.
August 12, 2016
this book in the series was easy going read but not a literacy classic though, the plot was a bit weird
August 22, 2022
" 'You don't believe me, do you?' asked Henry. 'That I might have killed somebody.' Well, really. The genuine murderer -- the real pro -- tends to keep track of that sort of thing. And he wasn't dressed for murder. The tweed jacket, the checked waistcoat, and above all the yellow bow tie ... they would have enabled Henry to audition as an extra in a 50s costume drama -- a dodgy bookmaker, say, or a ne'er-do-well young brother destined for exile to one of the more obscure colonies. They were not clothes that you would risk wearing for a murder.
"Which is fine, since there isn't actually a body. And yet there are an awful lot of red herrings, just begging to be pawed through by the hapless Ethelrd and Elsie, his chocolate-chomping agent.
"The funniest Herring yet in this deliciously giggly series, which has been nominated for not one but two Edgar awards."
~~back cover
This definitely was one of the funnier Herrings: "There was every chance that he would continue to behave like a three rosette pillock ..." A three rosette pillock -- that's a description I shall cherish and use at every available opportunity!
Poor Ethelred is lured into another madcap adventure, dragged from pillar to post, and depending on Elsie for advice and help, as usual. The plot thickens and thickens some more, before finally coming to a resounding boil: Ethelred in interrogation as the ultimate suspect in a murder. Surprisingly, Elsie doesn't come thundering to the rescue, or at least not in a conspicuously timely manner and the result ... unsettling as it is, you, dear reader, will just have to read the book yourself.
"Which is fine, since there isn't actually a body. And yet there are an awful lot of red herrings, just begging to be pawed through by the hapless Ethelrd and Elsie, his chocolate-chomping agent.
"The funniest Herring yet in this deliciously giggly series, which has been nominated for not one but two Edgar awards."
~~back cover
This definitely was one of the funnier Herrings: "There was every chance that he would continue to behave like a three rosette pillock ..." A three rosette pillock -- that's a description I shall cherish and use at every available opportunity!
Poor Ethelred is lured into another madcap adventure, dragged from pillar to post, and depending on Elsie for advice and help, as usual. The plot thickens and thickens some more, before finally coming to a resounding boil: Ethelred in interrogation as the ultimate suspect in a murder. Surprisingly, Elsie doesn't come thundering to the rescue, or at least not in a conspicuously timely manner and the result ... unsettling as it is, you, dear reader, will just have to read the book yourself.
August 20, 2021
Light hearted read.
June 21, 2020
An adventure for Ethelred and Elsie that is less fast moving, but a complex plot of deceit, bluff and mysteries. This book definitely works as a standalone from the previous books as provided that Ethelred is seen as a somewhat hapless (hopeless?) author of crime novels and Elsie, his literary agent is seen as a chocolate obsessed interfering lady. In the fifth book in this series, Ethelred gets heavily involved in finding out about a possible murder on New Year’s Eve. Not that his investigation technique is that sophisticated, as a writer of police procedurals is a little less than able to sort out the challenges. Elsie, meanwhile, decides to commit her thoughts to paper, and ventures into recording. The running insertions in this book are reviews supposedly on Amazon - and they are funny distractions from the main story, though they are relevant to the story overall. This is a steadier book than some of its predecessors, with a non exotic setting (villages and the city of Chichester) and a more complex plot (which is criticised in the book itself). I found this a less hectic and more complex episode in the series, but just as enjoyable and humorous, making lots of references to a writer’s life and more.
This book opens with a Prologue which Ethelred says that no one will read, but which stresses that his erstwhile partner in detection is out of favour. As the book begins properly he is contacted by a fellow writer, Henry Holiday, fears that he has killed someone without remembering. Henry, despite being younger than Ethelred, has a particular taste in clothes, but is more successful in terms of book sales. He not only writes crime novels, but also reviews books. It is the prospect of getting some favourable reviews from Henry that means that he agrees to undertake some enquiries into whether he harmed Crispin Vynall, a far more successful writer. Accordingly Ethelred visits a pub and tries to ascertain whether Henry and Crispen indeed visited on New Years Eve, only to discover the bar man’s confusion. He proceeds to a nightclub, where he is not exactly at home, to discover if there was a CCTV record of the “older men” having been there. His progress is methodical for him, and does his best. Elsie, of course, is keen that he pursues the search, as she studies his reviews and finds them disappointing to say the least. Ethelred shows his usual problematic approach to life and in particular women, as he tries to work out excuses to visit Crispen’s wife.
This is a novel which indulges in a lot of references to a writer’s life, including the relationship between writer and agent. With characteristic humour and insight, the characters are realistic and funny, falling into their usual routines of studied insults and disappointments. Ethelred is is usual confused and baffled self while he deals with the challenges of finding out about a potential murder, worrying about talking to a woman, and wondering about his novels. Elsie, meanwhile fulfils her role of making life for Ethelred confusing while denying the truth about her chocolate addiction. This is an enjoyable read in a successful series, pushing the edge of their experiences and their relationship. The reviews, the subverting of other writers, the references to the writer’s life apart from the usual issues of investigating a possible murder, all adds up to an entertaining read.
This book opens with a Prologue which Ethelred says that no one will read, but which stresses that his erstwhile partner in detection is out of favour. As the book begins properly he is contacted by a fellow writer, Henry Holiday, fears that he has killed someone without remembering. Henry, despite being younger than Ethelred, has a particular taste in clothes, but is more successful in terms of book sales. He not only writes crime novels, but also reviews books. It is the prospect of getting some favourable reviews from Henry that means that he agrees to undertake some enquiries into whether he harmed Crispin Vynall, a far more successful writer. Accordingly Ethelred visits a pub and tries to ascertain whether Henry and Crispen indeed visited on New Years Eve, only to discover the bar man’s confusion. He proceeds to a nightclub, where he is not exactly at home, to discover if there was a CCTV record of the “older men” having been there. His progress is methodical for him, and does his best. Elsie, of course, is keen that he pursues the search, as she studies his reviews and finds them disappointing to say the least. Ethelred shows his usual problematic approach to life and in particular women, as he tries to work out excuses to visit Crispen’s wife.
This is a novel which indulges in a lot of references to a writer’s life, including the relationship between writer and agent. With characteristic humour and insight, the characters are realistic and funny, falling into their usual routines of studied insults and disappointments. Ethelred is is usual confused and baffled self while he deals with the challenges of finding out about a potential murder, worrying about talking to a woman, and wondering about his novels. Elsie, meanwhile fulfils her role of making life for Ethelred confusing while denying the truth about her chocolate addiction. This is an enjoyable read in a successful series, pushing the edge of their experiences and their relationship. The reviews, the subverting of other writers, the references to the writer’s life apart from the usual issues of investigating a possible murder, all adds up to an entertaining read.
November 15, 2014
If you’re looking for an entertaining read, a book that is as near as unputdownable as is physically and emotionally possible and a book that is not only infectious but humorous to boot then Crooked Herring will do you just fine …thank you very much.
Crooked Herring by LC TylerLen Tyler continues his Ethelred Tressider series with a heart pounding and jaw aching book that belies his mediocre status as a crime novelist – that’s Ethelred not Len Tyler! Ethelred is a wondrous character who has so much to endure on a daily basis – a failure in literary circles and a laughing stock to all other crime writers – but there’s something special and endearing about this true English gent that makes me smile. I guess you can’t ask for much more than that.
He lives in the rather hefty shadow of his biscuit and food loving agent Elsie and it’s this union that allows the book to rapidly tell a rather special story that will leave you with a warm feeling that you don’t often experience reading crime fiction. To be fair however, Len Tyler doesn’t write your usual crime fiction. Part whodunit and part comedic genius the book flows incredibly well and before you know it you’ve eaten a full packet of chocolate digestives and begun to make steady but satisfying inroads into a large pack of kit kat’s – just like Elsie!
As you may have gathered there’s a long running theme of biscuits and food in Crooked Herring and Elsie devours the lot – no biscuit, chocolate or plate of chips is safe. In fact the safest thing in the entire book – forget dead bodies – is a cold salad. Elsie wouldn’t be seen dead eating healthily! I wouldn’t have it any other way. An agent who will never appear in the vogue magazine she knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. Elsie isn’t backwards in coming forwards and at every opportunity she tells everyone just how bad Ethelred is at writing, not your average agent/author relationship but one that works incredibly well for Tyler!
This time around Elsie does appear to be a little more manipulative and she wastes little time in attracting new authors to her stable and even though Ethelred finds himself in a rather precarious situation she always appears to have enough time to strike a deal and to make sure she comes out on top – mostly at Ethelred’s cost!
With a narrative that is well written and an ending that will leave you wanting more, Crooked Herring will satisfy on so many levels but most of all it’ll make you smile.
Crooked Herring by LC TylerLen Tyler continues his Ethelred Tressider series with a heart pounding and jaw aching book that belies his mediocre status as a crime novelist – that’s Ethelred not Len Tyler! Ethelred is a wondrous character who has so much to endure on a daily basis – a failure in literary circles and a laughing stock to all other crime writers – but there’s something special and endearing about this true English gent that makes me smile. I guess you can’t ask for much more than that.
He lives in the rather hefty shadow of his biscuit and food loving agent Elsie and it’s this union that allows the book to rapidly tell a rather special story that will leave you with a warm feeling that you don’t often experience reading crime fiction. To be fair however, Len Tyler doesn’t write your usual crime fiction. Part whodunit and part comedic genius the book flows incredibly well and before you know it you’ve eaten a full packet of chocolate digestives and begun to make steady but satisfying inroads into a large pack of kit kat’s – just like Elsie!
As you may have gathered there’s a long running theme of biscuits and food in Crooked Herring and Elsie devours the lot – no biscuit, chocolate or plate of chips is safe. In fact the safest thing in the entire book – forget dead bodies – is a cold salad. Elsie wouldn’t be seen dead eating healthily! I wouldn’t have it any other way. An agent who will never appear in the vogue magazine she knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. Elsie isn’t backwards in coming forwards and at every opportunity she tells everyone just how bad Ethelred is at writing, not your average agent/author relationship but one that works incredibly well for Tyler!
This time around Elsie does appear to be a little more manipulative and she wastes little time in attracting new authors to her stable and even though Ethelred finds himself in a rather precarious situation she always appears to have enough time to strike a deal and to make sure she comes out on top – mostly at Ethelred’s cost!
With a narrative that is well written and an ending that will leave you wanting more, Crooked Herring will satisfy on so many levels but most of all it’ll make you smile.
February 11, 2022
A good read but for me, not as good as the earlier ones in the series. I found it slow going at first with only Ethelred featuring. He is rather wet (as my mother would have kindly put it) & I felt my attention wandering, it just seemed a bit on the monotonous side. However, things picked up once Elsie put her spoke in, albeit in journal notes & recordings rather than "in person" & I thought the Amazon reviews most amusing.
An entertaining read (once Elsie appeared!) but not one of the best I've read so far.
An entertaining read (once Elsie appeared!) but not one of the best I've read so far.
May 21, 2020
Rating between 2.5 & 3
An entertaining enough read, but I cannot understand why this series gets such good reviews. As a cosy/comedy mystery they are okay but in my opinion not at the same level of characters or plots that feature in either Bryant&May or the Flaxborough series.
The 2 lead characters are drawn well enough for the story purposes, but I felt after completing this one that Elsie especially is more of a caricature than ever.
Although it passed the time there was nothing in this novel that really hooked me in or made want to finish off the remaining books in the series.
An entertaining enough read, but I cannot understand why this series gets such good reviews. As a cosy/comedy mystery they are okay but in my opinion not at the same level of characters or plots that feature in either Bryant&May or the Flaxborough series.
The 2 lead characters are drawn well enough for the story purposes, but I felt after completing this one that Elsie especially is more of a caricature than ever.
Although it passed the time there was nothing in this novel that really hooked me in or made want to finish off the remaining books in the series.
September 13, 2019
I found the plot very silly.
August 18, 2024
2010s - UK, Sussex
first published 2014
It is always a mistake to confess to murder while wearing a paisley bow tie. ‘You don’t believe me, do you?’ asked Henry.
‘That you have just killed somebody?’ I asked.
‘That I might have killed somebody,’ he said. He looked a little sheepish. The genuine murderer – the real pro – tends to keep track of that sort of thing. And he wasn’t dressed for murder. The tweed jacket, the checked waistcoat, and above all the yellow bow tie … they spoke of a man who would fiddle his expenses and arrange for his pregnant secretary to have a sordid backstreet abortion.
Nachdem ich jetzt einige Bücher der Elsie& Ethelred Reihe gelesen habe, glaube ich ein Muster zu erkennen, dass Tyler ganz bewusst und gezielt seine Leser schon früh ahnen lässt, wie der Hase läuft (und wer der Hase ist) - und dann verzweifelt nägelkauend verfolgen lässt, wie E&E auf den absurdesten Holzwegen den "Roten Heringen" nachjagen... diesmal war ich so angefixt, dass ich das Buch kaum weglegen konnte. Trickreich ausgedachte Handlung mit vielen Details, und trotzdem nicht unglaubwürdig, wenn man jemals einen Narzissten mit Rachedurst kennengelernt hat 😱
Elsis Anteile am Bericht sind diesmal Tagebucheinträge und transkribierte Tonbandaufnahmen...
Some explanation, for example, of why Elsie is not my co-narrator in quite the way she has been (since I have never found a way of preventing it) in all of the past accounts of my detective work. It is with a heavy heart that I take up my pen to write these, the last words in which I shall ever record the singular gifts by which my friend and sometime literary agent, Ms Elsie Thirkettle, was distinguished. It will never be possible for her to intrude on the narrative again. Since her role in the case in question was, however, significant – and her duplicity vast even by her own challenging standards – she should be heard from. Fortunately Elsie left behind a diary with notes covering roughly the period in question and I have quoted freely from it.
Wenn ich nicht bereits gesehen hätte, dass es weitere Bücher in der Serie gibt, hätte ich mir hier ernstlich Sorgen gemacht. Andererseits: Elsie war zwar noch nie sympathisch, hier allerdings ist sie so unsympathisch, dass ich am Ende dachte, wenn es künftig einen anderen Agenten geben sollte, wäre ich gar nicht so totunglücklich. Ihre Manierismen sind inzwischen so schablonenhaft und vorhersehbar, dass es kaum noch lustig ist.
Die für die "Heringe" typischen Intermezzo-Texte sind diesmal Rezensionen auf Amazon - geniale Idee und teilweise sehr witzig.
There are clearly a lot of readers out there who like detailed descriptions of hideously violent acts.
Offenbar... der Gedanke kam mir auch schon öfter... und ist irgendwie beunruhigend... ich gehöre jedenfalls nicht zu diesen blutrünstigen Lesern, sondern ziehe verschlungene und meinetwegen auch langatmige Police Procedurals deutlich vor.
noch 2 Zitate:
I won’t say that nobody was murdered over the holiday period – it’s one of the things we traditionally do around then – but I honestly don’t think you killed anyone, or not this year, at least.
Yes. Heilige Nacht, heißt tobt die Schlacht...
‘It’s not what you think.’
‘If it’s not what I think, why should you think I’m thinking that?’
first published 2014
It is always a mistake to confess to murder while wearing a paisley bow tie. ‘You don’t believe me, do you?’ asked Henry.
‘That you have just killed somebody?’ I asked.
‘That I might have killed somebody,’ he said. He looked a little sheepish. The genuine murderer – the real pro – tends to keep track of that sort of thing. And he wasn’t dressed for murder. The tweed jacket, the checked waistcoat, and above all the yellow bow tie … they spoke of a man who would fiddle his expenses and arrange for his pregnant secretary to have a sordid backstreet abortion.
Nachdem ich jetzt einige Bücher der Elsie& Ethelred Reihe gelesen habe, glaube ich ein Muster zu erkennen, dass Tyler ganz bewusst und gezielt seine Leser schon früh ahnen lässt, wie der Hase läuft (und wer der Hase ist) - und dann verzweifelt nägelkauend verfolgen lässt, wie E&E auf den absurdesten Holzwegen den "Roten Heringen" nachjagen... diesmal war ich so angefixt, dass ich das Buch kaum weglegen konnte. Trickreich ausgedachte Handlung mit vielen Details, und trotzdem nicht unglaubwürdig, wenn man jemals einen Narzissten mit Rachedurst kennengelernt hat 😱
Elsis Anteile am Bericht sind diesmal Tagebucheinträge und transkribierte Tonbandaufnahmen...
Some explanation, for example, of why Elsie is not my co-narrator in quite the way she has been (since I have never found a way of preventing it) in all of the past accounts of my detective work. It is with a heavy heart that I take up my pen to write these, the last words in which I shall ever record the singular gifts by which my friend and sometime literary agent, Ms Elsie Thirkettle, was distinguished. It will never be possible for her to intrude on the narrative again. Since her role in the case in question was, however, significant – and her duplicity vast even by her own challenging standards – she should be heard from. Fortunately Elsie left behind a diary with notes covering roughly the period in question and I have quoted freely from it.
Wenn ich nicht bereits gesehen hätte, dass es weitere Bücher in der Serie gibt, hätte ich mir hier ernstlich Sorgen gemacht. Andererseits: Elsie war zwar noch nie sympathisch, hier allerdings ist sie so unsympathisch, dass ich am Ende dachte, wenn es künftig einen anderen Agenten geben sollte, wäre ich gar nicht so totunglücklich. Ihre Manierismen sind inzwischen so schablonenhaft und vorhersehbar, dass es kaum noch lustig ist.
Die für die "Heringe" typischen Intermezzo-Texte sind diesmal Rezensionen auf Amazon - geniale Idee und teilweise sehr witzig.
There are clearly a lot of readers out there who like detailed descriptions of hideously violent acts.
Offenbar... der Gedanke kam mir auch schon öfter... und ist irgendwie beunruhigend... ich gehöre jedenfalls nicht zu diesen blutrünstigen Lesern, sondern ziehe verschlungene und meinetwegen auch langatmige Police Procedurals deutlich vor.
noch 2 Zitate:
I won’t say that nobody was murdered over the holiday period – it’s one of the things we traditionally do around then – but I honestly don’t think you killed anyone, or not this year, at least.
Yes. Heilige Nacht, heißt tobt die Schlacht...
‘It’s not what you think.’
‘If it’s not what I think, why should you think I’m thinking that?’
April 30, 2022
Ethelred is approached by another writer asking him to figure out whether he killed someone. Henry Holiday woke up after a bender with the thought that he had committed murder. But he's not sure who. And it seems that the person that he thought he killed is still around. At least, Ethelred is still getting text message from Crispin Vyall so they think is still alive.
Ethelred pulls Elsie in to help (or she barges in, who can tell) but she doesn't exactly make the case go more smoothly. In fact, her interference could mean that our intrepid (okay, maybe not exactly but...) hero ends up in jail.
This was an okay addition to the series but not as good as some of the others.
Ethelred pulls Elsie in to help (or she barges in, who can tell) but she doesn't exactly make the case go more smoothly. In fact, her interference could mean that our intrepid (okay, maybe not exactly but...) hero ends up in jail.
This was an okay addition to the series but not as good as some of the others.
February 2, 2023
Review 8/23
Book 7/23
Crooked Herrings by L.C. Tyler
An Ethelred Elsie whodunnit based in England .. Ethelred is a mystery novelist who writes under various pseudonyms, Elsie is his chocolate chomping editor . She comes across as a caricature and Ethelred is one of the most incompetent detectives ever .
The mystery is not riveting, the plot not engaging .. I would describe the book as valid and inoffensive. Frankly it took all my will power to finish it to its tedious end , since I had worked out the mystery half way through as would any rational reader . I won’t be going back to this series again. I may be in the minority here , but I truly found it slow and boring .
Book 7/23
Crooked Herrings by L.C. Tyler
An Ethelred Elsie whodunnit based in England .. Ethelred is a mystery novelist who writes under various pseudonyms, Elsie is his chocolate chomping editor . She comes across as a caricature and Ethelred is one of the most incompetent detectives ever .
The mystery is not riveting, the plot not engaging .. I would describe the book as valid and inoffensive. Frankly it took all my will power to finish it to its tedious end , since I had worked out the mystery half way through as would any rational reader . I won’t be going back to this series again. I may be in the minority here , but I truly found it slow and boring .
November 29, 2017
Ethelred gets himself into a situation that the reader knows exactly how he is being manipulated, but has to slowly watch Ethelred walk into every trap set. Ethelred is innocently following along in order to get the promised good reviews of his books written in the local paper. In the meantime, Ethelred confides everything that is happening to him to Elsie...his chocoholic (not a bad thing) publisher. Once Elsie gets involved things get worse as her advice is not always good. A delight to read and looking forward to the next book!
July 21, 2019
A book with the opening sentence 'It is always a mistake to confess to murder while wearing a paisley bow tie' can't be bad. This is the first of the 'Herring' mysteries I have read and I hope it won't be the last. The confession comes from one writer to another that he thinks he has murdered a third but can't remember. The confessee (if there is such a word, if not I claim copyright), Elthelred Tressider, then tries to investigate what really happened. All very cosy and an amusing read in its own way. The moral, if there has to be one, is be careful what you write in a review.
September 29, 2024
A very easy who - dunnit, one to read in an afternoon with a coffee. Elsie as a character I found quite frustrating yet believable in the way that annoying people often don't know that they're acting in such a way. I thought her misplacing or evidence was farfetched as is anyone really that self involved to think of biscuits over their client (and supposed friend) of years and years??
As a stand alone book however I did enjoy the story, and though there are others on the 'herring' series you don't need to have read them to enjoy the story.
As a stand alone book however I did enjoy the story, and though there are others on the 'herring' series you don't need to have read them to enjoy the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2018
Having enjoyed the others so far in this series (except for 2 which seems impossible to get hold of) I was rather disappointed in this one. The book felt rushed and the plot could have been so much better, in previous books the twists had been enjoyable but this felt silly and too reliant on coincidences. I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters or Ethelred and Elsie and that was lacking in the style of this one. I will read the next hoping that this was a glitch.
May 29, 2020
I hadn't expected an estrangement between Elsie and Ethelred. That was totally unexpected. It should be interesting to see how the author brings them back together again. I've also wondered if they will ever end up together, romantically. Maybe the time spent apart will help them find romance with each other, when they finally mend the rift between them...? I'm going to start on book 6 right away to find out. 🤓👍
As for the mystery, it was an interesting one. I enjoyed the read.
As for the mystery, it was an interesting one. I enjoyed the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 15, 2022I read most of this in one night with a terrible migraine and finally fell asleep about 5o pages before the end. When I woke up and the headache had cleared I went another two weeks of my life without the slightest bit of curiosity as to how the story would resolve which I think is probably indicative. It was perfectly fine and inoffensive but I gave it back to the library without really needing to know whodunit.
October 15, 2018
Suspense riddled with humour..
Another stimulating read in this series. I love the banter between the two sleuths. The over confident Elsie who believes she can solve any crime and fails miserably. The less than confident but chivalrous Ethelred who appears to bumble through investigations but gets the right solution in the end. Loved it!
Another stimulating read in this series. I love the banter between the two sleuths. The over confident Elsie who believes she can solve any crime and fails miserably. The less than confident but chivalrous Ethelred who appears to bumble through investigations but gets the right solution in the end. Loved it!
July 10, 2018
I abandoned this halfway through. It was amusing at first, if slow moving. However it then seemed to grind to a stop. The plot such as it was seemed to be an in-joke involving fake reviews, plagiarism and the like which became more and more boring.
December 20, 2021
The zany series continues, with Ethelred framed for murder and Elsie plotting to "get him off" by any means at all. There are chuckles sprinkled throughout, and a dose of suspense to sustain the reader.
July 12, 2017
I was disappointed with this book as I had already worked it out half way through. Poor man's Wilt.
November 2, 2017
Nice easy, pleasant read. Found myself laughing.
January 11, 2021
Very good.
July 30, 2023
Delightful read, humorous mystery. Cleverly plotted; I especially liked how the author brought in the Amazon reviews. I learned the meaning of "sockpuppet" which I've always wondered about.
December 22, 2024
Wonderful
June 30, 2025
First intro to crime fiction. I actually quite enjoyed it. I HATED HENRY HOLIDAY.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2025
This book is a puzzling collection of red herrings that eventually leads to a reasonable conclusion.
December 17, 2016
Ergens las ik als begin van een review over dit boek: HAHAHA! En zo is het.
Elsie?!
Elsie is de literair agente van de matte, ietwat grijze maar erg humoristische schrijver Ethelred die altijd in real-live amateur-detective verhalen verzeilt. En zij, de nieuwsgierige, beledigende, dominante agente, doet dan mee. Maar deze keer... O help, van in het begin (ik geef niets weg van de plot) schrijft Ethelred dat Elsie niet zal meevertellen aan dit verhaal, en dit in de toekomst ook nooit zal doen. Hij gebruikt voor dit verhaal wel materiaal van Elsie dat hij nog heeft (audiorecordings, dagboeknotities).
Elsie, wat is er met haar gebeurd??? Van meet af aan zit je in grote spanning. Is ze dood? Hoe is dat dan gebeurd? Is ze naar het buitenland, ergens ver weg? Nou ja, dat alles is voor verder in het boek.
Leuk, absurd, meeslepend goed plot
Eerst lach je je te pletter. In dit mysterie spelen dit keer niet erg veel personages mee, juist heel weinig. Maar wat die allemaal voor gekke streken uithalen, of misschien ook niet. Dit alles leidt tot steeds vreemdere, absurde en lachwekkende kronkels. Maar het verhaal steekt erg goed in elkaar, en daardoor blijft alles de hele tijd geloofwaardig. Al denk je vaak 'o nééééééé' met een schaterlach. Tenslotte kom je uit bij een fantastisch bedacht einde.
Niet de laatste
Na het boek te hebben gelezen, kan ik begrijpen dat veel lezers vermoedden dat dit de laatste van de Red Herring Mysteries zou zijn. Maar er is ondertussen een nieuwe verschenen. Benieuwd wat dat zal geven!
Quote:
Quote:
Elsie?!
Elsie is de literair agente van de matte, ietwat grijze maar erg humoristische schrijver Ethelred die altijd in real-live amateur-detective verhalen verzeilt. En zij, de nieuwsgierige, beledigende, dominante agente, doet dan mee. Maar deze keer... O help, van in het begin (ik geef niets weg van de plot) schrijft Ethelred dat Elsie niet zal meevertellen aan dit verhaal, en dit in de toekomst ook nooit zal doen. Hij gebruikt voor dit verhaal wel materiaal van Elsie dat hij nog heeft (audiorecordings, dagboeknotities).
Elsie, wat is er met haar gebeurd??? Van meet af aan zit je in grote spanning. Is ze dood? Hoe is dat dan gebeurd? Is ze naar het buitenland, ergens ver weg? Nou ja, dat alles is voor verder in het boek.
Leuk, absurd, meeslepend goed plot
Eerst lach je je te pletter. In dit mysterie spelen dit keer niet erg veel personages mee, juist heel weinig. Maar wat die allemaal voor gekke streken uithalen, of misschien ook niet. Dit alles leidt tot steeds vreemdere, absurde en lachwekkende kronkels. Maar het verhaal steekt erg goed in elkaar, en daardoor blijft alles de hele tijd geloofwaardig. Al denk je vaak 'o nééééééé' met een schaterlach. Tenslotte kom je uit bij een fantastisch bedacht einde.
Niet de laatste
Na het boek te hebben gelezen, kan ik begrijpen dat veel lezers vermoedden dat dit de laatste van de Red Herring Mysteries zou zijn. Maar er is ondertussen een nieuwe verschenen. Benieuwd wat dat zal geven!
Quote:
Fortunately, Elsie left behind a diary with notes covering roughly the period in question and I have quoted freely from it. She also left a tape of various conversations that she had covertly recorded, and I have transcribed these as necessary.
Quote:
'If you have a query, you could email it to my assistant, Tuesday.'
'I can't wait that long.'
'No, my assistant is called Tuesday. You can email her today.'
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