Sky High

by Michael Gilbert

For the villagers of Brimberley, the worst thing looming on the horizon is the chance of being outshone by the rival village choir of Bramshott—that is, until Brimberley’s lead tenor is blown up in his home by an explosion that rocks the whole community. While the police muster their forces, the motorcycling choir leader Liz enlists her ex-commando son and a retired general to help investigate the shocking murder. Together, they step into a case swirling with dark revelations from the Second World War, lurking parochial grudges, the local mystery of a burglar with a mythical reputation—and the identity of a volatile killer poised to strike again.

First published in 1955, this classic village mystery with lashings of spy fiction showcases Gilbert’s ingenious plotting, sharp humour, and ability to blow the reader’s expectations sky high through taut pacing and explosive twists.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British Literature

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

A nice post war thriller set in a sleepy English village of the twee Golden Age type, but with a bunch of people who've been through a brutal war, and high explosives. The disjunct between old and new style is pretty jarring at times, but that's generally the point, and it mostly works well. Except for the traditional 'returning war hero falls in love with the schoolgirl he grew up with who is now 18 and thus A Woman but still easily 12 years younger than him' which is not made more comfortable because he's literally been off enforcing colonialism and stabbing people. Excellent final scene.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the latest installment from the British Libraries Classic Crime series and I have to say that I would hooked.

Now partly was due to how the author Michael Gilbert has captured the air of the sleepy English village and partly due to the dramatic way one of the victims is despatched (there are no spoilers here - he was blown up in his house).

I would say that I grew up in a shall English village in the 70s and there are so many familiar voices I recognise here - all the way down to the fact everyone knows not only each other but also their business too. This story captures a way of life that sadly no longer exists for so many reasons but which I look back with fond memories.

Then you throw in a fun mystery (and I love the snappy dialogue and the fact that all the characters have their strengths and avoid so many stereotypes as they) you have a fast paced story in a sleepy village - I applaud who found this story and bringing it to the collection.

[Chad D · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an eyebrow-raising surprise to start off a book called "Sky High" plunged into a post-WW2 rural English choir-rehearsal. And, throughout, this isn't a pulse-pounding book full of plot high explosive. Its main characters are three women (two young), a long-retired general of iffy health, and a young WW2 veteran who has a mysterious job in London and is trying to talk one of the young women into being in love with him. She is sceptical. A few small choirboys come into it.

That is to say, I like Michael Gilbert, and a book called "Sky High," with a front cover of a man and various household implements being blown sky high, is not the sort of thing I like, but I bought it anyway, because I like Michael Gilbert, and it was a lovely book. Gilbert is so very good at dialogue, at plot, at concise but interesting description, at pacing. High high quality genre fiction.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good post-war mystery/thriller. Gilbert isn’t perfect with plots—I think he uses too many characters—but he is excellent with snappy dialogue and tension; the locating of the bomb is a great, white-knuckle scene.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable setting, nice characters and a nice build of tension towards the end.

[Louise Culmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly amusing mystery/thriller set in a village. Some quite good characters. Nothing really outstanding about it. A pleasant enough read.

[Verity W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brimberley is a peaceful village, where everyone knows everyone else and very little happens. That is until the lead tenor in the village choir is killed by an explosion at his house. Choir leader Liz, her son Tim (a former commando) and a retired general are soon investigating to try and work out what's happened.

This was a Janurary 2026 release in the BLCC series and I was pleased to see it pop up in Kindle Unlimited already. I read and enjoyed Michael Gilbert's Smallbone, Deceased a year or two back which drew on Gilbert's experience as a solicitor, while this one captures small village life in the 1950s with classic murder mystery mixing with spy thriller in a really pleasing way. I've got another of Gilbert's books on the shelf and I'm moving it up the list now because I enjoyed this so much.

[Justine Shenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing book. I'm not sure I grasped it as fully as necessary for complete appreciation—for instance, the epigraphs from Love's Labour's Lost, what significance would someone familiar with that play (i.e., not me) attach to the particular quotes the author chose? I also struggled with some of the British-isms. Sentences like After a pause the General added: "I'd like to see some of his critics trying to do Q to an army group." probably didn't convey to me as much as the author intended. But language and literacy barriers aside, I enjoyed the story and liked the characters.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly enjoyable read.

Gilbert is one of the post-War generation of writers whose more modern writing style make their books somewhat more accessible to today's younger readers.

A cast of largely likeable and more recognisable characters adds to the readability.

The plot line eeks out clues, in a timely fashion, and all combined these elements come together to form an engaging and engrossing story that keeps you guessing right to the end.

[Eric Tanafon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book, which could be classified as a cozy thriller if that were a genre (which I guess it is, now!) The setting is post-World War Two Britain and many of the characters are ex-military--adapting, with various degrees of success, to life in peacetime. The characters aren't too sympathetic at first, but they grow on the reader. There's a touch of romance, which adds some humor and keeps things civilized. And the story's windup--though not offering too many challenges in the whodunit department--is exciting and well done.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ingenious mystery. And the hero and the girl get together at the end (not really spoiling, just reassuring--sometimes in a Gilbert novel, they justifiably do not). Tim Artside is one hero I wish Gilbert had used in another book. He is multi-talented enough to justify it, but alas, Gilbert chose not. Of all the Gilbert books I have read so far, this comes closest to a cozy that he has, and I liked that, too.

[Cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure I fully understood the wrap up on this, and I definitely didn’t like the frequent objectification of eighteen-year-old Sue by a couple of men old enough to be her father, but the characters (especially Liz) were solid, and I enjoyed the many musical references in the text and chapter headings.

[Regine · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a Michael Gilbert mystery, the reader is in good hands. The plot is well-crafted and the characters appealing. Liz and the General are quite a team. The postwar countryside is not quite what it once was. Those who survived the war have been changed by it, but despite tribulations there is a sense of thanksgiving.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one, didn't know where it was going for a bit but once it got started it developed nicely. A good range of characters and the plot didn't feel forced or added to unnecessarily; like some books do now!

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good puzzle by Mr. Gilbert.

[Claire Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this - it gives "Thursday Murder Club" vibes 50+ years before TMC. It's well written, engaging and the characters are memorable and lovable. It's witty and fun but also serious and at points thrilling. One of my favorite BLCC reprints so far!

[Shona Lidgey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever, charming, vintage and thoroughly enjoyable 😁

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small village, death by explosion, locals set about to solve the crime. The characters are wonderfully fleshed out, the wit on display is laugh out loud inducing. I read this as part of the British Library Classic crime and I am very happy there are several volumes from the author for me to read, but sorry he didn't do a sequel to this book - I would love to visit the same characters again

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.com/2026/...

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Gilbert never disappoints!

[Adam Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Michael Gilbert and I very much enjoyed. Good English village setting, so good well developed characters and a plot that kept me guessing.

[Lady D · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of the better ones I've read

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz Artside can't help but worry about her son Tim. He won't tell her about his job in London, and after an exciting wartime career, he seems unable to settle down. Then a man in their village, with whom Tim had quarreled, is killed when his house explodes. The police know that Tim worked in high explosives during the war. Liz also can't forget that her husband was killed in an explosion shortly after World War I. When one of their friends, who is involved with the police force, talks about the plague of country house burglaries, Liz is afraid that Tim will be a suspect. It may help to consider this a post-World War II historical, although of course it was published in 1955. Immensely appealing characters make this a winner.

[Alex Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Gilbert almost always writes excellent books. I admit I tend to prefer his earlier works. Very nice mystery story. As usual with Gilbert's books, the characters make the story enjoyable. Although taking place at the time it was written, viewed from today we get a wonderful perspective of British village life in the aftermath of the war. Very nice plot twist at the end.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic mystery with the sly humor well known in Gilbert's work that make reading the mystery both enjoyable as well as keeping you challenged to figure out the mystery. As usual, not a simple explanation to the crime, but every thing makes sense.

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this dusty old book from my shelf and should have left it there. Boring!

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read. I wish there were other titles that featured Liz and the General. They make a wonderful duo.