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Murder At The College
Francis Hatton has gone to the University town of Exbridge to attend a committee meeting, at St. Oswald's College. At the luncheon adjournment Hatton remains behind to eat his sandwiches, to read the report of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments, and to meet death—for death, swift and unforeseen, which strikes him down in that brief hour - but who killed him? And why?An intriguing, fun mystery by Victor L. Whitechurch.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1932
20 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Victor L. Whitechurch
163 books17 followersVictor Lorenzo Whitechurch was born in 1868, was educated at Chichester Grammar School and Chichester Theological College and eventually became a canon of the Anglican Church, living and working for many years in the country rather than in towns and cities.
He held various positions as curate before he became vicar of St. Michael's, Blewbury in 1904. In 1913 he became Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford, and an honorary canon of Christ Church and in 1918 he became Rural Dean of Aylesbury.
He began his writing career with religious works, as befitted his profession, and edited 'The Chronicle of St George' in 1891 before producing his own work 'The Course of Justice' in 1903. He wrote his first quasi-detective novel, also considered as a clerical romance, in 1904 when 'The Canon in Residence' was published and was later adapted for stage and radio.
He also contributed detective stories to the Strand Magazine, the Railway Magazine and Pearson's and Harmsworth's Magazines. Some of his railway stories were published as 'Thrilling Stories of the Railway' in 1912, 15 stories in all, nine of which feature his specialst in railway detection, Thorpe Hazell, a strict vegetarian.
After producing a variety of romantic novels, he returned to thrillers with 'The Templeton Case', 1924, and another collection of short stories on a railway and spy theme, 'The Adventures of Captain Ivan Koravitch' in 1925.
Two quite different books appeared from his pen in 1927, 'The Truth in Christ Jesus' and 'The Crime at Diana's Pool' before he devoted his final years almost solely to detective fiction, writing four further such novels between 1927 and 1932, the last of them 'Murder at the College' written after he had suffered a long and debilitating illness.
Although his thriller output was relatively low, 12 of his 27 books being of the genre, Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor in their splendid 'Catalogue of Crime' wrote of him, "He was the greatest improviser in the genre - all but one of his stories has distinct merit." Ellery Queen and Dorothy L Sayers meanwhile admired his books for their "immaculate plotting and factual accuracy" believing him to be "one of the first writers to submit his manuscripts to Scotland Yard for vetting as to police procedure."
He died in 1933.
Gerry Wolstenholme
May 2010
He held various positions as curate before he became vicar of St. Michael's, Blewbury in 1904. In 1913 he became Chaplain to the Bishop of Oxford, and an honorary canon of Christ Church and in 1918 he became Rural Dean of Aylesbury.
He began his writing career with religious works, as befitted his profession, and edited 'The Chronicle of St George' in 1891 before producing his own work 'The Course of Justice' in 1903. He wrote his first quasi-detective novel, also considered as a clerical romance, in 1904 when 'The Canon in Residence' was published and was later adapted for stage and radio.
He also contributed detective stories to the Strand Magazine, the Railway Magazine and Pearson's and Harmsworth's Magazines. Some of his railway stories were published as 'Thrilling Stories of the Railway' in 1912, 15 stories in all, nine of which feature his specialst in railway detection, Thorpe Hazell, a strict vegetarian.
After producing a variety of romantic novels, he returned to thrillers with 'The Templeton Case', 1924, and another collection of short stories on a railway and spy theme, 'The Adventures of Captain Ivan Koravitch' in 1925.
Two quite different books appeared from his pen in 1927, 'The Truth in Christ Jesus' and 'The Crime at Diana's Pool' before he devoted his final years almost solely to detective fiction, writing four further such novels between 1927 and 1932, the last of them 'Murder at the College' written after he had suffered a long and debilitating illness.
Although his thriller output was relatively low, 12 of his 27 books being of the genre, Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor in their splendid 'Catalogue of Crime' wrote of him, "He was the greatest improviser in the genre - all but one of his stories has distinct merit." Ellery Queen and Dorothy L Sayers meanwhile admired his books for their "immaculate plotting and factual accuracy" believing him to be "one of the first writers to submit his manuscripts to Scotland Yard for vetting as to police procedure."
He died in 1933.
Gerry Wolstenholme
May 2010
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December 17, 2022
There is nothing I love more than an academic mystery...unless it is a really good academic mystery with a hint of impossible crime thrown in. While this is not a strict rendering of an impossible crime, it does appear throughout most of the story that it is impossible for any of the suspects to have gotten in and/or out of the room during the critical time period without being seen. Our up-and-coming young Detective Ambrose spends a great deal of his time figuring out who was where when and could they have possibly committed the crime and gotten out of the room in small time fram allowed.
But what is the book about? you ask. A group of architecture enthusiasts who make up a diocese board meet on Tuesdays in the college rooms of one of their members, Sidney Henlow. There they decide whether renovations and changes fancied by churches throughout the area meet aesthetic standards and should be allowed. They normally break for lunch at one and go out to various pubs and restaurants for their mid-day meal. On this particular Tuesday, Henlow is away but has arranged for the rooms to be ready as usual. When the morning's business is finished, Francis Hatton breaks with habit and stays behind in the rooms to eat a brown bag lunch and write letters. But when the other members return, they find Hatton stabbed to death in a chair by the fire.
Workmen had been hard at removing flagstones and digging a large hole for drainage right at the bottom of the staircase all morning and were only gone from the site for a short time during the lunch hour. The porter was also away from his post for just a short while. All say that no unknown party came through the college while they were on duty. An office clerk across the street from the college (and who, coincidentally, has a very good view of the windows of the rooms in question) also helps narrow the time in which the murder could have taken place. If "helps" is the word, because the more Detective Ambrose of the Exbridge police learns, the more certain it becomes that none of the likely suspects had time to commit the deed and get in and out of the rooms without being seen. It also doesn't help that there doesn't seem to be a whiff of a motive--unless you count the quarrelsome county squire who wasn't too happy that Francis Hatton came and looked at his proposed design for a new stained glass window for his local church and predicted that the board would turn down the proposal. Would the squire really kill over a stained glass window--even given his volatile temper? Evidence then comes to light that indicates that Hatton fancied himself a bit of an amateur crime-solver. Did his detecting ways lead to his death? Ambrose must decipher cryptic notes left behind in Hatton's notebook titled "Detection Problems" before he will see his way clear to the solution of Hatton's murder.
Okay, sounds interesting. But why should I vote for it as Reprint of the Year? Well, this is just a delightful book. If you like college-settings, then this is a book for you. If you like interesting characters, then you'll find some here. If you like cryptic clues, then Whitechurch has you covered. If you like a surprise ending, then he manages to give you that as well. If you're just looking for a fun, fast-moving read, then here you go. Whitechurch ticked off so many boxes that needed covered for me, that I'm tempted to sit down and read it again just for the pure pleasure of experience. There is a slight disappointment at the end (which is more a "me" thing than a Whitechurch thing), otherwise I would probably give this five stars. That's how much I enjoyed it.
There is one trope that frequent readers of mystery stories may feel is obvious or over-used, but at the time of publication I'm sure it was more surprising for Whitechurch's readers. I can appreciate how much it would have baffled readers of the time. I did spot what had happened before Ambrose did, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment and I hope that it wouldn't detract from yours. Overall, just a really fun mystery reading experience. ★★★★ and 1/2. (rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
But what is the book about? you ask. A group of architecture enthusiasts who make up a diocese board meet on Tuesdays in the college rooms of one of their members, Sidney Henlow. There they decide whether renovations and changes fancied by churches throughout the area meet aesthetic standards and should be allowed. They normally break for lunch at one and go out to various pubs and restaurants for their mid-day meal. On this particular Tuesday, Henlow is away but has arranged for the rooms to be ready as usual. When the morning's business is finished, Francis Hatton breaks with habit and stays behind in the rooms to eat a brown bag lunch and write letters. But when the other members return, they find Hatton stabbed to death in a chair by the fire.
Workmen had been hard at removing flagstones and digging a large hole for drainage right at the bottom of the staircase all morning and were only gone from the site for a short time during the lunch hour. The porter was also away from his post for just a short while. All say that no unknown party came through the college while they were on duty. An office clerk across the street from the college (and who, coincidentally, has a very good view of the windows of the rooms in question) also helps narrow the time in which the murder could have taken place. If "helps" is the word, because the more Detective Ambrose of the Exbridge police learns, the more certain it becomes that none of the likely suspects had time to commit the deed and get in and out of the rooms without being seen. It also doesn't help that there doesn't seem to be a whiff of a motive--unless you count the quarrelsome county squire who wasn't too happy that Francis Hatton came and looked at his proposed design for a new stained glass window for his local church and predicted that the board would turn down the proposal. Would the squire really kill over a stained glass window--even given his volatile temper? Evidence then comes to light that indicates that Hatton fancied himself a bit of an amateur crime-solver. Did his detecting ways lead to his death? Ambrose must decipher cryptic notes left behind in Hatton's notebook titled "Detection Problems" before he will see his way clear to the solution of Hatton's murder.
Okay, sounds interesting. But why should I vote for it as Reprint of the Year? Well, this is just a delightful book. If you like college-settings, then this is a book for you. If you like interesting characters, then you'll find some here. If you like cryptic clues, then Whitechurch has you covered. If you like a surprise ending, then he manages to give you that as well. If you're just looking for a fun, fast-moving read, then here you go. Whitechurch ticked off so many boxes that needed covered for me, that I'm tempted to sit down and read it again just for the pure pleasure of experience. There is a slight disappointment at the end (which is more a "me" thing than a Whitechurch thing), otherwise I would probably give this five stars. That's how much I enjoyed it.
There is one trope that frequent readers of mystery stories may feel is obvious or over-used, but at the time of publication I'm sure it was more surprising for Whitechurch's readers. I can appreciate how much it would have baffled readers of the time. I did spot what had happened before Ambrose did, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment and I hope that it wouldn't detract from yours. Overall, just a really fun mystery reading experience. ★★★★ and 1/2. (rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
August 10, 2014
What a gem this turned out to be. A book found by my wife who thought it "sounded like my sort of book". It was. I quickly read the foreword about the difference between a 'Thriller' and a 'Detective story' and realised that my wife was probably right.
It was refreshing to read of police procedures in this era when the detective sergent could easily travel to France and the Isle of Wight without considering budget costs or overtime payments and everything was done in a gentlemanly fashion. Of course this was set in a time before the tough approach of John Thaw of The Sweeney and Philip Glenister of Life on Mars and well before the burocratic and cost conscious policing of today.
It seemed as if the book was going to be a race between me and the detective to get to the culprit first using the clues available to us both and so I decided to keep a character map with all of the suspects at the beginning of the story. It soon became apparent that this wouldnt be needed because the main players in the tale were all so well described and the regular discussions between the detectives ensured that we had the updated story clear in our minds.
It is a well contained story of a murder - almost a locked room mystery but not quite, and as some books that just follow police investigations become boring, this is not the case here.
Some obvious clues appear along the way but the secret lies in realising how they fit in to the overall jigsaw.
A most enjoyable read. My first job tomorrow is to look for other books by Mr Whitechurch.
It was refreshing to read of police procedures in this era when the detective sergent could easily travel to France and the Isle of Wight without considering budget costs or overtime payments and everything was done in a gentlemanly fashion. Of course this was set in a time before the tough approach of John Thaw of The Sweeney and Philip Glenister of Life on Mars and well before the burocratic and cost conscious policing of today.
It seemed as if the book was going to be a race between me and the detective to get to the culprit first using the clues available to us both and so I decided to keep a character map with all of the suspects at the beginning of the story. It soon became apparent that this wouldnt be needed because the main players in the tale were all so well described and the regular discussions between the detectives ensured that we had the updated story clear in our minds.
It is a well contained story of a murder - almost a locked room mystery but not quite, and as some books that just follow police investigations become boring, this is not the case here.
Some obvious clues appear along the way but the secret lies in realising how they fit in to the overall jigsaw.
A most enjoyable read. My first job tomorrow is to look for other books by Mr Whitechurch.
May 15, 2023
Wonderful plot puzzle mystery with some very interesting characters as well. Reminds me of Crofts' style. A pleasant and thoughtful detective that reaches out and works with various ports of information to put together the clues to identify the murderer.
At the start a group meets to discuss the approvals for renovations or work in the churches (perhaps Church of England- not sure but I figure it was like it). The place they meet currently has only one key and the person whose rooms they go to (at the college) is away on a vacation of sorts. The one person with the key is the person whose job it is to manage the rooms etc... One of those gathered is killed. And it's hard to figure out who to focus on since there are a variety of people to suspect.
Moves really well. (Stayed up to finish up the last quarter as I couldn't get to sleep for thinking about it.)
At the start a group meets to discuss the approvals for renovations or work in the churches (perhaps Church of England- not sure but I figure it was like it). The place they meet currently has only one key and the person whose rooms they go to (at the college) is away on a vacation of sorts. The one person with the key is the person whose job it is to manage the rooms etc... One of those gathered is killed. And it's hard to figure out who to focus on since there are a variety of people to suspect.
Moves really well. (Stayed up to finish up the last quarter as I couldn't get to sleep for thinking about it.)
March 6, 2024
Schöner klassischer Kriminalroman. Ohne "Thrills", wie der Autor im Vorwort garantiert, aber trotzdem mit einer angenehmen Spannung. Interessanter Plot, glaubhafte Figuren. Echtes Lesevergnügen.
May 26, 2022
The author leaves the potential reader in no doubt about what is being offered in this, his final detective novel, first published in 1932.
'The true "Detective Story" is a "problem," the problem of how some particular crime was committed and who committed it, a problem which, while often demanding smaller problems, should not deviate from the main question in hand. "A Crime, and its solution." That is the description of the real "Detective Story."... The problem is gradually worked out on the ordinary lines of shrewd police investigation and methods. Every detail of the investigation, as it arises, is made plain to the reader —as he reads, he knows just as much about the case as the detective knows—no less. The author has tried to "play the game" fairly, and, in order to do so, he has strictly avoided "thrills."'
The story is a little more interesting than the plain fare suggested by this Foreword, although it is pretty easy to work out the whodunit and why, well in advance of the police. Not that the detectives portrayed here are stupid, just rather too painstaking and slow-acting for their own good.
The setting is in a university town, with excursions to London and France, but the emphasis is firmly on police procedure in the capable hands of the "modern" and "well-educated" Superintendent Plestow and DS Ambrose. The narrative is business-like, although the pace of the investigation is rather leisurely, given that a man has been murdered.
Very readable, but not remotely challenging or puzzling.
3.25 stars.
'The true "Detective Story" is a "problem," the problem of how some particular crime was committed and who committed it, a problem which, while often demanding smaller problems, should not deviate from the main question in hand. "A Crime, and its solution." That is the description of the real "Detective Story."... The problem is gradually worked out on the ordinary lines of shrewd police investigation and methods. Every detail of the investigation, as it arises, is made plain to the reader —as he reads, he knows just as much about the case as the detective knows—no less. The author has tried to "play the game" fairly, and, in order to do so, he has strictly avoided "thrills."'
The story is a little more interesting than the plain fare suggested by this Foreword, although it is pretty easy to work out the whodunit and why, well in advance of the police. Not that the detectives portrayed here are stupid, just rather too painstaking and slow-acting for their own good.
The setting is in a university town, with excursions to London and France, but the emphasis is firmly on police procedure in the capable hands of the "modern" and "well-educated" Superintendent Plestow and DS Ambrose. The narrative is business-like, although the pace of the investigation is rather leisurely, given that a man has been murdered.
Very readable, but not remotely challenging or puzzling.
3.25 stars.
June 10, 2019
Every first Tuesday of the month, a group of experts meet in the rooms of Mr. Sidney Henlow of St. Oswald's college to discuss any proposed alterations to the churches of the diocese. What could be more respectable? But one day the committee members return to the rooms after lunch to find one of their colleagues, Francis Hatton, stabbed to death. Who would have a reason to kill this harmless dilettante? And equally relevant : who could have entered and left the secluded college in the crucial time interval? And why does the wardrobe contain a torn shoelace ? Enter Sergeant Ambrose, whose solid detection work is enhanced by some lucky coincidences involving a French match, an irascible country gentleman, and a postcard.
A mystery novel in the classic tradition.
A mystery novel in the classic tradition.
February 17, 2016
Two and a half stars.
Quite a reasonable police procedural in which the author informs the reader in the foreword that he will be playing fair and giving all the necessary clues. Sergeant Ambrose is quite a likeable detective and I enjoyed the painstaking way he went about the case. However it was spoiled for me by the most outrageous coincidence which led to the ultimate solution.
Nicely written in the rather correct language of the time.
Good value from Kindle for under a quid with very few typos.
Quite a reasonable police procedural in which the author informs the reader in the foreword that he will be playing fair and giving all the necessary clues. Sergeant Ambrose is quite a likeable detective and I enjoyed the painstaking way he went about the case. However it was spoiled for me by the most outrageous coincidence which led to the ultimate solution.
Nicely written in the rather correct language of the time.
Good value from Kindle for under a quid with very few typos.
December 4, 2023
Whitechurch is an under-appreciated Golden Age author. It's a play-fair mystery, and good fun.
April 13, 2020
Детектив-загадка
Наверное, прежде, чем говорить о книге, стоит немножко сказать об авторе. Не так уж и часто я в своей жизни читала книги, написанные англиканским священником, а Виктор Л. Уайтчерч именно что был самым настоящим англиканским священником. И удивительно, что в детективе из-под пера именно священника тема бога не поднималась. Было видно, что человек не понаслышке знаком с деятельностью священнослужителя, какими-то внутренними порядками церкви, но это не было перетаскиванием одеяла на себя, просто человек хорошо описал то, что знает и читались эти детали легко, с любопытством и главное с пониманием того что происходит, создавая некий колорит у истории. Тут детективам приходится иметь дело со священниками, и они оказываются самыми простыми людьми, со своими хобби. Получилось некое очеловечивание парадного костюма и это было живо, позволяло книге дышать.
Есть еще один удивительный факт, когда читаешь книгу ты веришь не только в линию церковную, очень хорошо описанную, но и детективную. Пусть она немного более литературна, не так просто и легко описана, как церковная. Были не то чтобы штамповые моменты, ну давайте иметь ввиду, что это 1934 тут еще сложно штамповать, но есть моменты с натяжкой, осторожностью, повторением. Словно хотелось написать, как можно более серьезно, правд��подобно, похоже на настоящее и художественное одновременно. Люди вроде бы и живые, но местами их словно немного в рамки загоняют под определенное соответствие образу. Это не мешает читать, мало того именно детективная составляющая не страдает, чуть страдает герой-детектив, да, история с логическими выкладками, проведением расследования не страдает. Возможно плюс этого, как возможно и минус, в том, что Виктор Л. Уайтчерч был одним из первых, кто пользовался консультацией Скотленд-Ярда. Это однозначно помогало автору быть более точным в деталях дела, но похоже мешало раскрытию персонажа детектива.
Убийство в колледже - завораживающий детектив-загадка. Тут автор явно позволил себе создать детектив таким, какие сам любил, чтобы, получив улики смочь остановится, подумать и дойти своим умом до того, кто же убийца. И не просто дойти, а с доказательствами. Читать интересно и даже как-то радостно, потому что нет скрытых фактов, все что знает детектив, знаешь и ты сам. От тебя ничего не скрывают, не делают умного лица и не кричат, ага понятно и пропадают во мгле, а ты сиди и жди, пока автор все тебе дорасскажет. Тут есть даже автомобильные гонки и такое знакомое "следуйте за тем такси, я полицейский". Это очень живой детектив, который пополняет знания в церковной области. Например, что в Англии нельзя просто так прибить нечто в церкви, надо показать, что ты хочешь прибить, куда и сколько тебе на это надо денег. И специально отобранные люди точно скажут можно ли такое прибивать и главное нужно ли. То есть пытаются содержать свой дом в красоте и соответствии.
Так же интересно показано отношение к тому, чтобы вызвать человека из Лондона. Мол вызвать всегда успеем, давай попробуем сами разобраться, не только же шлем на голове носить, ей ведь и думать можно, тем более, что есть кому. И самое приятное в истории, это такое забытое сейчас в детективах чувства единения у людей. Тут никто не хочет никого подсидеть, тут люди расследуют убийство и действуют в соответствии именно с этим. Тут важно раскрыть убийство и поймать убийцу, а еще приятно наконец-то и кражи раскрыть, которые покоя не давали. И все это оформлено в детектив-загадку. Очень приятно читать такую скомпонованную, продуманную, без лишних деталей историю.
Если вы хотите прочитать что-то привычное классическое детективное, то эта книжка вам в помощь) Вы и автора, не затасканного прочитаете, и нечто новое узнаете и от детектива удовольствие получите.
Наверное, прежде, чем говорить о книге, стоит немножко сказать об авторе. Не так уж и часто я в своей жизни читала книги, написанные англиканским священником, а Виктор Л. Уайтчерч именно что был самым настоящим англиканским священником. И удивительно, что в детективе из-под пера именно священника тема бога не поднималась. Было видно, что человек не понаслышке знаком с деятельностью священнослужителя, какими-то внутренними порядками церкви, но это не было перетаскиванием одеяла на себя, просто человек хорошо описал то, что знает и читались эти детали легко, с любопытством и главное с пониманием того что происходит, создавая некий колорит у истории. Тут детективам приходится иметь дело со священниками, и они оказываются самыми простыми людьми, со своими хобби. Получилось некое очеловечивание парадного костюма и это было живо, позволяло книге дышать.
Есть еще один удивительный факт, когда читаешь книгу ты веришь не только в линию церковную, очень хорошо описанную, но и детективную. Пусть она немного более литературна, не так просто и легко описана, как церковная. Были не то чтобы штамповые моменты, ну давайте иметь ввиду, что это 1934 тут еще сложно штамповать, но есть моменты с натяжкой, осторожностью, повторением. Словно хотелось написать, как можно более серьезно, правд��подобно, похоже на настоящее и художественное одновременно. Люди вроде бы и живые, но местами их словно немного в рамки загоняют под определенное соответствие образу. Это не мешает читать, мало того именно детективная составляющая не страдает, чуть страдает герой-детектив, да, история с логическими выкладками, проведением расследования не страдает. Возможно плюс этого, как возможно и минус, в том, что Виктор Л. Уайтчерч был одним из первых, кто пользовался консультацией Скотленд-Ярда. Это однозначно помогало автору быть более точным в деталях дела, но похоже мешало раскрытию персонажа детектива.
Убийство в колледже - завораживающий детектив-загадка. Тут автор явно позволил себе создать детектив таким, какие сам любил, чтобы, получив улики смочь остановится, подумать и дойти своим умом до того, кто же убийца. И не просто дойти, а с доказательствами. Читать интересно и даже как-то радостно, потому что нет скрытых фактов, все что знает детектив, знаешь и ты сам. От тебя ничего не скрывают, не делают умного лица и не кричат, ага понятно и пропадают во мгле, а ты сиди и жди, пока автор все тебе дорасскажет. Тут есть даже автомобильные гонки и такое знакомое "следуйте за тем такси, я полицейский". Это очень живой детектив, который пополняет знания в церковной области. Например, что в Англии нельзя просто так прибить нечто в церкви, надо показать, что ты хочешь прибить, куда и сколько тебе на это надо денег. И специально отобранные люди точно скажут можно ли такое прибивать и главное нужно ли. То есть пытаются содержать свой дом в красоте и соответствии.
Так же интересно показано отношение к тому, чтобы вызвать человека из Лондона. Мол вызвать всегда успеем, давай попробуем сами разобраться, не только же шлем на голове носить, ей ведь и думать можно, тем более, что есть кому. И самое приятное в истории, это такое забытое сейчас в детективах чувства единения у людей. Тут никто не хочет никого подсидеть, тут люди расследуют убийство и действуют в соответствии именно с этим. Тут важно раскрыть убийство и поймать убийцу, а еще приятно наконец-то и кражи раскрыть, которые покоя не давали. И все это оформлено в детектив-загадку. Очень приятно читать такую скомпонованную, продуманную, без лишних деталей историю.
Если вы хотите прочитать что-то привычное классическое детективное, то эта книжка вам в помощь) Вы и автора, не затасканного прочитаете, и нечто новое узнаете и от детектива удовольствие получите.
April 15, 2023
A sealed room mystery is one classic theme which is popular in the “Golden Age” detection story; in this 1932 novel the author attempts to control not only the access to a room, but the access to an entire college. This engaging story of murder and deceit has been republished by Oren, an imprint of the Oleander Press, Cambridge. It features the fictional St. Oswald’s College set in a university town where students, fellows and clergy roam free, a place of men with academic functions and a certain amount of leisure to follow their own interests. Detective Sergeant Ambrose, who “looked a bit of a fool. In reality, however, he was anything but that.”, having a “peculiar intuition which was worth attention” and it will be his persistence which makes all the difference to this mysterious situation. In fact, there is more than one would be detective in this gentle story of complex connections and mixed motives which nevertheless seems to involve a murder in cold blood. As the police officers probe into the problems of timing, exits and entrances and a variety of witnesses, this book provides an excellent insight into the lives and obsessions of the victim and those around him, and provides plenty of surprises. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this classic novel in its particular setting.
The novel opens with two insurance clerks watching what is going on across from their office. One has noticed that a coming together of a group of men, curiously encumbered, takes place in the college opposite, and such is the interest expressed by George Wilkins that he has assigned the members of the group nicknames meant to express their evident interests. By this neat trick the author gains the reader’s attention and focuses it on the group. It soon transpires that it is a “Consultative Committee” appointed by the Bishop to discuss and consider proposed alterations to churches such as the addition of new windows. (There are still groups of this sort today in the Church of England, called Diocesan Advisory Committees. I have it on excellent authority that they are not usually dangerous gatherings). This group generally meets in the college rooms of a Fellow, one Sidney Henlow, for their periodic discussions, though on this particular day Henlow is absent and only the college servant, Williams, is on hand to offer tea and ensure the fire is lit. Plans are displayed, agenda items discussed, and a contentious matter as far as an application for a badly designed window is concerned is debated. When they break for lunch, everyone leaves to seek out a restaurant except Hatton, who has brought sandwiches and wants some time to write letters. The exits and returns of the others are carefully noted by various observers, including a college porter and workmen engaged in the doorway to the staircase, as well as Wilkins. Thus, when a murder is discovered it seems that there is a very small pool of potential suspects, and yet Ambrose and his fellow police detectives still struggle with an unusual problem.
This is, as the author’s Foreword states, a “Detective Story” rather than a thriller, “A Crime, and its solution”. It is an elegant, satisfying tale of its time, where there is a definitely a problem to be solved by patience and intuition and the thoughtful consideration of clues. The characters are well described and the dialogue between them well handled; I was especially drawn to Ambrose and his careful investigations. I enjoyed this tale of detection and resolution and recommend it as a classic story of murder mystery.
The novel opens with two insurance clerks watching what is going on across from their office. One has noticed that a coming together of a group of men, curiously encumbered, takes place in the college opposite, and such is the interest expressed by George Wilkins that he has assigned the members of the group nicknames meant to express their evident interests. By this neat trick the author gains the reader’s attention and focuses it on the group. It soon transpires that it is a “Consultative Committee” appointed by the Bishop to discuss and consider proposed alterations to churches such as the addition of new windows. (There are still groups of this sort today in the Church of England, called Diocesan Advisory Committees. I have it on excellent authority that they are not usually dangerous gatherings). This group generally meets in the college rooms of a Fellow, one Sidney Henlow, for their periodic discussions, though on this particular day Henlow is absent and only the college servant, Williams, is on hand to offer tea and ensure the fire is lit. Plans are displayed, agenda items discussed, and a contentious matter as far as an application for a badly designed window is concerned is debated. When they break for lunch, everyone leaves to seek out a restaurant except Hatton, who has brought sandwiches and wants some time to write letters. The exits and returns of the others are carefully noted by various observers, including a college porter and workmen engaged in the doorway to the staircase, as well as Wilkins. Thus, when a murder is discovered it seems that there is a very small pool of potential suspects, and yet Ambrose and his fellow police detectives still struggle with an unusual problem.
This is, as the author’s Foreword states, a “Detective Story” rather than a thriller, “A Crime, and its solution”. It is an elegant, satisfying tale of its time, where there is a definitely a problem to be solved by patience and intuition and the thoughtful consideration of clues. The characters are well described and the dialogue between them well handled; I was especially drawn to Ambrose and his careful investigations. I enjoyed this tale of detection and resolution and recommend it as a classic story of murder mystery.
December 23, 2024
Classic mystery. Good setting and characters, but I didn’t like this one as much as others by this author. The reason is that it’s disorienting and dissatisfying when you (the reader) figure out who committed the murder 30% of the way through the book, and the detective is shocked by the solution 85-90% through the book. Of course I like solving it on my own, but it’s best when the author hints that the detective has a good idea of the culprit but is waiting to test their idea. That way, the reader can enjoy the puzzle and respect the detective.
July 27, 2022
Not as straightforward as you’d think
I really enjoyed this tale. I’m not a ‘Thriller’ seeker. I’m happy with a straightforward Crime/Murder/Mystery. This was such a one and it was no less interesting for that.
I’m given to understand that this is the last in a series (& to some thinking, the best), I haven’t read the preceding tales and I may seek them out.
Far more straightforward than Christie, but not as straightforward as you would think! I do like Ambrose.
I really enjoyed this tale. I’m not a ‘Thriller’ seeker. I’m happy with a straightforward Crime/Murder/Mystery. This was such a one and it was no less interesting for that.
I’m given to understand that this is the last in a series (& to some thinking, the best), I haven’t read the preceding tales and I may seek them out.
Far more straightforward than Christie, but not as straightforward as you would think! I do like Ambrose.
December 31, 2023
I haven’t read a book published in the 30s (in recent memory at least), so I’m pleased with this as my first adventure. Sgt Ambrose was astute and engaging as the main detective. I appreciated the foreword’s distinction between mysteries and detective novels - this is absolutely more about police procedure and little inferences than about mysterious suspense.
September 3, 2023
I enjoyed this methodically written detective crime mystery published in 1932 that was Whitechurch's last novel. The author was a clergyman and prolific writer. Little suspense but we follow DS Andrew through his thoughts and police procedures to figure out the solution to the perplexing murder.
September 27, 2025
Francis Hatton arrives at the St. Oswald's College at Exbridge for the monthly meeting of the Consultative Committee for the diocese works but is murdered in the room during their lunch break.
DS Ambrose investigates.
An entertaining historical mystery
Originally published in 1932
DS Ambrose investigates.
An entertaining historical mystery
Originally published in 1932
November 22, 2023
This was an excellent Golden-Age Mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed!
It takes place in Exbridge (read: Oxford) at St. Oswald's College in 1932, before the fall term begins. A group of men meet in a room to review architectural designs and changes to various buildings and churches in the area. During the lunch hour, while most are at nearby restaurants, one of the men is murdered as he remained behind in the meeting room.
What I particularly liked about this book is that it is police detective-sergeant Ambrose whom the reader follows as he plods through each bit of evidence. Not the superintendent. Not the Chief. And certainly not Scotland Yard.
Finally, as with all the novels in this genre: there are no computers or cell phones etc. No one is texting or looking things up on databases. Nothing is instantaneous. I enjoyed the slower pace and the methodical, thoughtful way the detective must go about his work. The murder is discovered, but in due time. It is worth the wait.
It takes place in Exbridge (read: Oxford) at St. Oswald's College in 1932, before the fall term begins. A group of men meet in a room to review architectural designs and changes to various buildings and churches in the area. During the lunch hour, while most are at nearby restaurants, one of the men is murdered as he remained behind in the meeting room.
What I particularly liked about this book is that it is police detective-sergeant Ambrose whom the reader follows as he plods through each bit of evidence. Not the superintendent. Not the Chief. And certainly not Scotland Yard.
Finally, as with all the novels in this genre: there are no computers or cell phones etc. No one is texting or looking things up on databases. Nothing is instantaneous. I enjoyed the slower pace and the methodical, thoughtful way the detective must go about his work. The murder is discovered, but in due time. It is worth the wait.
September 13, 2023
Murder at the College is the first of Whitechurch's which I have read despite it being one of his last works. Whitechurch was an Anglican vicar and later Canon who served as an inspiration to many of the subsequent well-known mystery authors of the first half of the 20th century. Murder at the College is not sensational in its murderer, nor does its hero have superhuman detective skills. Rather, it follows Detective Ambrose as he follows the clues to reach an unforeseen but realistic conclusion.
May 18, 2023
An excellent crime fiction story from 1932.Apparently this was the author's last novel but you wouldn't think it,it's a great whodunit set in and around St.Oswald's College in Exbridge.I had a feeling it was going to be rather slow and maybe even boring but no it was a well paced and interesting story that kept me guessing until quite near the end.I have another by Victor Stories Of The Railway....so I shall definitely be giving that a read very soon .
July 15, 2024
A very pleasant and incredible but logical crime mystery.
I really enjoyed the outcome even though I did anticipate it. The dedication of the investigators to pursue every possibility was good and a journey in itself.
I also enjoy when these writer mention other authors, such as in this one G. K. Chesterton, it gives a recommendation to read him next!
I really enjoyed the outcome even though I did anticipate it. The dedication of the investigators to pursue every possibility was good and a journey in itself.
I also enjoy when these writer mention other authors, such as in this one G. K. Chesterton, it gives a recommendation to read him next!
February 5, 2023
Well written and entertaining. Classic whodunnit from an earlier era. Frustrating ending.
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