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Inspector Morse #6
The Riddle of the Third Mile
"The thought suddenly occurred to Morse that this would be a marvellous time to murder a few of the doddery old bachelor dons. No wives to worry about their whereabouts; no landladies to whine about the unpaid rents. In fact nobody would miss most of them at all . . ."By the 16th of July the Master of Lonsdale was concerned, but not yet worried.Dr Browne-Smith had passed through the porter's lodge at approximately 8.15 a.m. on the morning of Friday, 11th July. And nobody had heard from him since.Plenty of time to disappear, thought Morse. And plenty of time, too, for someone to commit murder . . .
276 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 1983
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July 22, 2022
Whilst I have read most of the Inspector Morse series by Colin Dexter some time ago, there are a few I missed out on. This, the sixth, published early in the 1980s, is one of those, I listened to it on audio, six and half hours long, ably narrated by Samuel West, so good that the audio deserves the full five stars. It is aspects of the story that I had a few issues with, for the most part it is great, but as all the key players end up dead, it ends up resembling an esoteric cryptic puzzle that Morse pieces together at the end on the basis of his knowledge of the characters. This makes it a less than a satisfactory experience, a story that takes in the discovery of body in the Oxford Canal, without its head, arms and legs, the identity of which is to tax Morse in this complicated investigation, although it begins with him suspecting it to be a Lonsdale College don, a fictitious Oxford College, Dr Browne-Smith.
This is the college that Morse himself attended as a student, a time in which he met the great love of his life, a woman he was never able to forget, and probably lies at the root of why he was never able to settle down with any other woman. I must comment on my discomfort with the irascible Morse being referred to as the master of the more than competent Sergeant Lewis, attitudes like that feel like they seriously date the series. However, I suspect there are still some individuals (men) in the Oxford colleges that would be happier living in the medieval era. To conclude, this is not the strongest book in the Morse series, but still worth a read/listen.
This is the college that Morse himself attended as a student, a time in which he met the great love of his life, a woman he was never able to forget, and probably lies at the root of why he was never able to settle down with any other woman. I must comment on my discomfort with the irascible Morse being referred to as the master of the more than competent Sergeant Lewis, attitudes like that feel like they seriously date the series. However, I suspect there are still some individuals (men) in the Oxford colleges that would be happier living in the medieval era. To conclude, this is not the strongest book in the Morse series, but still worth a read/listen.
March 22, 2016
The sixth book in the Inspector Morse series is, indeed, a riddle. The author, Colin Dexter, also had a passion for crossword puzzles, and he's created here an intricate puzzle that ultimately borders on the convoluted. The case involves an Oxford don named Browne-Smith, a bachelor, who goes mysteriously missing after being lured to London by the promise of exotic sex. Shortly thereafter, a body is pulled from a river. The corpse is wearing a suit that belonged to Browne-Smith, but it's missing its head, arms and legs. Is it really Browne-Smith?
The case falls to Inspector Morse of Oxford Homicide, assisted, as always, by his trusty sergeant, Lewis. Morse is a confirmed bachelor who loves the challenge of his job, along with his beer and attractive women. As the investigation proceeds, Morse discovers that bitter rivalries played out in the hallowed halls of Oxford academia, leading in turn, to some very complicated maneuverings. Soon, other bodies are falling and sorting it all out is going to be a very challenging task, even for someone as brilliant as Inspector Morse.
This book was first published in 1983, and is an excellent example of the "puzzle" mysteries that were so popular in British crime fiction at that time. As a practical matter, there's no way that the reader can figure out who done it; you can only hang on and go along for the ride. It's always fun to watch Morse in action, but as is the case in a few of these books, the plot gets a little too complex for its own good and there are maybe one or two totally unanticipated and unnecessary twists at the end. But fans of the series are sure to enjoy it.
The case falls to Inspector Morse of Oxford Homicide, assisted, as always, by his trusty sergeant, Lewis. Morse is a confirmed bachelor who loves the challenge of his job, along with his beer and attractive women. As the investigation proceeds, Morse discovers that bitter rivalries played out in the hallowed halls of Oxford academia, leading in turn, to some very complicated maneuverings. Soon, other bodies are falling and sorting it all out is going to be a very challenging task, even for someone as brilliant as Inspector Morse.
This book was first published in 1983, and is an excellent example of the "puzzle" mysteries that were so popular in British crime fiction at that time. As a practical matter, there's no way that the reader can figure out who done it; you can only hang on and go along for the ride. It's always fun to watch Morse in action, but as is the case in a few of these books, the plot gets a little too complex for its own good and there are maybe one or two totally unanticipated and unnecessary twists at the end. But fans of the series are sure to enjoy it.
June 3, 2021
The Riddle of the Third Mile is the sixth book in Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse series. It dates from 1983, and is not, I fear, one that will linger in the memory. It is chiefly interesting for the back story it reveals about Morse himself, who is now 52. Most of chapter seven is devoted to Morse reminiscing, and an explanation is given following up hints from previous novels. Yes, Morse had attended Oxford as a student. He was an exemplary student and gained a first in "Classical Moderations". At that time he had a bright future ahead of him; two further years to read "Greats" (History, Logic and Philosophy).
However a whirlwind romance took up all his thoughts and time. The girl, a fellow student, had her own family problems. She felt she had to return to her parents' home and cut off the relationship fearing she was causing havoc with Morse's studies. Most poignantly, Morse had no money for a train fare to go to see her and sort out the mess. He failed his exams, was summarily ejected from the University, and had to pay back his Exhibition (an extra monetary award exclusive to Oxbridge). His father suggested that he might be able to find a niche in the police force, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The yearning Morse still feels for his lost love also accounts for his difficulties in sustaining any romantic relationship. We also learn of another influence. An old tutor of Morse's, Professor Browne-Smith, (who is integral to the plot) had profoundly impressed the young student. Morse's obsession with accuracy in all matters to do with grammar, spelling and punctuation all date from then. These part of the novel make for interesting reading for anyone who has read a few of the novels, or watched a few of the TV adaptations.
The novel is nicely balanced between Morse and Lewis, and has a pleasing construction. It is divided into three books or "miles"; a reference to a verse from the Bible:
"And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain" (Matthew, V:41)
It is also possible that the third mile could also be a reference to a particularly elaborate scheme used in the book to lure three of the college staff to London. In fact three is a significant number altogether. There are three books, three brothers fighting at El Alamein and three tutors at Lonsdale University. ("Lonsdale" is a fabrication, incidentally. The college depicted is imaginary, although in the TV series it is Brasenose College which was used. Brasenose is a college I know well, since most days I would socialise with my husband and his friends, who were young undergraduates there many years ago.) Each chapter again is headed with a sentence, a stylistic device Dexter has used before. This time though it is not a satisfying literary quotation, but merely a sentence telling the reader what happens in the following chapter, much as earlier novelists such as Dickens would employ.
The first chapter is a flashback to the Second World War and a tragic experience at El Alamein. The next four chapters are set in Soho, and the events described are unremittingly sleazy and sordid. Morse's appearance on the scene in chapter six is a welcome relief. Given that the character of Morse fits very well into this kind of setting, is frequently foul-mouthed, disreputable, and often viewing women solely as objects of desire, it is indeed surprising that he can be seen as a welcome contrast to the scenario so far.
However, much of the novel from then on is rather humdrum. There is an interesting letter for Morse to decipher. (Both he and the author always seem to enjoy that!) The reader suspects throughout that there may be switches of character; we have been told at the start that there are brothers, and twins. Dexter has enjoyed deceiving the reader with substitutes and switching characters before on at least two occasions, so we are getting wise to this.
Toward the end of the novel we suddenly get a flurry of inexplicable extra murders, and by the end we have 5 bodies in total. Dexter explains the circumstances through his mouthpiece, Morse. This character suggests his thoughts on what must have happened to Lewis, as nobody is still alive to corroborate the facts. Or as the chapter-heading says:
"Morse almost completes his narrative of the main events - with a little help from his imaginative faculties."
This part is fiendishly complicated. Yes, it fits together logically, but is barely credible in psychological terms. In fact one character even has to have a brain tumour to make the reader go along with it. It would have been much more satisfactory if at least some of the events had been hinted at a little earlier, rather than have such a Hamlet-style bloodbath at the end.
A bit of an also-ran, all in all. But as one critic has said,
"[Morse is] the most prickly, conceited, and genuinely brilliant detective since Hercule Poirot." (The New York Times Book Review)
So maybe worth a read, just for this.
However a whirlwind romance took up all his thoughts and time. The girl, a fellow student, had her own family problems. She felt she had to return to her parents' home and cut off the relationship fearing she was causing havoc with Morse's studies. Most poignantly, Morse had no money for a train fare to go to see her and sort out the mess. He failed his exams, was summarily ejected from the University, and had to pay back his Exhibition (an extra monetary award exclusive to Oxbridge). His father suggested that he might be able to find a niche in the police force, and the rest, as they say, is history.
The yearning Morse still feels for his lost love also accounts for his difficulties in sustaining any romantic relationship. We also learn of another influence. An old tutor of Morse's, Professor Browne-Smith, (who is integral to the plot) had profoundly impressed the young student. Morse's obsession with accuracy in all matters to do with grammar, spelling and punctuation all date from then. These part of the novel make for interesting reading for anyone who has read a few of the novels, or watched a few of the TV adaptations.
The novel is nicely balanced between Morse and Lewis, and has a pleasing construction. It is divided into three books or "miles"; a reference to a verse from the Bible:
"And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain" (Matthew, V:41)
It is also possible that the third mile could also be a reference to a particularly elaborate scheme used in the book to lure three of the college staff to London. In fact three is a significant number altogether. There are three books, three brothers fighting at El Alamein and three tutors at Lonsdale University. ("Lonsdale" is a fabrication, incidentally. The college depicted is imaginary, although in the TV series it is Brasenose College which was used. Brasenose is a college I know well, since most days I would socialise with my husband and his friends, who were young undergraduates there many years ago.) Each chapter again is headed with a sentence, a stylistic device Dexter has used before. This time though it is not a satisfying literary quotation, but merely a sentence telling the reader what happens in the following chapter, much as earlier novelists such as Dickens would employ.
The first chapter is a flashback to the Second World War and a tragic experience at El Alamein. The next four chapters are set in Soho, and the events described are unremittingly sleazy and sordid. Morse's appearance on the scene in chapter six is a welcome relief. Given that the character of Morse fits very well into this kind of setting, is frequently foul-mouthed, disreputable, and often viewing women solely as objects of desire, it is indeed surprising that he can be seen as a welcome contrast to the scenario so far.
However, much of the novel from then on is rather humdrum. There is an interesting letter for Morse to decipher. (Both he and the author always seem to enjoy that!) The reader suspects throughout that there may be switches of character; we have been told at the start that there are brothers, and twins. Dexter has enjoyed deceiving the reader with substitutes and switching characters before on at least two occasions, so we are getting wise to this.
Toward the end of the novel we suddenly get a flurry of inexplicable extra murders, and by the end we have 5 bodies in total. Dexter explains the circumstances through his mouthpiece, Morse. This character suggests his thoughts on what must have happened to Lewis, as nobody is still alive to corroborate the facts. Or as the chapter-heading says:
"Morse almost completes his narrative of the main events - with a little help from his imaginative faculties."
This part is fiendishly complicated. Yes, it fits together logically, but is barely credible in psychological terms. In fact one character even has to have a brain tumour to make the reader go along with it. It would have been much more satisfactory if at least some of the events had been hinted at a little earlier, rather than have such a Hamlet-style bloodbath at the end.
A bit of an also-ran, all in all. But as one critic has said,
"[Morse is] the most prickly, conceited, and genuinely brilliant detective since Hercule Poirot." (The New York Times Book Review)
So maybe worth a read, just for this.
February 20, 2024
Lunchtime Listen February 2024
Well it is many years since I first read this book, and I must admit I had forgotten most of it, which is a tragedy as this is just so quintessentially and marvellously British, Oxford and Morse.
A book that starts with a flashback to the second World War, in the deserts of North Africa and the British tank corps.
Moving swiftly from there to Morse being invited to dinner with an old friend who is the master of Lonsdale college, and the mystery begins.
A mystery that involves twins, soho night clubs, warring senior masters, high class call girls, and mutilated corpses, all part of a normal days work for Lewis and Morse.
And it was as ever wonderfully read by Samuel West.
A slight aside is that my wife and I enjoyed this so much we decided to watch the Morse TV episode made from this book. The name was changed to " The Last Enemy" and the story was shall we say, simplified to fit into 2hrs, but was still amazingly good.
Well it is many years since I first read this book, and I must admit I had forgotten most of it, which is a tragedy as this is just so quintessentially and marvellously British, Oxford and Morse.
A book that starts with a flashback to the second World War, in the deserts of North Africa and the British tank corps.
Moving swiftly from there to Morse being invited to dinner with an old friend who is the master of Lonsdale college, and the mystery begins.
A mystery that involves twins, soho night clubs, warring senior masters, high class call girls, and mutilated corpses, all part of a normal days work for Lewis and Morse.
And it was as ever wonderfully read by Samuel West.
A slight aside is that my wife and I enjoyed this so much we decided to watch the Morse TV episode made from this book. The name was changed to " The Last Enemy" and the story was shall we say, simplified to fit into 2hrs, but was still amazingly good.
July 16, 2022
This Inspector Morse mystery has the same charm as other works by Dexter. Never mind there's been a murder and there will be more; the book is all about Morse. The supercilious Morse impatient with the adoring DS Lewis, having a third whiskey and thinking he should cut down, and forever embracing new theories of the case as new facts appear. But this story is so complicated in the who-did-for-whom, there is no hint (for me anyway) of a solution until Morse finally explains it step by step to DS Lewis at the end. Morse is the master of not revealing what he's thinking, even as he sends Lewis here and there to discover facts and question witnesses. And Dexter plays this to maximum advantage: whenever something useful is discovered, Morse doesn't voice his conclusion, rather he says, 'That clears up an important point.' So the reader knows nothing until the very last chapter, a less than satisfactory experience.
July 23, 2023
4 Stars. I'd say 3.5 if that option was available; I'm rounding up because it's Chief Inspector Morse - what can I say! Have you ever confronted a more complicated plot? I'll endeavour to decipher. Suffice to say I felt under water from start to finish and, it appears, so did Sergeant Lewis. The case relates to two long-held animosities, with the central figure in each being Professor Browne-Smith of Lonsdale College, Oxford. Morse once had him for Greats during his less-than-illustrious university career. When Morse is called to the scene because a body is found sans head, hands and legs, it looks like our professor has met a grizzly end. One incident is memorable; when he questions a young constable about a source whose name sounds phony, Morse rashly promises to buy him all the doughnuts in the canteen if the source can be confirmed. The lad does confirm it and Morse slams the phone down. No doughnuts. Irascible as ever. The novel is replete with Morse's continuing difficulties with women, booze and temper. Be sure to read the last 20 pages twice. I did. More to the point, I had to in order to write this review. (December 2017)
December 6, 2024
I remained thoroughly absorbed by this complicated case with several bodies! Wonderful nuanced narration provided by Samuel West.
Quote:
"It a characteristic of the British people that they complain about their railways. In this case however, there appears little justification for such complaint."
Quote:
"It a characteristic of the British people that they complain about their railways. In this case however, there appears little justification for such complaint."
May 17, 2015
5 hours 40 mins Read by Michael Pennington Description: A dismembered body is fished out of the Oxford Canal--only the torso remains and Morse and Sergeant Lewis are up to the challenge. As if often the case, Oxford University is involved. A don has disappeared, leaving about a plethora of clues. It's the long and winding road down the halls of academe for the Thames Valley police and the trail bounces back and forth to London and some of its seedier spots. The scenario seems set with an opening scene out of World War II, when the Gilbert brothers (local boys from the Oxford area) face the horrors of the battle of El Alamein, the youngest of the three dieing. The company commander, a Lt. Browne-Smith just happens now to be a don in question at Oxford.
What a hoot this was, Dexter was well on form, he seems to have had fun playing around with some snappy repartee. Long may it continue.
Anyway, for quick reference, this is the one with matching tooth-aches and removal men.
4* Last Bus to Woodstock (Inspector Morse, #1)
3* Last Seen Wearing (Inspector Morse, #2)
3* The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn (Inspector Morse, #3)
3* Service of All the Dead (Inspector Morse, #4)
3* The Dead of Jericho (Inspector Morse, #5)
4* The Riddle of the Third Mile (Inspector Morse, #6)
3* The Wench Is Dead (Inspector Morse, #8)
3* Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories
October 22, 2020
Perhaps not the best Morse novel but entertaining nevertheless.
August 16, 2024
“Eccolo lì, San Matteo, capitolo cinque, versetto quarantuno: “E chiunque ti costringe a seguirlo per un miglio, fanne con lui due.“
Ispirato a questa citazione evangelica (nientemeno), suddiviso in tre capitoli denominati Primo,Secondo e Terzo miglio, questo sesto libro dedicato alle indagini del lucido e contorto ispettore Morse, è un congegno ancora più complicato dei precedenti, un puzzle che fatica a mostrare il suo disegno definitivo e a cui sembrano mancare sempre dei pezzi fondamentali.
Un cadavere mutilato di testa, mani e gambe viene trovato in un canale vicino a Oxford e contemporaneamente un noto e integerrimo professore dell’Università di Oxford scompare.
Ora per noi semplici mortali due più due fa quattro, anche perché diversi indizi porterebbero a far coincidere lo scomparso col tronco riaffiorato dalle acque.
Ma questa elementare operazione non è degna dell’intelletto multiforme di Morse, per il quale due più due fa tre e a volte perfino cinque.
Impossibile riassumere l’indagine, per ovvi motivi di rischioso spoiler, ma anche perché il viaggio che il nostro tenace e ironico ispettore deve compiere per venire a capo dell’enigma implica una notevole torchiatura di meningi, un percorso attraverso altri sconosciuti cadaveri e una sorpresa finale che finalmente chiuderà il cerchio.
Inoltre qui non c’è solo l’apparentemente placida vita accademica della Oxford degli anni Settanta, ma anche qualche episodio scabroso che risale alla guerra, e precisamente alla battaglia di El Alamein.
E poi, come al solito, c’è la vivace dialettica tra la strana e opposta coppia Morse/Lewis che non smette mai di stupire e di strappare un benevolo sorriso.
3.5
Ispirato a questa citazione evangelica (nientemeno), suddiviso in tre capitoli denominati Primo,Secondo e Terzo miglio, questo sesto libro dedicato alle indagini del lucido e contorto ispettore Morse, è un congegno ancora più complicato dei precedenti, un puzzle che fatica a mostrare il suo disegno definitivo e a cui sembrano mancare sempre dei pezzi fondamentali.
Un cadavere mutilato di testa, mani e gambe viene trovato in un canale vicino a Oxford e contemporaneamente un noto e integerrimo professore dell’Università di Oxford scompare.
Ora per noi semplici mortali due più due fa quattro, anche perché diversi indizi porterebbero a far coincidere lo scomparso col tronco riaffiorato dalle acque.
Ma questa elementare operazione non è degna dell’intelletto multiforme di Morse, per il quale due più due fa tre e a volte perfino cinque.
Impossibile riassumere l’indagine, per ovvi motivi di rischioso spoiler, ma anche perché il viaggio che il nostro tenace e ironico ispettore deve compiere per venire a capo dell’enigma implica una notevole torchiatura di meningi, un percorso attraverso altri sconosciuti cadaveri e una sorpresa finale che finalmente chiuderà il cerchio.
Inoltre qui non c’è solo l’apparentemente placida vita accademica della Oxford degli anni Settanta, ma anche qualche episodio scabroso che risale alla guerra, e precisamente alla battaglia di El Alamein.
E poi, come al solito, c’è la vivace dialettica tra la strana e opposta coppia Morse/Lewis che non smette mai di stupire e di strappare un benevolo sorriso.
3.5
June 25, 2019
Story wise this was probably a 3.5 as Dexter has written better but bumped up to 4 simply because it’s Morse. These are slow paced beautifully crafted books that are just wonderful. I can hear John Thaw and Kevin Wheatley as I read adding another dimension to the story. I love a detective story which can’t rely on DNA and other modern technologies. They have to rely more on an intelligent story line that makes the reader think. I didn’t suss out the story ( no shame there when written by Dexter) but I did enjoy it. Morse and Lewis are put to the test when a body is fished out of the canal, missing its head, arms and legs. Bluff and double bluff need to be negotiated if Morse and Lewis are to solve this complicated case.
August 27, 2023
Didn’t enjoy this one as much as the others was a very slow book
July 12, 2024
In realtà edizione Sellerio.
Sintesi da Kobo :
“ Un cadavere orrendamente mutilato emerge dalle acque di un bucolico canale che costeggia la periferia di Oxford. Si tratta di un corpo privo della testa, delle mani, delle gambe. Scoprire l’identità della vittima, prima ancora di quella dell’assassino: sarà questa la sfida fondamentale per l’ispettore Morse e il sergente Lewis. E le tracce, un biglietto nella tasca del morto, portano inequivocabilmente all’Università.”
E siamo appena all’inizio….
Dexter si riconferma tra i miei giallisti preferiti ;
come sua abitudine la soluzione è sempre nelle ultimissime pagine e sempre un po’ ingarbugliata - forse perché è stato la “ lettura di prima di dormire”, ho dovuto leggerla due volte ma senza nulla togliere al piacere che ne ho ricavato.
Sintesi da Kobo :
“ Un cadavere orrendamente mutilato emerge dalle acque di un bucolico canale che costeggia la periferia di Oxford. Si tratta di un corpo privo della testa, delle mani, delle gambe. Scoprire l’identità della vittima, prima ancora di quella dell’assassino: sarà questa la sfida fondamentale per l’ispettore Morse e il sergente Lewis. E le tracce, un biglietto nella tasca del morto, portano inequivocabilmente all’Università.”
E siamo appena all’inizio….
Dexter si riconferma tra i miei giallisti preferiti ;
come sua abitudine la soluzione è sempre nelle ultimissime pagine e sempre un po’ ingarbugliata - forse perché è stato la “ lettura di prima di dormire”, ho dovuto leggerla due volte ma senza nulla togliere al piacere che ne ho ricavato.
July 17, 2014
Morse a Master Detective, November 7, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: The Riddle of the Third Mile (Inspector Morse Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)
"The Riddle of the Third Mile" is my 3rd Inspector Morse mystery and absolutely not my last. The creative genuis behind Morse is Colin Dexter, an author among authors.
This mystery involves a family of 3 brothers. John Gilbert being the youngest and the twins, Albert & Alfred. The story or first mile begins with the death of the youngest brother during the El Alamein in North Africa, 1942. The surviving twins, Alfred & Albert, had held Lt. Browne-Smith responsible for John's death.
Many years later and now in his sixties, Dr. Browne-Smith has been voted down by one vote for the Chairmanship of the University of Oxford. At the same time the same results were handed down to his nemesis, Westerby. Had each of them voted the other down? Had their defeat resulted in turning their repulsion of each other to shear hatred?
In the hamlet of Thrupp near the Oxford Canal Inspector Morse is called to the scene of a murder. It appears a body has been discovered in the water. A body with the head, hands and legs hacked off. Thus making the identification of the victim almost impossible. Who this victim is or was may lead to the murderers identity.
And so Inspector Morse and the ever faithful Lewis begin their journey into the darkest recesses of a murderers mind.
I found this story spellbinding. It caught and kept my attention from the first. The many red herrings that were thrown my way never interfered with Morse's deductions. Morse is a Master among dectectives.
Please don't bother purchasing another outdated dictionary that won't cover all the definitions you'll need to know to keep up with the author's vocabulary...just google them along the way.
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: The Riddle of the Third Mile (Inspector Morse Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)
"The Riddle of the Third Mile" is my 3rd Inspector Morse mystery and absolutely not my last. The creative genuis behind Morse is Colin Dexter, an author among authors.
This mystery involves a family of 3 brothers. John Gilbert being the youngest and the twins, Albert & Alfred. The story or first mile begins with the death of the youngest brother during the El Alamein in North Africa, 1942. The surviving twins, Alfred & Albert, had held Lt. Browne-Smith responsible for John's death.
Many years later and now in his sixties, Dr. Browne-Smith has been voted down by one vote for the Chairmanship of the University of Oxford. At the same time the same results were handed down to his nemesis, Westerby. Had each of them voted the other down? Had their defeat resulted in turning their repulsion of each other to shear hatred?
In the hamlet of Thrupp near the Oxford Canal Inspector Morse is called to the scene of a murder. It appears a body has been discovered in the water. A body with the head, hands and legs hacked off. Thus making the identification of the victim almost impossible. Who this victim is or was may lead to the murderers identity.
And so Inspector Morse and the ever faithful Lewis begin their journey into the darkest recesses of a murderers mind.
I found this story spellbinding. It caught and kept my attention from the first. The many red herrings that were thrown my way never interfered with Morse's deductions. Morse is a Master among dectectives.
Please don't bother purchasing another outdated dictionary that won't cover all the definitions you'll need to know to keep up with the author's vocabulary...just google them along the way.
August 17, 2020
My wife and I have been idly watching the Inspector Morse series (we are now up to season six) featuring the inestimable John Thaw. So I decided it was high time to read one of Colin Dexter's novels-sadly I did not find myself in possession of the first book and so had to settle for the sixth. Though settle is not really a word that applies. Morse is arguably even more terrible in the literary world than he is on the tube-he is rude, demanding, and generally not very pleasant. However the same can be said about Sherlock Holmes when you get right down to it. In The Riddle of the Third Mile we are presented with a convoluted set of conundrums-Dexter liberally peppers the book with red herrings, but I cannot speak about those without giving the game away. I spent the entire book seeing Thaw and Kevin Whately as Morse and Lewis, which was actually quite pleasant. There is a really good payoff at the end of this mystery (which I am delighted to say I solved) and it the kind of distinctly British mystery that makes for fun amateur sleuthing.
January 31, 2025
What a complicated plot. El Alamein, competing Dons and sleazy Soho all in the mix. Morse and Lewis investigate a torso found in a canal. Back and forth to London with a plethora of red herrings. Goodness do the murders pile up.
The tv adaptation is different with names and no removal men which confused me after reading the book.
The tv adaptation is different with names and no removal men which confused me after reading the book.
April 29, 2022
‘Are you making some of it up, sir?’
‘Of course I bloody am! But it fits the clues, doesn’t it?
‘Of course I bloody am! But it fits the clues, doesn’t it?
March 18, 2013
This tale of a dismembered body found in a canal, and its links to three brothers in the Battle of El Alamein of World War II, is too thinly plotted to be truly pleasurable. But Oxford-educated Morse and proletarian Lewis are perfection together, men made happy by simple things: booze, opera, crossword puzzles, and sexy ladies (Morse); stolid domesticity and those moments when he unexpectedly satisfies Morse in some way (Lewis).
Each chapter is preceded by a charming epigraph:
In which we have a tantalizing glimpse of high-class harlotry.
The necrophobic Morse reluctantly surveys a corpse, and converses with a cynical and aging police-surgeon.
In which Morse's mind drifts elsewhere as the police-surgeon enunciates some of the scientific principles concerning immersion in fluids.
Wherein such diverse activities as dentistry, crossword-solving, and pike-angling make their appropriate contributions to Morse's view of things.
Our two detectives have not yet quite finished with the implications of severe dismemberment.
Morse meets a remarkable woman, and learns of another woman who might be more remarkable still.
Like some latter-day Pilgrim, one of the protagonists in this macabre case is determined to rid himself of his burden.
It is a characteristic of the British people that they complain about their railways. In this case, however, there appears little justification for such complaint.
November 23, 2013
This is my favorite Morse novel yet. My book club is reading them in order and I think they have been getting better and better. This one was a tricky one involving 4 different men and it was incredibly difficult to keep the men straight for me and Morse. I didn't see the ending coming which is good in a mystery book. I recommend it for Morse fans.
January 25, 2019
The sixth book in the Inspector Morse series turns out to be a real puzzler and I suspect with Colin Dexter's penchant for crosswords, he might have designed this one to be a mystery as convoluted as a crossword from Will Shortz.
The story is divided by three-mile markers, each defined by some turning point within the plot. To begin with we see a dismembered body found in the canal and Morse suspects a local college don to be the victim. Though what seems to be a sure shot resolution to the mystery turns out to be just the tip of bizarre, with bodies piling up, different character stories getting muddled up and amidst all, the duo of pondering Morse and honest Lewis, sifting through the clues. The final resolution is at once both an 'aha' moment for the readers and also one which would leave readers filled with a strange pathos for the petty reasons we humans commit violence just for the sake of it.
My Rating - 5/5
The story is divided by three-mile markers, each defined by some turning point within the plot. To begin with we see a dismembered body found in the canal and Morse suspects a local college don to be the victim. Though what seems to be a sure shot resolution to the mystery turns out to be just the tip of bizarre, with bodies piling up, different character stories getting muddled up and amidst all, the duo of pondering Morse and honest Lewis, sifting through the clues. The final resolution is at once both an 'aha' moment for the readers and also one which would leave readers filled with a strange pathos for the petty reasons we humans commit violence just for the sake of it.
My Rating - 5/5
May 21, 2020
The sixth Inspector Morse mystery in the series, sees more dastardly goings on with Oxford dons and some payback for wrongs done in the present and past. Morse is reduced to using conjecture to solve the case. 4 out of 12. I'm only reading this series because I bought the entire collection for £10!
November 20, 2013
3 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed this 6th book in the Inspector Morse series, not just for the mystery but also because we get a bit more background on Morse and Sgt. Lewis has a much bigger role than in any of the previous books.
May 6, 2018
A clever mystery but Dexter spends too much time directly telling the reader the guts of the plot rather than leaving clues so the reader can figure it out on his own.
July 18, 2018
An intricate plot with almost no relationship to real crime or human behaviour, a skilled exercise in puzzle and pattern.
March 7, 2020
Nonchalant präsentierte Unterhaltung.
February 10, 2021
Rather tortuously convoluted, with a (what felt to me) 'trick' reveal at the end, this wasn't the best of the series so far, but decent enough.
June 9, 2024
Antrojo pasaulinio karo metais trys broliai dvyniai Albertas ir Alfredas bei jaunėlis Johnas Gilbertai kovojo Afrikoje. Johnas žūsta, o broliai dvyniai įsitikinę, kad tap nutiko dėl tiesioginio leitenanto Browne-Smitho įsakymo.
Po daugelio metų Lonsdale koledžo magistras pakviečia Morse‘ą pietų ir išsako įtarimus dėl Browne-Smitho dingimo. Koledžo laikais Morse‘as buvo Brauno-Smito studentas, tad pažada pasidomėti.
O tuo metu policija Oksfordo kanale ties Thruupu aptinka lavoną, kurim trūksta galvos, rankų ir kojų. Tai apsunkina identifikavimą, tačiau Morse‘as mano, kad lavonas gali būti Brownie-Smitho. Be to, paaiškėja, kad Browne-Smithas sirgo smegenų augliu ir jam buvo likę gyventi vos kelios savaitės.
Kaip visada, Morse‘as prigeneruos aibę gudrių, bet neteisingų versijų. Kaip visada, pabaigoje užčiuops teisingą.
Iš pradžių labai piktinausi, mat atrodė, kad skaitytojas, kitaip, nei Morse‘as mato tikrąjį paveikslą. Tačiau Dexteris nebūtų Dexteris, jis ne tik Morse‘ui, bet ir skaitytojui pakiša iš vienos pusės teisingą, bet tuo pat metu visiškai klaidingą versiją.
Tvirti keturi iš penkių.
Po daugelio metų Lonsdale koledžo magistras pakviečia Morse‘ą pietų ir išsako įtarimus dėl Browne-Smitho dingimo. Koledžo laikais Morse‘as buvo Brauno-Smito studentas, tad pažada pasidomėti.
O tuo metu policija Oksfordo kanale ties Thruupu aptinka lavoną, kurim trūksta galvos, rankų ir kojų. Tai apsunkina identifikavimą, tačiau Morse‘as mano, kad lavonas gali būti Brownie-Smitho. Be to, paaiškėja, kad Browne-Smithas sirgo smegenų augliu ir jam buvo likę gyventi vos kelios savaitės.
Kaip visada, Morse‘as prigeneruos aibę gudrių, bet neteisingų versijų. Kaip visada, pabaigoje užčiuops teisingą.
Iš pradžių labai piktinausi, mat atrodė, kad skaitytojas, kitaip, nei Morse‘as mato tikrąjį paveikslą. Tačiau Dexteris nebūtų Dexteris, jis ne tik Morse‘ui, bet ir skaitytojui pakiša iš vienos pusės teisingą, bet tuo pat metu visiškai klaidingą versiją.
Tvirti keturi iš penkių.
August 10, 2022
I liked Morse as a TV series and images of that kept popping up in my head whilst reading my first Morse novel. Not necessarily a bad thing and for me proof that the series captures the atmosphere of the books well.
The puzzle presented in this book is complicated and though highly entertaining, it was a bit too far-fetched to my liking. There’s no way that the reader can think along with Morse. We just have to wait for him to solve it for us. In that, it stands firmly in the British crime novel tradition.
The puzzle presented in this book is complicated and though highly entertaining, it was a bit too far-fetched to my liking. There’s no way that the reader can think along with Morse. We just have to wait for him to solve it for us. In that, it stands firmly in the British crime novel tradition.
September 17, 2019
un po' di cose non mi tornano, ma leggere le gesta dell'ispettore morse è sempre un piacere.
April 15, 2025
For an explanation of why I read this book, click here.
I like the Inspector Morse mysteries--they're sufficiently gritty to be interesting without being too much for my preferences, and Colin Dexter does a great job with character as well as coming up with clever mysteries. So I grab them when I find them.
This mystery starts with the finding of a body that's missing head, hands, and legs, making the central issue "whose murder are we solving?" The investigation is fairly convoluted as one by one prospective murderers, as well as those who might be the victim, are eliminated--some fatally so. But when I got to the end (note: I don't like solving the mystery ahead of the investigator; I like being mystified) and the Big Reveal happened, I was surprised and at the same time satisfied because it was both completely unexpected and totally obvious.
These mysteries aren't ever five-star ratings, because they are all very similar, but I find them satisfying nonetheless.
I like the Inspector Morse mysteries--they're sufficiently gritty to be interesting without being too much for my preferences, and Colin Dexter does a great job with character as well as coming up with clever mysteries. So I grab them when I find them.
This mystery starts with the finding of a body that's missing head, hands, and legs, making the central issue "whose murder are we solving?" The investigation is fairly convoluted as one by one prospective murderers, as well as those who might be the victim, are eliminated--some fatally so. But when I got to the end (note: I don't like solving the mystery ahead of the investigator; I like being mystified) and the Big Reveal happened, I was surprised and at the same time satisfied because it was both completely unexpected and totally obvious.
These mysteries aren't ever five-star ratings, because they are all very similar, but I find them satisfying nonetheless.
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