Death To The Landlords

The Felse Investigations #11

by Ellis Peters

No case is too strange or too baffling for the policeman George Felse and his son, Dominic. Over 13 instalments and two decades, the Felse Investigations will take them from their home on the Welsh Borders to the southernmost tip of India.

Landlords are never popular, and there is little mourning when the greedy, ruthless Mahendralal Bakhle is blown up on his boat on the beautiful Periyar Lake. Suspicion falls on the boat-boy who died with him, but Dominic Felse, one of a party of young tourists visiting the landlord's game reserve, is not convinced of the boy's guilt. And when the party move on to their next destination, the terror pursues them all the way to the southernmost tip of India.

The police blame local terrorists targeting wealthy landlords, but what would that have to do with a group of innocent tourists? To get to the bottom of this trail of violence, Dominic Felse must unravel a deadly Indian rope trick of hatred and murder.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, British Literature, Historical Mystery, Detective, Thriller

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

A pseudonym used by Edith Pargeter.

Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM was a prolific author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both historical and modern. Born in the village of Horsehay (Shropshire, England), she had Welsh ancestry, and many of her short stories and books (both fictional and non-fictional) were set in Wales and its borderlands.

During World War II, she worked in an administrative role in the Women's Royal Naval Service, and received the British Empire Medal - BEM.

Pargeter wrote under a number of pseudonyms; it was under the name Ellis Peters that she wrote the highly popular series of Brother Cadfael medieval mysteries, many of which were made into films for television.

Reviews

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I enjoy the supporting cast of characters, I find the later Dominic books a bit thin on character development of both Dominic and Tosa. This story seems more adventure/ plot driven. Additionally, though Peters is clearly respectful of Indian culture and writes vividly of the settings and people, I find myself missing the Shropshire base of the Felse family that she knows so intimately. The setting in India feels more cinematic and less authentic to me. And finally, there is a left leaning mentality in Death to the Landlords. Part of it is the anti-God sentiment that the really enlightened have moved beyond Christianity. Part of it is the idea that the landlords *are* somewhat deserving of mob justice.

And yet, Peters does a wonderful job of making things not what they seem at first glance, as people of various beliefs try to influence people and events to score power points for their political philosophy through murder. That’s what makes this installment of the series sing. Which side is each person *really* on and whose interests do they *think* they are advancing? Peters does not box her characters into this war, and the characters demanding justice for all, Dominic among them, eventually win out. Not my favorite of the series, but still solid writing.

There’s more!
City of Gold and Shadows (Felse Family Investigations #12), Peters, 1973
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Judith B. Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read as are all the Felse Investigations. Some surprising twists in the plot.

[PR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Description of scenic places, scenes, characters, lives, the times...top notch! I love her books!

This one would have tested credulity except for the time when it was written assassinations were happening, in one horrific way or another, all over the world...the reasons were known only by the assassins themselves...as in this story.
It was hard to accept who and why one of the assassins was involved at all and anger for one's previous sympathy for them was so misplaced...I think I figured out the first one first and was convinced the characters were naive and placed their trust and their shekels in the wrong hands but surely, I was shocked about the second ine.
Mysteries should be written to keep the readers in susoense...her books always do and it builds, the suspense, I mean as the book progresses...the end is mostly a sypurprise.
This writer is a Mistress of the highest order inner plotting, her settings, the descriptions of faces and people and scenery are brikkiant.
Wish she would have spent more time on the main characters so we could know then better...though in any book, even the best of them, you cannot have absolutely everything!
I love her books and highly recommend them.
Get ready for erudite writing and sophisticated vocabulary and settings. I like a real challenge in both...so I am learning w hike I an reading and looking up references as I go along...sometimes I feel uneducated and stupid...ah, well...UT is well worth it!

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Although this is a fascinating and intriguing mystery featuring Dominic Felse, I missed both George Felse and Tossa Barber. Dominic is back in India, working for the Swami on improving life for common people, often by helping them form cooperatives. But, for now, he is on vacation, along with an American, Larry, and their guide, Lakshman. As they tour southern India, their path frequently crosses that of the same two couples, one French, the other Indian. And then they meet a pair of girls, English Patti and her Indian friend Priya, and the mystery begins. A mystery that could only be set in India, it is hard to put down. Recommended.

[Rachael Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dominic Felse is on vacation in India. He joins up with another young man and a pair of girls. There are also several couples that they keep running into. They are enjoying a wildlife refuge and lake. But then a wealthy landowner is killed by a bomb on his boat. It apears that terrorists are out to kill the landowners. Can Dom and the local police find the culprit and prevent further deaths? This is an India that is trying to find itself after British rule - and Dom and his friends are gracious about both the good and bad. In the end, there is an unexpected culprit - but Peters is able to critique the New Left movement of the 70s & 80s.

[Fleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big Ellis Peters fan, but so far I've only read her Brother Cadfael series. And as that's one of my favourite series of all time, I thought let's try this one!
The formula is basically the same, a man who is not a defective gets involved in a murder case and helps solving it, there is also a romantic story in the background that we all wish works out well, but has some difficulties.
However, this is set in India, and written with beautiful detail of the country. The suspense is good as always, so a nice defective read that keeps you hooked.

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 4 out of 5]

With any of Ellis Peters books, one is given a history lesson which is the added gift of her writing. This particular story is placed in India after the British have given up control of their rule of the country. The story line was fascinating, but more so was the explanation of all the currents of philosophies the country was experiencing at that time and their struggles to find their proper footing in self-rule. It provided much more than a good mystery as it gave an insight into a time which is not covered in the history books.

[Keeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex plot and vivid landscapes, drawn utilizing the full range of the English language, as always with Ellis Peters. The characters speak in language very much of their time, as in the Felse mysteries I've previously read (very distinct from the voices of Cadfael characters, even if their worldviews are suspiciously similar). I predicted something about the conclusion, but she has me convinced for a bit that I was wrong...

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Ellis Peters mysteries never disappoint me. This is number 11 in the Felse series, featuring Domenic, the son of the police inspector, in India where a terrorist bomber is stalking his travel party. Suspects are plentiful, leaving the reader to suspect everyone and trust nobody.

[Mirella Ducasteele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oei! Oei! Niet te geloven dat dit dezelfde schrijfster is van de Cadfaël-boeken. Mist alle diepgang en alle geloofwaardigheid. En zeggen dat "de hemelboom" van Ellis Peters lang in mijn top 5 heeft gestaan. Waarmee bewezen is, elke goede schrijver kan ook rommel produceren.

[Helen Meads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Attitudes expressed are a bit old fashioned (published 1972, and it hasn’t really held up). Some of the plot twists were a bit obvious and a lot of the clues were revealed in dialogue explication. The final denouement also a bit dues ex machine.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable especially the descriptions of India. Good thriller.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dominic Felse, on holiday in India, finds himself involved in a murder enquiry. A whole new set of characters beautifully described, as usual.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

For once I figured out part of the plot and sussed out who a murderer was. I enjoy these books a lot.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading the later books in this series, and while Dominic Felse is likeable, I miss his father George and the English village setting of the earlier books.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to India with another adventure with Dominic ... I prefer the Felses' adventures set in the English Midlands, but I'm willing to go elsewhere with Peters.

[Margaret Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writing. Good mystery. Many twists and turns.

[Deirdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do like Ellis Peters' writing. I find the Cadfael Chronicles do get tedious after a while, but to dip into occasionally, she does very well. If only the library agreed with me...

[Maureen E · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second India book. I liked it less, mostly because Tossa was mentioned once, 3/4 of the way through the book, and so I spent most of it worrying that Something Had Happened. Also, as with all the Felse books not set in Shrewsbury, I missed Peters' exquisite descriptions of that area. [Feb. 2011]

[Laura Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 Series Re-read: The blend of mystery-thriller and travelogue is just to my taste. Kerala & Tamil Nadu are evocatively described. This is a nostalgic favorite amongst an overall superb series; wish there had been a third in the India-set books.

[E.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating this one three stars mostly because the culprits were glaringly obvious from the start. Loved the atmosphere, though, and Dominic's quiet calm. I do seem to prefer the books featuring George to Dominic, but Dominic in this one seems finally to have grown into his own skin.

[Georgiann Mclellan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellis Peters has a delightful descriptive style which brings characters and settings alive. As a reader, you feel like you are right there in India with young Dominic as the plot unfolds in a rather surprising way. Good read!

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scratching my head further -- another story set in India, involving only Dominic.... a good story, but a bit thinner than the usual 'George Felse' mysteries.

[Sienna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dominic in India. Peters clearly spent some time in India.