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Bobby Owen Mysteries #12
Suspects Nine
“Know him?” he asked.
Bobby was for a moment too surprised to answer. He had thought of every one else but not of the man whose dead face now was staring up at him.
“Yes. I know him,” he said.
Bobby Owen’s fiancée and milliner to the wealthy, Olive Farrar, has a problem. It concerns two competitive society matrons and a missing hat. But it becomes a case of murder when the butler of one of the ladies is shot dead, his body stabbed after the fact. While investigating, Bobby encounters many suspicious characters who might have done it – eight in total. Lurking in the shadows is a ninth suspect – but who can it be?
Bobby was for a moment too surprised to answer. He had thought of every one else but not of the man whose dead face now was staring up at him.
“Yes. I know him,” he said.
Bobby Owen’s fiancée and milliner to the wealthy, Olive Farrar, has a problem. It concerns two competitive society matrons and a missing hat. But it becomes a case of murder when the butler of one of the ladies is shot dead, his body stabbed after the fact. While investigating, Bobby encounters many suspicious characters who might have done it – eight in total. Lurking in the shadows is a ninth suspect – but who can it be?
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1939
20 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
E.R. Punshon
73 books17 followersAka Robertson Halket.
E.R. Punshon (Ernest Robertson Punshon) (1872-1956) was an English novelist and literary critic of the early 20th century. He also wrote under the pseudonym Robertson Halket. Primarily writing on crime and deduction, he enjoyed some literary success in the 1930s and 1940s. Today, he is remembered, in the main, as the creator of Police Constable Bobby Owen, the protagonist of many of Punshon's novels. He reviewed many of Agatha Christie's novels for The Guardian on their first publication.
E.R. Punshon (Ernest Robertson Punshon) (1872-1956) was an English novelist and literary critic of the early 20th century. He also wrote under the pseudonym Robertson Halket. Primarily writing on crime and deduction, he enjoyed some literary success in the 1930s and 1940s. Today, he is remembered, in the main, as the creator of Police Constable Bobby Owen, the protagonist of many of Punshon's novels. He reviewed many of Agatha Christie's novels for The Guardian on their first publication.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 10, 2022
Bobby Owen is not the lead investigator on the murder that happens in Weeton Hill, which is outside the jurisdiction of The Yard. But, because of the theft of a hat, he becomes acquainted with all of the contenders. Further, he is called into serve as a sort of body guard for the wealthy Mr. Tamar and so is on hand to learn more and more and becomes a sort of consultant.
I thought Punshon gave us more humor in this, but maybe I was just in a lighter mood while reading. There was more in the relationship business than I thought necessary, but that provided this quote that drew a smile. Bobby put on his most amiable smile, the one that Olive said always made her reach for her engagement ring to throw it at his head.
This is Golden Age fiction by an author not as well known as the Queens of Golden Age fiction. After coming to Goodreads, I have discovered others not so well known and hope to actually get to some of them before I get too old to enjoy them. I started the series with a group here and plan to read one every couple of months. This might not be my favorite - 3-stars only - but absolutely good enough to have me looking forward to the next one.
I thought Punshon gave us more humor in this, but maybe I was just in a lighter mood while reading. There was more in the relationship business than I thought necessary, but that provided this quote that drew a smile. Bobby put on his most amiable smile, the one that Olive said always made her reach for her engagement ring to throw it at his head.
This is Golden Age fiction by an author not as well known as the Queens of Golden Age fiction. After coming to Goodreads, I have discovered others not so well known and hope to actually get to some of them before I get too old to enjoy them. I started the series with a group here and plan to read one every couple of months. This might not be my favorite - 3-stars only - but absolutely good enough to have me looking forward to the next one.
March 21, 2022
As the title says, there are a lot of suspects in this book that could have been the murderer. It took me a while to sort them out in my mind, which wasn't helped by one of the men having a woman's name, and a woman having a man's name. The beginning is set in the hat shop owned by Olive, Bobby's fiancée. A customer runs off with one of the hats, and so Bobby is asked to try and recover the stolen hat. The thief is a very domineering woman, pays for the hat, and has only taken it because it was meant for her biggest enemy. Bobby then has to explain to the woman who should have had the hat, what has happened. Bobby is then billeted with this woman and her husband, who is a very wealthy man and has had an anonymous letter from someone trying to get money from him. Defying convention, it was the butler who was the victim. This happens pretty early in the book so it's not giving anything away. It is thought that the victim was mistaken for the master. From there we meet the other possible suspects.
I did find this quite humorous in places, as although it is mainly a matter of police procedural, there are some lighter moments. Bobby does find himself travelling quite a lot, but anyone reading these books is used to that. The relationship between Bobby and Olive is still flourishing, but not mushy.
I did find this quite humorous in places, as although it is mainly a matter of police procedural, there are some lighter moments. Bobby does find himself travelling quite a lot, but anyone reading these books is used to that. The relationship between Bobby and Olive is still flourishing, but not mushy.
October 4, 2017
As usual Punshon provides a very readable story very well written. Bobby Owen is a very engaging character and I am enjoying following his life and career in chronological order.
Unusually this time, the butler is the victim rather than the suspect. As one can guess from the title, there are plenty of suspects and the author must have had a mind like a computer to have kept it all in his head.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Unusually this time, the butler is the victim rather than the suspect. As one can guess from the title, there are plenty of suspects and the author must have had a mind like a computer to have kept it all in his head.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
May 2, 2019
Again I say that this is a delightful series. I am enjoying seeing Owen grow and mature into a crack detective. His relationship with Olive is sweet as well. This mystery was intricate with 9 suspects and many red herrings.
February 27, 2019
I only discovered the Bobby Owen detective series this year, thanks to its release on Kindle, and I'm completely hooked on the characters and the mysteries. Punshon's hero, Bobby Owens, is a quieter kind of character than a Miss Marple or Lord Peter Wimsey, but he's extremely witty. And Punshon gives wonderful attention to the supporting characters in his books, making them human, and often very humorous.
One of the things I also really like about this series is how different from one another the mysteries are. If you're looking for something to read after Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, try some Bobby Owen!
One of the things I also really like about this series is how different from one another the mysteries are. If you're looking for something to read after Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, try some Bobby Owen!
July 24, 2017
Five stars for quality writing, three for plot since I found it unusually easy to work out the murderer.
This was first published in 1939 and has some interesting asides on the contemporary political situation.Good social satire and interesting thoughts on female/male relationships.
The writing is crystal clear and the book has aged better than many works of the time.
Not my favourite -only one real eccentric this time- but an excellent read.
This was first published in 1939 and has some interesting asides on the contemporary political situation.Good social satire and interesting thoughts on female/male relationships.
The writing is crystal clear and the book has aged better than many works of the time.
Not my favourite -only one real eccentric this time- but an excellent read.
August 20, 2023
I've read several Bobby Owen mysteries, and found some of the stories to be okay, and some very enjoyable. This is by far my favorite. The puzzle of what was the reason for the murder of the victim, and subsequently by whom, was very clever - as well as the deductions that lead to putting the pieces together.
But what made this mystery a cut above were the side issues going on, including Bobby's blossoming relationship with his fiance, and the humorous aspect that comes up into play on several occasions.
But what made this mystery a cut above were the side issues going on, including Bobby's blossoming relationship with his fiance, and the humorous aspect that comes up into play on several occasions.
December 30, 2025
Rating 3.5
In this story Bobby Owen isn’t involved directly with the investigation, however he becomes involved via his fiancé olive (of the hat shop).
This novel started strongly I thought but tbh I lost interest around the 70% mark …. Not sure why perhaps I wasn’t in the mood for it.
Wasn’t difficult to finish reading though as the writing, as is usual with Punshon, made it an easy read.
As I have several more of this series will continue them next year. None of the initial 12 novels were bad, but for me none of them were really outstanding or memorable.
In this story Bobby Owen isn’t involved directly with the investigation, however he becomes involved via his fiancé olive (of the hat shop).
This novel started strongly I thought but tbh I lost interest around the 70% mark …. Not sure why perhaps I wasn’t in the mood for it.
Wasn’t difficult to finish reading though as the writing, as is usual with Punshon, made it an easy read.
As I have several more of this series will continue them next year. None of the initial 12 novels were bad, but for me none of them were really outstanding or memorable.
April 11, 2022
Bobby is back on his London beat, showing the face of a perfect employee while thinking disparaging thoughts about his salary, boss, assignments and piles of paperwork. How can he show the initiative needed to be promoted and still follow strict orders? And he needs a promotion to afford a wife.
February 5, 2017
Good fun but weak central mystery. Full review at classicmystery.wordpress.com
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August 31, 2018Anything Dorothy Sayers recommends... Very happy to have discovered this series!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews