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Chief Inspector Littlejohn #14
The Case of the Demented Spiv
‘I’m a spiv… But whatever I’ve done, I never killed anybody. I didn’t do it… I swear I didn’t’
It’s a rainy, uneventful evening in the Oddfellows’ Arms until a greasy-looking spiv bursts into the pub, clearly unstable, and ranting about a body in Fennings’ Mill.
The police investigate the mad-man’s tale, and stumble upon a body, the face smeared with theatrical make-up and a false moustache pasted neatly over the lip. Once the national news descends, Inspector Faddiman calls in Inspector Littlejohn to help him uncover the dark, hidden secrets in this quiet, provincial town. Soon it becomes clear that a lot of people can’t, and won’t tell the truth… Again the author of The Case of the Famished Parson supplies his many fans with all the ingredients for a session of pleasure and puzzlement.
It’s a rainy, uneventful evening in the Oddfellows’ Arms until a greasy-looking spiv bursts into the pub, clearly unstable, and ranting about a body in Fennings’ Mill.
The police investigate the mad-man’s tale, and stumble upon a body, the face smeared with theatrical make-up and a false moustache pasted neatly over the lip. Once the national news descends, Inspector Faddiman calls in Inspector Littlejohn to help him uncover the dark, hidden secrets in this quiet, provincial town. Soon it becomes clear that a lot of people can’t, and won’t tell the truth… Again the author of The Case of the Famished Parson supplies his many fans with all the ingredients for a session of pleasure and puzzlement.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1949
170 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
George Bellairs
73 books101 followersAKA Hilary Landon
George Bellairs is the nom de plume of Harold Blundell, a crime writer and bank manager born in Heywood, near Rochdale, Lancashire, who settled in the Isle of Man on retirement. He wrote more than 50 books, most featuring the series' detective Inspector Littlejohn. He also wrote four novels under the alternative pseudonym Hilary Landon.
George Bellairs is the nom de plume of Harold Blundell, a crime writer and bank manager born in Heywood, near Rochdale, Lancashire, who settled in the Isle of Man on retirement. He wrote more than 50 books, most featuring the series' detective Inspector Littlejohn. He also wrote four novels under the alternative pseudonym Hilary Landon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 4, 2025
The Case of the Demented Spiv, 1949.
Our case begins when a “spiv” - or as my grandfather would have said - a “two bit hoodlum” - stumbles into Broadfield’s local - the Oddfellow’s Arms - exclaiming he had nothing to do with “it”. It turning out to be a dead body at the local mill - said corpse soon identified as Ambrose Barrow, secretary of said mill - the victim of foul-play and inexplicably wearing a disguise.
The local authority soon finds himself flummoxed by the crime and his little village over-run with members of the press so the call goes out to Scotland Yard and Inspector Littlejohn is assigned to the case. And our hero soon finds there is much more to this crime and sleepy township than meets the eye.
I enjoyed this low-key mystery with an entertaining cast of characters/suspects. One inexplicable - that word again - red flag - said Spiv morphs into “the Jew” about halfway through the book. This character “transition” not as heavy-handed as the “description” of Fagin in Oliver Twist, but jarring enough to this reader that at first I had no idea to whom the narrative was referring.
Our case begins when a “spiv” - or as my grandfather would have said - a “two bit hoodlum” - stumbles into Broadfield’s local - the Oddfellow’s Arms - exclaiming he had nothing to do with “it”. It turning out to be a dead body at the local mill - said corpse soon identified as Ambrose Barrow, secretary of said mill - the victim of foul-play and inexplicably wearing a disguise.
The local authority soon finds himself flummoxed by the crime and his little village over-run with members of the press so the call goes out to Scotland Yard and Inspector Littlejohn is assigned to the case. And our hero soon finds there is much more to this crime and sleepy township than meets the eye.
I enjoyed this low-key mystery with an entertaining cast of characters/suspects. One inexplicable - that word again - red flag - said Spiv morphs into “the Jew” about halfway through the book. This character “transition” not as heavy-handed as the “description” of Fagin in Oliver Twist, but jarring enough to this reader that at first I had no idea to whom the narrative was referring.
May 3, 2025
It’s a night like any other in the Oddfellows’ Arms in the small mill town of Brockfield, until a man bursts in, clearly crazed with shock, burbling about a body in Fennings’ Mill. The police investigate and sure enough, they find the body of Ambrose Barrow, secretary of the company. The police quickly decide that the madman couldn’t have done the murder, and thus the role of the demented spiv is over before the story gets properly underway. Great title, though!
It appears that someone in the company may have been committing one of those crimes that only really existed during wartime rationing – selling cloth illegally to black market traders, i.e., spivs, who would then sell it on to people with more money than clothing coupons or honesty. Realising this doesn’t get the local police much further in their investigations, though, and eventually the powers that be decide to call on Scotland Yard for help. Enter Chief Inspector Littlejohn…
I’ve read a few Bellairs books now, mostly starring Inspector Littlejohn. Although the quality varies quite a bit, they’re usually enjoyable and this one is too. However, the pacing isn’t as good as in some of his books – it takes a long time for the investigation to get going and it’s only really in the second half that Littlejohn begins to winkle out motives and opportunity. Until then, there’s quite a lot of waffling about things that turn out not to have much relevance, like the spiv of the title, for instance. And once it becomes clearer what lies at the root of the mystery, the motive is not the most interesting or original.
There’s often quite a lot of humour in his books, and this one certainly has its moments. Bellairs is very good at bringing secondary characters to life quickly, and he manages to make them quirky enough to be entertaining without tipping over into caricature. I found the primary characters in this one rather less interesting – I felt Littlejohn didn’t spend enough time talking to them, so that, although we learned about their actions, we didn’t really get to know their personalities very well. I’ve mentioned in past reviews that Bellairs’ humour sometimes relies on that snobbishness towards the lower classes that was a feature of a lot of vintage mystery writing, and that’s on display here, rather more off-puttingly than I’ve noticed before. There’s also a recurring theme in this one of cultured men teaching lower class girls how to look and behave like ladies, which didn’t sit too well with me.
Having said all that, it’s still entertaining enough to fill a few hours quite enjoyably, but it didn’t become one of my favourites and wouldn’t be the one I would suggest that newcomers should start with. If you want to try Bellairs, which is well worth doing despite this lukewarm review, I’d recommend The Body in the Dumb River as a much better example of his work. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.
It appears that someone in the company may have been committing one of those crimes that only really existed during wartime rationing – selling cloth illegally to black market traders, i.e., spivs, who would then sell it on to people with more money than clothing coupons or honesty. Realising this doesn’t get the local police much further in their investigations, though, and eventually the powers that be decide to call on Scotland Yard for help. Enter Chief Inspector Littlejohn…
I’ve read a few Bellairs books now, mostly starring Inspector Littlejohn. Although the quality varies quite a bit, they’re usually enjoyable and this one is too. However, the pacing isn’t as good as in some of his books – it takes a long time for the investigation to get going and it’s only really in the second half that Littlejohn begins to winkle out motives and opportunity. Until then, there’s quite a lot of waffling about things that turn out not to have much relevance, like the spiv of the title, for instance. And once it becomes clearer what lies at the root of the mystery, the motive is not the most interesting or original.
There’s often quite a lot of humour in his books, and this one certainly has its moments. Bellairs is very good at bringing secondary characters to life quickly, and he manages to make them quirky enough to be entertaining without tipping over into caricature. I found the primary characters in this one rather less interesting – I felt Littlejohn didn’t spend enough time talking to them, so that, although we learned about their actions, we didn’t really get to know their personalities very well. I’ve mentioned in past reviews that Bellairs’ humour sometimes relies on that snobbishness towards the lower classes that was a feature of a lot of vintage mystery writing, and that’s on display here, rather more off-puttingly than I’ve noticed before. There’s also a recurring theme in this one of cultured men teaching lower class girls how to look and behave like ladies, which didn’t sit too well with me.
Having said all that, it’s still entertaining enough to fill a few hours quite enjoyably, but it didn’t become one of my favourites and wouldn’t be the one I would suggest that newcomers should start with. If you want to try Bellairs, which is well worth doing despite this lukewarm review, I’d recommend The Body in the Dumb River as a much better example of his work. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.
July 4, 2018
Ambrose Barrow, secretary at the family-owned Fennings’ Mills, turns up dead at the mill’s warehouse, made up in clown greasepaint and sporting a fake mustache. Which picture of Barrow is correct? That of an incorruptible kind man, presented by his beautiful widow, his fellow church-goers and some of his co-workers? Or that of a thieving employee, slain while selling cotton cloth to the eponymous demented spiv, a description supplied by his employers and a few others? (For younger readers, a spiv is a slang term for a flashy dressing fellow engaged in illegal activities.)
Detective-Inspector Thomas Littlejohn can’t wait to get out of the two-bit village of Brockfield. And for, much of the novel, I felt the same about this book. The 14th in George Bellairs’ series takes quite a while to get going. Thanks to petty villagers and millworkers, it takes Littlejohn more than half the novel to get on the right track. He spends so much time going down dead ends that it detracts a bit from the novel. In addition, Sergeant Robert Cromwell, a regular in the series, sadly stays in London for the investigation of a bobby’s murder. However, a shocking ending helps to redeem this novel enough to rate three stars.
Detective-Inspector Thomas Littlejohn can’t wait to get out of the two-bit village of Brockfield. And for, much of the novel, I felt the same about this book. The 14th in George Bellairs’ series takes quite a while to get going. Thanks to petty villagers and millworkers, it takes Littlejohn more than half the novel to get on the right track. He spends so much time going down dead ends that it detracts a bit from the novel. In addition, Sergeant Robert Cromwell, a regular in the series, sadly stays in London for the investigation of a bobby’s murder. However, a shocking ending helps to redeem this novel enough to rate three stars.
September 14, 2025
Set in 1948 around a family of mill owners, with Del boy of 1940s finding a body .Once again we step in the world of class crime with Littlejohn
October 30, 2017
The manager of a textiles factory in a small provincial town is murdered, and his body is discovered by the spiv of the novel's title -- who hangs himself in his prison cell about three pages later, so the title's really a misnomer. There's an oddity about the corpse, too: his face has been made up with theatrical paint and false whiskers.
The local cops get nowhere in their investigation, so Inspector Littlejohn of the Yard is called in. He, likewise, for quite a while gets nowhere, but finally the pieces fall into place. It's really all a matter of who's been sleeping with whom . . .
This edition isn't especially well proofread (for example, the name of the Fenning family, central to the plot, is quite often rendered as "Penning") and the author tends to throw in irritating exclamation marks just to make sure we're not missing his jokes. He also has an odd habit of giving quite comprehensive thumbnail sketches of every character on first appearance, even the very minor ones. This has the curious effect of somehow making the characters less rather than, as I assume was his intention in the gambit, more memorable.
This is, I think, my first experience of Bellairs, and it probably won't be my last. The book is moderately entertaining -- no more than that -- while the mystery itself is no great shakes, with minimal ratiocination required to solve it, and the central character's a bit of a cipher. I gather, though, that this is far from Bellairs's best, and that some of the other Littlejohn novels are fairly splendid; even were that not so, The Case of the Demented Spiv is good enough bread-and-butter reading to while away a few hours. I even chuckled a couple of times.
The local cops get nowhere in their investigation, so Inspector Littlejohn of the Yard is called in. He, likewise, for quite a while gets nowhere, but finally the pieces fall into place. It's really all a matter of who's been sleeping with whom . . .
This edition isn't especially well proofread (for example, the name of the Fenning family, central to the plot, is quite often rendered as "Penning") and the author tends to throw in irritating exclamation marks just to make sure we're not missing his jokes. He also has an odd habit of giving quite comprehensive thumbnail sketches of every character on first appearance, even the very minor ones. This has the curious effect of somehow making the characters less rather than, as I assume was his intention in the gambit, more memorable.
This is, I think, my first experience of Bellairs, and it probably won't be my last. The book is moderately entertaining -- no more than that -- while the mystery itself is no great shakes, with minimal ratiocination required to solve it, and the central character's a bit of a cipher. I gather, though, that this is far from Bellairs's best, and that some of the other Littlejohn novels are fairly splendid; even were that not so, The Case of the Demented Spiv is good enough bread-and-butter reading to while away a few hours. I even chuckled a couple of times.
October 14, 2021
Mystery most complex
Littlejohn is a rather mild mannered detective able to sort through the most complex of mysteries. However, I personally found this one slightly too disjointed to follow.
Littlejohn is a rather mild mannered detective able to sort through the most complex of mysteries. However, I personally found this one slightly too disjointed to follow.
June 6, 2020
3*
I’ve enjoyed my first book of summer.
It takes a slow pace but given it was written originally 1949 (published in 1950) it comes from the classic detective age when a police officer would solve a crime through following leads, thinking things out, checking information and making conclusions.
Inspector Littlejohn is a man of those times he may seem a bit of a plodder at times but he relates well to people, has a clarity of thought able to consider what clues and leads he has and make some solid conclusions in order to find out what really happened and who did commit this murder.
Littlejohn is brought in by the local Inspector for a more independent investigation. The local community are bound to the factory owners in various ways so it is, in that respect, a little more difficult to investigate. Littlejohn, however, knows how to work in such circumstances, he is very capable when it comes to understanding people, what makes them tick and is able to coax – manipulate – the locals into helping him when following leads even if they don’t always realise it.
The book has interesting characters, it isn’t a matter of following clues rather it’s about sizing up the characters and making deductions on how the murder was done. So, not overly easy to spot whodunnit.
Bellairs builds up and manages what we know about the characters, in particular the Flemmings who are the factory owners, the case itself gathers to a good pace and there are some satisfying moments in its conclusion.
It’s entertaining and enjoyable. I’m sure I’ll read more Bellairs in the future.
20 Books of Summer ‘20 challenge
This is my first read for this years 20 books challenge – 1 down 19 to go!
July 10, 2021
A Dark, Rainy Night!
It’s a dark, rainy night, but the Oddfellows’ Arms pub is warm and cheerful, full of music and jollity. The constable keeping watch and getting wet outside wishes that he were inside, warm and dry.
At the church a crowd is awaiting the start of the revivalist rally. Everyone is wondering where the organist is! He’s late and the substitute organist is out with lumbago so the service can’t begin until the organist arrives!
Suddenly the door of the pub is thrown open, and a flashily dressed man with a shady demeanor rushes in and asks for brandy. He’s obviously distraught and attempting to calm his nerves. The landlord informs him that he has no brandy, but offers rum instead.
The man accepts the rum, downing it and another at a gulp.
Then the stranger announces that he has discovered a body at the local mill! The constable and several others rush to see if there is indeed a corpse.
They find things just as the stranger said. Worst of all, the body is that of the factory secretary who happens to also be the missing church organist!
The local police investigate, but they hit dead ends.
So Inspector Littlejohn is called in to solve the case!
Read The Case of the Demented Spiv to discover who Is the guilty party!
❤️✝️✡️❤️
It’s a dark, rainy night, but the Oddfellows’ Arms pub is warm and cheerful, full of music and jollity. The constable keeping watch and getting wet outside wishes that he were inside, warm and dry.
At the church a crowd is awaiting the start of the revivalist rally. Everyone is wondering where the organist is! He’s late and the substitute organist is out with lumbago so the service can’t begin until the organist arrives!
Suddenly the door of the pub is thrown open, and a flashily dressed man with a shady demeanor rushes in and asks for brandy. He’s obviously distraught and attempting to calm his nerves. The landlord informs him that he has no brandy, but offers rum instead.
The man accepts the rum, downing it and another at a gulp.
Then the stranger announces that he has discovered a body at the local mill! The constable and several others rush to see if there is indeed a corpse.
They find things just as the stranger said. Worst of all, the body is that of the factory secretary who happens to also be the missing church organist!
The local police investigate, but they hit dead ends.
So Inspector Littlejohn is called in to solve the case!
Read The Case of the Demented Spiv to discover who Is the guilty party!
❤️✝️✡️❤️
November 8, 2017
Apart from the atmospheric and somewhat melodramatic opening chapter, this is a curiously low-key
Littlejohn. Three in the series were published in the same year, 1949, of which this may have been the third, so perhaps that has something to do with it. One of the others, “The Case of the Famished Parson”, is certainly more complex and interesting.
The Scotland Yard Inspector is without his sidekick, Cromwell, and Mrs Littlejohn is also absent. There are few of the descriptive passages so characteristic of Bellair’s best work and such character sketches as there are, seem perfunctory. There are some flashes of humour, notably in the section which features PC Willie Mulligan. Otherwise this is a fairly mundane tale of adultery, shady dealing and murder.
It is very readable but not very exciting.The investigation proceeds at snail’s pace. Littlejohn is impeded by an unusually large number of people withholding evidence.
Three stars.
Littlejohn. Three in the series were published in the same year, 1949, of which this may have been the third, so perhaps that has something to do with it. One of the others, “The Case of the Famished Parson”, is certainly more complex and interesting.
The Scotland Yard Inspector is without his sidekick, Cromwell, and Mrs Littlejohn is also absent. There are few of the descriptive passages so characteristic of Bellair’s best work and such character sketches as there are, seem perfunctory. There are some flashes of humour, notably in the section which features PC Willie Mulligan. Otherwise this is a fairly mundane tale of adultery, shady dealing and murder.
It is very readable but not very exciting.The investigation proceeds at snail’s pace. Littlejohn is impeded by an unusually large number of people withholding evidence.
Three stars.
July 3, 2017
Another great read from the pen of George Bellaire, a man runs into a bar (no pun intended) asks for a Brandy and tells everyone he is not a murderer. Due to work load and the killing of a policeman in London Littlejohn has to leave his right hand man Cromwell at Scotland yard and head to Brookfield alone. Once there he has a fascinating chose of places to stay for everyone that is apart for Littlejohn who, actually well George Bellairs puts it better so I will let you enjoy his version. This is a town that has decided to be as uncooperative as possible with the local police so Littlejohn has to reverse this trend to get to the bottom of things.
What follows is a unique story as are all of George Bellairs books with humour twists and some great characters and imaginative names.
What follows is a unique story as are all of George Bellairs books with humour twists and some great characters and imaginative names.
July 28, 2020
You’ve got to love the titles of George Bellairs Inspector Littlejohn books. Why would you not want to find out about a Demented Spiv?
Littlejohn is called to Brockfield to look into a case. A body was found at a local mill and the ‘little spiv’ found at the scene was arrested but went so crazy he ended up in the local asylum.
As usual there is a bunch of unsavoury characters, even the savoury ones take a bit of getting used to. Littlejohn, who is not enjoying his stay in the town, finds it hard to get any clear line as to why the victim was killed, decent bloke, hard-working, honest type that he proved to be.
I discovered Inspector Littlejohn over a year ago having never heard of the author, now I’m delighted to find more of his books to read. They are really a joy.
Littlejohn is called to Brockfield to look into a case. A body was found at a local mill and the ‘little spiv’ found at the scene was arrested but went so crazy he ended up in the local asylum.
As usual there is a bunch of unsavoury characters, even the savoury ones take a bit of getting used to. Littlejohn, who is not enjoying his stay in the town, finds it hard to get any clear line as to why the victim was killed, decent bloke, hard-working, honest type that he proved to be.
I discovered Inspector Littlejohn over a year ago having never heard of the author, now I’m delighted to find more of his books to read. They are really a joy.
February 1, 2018
The spiv [a black-marketeer] in DS, has a classic mental breakdown, kills himself, so has little to do with the story. The plot is sprawling, lots of characters, most seen as unpleasant, pretentious, pushy or impoverished and so rendered diminished as people, while the aristocracy is most definitely a far superior class. It's all pretty claustrophobic, and cliched.
CI Littlejohn [without Cromwell, alas] is generally at a loss re the investigation, until 'off-stage' sudden insights, which, since they're never shared, leave the reader clueless. DS is another case of people over plot, but as there are no sympathetic characters, this is just an OK read.
CI Littlejohn [without Cromwell, alas] is generally at a loss re the investigation, until 'off-stage' sudden insights, which, since they're never shared, leave the reader clueless. DS is another case of people over plot, but as there are no sympathetic characters, this is just an OK read.
October 13, 2018
Early Bird Book Deal | This entry in the series really brought home one way in which Bellairs was different from his contemporaries: he heavily populated his books. Most Golden Age British mysteries have such a small field of characters that you know who is involved in which way immediately. All information is provided by the same people. But these Littlejohn books have neighbors and co-workers and shopkeepers who only appear long enough to give detail, while still being fully formed as people. This one had a terribly anticlimactic ending and women who fainted in the most ridiculous ways, but still pretty good.
December 10, 2019
A man in a state of collapse goes into the Brookfield bar. A man calls him a spiv, and he begins raving. He didn’t kill anyone, but he did find a dead body in the warehouse of the Fennings mill. The police take him to the station, and the asylum, and we hear no more of the man in the title.
The dead man is Ambrose Barrows who worked for the mill. His wife, had been going out with the two sons of the mill owner. The local Inspector Faddiman has not made much progress in the case, and Littlejohn is called in to help. He immediately determines the spiv, a small man, was definitely not capable of killing Barrows, a big man. Littlejohn, as usual interviews lots of people and gradually figures out clues. There is a lot of hanky-pansy going on in Brockfield, and Littlejohn soon realizes that reputations are worth killing for with this group of people.
The dead man is Ambrose Barrows who worked for the mill. His wife, had been going out with the two sons of the mill owner. The local Inspector Faddiman has not made much progress in the case, and Littlejohn is called in to help. He immediately determines the spiv, a small man, was definitely not capable of killing Barrows, a big man. Littlejohn, as usual interviews lots of people and gradually figures out clues. There is a lot of hanky-pansy going on in Brockfield, and Littlejohn soon realizes that reputations are worth killing for with this group of people.
September 20, 2020
This is the first George Bellairs mystery novel I've read and quietly pleased by the quality. The title is slightly misleading as his is a minor role only. The case resolves around the Fannings family, who run the local mill which leaves the local villagers to their whims and ways. When local businessman Ambrose Barrow is found murdered in the Mill and his face covered in grease paint the cover up begins. Inspector Littlejohn is brought in by Scotland Yard to solve the mystery. This is where the novel becomes interesting as he lifts away the secrets and lies keeping this reader engrossed throughout.
May 7, 2024
Money can buy everything but class.
In 1949, every reader would know a "spiv" as a low-level criminal. An "easy-money boy" was another term, meaning a character who isn't too particular how he gets his cut as long as it doesn't involve much work. The man who staggers into the Brockfield local pub demanding strong drink freely admits to being a spiv, but he's hardly a violent criminal. Just finding a corpse pushes him over the edge and into a mental asylum.
There's a body on the warehouse floor of Fenning Mills, but it belongs to Ambrose Barrow, secretary and long-time employee of the company. Barrow was a powerful man in his prime and couldn't have been overcome by the frail Londoner who found him. Still, what was he doing meeting after hours with a crook and was it Barrow who altered the company's financial records? Even if he was stealing from his employer, what was the point of his clumsy disguise, including a fake mustache and workman's cap?
Inspector Littlejohn of the Metropolitan Police treats everyone with kindness and respect. He's comfortable dealing with the wealthy Fenning family, but just as much at home with the elderly widow of a laborer. Honesty and lack of pretense impress him more than money and power. That doesn't mean he's blind to the nuances of social class and how it affects our behavior and beliefs.
At the core of this story is the fact that the Fennings are NOT the stereotypical "new rich" who've become wealthy through commerce and are aping traditional land-owning squires. They're the real deal, complete with a lovely ancient family mansion. Old Miles Fenning saw the handwriting on the wall and founded a cotton mill that's kept him prosperous when other old families were losing everything.
Miles had four sons, but only two are still living. Both draw salaries from the mill, but the father maintains an iron grip on the business. Frail from age and illness, he's still in control and his sons must take orders and like it. Educated to be wealthy men of leisure, neither has the drive to be successful independently.
Inspector Littlejohn starts his investigation at what seems the likeliest place - the question of whether Barrow was stealing from his employer, how he managed it, who knew or was involved, and how it might have led to his violent death.
The job is harder because local Inspector Faddiman has angered people who have useful information and are spitefully withholding it. At first it appears that Faddiman is just a pompous bungler, but then Littlejohn discovers a personal connection that makes the local man incapable of being impartial.
It's a complicated story of two brothers who like a pretty face and lush figure, but also want a woman who shares their taste for fine art and lovely possessions. What happens when a woman discovers that she's valued as a mistress, but not classy enough to marry? Can she be bought off or will there be an embarrassing public scandal?
I enjoyed this book, but there are typos, a problem I've not found in other books in this series. "Nazal" for nasal and "weazel" for weasel. I also found the ending silly and unbelievable. Like all of the books in this series, it's well-written and the characters are beautifully drawn. The author's picture of the traditional class system and its strengths and weaknesses is well-done and convincing.
Still, it has a hurried feel as though the author sent it to the publisher before he'd fine-tuned it. Since Bellairs published three mysteries in 1949, while working as a bank manager, maybe it WAS rushed. It's an outstanding book in some ways, but left me feeling slightly unsatisfied.
In 1949, every reader would know a "spiv" as a low-level criminal. An "easy-money boy" was another term, meaning a character who isn't too particular how he gets his cut as long as it doesn't involve much work. The man who staggers into the Brockfield local pub demanding strong drink freely admits to being a spiv, but he's hardly a violent criminal. Just finding a corpse pushes him over the edge and into a mental asylum.
There's a body on the warehouse floor of Fenning Mills, but it belongs to Ambrose Barrow, secretary and long-time employee of the company. Barrow was a powerful man in his prime and couldn't have been overcome by the frail Londoner who found him. Still, what was he doing meeting after hours with a crook and was it Barrow who altered the company's financial records? Even if he was stealing from his employer, what was the point of his clumsy disguise, including a fake mustache and workman's cap?
Inspector Littlejohn of the Metropolitan Police treats everyone with kindness and respect. He's comfortable dealing with the wealthy Fenning family, but just as much at home with the elderly widow of a laborer. Honesty and lack of pretense impress him more than money and power. That doesn't mean he's blind to the nuances of social class and how it affects our behavior and beliefs.
At the core of this story is the fact that the Fennings are NOT the stereotypical "new rich" who've become wealthy through commerce and are aping traditional land-owning squires. They're the real deal, complete with a lovely ancient family mansion. Old Miles Fenning saw the handwriting on the wall and founded a cotton mill that's kept him prosperous when other old families were losing everything.
Miles had four sons, but only two are still living. Both draw salaries from the mill, but the father maintains an iron grip on the business. Frail from age and illness, he's still in control and his sons must take orders and like it. Educated to be wealthy men of leisure, neither has the drive to be successful independently.
Inspector Littlejohn starts his investigation at what seems the likeliest place - the question of whether Barrow was stealing from his employer, how he managed it, who knew or was involved, and how it might have led to his violent death.
The job is harder because local Inspector Faddiman has angered people who have useful information and are spitefully withholding it. At first it appears that Faddiman is just a pompous bungler, but then Littlejohn discovers a personal connection that makes the local man incapable of being impartial.
It's a complicated story of two brothers who like a pretty face and lush figure, but also want a woman who shares their taste for fine art and lovely possessions. What happens when a woman discovers that she's valued as a mistress, but not classy enough to marry? Can she be bought off or will there be an embarrassing public scandal?
I enjoyed this book, but there are typos, a problem I've not found in other books in this series. "Nazal" for nasal and "weazel" for weasel. I also found the ending silly and unbelievable. Like all of the books in this series, it's well-written and the characters are beautifully drawn. The author's picture of the traditional class system and its strengths and weaknesses is well-done and convincing.
Still, it has a hurried feel as though the author sent it to the publisher before he'd fine-tuned it. Since Bellairs published three mysteries in 1949, while working as a bank manager, maybe it WAS rushed. It's an outstanding book in some ways, but left me feeling slightly unsatisfied.
July 9, 2019
I don't know why the book is titled after the character who discovered the body, when he is immediately cleared and basically never mentioned again. Still, it's a convoluted mystery with many suspects. Golden Age writing. This is the second Bellairs novel I've read that presents a rather dim view of the gentry: inbred, greedy, concerned only for the protection of the family name. Bellairs didn't mince words portraying their faults.
March 20, 2023
A small mill town with a complicated ruling family, with the requisite tyrannical patriarch, and a lot of secrets; almost gothic. The murder plot isn’t much - and depends on a bad police work before Littlejohn shows up, and even then he’s hampered by the locals -but it’s atmospheric and well written; Bellairs does like exclamation points though!
As before, many of the Golden Age English mysteries (including Christie and Allingham) had weak titles but this one might be the worst.
As before, many of the Golden Age English mysteries (including Christie and Allingham) had weak titles but this one might be the worst.
September 13, 2025
The audiobook was a good distraction while I spent time weeding and making dinner. Littlejohn is more curt and rude than the detectives of more modern mysteries. It was a bit jarring when the "spiv" of the title turned into that "little Jew" about half way through the book, but for something written over 100 years ago, it was of its time. Littlejohn realizes right way the "spiv" could not have done the crime even though it would be very convenient to pin it on him.
December 27, 2018
A drunk man stumbles into a church and starts yelling about a dead body. The police investigate and discover the body of Mr. Barrow. Scotland Yard is called in to help. The case seems to involve some prominent people in town.
Well-written and enjoyable read.
Well-written and enjoyable read.
August 30, 2019
Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is called in to a case in Broadfield. The death of Ambrose Barrow has been investigated by loca lpolice Inspector Faddiman without finding the guilty party.
The story was interesting enough to finish the book
The story was interesting enough to finish the book
May 12, 2020
Bellairs has delightful descriptions of people, and his murders are always challenging. The old sins of lust, pride and greed combine to make a good story here. The Demented Spiv only showed up early and was not a major factor in the story
December 31, 2021
Not to bad a read and slightly entertaining, the detective littlejohn is quite a clever chap. I have read a few in the Littlejohn series, and found them interesting and well plotted. The Chief Inspector is likeable and well presented and this is a real mystery(no spoilers).
March 22, 2023
I had no idea what a 'spiv' was though it was clear that it was a derogatory term. Turns out it meant a Jewish person. As becomes clear early on (so this isn't a spoiler), the Jew has nothing to do with the case. I can only suspect that the publisher wanted a provocative title to boost sales :(
March 21, 2018
Classic who done it.
This is well worth a read. Recommended with a roaring fire and a glass of wine on a cold night.
This is well worth a read. Recommended with a roaring fire and a glass of wine on a cold night.
March 17, 2018
One of the best of the Littlejohn's I've read so far.
A good, convoluted storyline with most of the characters being well drawn.
A good, convoluted storyline with most of the characters being well drawn.
July 7, 2020
I loved the Cursing Stones of Murder, and gave that five stars. The Demented Spiv was just so so. Not a great plot, no great characters.
January 20, 2021
Second in the series about detecive Littlejohn.
May 21, 2021
An enjoyable traditional who dun it. This mystery twists and turns but is ably solved by LittleJohn.
September 24, 2021
This one had a somewhat slower start than others by Bellairs that I've read, but it was very good once it got going.
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