They Died in the Spring

DCI Flecker #2

by Josephine Pullein-Thompson

Following on from Gin and Murder, this is the second the Chief-Inspector James Flecker of Scotland Yard trilogy.

They Died in the Spring takes place one dewy April in the heart of England, in Bretfordshire, where a retired Colonel has been found shot dead. At first, they think it’s an accident – the man’s body is found fallen in the woods with his shotgun close at hand — but gradually it becomes clear that this is a case of murder instead.

Colonel Barclay had recently announced his intention to plough over the local cricket field, land which he owned, and it stirred up the local villagers. But is the destruction of a beloved cricket pitch motive enough for murder? Especially when the Colonel was the type of person who made enemies easily.

When a young German house servant in the neighbourhood is also found dead, the case proves too much for the local police force, and Flecker is called in to assist. Even with the help of Detective-Sergeant Browning, can Flecker get to the bottom of this case?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

The Pullein-Thompson sisters — Josephine Pullein-Thompson MBE (3 April 1924-[1]), Diana Pullein-Thompson (born 1 October 1925) [2] and Christine Pullein-Thompson (1 October 1925–2 December 2005[2] — are British writers of several horse and pony books (mostly fictional) aimed at children and mostly popular with girls. They started at a very young age (initially writing collectively) and they were at their peak in the 1950s and 1960s, but their popularity has endured. They have written a collective autobiography Fair Girls and Grey Horses.

All 3 sisters have written at least 1 book under a different name; Josephine wrote 1 under the pseudonym of Josephine Mann, Diana 3 books under her married name of Diana Farr and Christine wrote 2 books under the name of Christine Keir.

Their mother, Joanna Cannan (1898–1961), sister of the poet May Cannan, wrote similar equestrian stories, but is better known for detective mysteries.

Reviews

[P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second entry into this series begins with another 'starter' detective who seems at odds with his profession. Then Flecker arrives to take charge of this flailing double murder investigation, which he solves even if the solution is, at best, just not believable. It is nicely written so three stars, but the book is filled with wrought, discontented, maladjusted, or plain unhappy people. While there are a few who seem able to cope, they are outnumbered.

[Prp · Rating 1 out of 5]

In this book the police keep jumping to conclusions like fools. At the end, we are told whodunit. DCI Flecker has clues, but the authors keep them from us poor readers.

[Alexandra Roach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josephine Pullein-Thompson is far better known for her pony stories but wrote a trio of rural murder mysteries featuring Inspector Flecker and while the setting is very similar to those of the "Golden Age" of detective fiction - Miss Marple would not be out of place in the village - the modern age is encroaching. The crime is solved by professional detectives aided by science not by gifted amateurs and there is a wonderful comment in response to the Rector's wife claim that it is a law abiding place where no one locks their doors "I wouldn't call it law-abiding... Two murders seem to me excessive when you consider the population; your crime rate will be miles above the national average". These stories would certainly fit well as "Midsomer Murders". Even in her children's books Josephine Pullein-Thompson wrote adults well and it is perhaps a pity she didn't write more for adults.

[Todayiamadaisy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second of Josephine Pullein-Thompson's DCI Flecker series, and it's a considerable step down from the first one. A pattern begins to emerge: in the early chapters, an out-of-his-depth local detective struggles with a murder investigation until Flecker and Browning are called in, and they go round and round on a particular point until the case is cracked.

In this case, a cartoonish landowner - so villainous he wants to plough up the village cricket pitch - is found shot in the woods; shortly afterwards, a German au pair meets the same fate. Flecker and Browning ask around about who had access to the village jumble sale, then solve the crimes with an abrupt and slightly silly ending.

Also, there's a racist dog.

[Squeak2017 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as enjoyable as JPT’s first mystery. The motive was weak and the characters not especially believable. One should have been arrested for wasting police time after changing his story so often as the author used him as a red herring twice over. The attempted romantic relationship was not convincing either.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spring time in Crossley and Colonel Barclay is found dead. Unfortunately it seems a children's nanny has gone missing. Is there some connection. When the local police fail to find the guilty party Scotland Yard are brought in. So Chief Inspector James Flecker investigates.
An enjoyable enough mystery to deserve three stars.

[Carol St John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Died in the Spring

This was a mystery that I didn't know how it would end. It was well written and kept me guessing the whole time. All I will say is that I did not see this ending coming.

[Kim Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Yes, this really was an enjoyable read, so much so that I read it in one sitting. Although I did find the geography of the area hard to picture it didn't detract from my enjoyment. Not only that but I didn't guess the must either!

[Aviar Savijon · Rating 5 out of 5]

They Died In The Spring

This was a most interesting and deeply involved murder mystery and death investigation. A book that needs to be read by all. I Loved it.

[Christine Koch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read with interesting characters.

[Garrett Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story goes round and round

The story goes all over the place with very little direction and very hard to get into the aim theme of the story