The Complete Benbow Smith Mysteries: Fool Errant, Danger Calling, Walk with Care, and Down Under

by Patricia Wentworth

Cloak-and-dagger intrigue featuring an eccentric agent for Britain’s Foreign Office from the author of the “timelessly charming” Miss Silver mysteries (Charlotte MacLeod).   Named after three naval admirals, the enigmatic gentleman spy Benbow Collingwood Horatio Smith detests the sea and loves to indulge his beloved parrot, Ananias, all while protecting the fate of the Western world.  Fool Smith investigates the case of a young man whose new job with an odd inventor has him mired in governmental intrigue, industrial espionage, and stolen military secrets.  Danger Smith has a proposition for a former British Secret Service agent that launches him into a web of blackmail and murder—and pits him against a master of deceit and manipulation.  Walk with Smith must investigate a mysterious letter and the suspicious death of the under secretary for Foreign Affairs.  Down The disappearance of a bride-to-be sets her fiancé and agent Benbow Smith on the trail of a notorious madman who’s no stranger to kidnapping—or murder.   Every bit as entertaining as Wentworth’s long-running series featuring Maud Silver, these pre–World War II spy thrillers are taut with suspense and livened by the wit of a “first-rate storyteller” (The Daily Telegraph).

Genres: Mystery

995 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 6, 2018

About the author

Patricia Wentworth--born Dora Amy Elles--was a British crime fiction writer.

She was educated privately and at Blackheath High School in London. After the death of her first husband, George F. Dillon, in 1906, she settled in Camberley, Surrey. She married George Oliver Turnbull in 1920 and they had one daughter.

She wrote a series of 32 classic-style whodunnits featuring Miss Silver, the first of which was published in 1928, and the last in 1961, the year of her death.

Miss Silver, a retired governess-turned private detective, is sometimes compared to Jane Marple, the elderly detective created by Agatha Christie. She works closely with Scotland Yard, especially Inspector Frank Abbott and is fond of quoting the poet Tennyson.

Wentworth also wrote 34 books outside of that series.

Reviews

[Jo Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun, some tiresome

There is one very good book in this collection, two decent, and one truly silly and bad. In each case, the reader guesses what’s going to happen eventually, so there is more adventure than mystery. All of them have a romance that triumphs against all odds, with lots of “darlings” uttered. These don’t hold a candle to the Miss silver mysteries, which keep you guessing to the end. Danger Calling is the best of the bunch, leaving some guessing about identities until the end. Benbow Smith isn’t so much of a hero as an all-knowing presence. His parrot, Ananias, starts off as an quirk but quickly becomes tiresome. This is a collection to read if you really have nothing better to do.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

While these books are a fun read I would hesitate at calling them The Benbow Smith Mysteries. While he makes an appearance in each book it's the plucky hero and heroine who actually solve the crime and help catch the criminal. In fact in a couple of the books I began to wonder when Smith was going to appear. I can see why there were only the four books. They take place during the 30's and Smith is something within the Intelligence community so each book has an aura of national security but spends the books in his apartment with his pet parrot, Annainas, who sings inappropriate songs and curses in foreign languages. I think that his chatter is supposed to be either clues or foreshadowing but it doesn't seem to work.

[Diane Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I love this author!

I have read the Miss Silver's Mysteries years ago and loved them. 4 books does a miraculous find. So unique and so British and so to the point. The characters are will drawn without being excessive. The threads of the books move together to create a fine whole. The suspense is a fine line drawn tight. I can only hope there are more.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these! The middle two were best, I think, but that's mostly because of the "getting lost in caves" chapters in the fourth book.

I've read nearly all the "Miss Silver" mysteries as well ~ I'm an absolute fan of these! ~ and this little series is nearly as enjoyable.

Although Patricia Wentworth was a contemporary of Agatha Christie, I just stumbled upon her books recently, and I highly recommend them!

I've read a few of her stand alone mysteries and didn't like them as much, but these two series are great!

[C Dickerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patricia Wentworth fans: this is a winner

Full of great characters, whether naive, obnoxious or the occasional femme fatale it's an entertaining read. The suspense slowed down during an (oops, Naughty Me - almost did a spoiler!) so you'll have to find out for yourself

[Elsbeth Kwant]

Heerlijk setje Britse thrillers

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t Miss This Amazing Set!!!

One or two may seem to end abruptly-but fulfilling still-story telling at a terrific level & the last is Fantastic!!!!