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The Division Bell Mystery
Originally published in 1932, this is the first Crime Classic novel written by an MP. And fittingly, the crime scene is within the House of Commons itself, in which a financier has been shot dead.
Entreated by the financier’s daughter, a young parliamentary private secretary turns sleuth to find the identity of the murderer – the world of politics proving itself to be domain not only of lies and intrigue, but also danger.
Wilkinson’s own political career positioned her perfectly for this accurate but also sharply satirical novel of double cross and rivalries within the seat of the British Government.
Entreated by the financier’s daughter, a young parliamentary private secretary turns sleuth to find the identity of the murderer – the world of politics proving itself to be domain not only of lies and intrigue, but also danger.
Wilkinson’s own political career positioned her perfectly for this accurate but also sharply satirical novel of double cross and rivalries within the seat of the British Government.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1932
62 people are currently reading
588 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Wilkinson
8 books8 followersEllen Cicely Wilkinson PC (8 October 1891 – 6 February 1947) was a British Labour Party politician who served as Minister of Education from July 1945 until her death. As the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jarrow, she became a national figure when, in 1936, she figured prominently in the Jarrow March of the town's unemployed to London, to petition for the right to work. Although unsuccessful at the time, the march provided an iconic image for the 1930s, and helped to form post-Second World War attitudes to unemployment and social justice.
Wilkinson was born into a poor though ambitious Manchester family, and embraced socialism at an early age. After graduating from the University of Manchester she worked for a women's suffrage organisation and later as a trade union officer. Inspired by the Russian Revolution of 1917, Wilkinson joined the British Communist Party, and preached revolutionary socialism while seeking constitutional routes to political power through the Labour Party. She was elected Labour MP for Middlesbrough East in 1924, and supported the 1926 General Strike. In the 1929–31 Labour government she served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the junior Health Minister. Following her defeat at Middlesbrough in 1931, Wilkinson became a prolific journalist and writer before returning to parliament as Jarrow's MP in 1935. She was a strong advocate for the Republican faction in the Spanish Civil War, and made several visits to the battle zones.
During the Second World War Wilkinson served in Churchill's wartime coalition as a junior minister, mainly at the Ministry of Home Security where she worked under Herbert Morrison. She supported Morrison's attempts to replace Clement Attlee as the Labour Party's leader; nevertheless, when he formed his postwar government Attlee appointed Wilkinson as Minister of Education. By this time her health was poor, the legacy of years of overwork. She saw her main task in office as the implementation of the wartime coalition's 1944 Education Act, rather than the more radical introduction of comprehensive schools favoured by many in the Labour Party. Much of her energy was applied to organising the raising of the school leaving age from 14 to 15. In the exceptionally cold English winter of 1946–47, she succumbed to a bronchial disease, and died after an overdose of medication which the coroner at her inquest declared was accidental.
(from Wikipedia)
Wilkinson was born into a poor though ambitious Manchester family, and embraced socialism at an early age. After graduating from the University of Manchester she worked for a women's suffrage organisation and later as a trade union officer. Inspired by the Russian Revolution of 1917, Wilkinson joined the British Communist Party, and preached revolutionary socialism while seeking constitutional routes to political power through the Labour Party. She was elected Labour MP for Middlesbrough East in 1924, and supported the 1926 General Strike. In the 1929–31 Labour government she served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the junior Health Minister. Following her defeat at Middlesbrough in 1931, Wilkinson became a prolific journalist and writer before returning to parliament as Jarrow's MP in 1935. She was a strong advocate for the Republican faction in the Spanish Civil War, and made several visits to the battle zones.
During the Second World War Wilkinson served in Churchill's wartime coalition as a junior minister, mainly at the Ministry of Home Security where she worked under Herbert Morrison. She supported Morrison's attempts to replace Clement Attlee as the Labour Party's leader; nevertheless, when he formed his postwar government Attlee appointed Wilkinson as Minister of Education. By this time her health was poor, the legacy of years of overwork. She saw her main task in office as the implementation of the wartime coalition's 1944 Education Act, rather than the more radical introduction of comprehensive schools favoured by many in the Labour Party. Much of her energy was applied to organising the raising of the school leaving age from 14 to 15. In the exceptionally cold English winter of 1946–47, she succumbed to a bronchial disease, and died after an overdose of medication which the coroner at her inquest declared was accidental.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
January 28, 2019
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
I was fascinated to read about the background of the author of this book: she sounds like a really interesting person, one of the first female MPs, and really dedicated to her work and her constituents. Respected across party lines, too! I was a little worried that her work was included for the novelty of the author being an actual MP writing about a mystery set in the Commons, but it’s competently done and the little personality sketches feel so real. She didn’t overwhelm the work with her actual knowledge, but she definitely used it to advantage.
The mystery itself isn’t exactly revolutionary, and her female femme-fatale style character (and the male reactions to her within the story) were so very, very typical of the period, but the ending brings in a surprisingly real note of pathos, and the setting is somewhat unique. It comes together into an enjoyable little amateur detective story, with some funny lines, some interesting details, and some surprisingly vivid thumbnail sketches of a few characters. I enjoyed it enough to rank it a cut above the sort of baseline enjoyment I’ve had with other British Library Crime Classics.
I was fascinated to read about the background of the author of this book: she sounds like a really interesting person, one of the first female MPs, and really dedicated to her work and her constituents. Respected across party lines, too! I was a little worried that her work was included for the novelty of the author being an actual MP writing about a mystery set in the Commons, but it’s competently done and the little personality sketches feel so real. She didn’t overwhelm the work with her actual knowledge, but she definitely used it to advantage.
The mystery itself isn’t exactly revolutionary, and her female femme-fatale style character (and the male reactions to her within the story) were so very, very typical of the period, but the ending brings in a surprisingly real note of pathos, and the setting is somewhat unique. It comes together into an enjoyable little amateur detective story, with some funny lines, some interesting details, and some surprisingly vivid thumbnail sketches of a few characters. I enjoyed it enough to rank it a cut above the sort of baseline enjoyment I’ve had with other British Library Crime Classics.
September 14, 2018
The best Gentlemen’s Club in England...
It’s the early 1930s. Britain’s finances haven’t yet recovered from the Great War and now the Stock Market collapse has brought matters close to crisis. So the Home Secretary has invited an American financier to a private dinner at the House of Commons to schmooze him into agreeing to make the government a substantial loan. But when the Division Bell sounds, the Home Secretary has to leave the room to go and vote. The Home Secretary’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, young Robert West, is also hurrying along the corridor to vote, but as he passes the room where the financier waits alone, he hears a shot. Rushing in with the other people in the corridor, he finds the financier dead! But no-one else is in the room, no-one left by the door after the shot was fired and there’s no other exit. Suicide is soon discounted, so how was he killed? Who killed him? And why? Robert finds himself working as a liaison with the police to find the answers...
This is a lot of fun, especially if, like me, you’re fascinated by all the quirky traditions that surround parliamentary procedures in this ancient seat of government. It was written by Ellen Wilkinson, one of the earliest women Members of Parliament, who had temporarily lost her seat. She got back into Parliament at the next election – a gain for politics, but a loss to the world of crime fiction, since this turned out to be the only crime novel she wrote. She gives an entirely authentic, affectionate, but humorously sardonic look at being a working-class woman in an institution still often referred to as the best Gentlemen’s Club in England. The female MP in the story, Grace Richards, isn’t the main character but she provides lots of opportunities for Wilkinson to mock some of the rampant sexism to which women MPs were subjected, and Martin Edwards confirms in his introduction what I suspected while reading – that Grace is a thinly-disguised version of Wilkinson herself.
The main character, however, is Robert West, an extremely likeable young man who wants to do his duty to his party and country, but is fairly easily distracted by a beautiful face. The granddaughter of the dead financier just happens to have a beautiful face, so Robert soon finds his loyalties divided when she asks him for information he should really be keeping secret. The first question the police have to resolve is: was this murder personal or was it politically motivated? But even if they find the answer to that they still won’t be able to prove anything unless they can work out how the murder was done. It’s a good example of a locked room mystery, though it’s dependent on the various investigators not trying very hard to solve it until the last chapter! The plot is pleasingly tricky without being impossible for the reader to make a good stab at guessing the culprit and motive.
The two enjoyable characters of Robert and Grace make this fun to read, especially since the victim was a mean old banker so nobody much cares that he’s dead. Even his granddaughter is pretty stoical about the whole thing. One of the reasons I love Golden Age crime is that they tended not to make the reader wallow too deeply in grief for the victims, so that one can actually enjoy the books. What makes this one stand out from the crowd, though, is the way Wilkinson manages to tell us so much about the workings of Parliament without getting heavily bogged down in politics, though she does make enough references to give the reader an informed glimpse of the various concerns of the day, economically and socially, at a time when society was changing pretty dramatically, not least for women. I found it intriguing and amusing that, although she herself was a Labour MP (hence on the left), Robert is a Conservative (on the right). She rather cheekily lets us see his opinions being swayed by fiery young socialist Grace – whose face, while not as beautiful as the victim’s granddaughter’s, is beautiful enough to trouble the susceptible Robert...
I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it not just as a good mystery, but as an entertaining way to get an insider’s account of the life of early women MPs. Wilkinson went on to play a prominent role in the Jarrow March – a piece of history that eventually fed into huge social change in Britain – so most of me is glad she resumed her political career. But a bit of me wishes she’d chucked it all up and written more books instead... 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
It’s the early 1930s. Britain’s finances haven’t yet recovered from the Great War and now the Stock Market collapse has brought matters close to crisis. So the Home Secretary has invited an American financier to a private dinner at the House of Commons to schmooze him into agreeing to make the government a substantial loan. But when the Division Bell sounds, the Home Secretary has to leave the room to go and vote. The Home Secretary’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, young Robert West, is also hurrying along the corridor to vote, but as he passes the room where the financier waits alone, he hears a shot. Rushing in with the other people in the corridor, he finds the financier dead! But no-one else is in the room, no-one left by the door after the shot was fired and there’s no other exit. Suicide is soon discounted, so how was he killed? Who killed him? And why? Robert finds himself working as a liaison with the police to find the answers...
This is a lot of fun, especially if, like me, you’re fascinated by all the quirky traditions that surround parliamentary procedures in this ancient seat of government. It was written by Ellen Wilkinson, one of the earliest women Members of Parliament, who had temporarily lost her seat. She got back into Parliament at the next election – a gain for politics, but a loss to the world of crime fiction, since this turned out to be the only crime novel she wrote. She gives an entirely authentic, affectionate, but humorously sardonic look at being a working-class woman in an institution still often referred to as the best Gentlemen’s Club in England. The female MP in the story, Grace Richards, isn’t the main character but she provides lots of opportunities for Wilkinson to mock some of the rampant sexism to which women MPs were subjected, and Martin Edwards confirms in his introduction what I suspected while reading – that Grace is a thinly-disguised version of Wilkinson herself.
The main character, however, is Robert West, an extremely likeable young man who wants to do his duty to his party and country, but is fairly easily distracted by a beautiful face. The granddaughter of the dead financier just happens to have a beautiful face, so Robert soon finds his loyalties divided when she asks him for information he should really be keeping secret. The first question the police have to resolve is: was this murder personal or was it politically motivated? But even if they find the answer to that they still won’t be able to prove anything unless they can work out how the murder was done. It’s a good example of a locked room mystery, though it’s dependent on the various investigators not trying very hard to solve it until the last chapter! The plot is pleasingly tricky without being impossible for the reader to make a good stab at guessing the culprit and motive.
The two enjoyable characters of Robert and Grace make this fun to read, especially since the victim was a mean old banker so nobody much cares that he’s dead. Even his granddaughter is pretty stoical about the whole thing. One of the reasons I love Golden Age crime is that they tended not to make the reader wallow too deeply in grief for the victims, so that one can actually enjoy the books. What makes this one stand out from the crowd, though, is the way Wilkinson manages to tell us so much about the workings of Parliament without getting heavily bogged down in politics, though she does make enough references to give the reader an informed glimpse of the various concerns of the day, economically and socially, at a time when society was changing pretty dramatically, not least for women. I found it intriguing and amusing that, although she herself was a Labour MP (hence on the left), Robert is a Conservative (on the right). She rather cheekily lets us see his opinions being swayed by fiery young socialist Grace – whose face, while not as beautiful as the victim’s granddaughter’s, is beautiful enough to trouble the susceptible Robert...
I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it not just as a good mystery, but as an entertaining way to get an insider’s account of the life of early women MPs. Wilkinson went on to play a prominent role in the Jarrow March – a piece of history that eventually fed into huge social change in Britain – so most of me is glad she resumed her political career. But a bit of me wishes she’d chucked it all up and written more books instead... 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
October 15, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced digital copy of The Division Bell Mystery by Ellen Wilkinson. This is from the British Library Crime Classic library selections and was written in 1932.
Ms. Wilkinson was one of the first women elected to parliament and this book reflects her specialized knowledge of how parliament works, the building in which it meets and other bits of information which were specific to parliament at the time. The solution to this mystery requires an understanding of some of the physical aspects of the parliament building as well as the details regarding the division bell itself. There is a learning curve to be overcome in reading this if you are not familiar with the British system of government, and more specifically of how it functioned in the 1930’s.
While the book is well written, it is also much more in the style of novels from that era, which resulted in some of the novel’s structure being cumbersome. Initially, it was difficult to get into the book, largely because of the writing style. In addition, there were some terms, referring to various individuals and their place within the government, that were not familiar to me. I’m not sure if this is because the terms have changed over time, or if it was due to a personal lack of familiarity with parliament.
Those issued resulted in the book being a slow start for me. As I became more accustomed to the author’s style as well as the terms used within the book, my reading pace and my enjoyment of the novel increased. In summary, this book is enjoyable from the standpoint of experiencing writing in this particular era. The mystery itself is an entertaining one, although early in the novel I knew as much of the “how” as I possibly could without specific knowledge of the building. Because the solution to the mystery hinges on some physical aspects of the building, the reader does not have the opportunity to put together clues to reach a solution unless they possess this specialized knowledge.
Ms. Wilkinson was one of the first women elected to parliament and this book reflects her specialized knowledge of how parliament works, the building in which it meets and other bits of information which were specific to parliament at the time. The solution to this mystery requires an understanding of some of the physical aspects of the parliament building as well as the details regarding the division bell itself. There is a learning curve to be overcome in reading this if you are not familiar with the British system of government, and more specifically of how it functioned in the 1930’s.
While the book is well written, it is also much more in the style of novels from that era, which resulted in some of the novel’s structure being cumbersome. Initially, it was difficult to get into the book, largely because of the writing style. In addition, there were some terms, referring to various individuals and their place within the government, that were not familiar to me. I’m not sure if this is because the terms have changed over time, or if it was due to a personal lack of familiarity with parliament.
Those issued resulted in the book being a slow start for me. As I became more accustomed to the author’s style as well as the terms used within the book, my reading pace and my enjoyment of the novel increased. In summary, this book is enjoyable from the standpoint of experiencing writing in this particular era. The mystery itself is an entertaining one, although early in the novel I knew as much of the “how” as I possibly could without specific knowledge of the building. Because the solution to the mystery hinges on some physical aspects of the building, the reader does not have the opportunity to put together clues to reach a solution unless they possess this specialized knowledge.
August 15, 2021
The real interest here is the social setting and the placement of the mystery in the House of Commons. The murder itself is intriguing as an international financier commits suicide - or does he? - while discussing a national loan with the Home Secretary - but there is very little investigation or development of that storyline
But the setting of 1932, the background of the Wall Street Crash, unemployment marches, and an active socialist opposition as well as early female MPs give the dry mystery plenty of pep. So read this for the window it offers on history and the well-described details of Parliament, and manage your expectations on the murder plot: 3 stars.
But the setting of 1932, the background of the Wall Street Crash, unemployment marches, and an active socialist opposition as well as early female MPs give the dry mystery plenty of pep. So read this for the window it offers on history and the well-described details of Parliament, and manage your expectations on the murder plot: 3 stars.
March 30, 2019
Considering this book was written almost 90 years ago it is surprisingly relevant to today. It was written by a serving MP at the time and all the machinations of The British Parliament are extremely well described. Those of us in The UK who have been following the machinations of Parliament over Brexit for the last couple of years will recognise a lot of the procedures.
The story itself is a bit far-fetched but most enjoyable nevertheless. An influential American financier is dining in a private dining room in The House Of Commons with the Home Secretary and discussing government loans. There is a division at 9-00 pm and The Home Secretary excuses himself for a few minutes to go to the lobby and vote. A few minutes later his PPS (secretary) hears a shot as he approaches the door and goes in to find the American shot dead having apparently committed suicide. But did he?
Thoroughly enjoyable.
The story itself is a bit far-fetched but most enjoyable nevertheless. An influential American financier is dining in a private dining room in The House Of Commons with the Home Secretary and discussing government loans. There is a division at 9-00 pm and The Home Secretary excuses himself for a few minutes to go to the lobby and vote. A few minutes later his PPS (secretary) hears a shot as he approaches the door and goes in to find the American shot dead having apparently committed suicide. But did he?
Thoroughly enjoyable.
March 12, 2019
The only interesting things about this dreary crime novel are the setting and the author. Ellen Wilkinson may have been an excellent MP but she was lacking any great talent as a crime writer. Her style is hackneyed and her characters one-dimensional. A disappointing read.
October 16, 2018
I had a really hard time getting into this mystery. Maybe that was because of the slightly detached political point of view the hero has; though that changed later on as he gets closer to the suspects. Maybe it was because of my lack of knowledge about the British legal system in general and the House of Commons in particular; however, I could see someone familiar with the day-to-day working of the House really enjoying all the minute details in the setting. The biggest drag, for me, was that it just took forever to really go anywhere. For a long time, it was just political maneuvering despite the dead body.
The political setting does add an interesting level of intrigue to the mystery. It also gives a rather believable excuse for all the secrets kept from the police. Despite that, the police's actions, on the whole, were a little unbelievable. You could tell that the author was much more familiar with politics than police investigations. Then the ending was…well I’ll just say I thought it was the weakest part of the whole story.
The biggest detractor for me was the swearing, cursing, and ‘mild’ profanity. It was used quite frequently throughout the book. Overall, I didn’t enjoy it that much.
I received this as a free ARC through NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. No favorable review was required. These are my honest opinions.
The political setting does add an interesting level of intrigue to the mystery. It also gives a rather believable excuse for all the secrets kept from the police. Despite that, the police's actions, on the whole, were a little unbelievable. You could tell that the author was much more familiar with politics than police investigations. Then the ending was…well I’ll just say I thought it was the weakest part of the whole story.
The biggest detractor for me was the swearing, cursing, and ‘mild’ profanity. It was used quite frequently throughout the book. Overall, I didn’t enjoy it that much.
I received this as a free ARC through NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. No favorable review was required. These are my honest opinions.
November 25, 2018
A gun's discharge disturbs those dining in a parliamentary dining room. They find an American capitalist who is a guest dead. At first glance, it appears a suicide, but a robbery attempt in his rooms, further investigation, and his granddaughter's insistence he would not end his own life make them suspect homicide. With no one else in the room and no way for someone to leave without being seen by the member of parliament discovering the corpse, how did the murderer get away? The room is sealed. Jenks, who had been assigned to the businessman, turns up dead in the robbery attempt. A notebook written in cipher by the American was among his effects. How did he gain possession of it? It's an interesting whodunit from the golden age of mysteries. The author, a parliamentary member, provided glimpses into the life of a member of the House of Commons. I received an advance electronic copy from the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review. (3.5 stars)
June 19, 2019
3.5 Stars
This is an interesting entry in the series from the Labour politician and writer, Ellen Wilkinson. In short, it is a most enjoyable mystery with a political edge.
Up-and-coming Conservative MP and parliamentary private secretary, Robert West, turns amateur detective when an influential financier is shot dead during a private dinner at the House of Commons. What appears at first to be a case of suicide turns out to be far more complicated than that, especially once the official investigation – led by Inspector Blackitt of the Yard – gets underway.
To read my review, please click here:
https://jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2019...
This is an interesting entry in the series from the Labour politician and writer, Ellen Wilkinson. In short, it is a most enjoyable mystery with a political edge.
Up-and-coming Conservative MP and parliamentary private secretary, Robert West, turns amateur detective when an influential financier is shot dead during a private dinner at the House of Commons. What appears at first to be a case of suicide turns out to be far more complicated than that, especially once the official investigation – led by Inspector Blackitt of the Yard – gets underway.
To read my review, please click here:
https://jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2019...
December 29, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Division Bell Mystery – it’s entertaining on several levels both from the mystery ‘locked room’ aspect and historically, socially and culturally with its insight into how Parliament worked in the 1930s and the status of women in Parliament in the inter-war years. In fact political commentary runs throughout the novel. It was a period of great social injustice, people were still struggling in the aftermath of the Great War – a period of mass unemployment with demands for both political and social change.
Ellen Wilkinson was one of the first women Labour MPs. I’ve come across her before as a fiery politician, known as ‘Red Ellen’ both for her red hair and her left-wing politics. She supported the men from Jarrow in Tyneside in 1936 as they marched from their home town to London to present a petition against the mass unemployment and extreme poverty in the north-east of England. She marched with them for part of the way and handed in their petition to the House of Commons.
She was a keen murder mystery fan and The Division Bell Mystery is her one entry into the Golden Age Detective fiction. The classic mystery was popular in the interwar years as people entertained themselves with puzzles such as the ‘locked room’ mysteries as in this book.
The main character is the Home Secretary’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, young Robert West. As a Parliamentary Private Secretary herself, Ellen Wilkinson portrays his role and political intrigue with convincing detail. There’s a financial crisis and the Home Secretary is negotiating with the American financier Georges Oissel for a loan. The Division Bell rings – a signal to MPs to cast their votes – and West is shocked to hear a gunshot as he is making his way down the corridor leading to Room J, where the Home Secretary and Oissel had been dining. On entering the room he finds the Home Secretary has left to vote and Oissel is slumped on the floor, his shirt front stained with blood and a revolver lying beside him. No one else was in the room, no one had been seen entering or leaving the room and there is no evidence of who had killed him. It falls to West to work with the police investigating his death.
It is a nicely complicated mystery but for me it is the setting and the characters that makes this book so interesting. West is the main character but I particularly liked Grace Richards, a young female MP, based on Ellen Wilkinson herself – in her preface Rachel Reeves points out the similarities between Ellen and Grace. Once I started to read The Division Bell Mystery I didn’t want to put it down – definitely a 5* read for me!
My thanks to the publishers, Poisoned Pen Press, for my review copy via NetGalley.
Ellen Wilkinson was one of the first women Labour MPs. I’ve come across her before as a fiery politician, known as ‘Red Ellen’ both for her red hair and her left-wing politics. She supported the men from Jarrow in Tyneside in 1936 as they marched from their home town to London to present a petition against the mass unemployment and extreme poverty in the north-east of England. She marched with them for part of the way and handed in their petition to the House of Commons.
She was a keen murder mystery fan and The Division Bell Mystery is her one entry into the Golden Age Detective fiction. The classic mystery was popular in the interwar years as people entertained themselves with puzzles such as the ‘locked room’ mysteries as in this book.
The main character is the Home Secretary’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, young Robert West. As a Parliamentary Private Secretary herself, Ellen Wilkinson portrays his role and political intrigue with convincing detail. There’s a financial crisis and the Home Secretary is negotiating with the American financier Georges Oissel for a loan. The Division Bell rings – a signal to MPs to cast their votes – and West is shocked to hear a gunshot as he is making his way down the corridor leading to Room J, where the Home Secretary and Oissel had been dining. On entering the room he finds the Home Secretary has left to vote and Oissel is slumped on the floor, his shirt front stained with blood and a revolver lying beside him. No one else was in the room, no one had been seen entering or leaving the room and there is no evidence of who had killed him. It falls to West to work with the police investigating his death.
It is a nicely complicated mystery but for me it is the setting and the characters that makes this book so interesting. West is the main character but I particularly liked Grace Richards, a young female MP, based on Ellen Wilkinson herself – in her preface Rachel Reeves points out the similarities between Ellen and Grace. Once I started to read The Division Bell Mystery I didn’t want to put it down – definitely a 5* read for me!
My thanks to the publishers, Poisoned Pen Press, for my review copy via NetGalley.
January 14, 2026
Ellen Wilkinson was one of England's first female MPs and gives readers an intimate look at the hallowed halls of Parliament in this, her first...and only detective novel. Her debut novel introduces Robert West, private secretary to the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, who finds himself playing amateur detective when a violent death happens during his Chief's private dinner with reclusive American financier Georges Oissel.
Initially, the death of Oissel looks like suicide. The Home Secretary (who seems to be nameless...unless I missed it somehow) had to leave his guest a bit before the division bell (a signal to Members that a vote is about to be taken). The room is virtually sealed--all windows locked and the only door under observation of a waiter preparing to bring coffee for the Home Secretary's return as well as West and his own guest who are just coming down the hallway--when a shot is heard. The three men rush to the room and find Oissel shot through the heart and a revolver on the floor nearby.
The House officers quickly arrive and a search is made, but there is no one out of the ordinary to be found. Inspector Blackitt of Scotland Yard is called in and also seems to favor suicide--at first. But Oissel's granddaughter insists that her grandfather would never kill himself. And then the Oissel's apartment is burgled and the Home Secretary's own man who had been serving as a kind of body guard is killed. And then...the evidence (lack of scorching of any sort) supports the theory of murder. But if it is murder, how did the murderer get away? West and Blackitt will have to solve the impossible crime if they're going to nab the killer.
Wilkinson does an excellent job of setting the scene. Even this Yank began to feel at home in the House of Commons--it was so well-described. It was fun to see the inner workings of the 1930s Parliament--the machinations and tricks and deals to get things done. And to realize that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." Her characters are vivid and well-defined and I think it's a shame she didn't write more mysteries, especially if they would have featured Lord Dalbreattie and West investigating again. Inspector Blackitt is given the short end of the stick, though. After showing how it couldn't be suicide and beginning to investigate, he sort of fades into the background.
She doesn't do too badly with the impossible crime either--especially given that this was her first attempt at a detective novel. One one real complaint is that I can't remember a particular thing being mentioned about the room where Oissel was killed. It's kind of important to solving the mystery. I just went back and reread all the scenes I could remember that took place in Room J (as it's known) and I couldn't find mention of it at all. So, I don't see how the reader could possibly have figured out how it was done.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Initially, the death of Oissel looks like suicide. The Home Secretary (who seems to be nameless...unless I missed it somehow) had to leave his guest a bit before the division bell (a signal to Members that a vote is about to be taken). The room is virtually sealed--all windows locked and the only door under observation of a waiter preparing to bring coffee for the Home Secretary's return as well as West and his own guest who are just coming down the hallway--when a shot is heard. The three men rush to the room and find Oissel shot through the heart and a revolver on the floor nearby.
The House officers quickly arrive and a search is made, but there is no one out of the ordinary to be found. Inspector Blackitt of Scotland Yard is called in and also seems to favor suicide--at first. But Oissel's granddaughter insists that her grandfather would never kill himself. And then the Oissel's apartment is burgled and the Home Secretary's own man who had been serving as a kind of body guard is killed. And then...the evidence (lack of scorching of any sort) supports the theory of murder. But if it is murder, how did the murderer get away? West and Blackitt will have to solve the impossible crime if they're going to nab the killer.
Wilkinson does an excellent job of setting the scene. Even this Yank began to feel at home in the House of Commons--it was so well-described. It was fun to see the inner workings of the 1930s Parliament--the machinations and tricks and deals to get things done. And to realize that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." Her characters are vivid and well-defined and I think it's a shame she didn't write more mysteries, especially if they would have featured Lord Dalbreattie and West investigating again. Inspector Blackitt is given the short end of the stick, though. After showing how it couldn't be suicide and beginning to investigate, he sort of fades into the background.
She doesn't do too badly with the impossible crime either--especially given that this was her first attempt at a detective novel. One one real complaint is that I can't remember a particular thing being mentioned about the room where Oissel was killed. It's kind of important to solving the mystery. I just went back and reread all the scenes I could remember that took place in Room J (as it's known) and I couldn't find mention of it at all. So, I don't see how the reader could possibly have figured out how it was done.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
July 21, 2021
The thing that makes 'The Division Bell Mystery', a tale of a murder in the House Of Commons in the late 1920s, worth reading is that it was written by Ellen Wilkinson, one of the first women to be an MP.
Ellen Wilkinson knew the environment and the people she was writing about very well. She was elected as a Labour MP in 1924. She was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Junior Health Minister from 1929-31 (the same role that the hero of the novel performs for the Home Secretary).
She wrote 'The Division Bell Mystery' after she lost her seat in 1931. She returned to Parliament in 1936, supported the Jarrow March and served as Minister of Education under Attlee until her death in 1947.
'The Division Bell Mystery' is a fairly average locked-room puzzle, with a plot that needs some serious suspension of disbelief and has a heavy dependence on the sexual charisma of young American heiress, whose impact on the men I found unfathomable.
What made this an interesting novel for me was the insight it provided to the Parliament of the day and the gentle wit it displayed, which I found to be far more damning than outrage would have been.
Wilkinson cast Robert West a young, up and coming, Tory MP on the lowest step of the ladder leading to Ministerial rank as the amateur detective tasked with unravelling how a guest of the Home Secretary, an American millionaire, is shot dead while alone in a private dining room in the House of Commons.
I've seen reviews of this book that have praised Ellen Wilkinson for picking a young Tory MP as the hero and refraining from scoring party political points. That's not a view I share. I think Ellen Wilkinson demonstrated very clearly how broken the House of Commons was and she also showed that our earnest young Tory had enough intelligence to know that something is out of kilter but was too much a product of the culture that dominates the House and causes the problem to be able to analyse it.
The House of Commons and the Cabinet that Wilkinson describes is an extension of the culture of Eton and Harrow. Politics is treated as a game where the aim is to make sure your side wins. You need to show your team captains that you're a Good Chap while avoiding getting into trouble with the prefects. It is so evident to everyone involved that protecting the power and reputation of your team and its leaders takes precedence over everything else that idea of pursuing and exposing the truth is an option only to be exercised if it's in the interest of your team to do so. This is what being a good chap means and Robert West is a Good Chap above all else, at least until he completely loses all perspective because an overtly sexual woman allows him to take her to lunch.
In this story, we see a known-to-be-stupid Home Secretary exceeding his brief and endorsing criminal behaviour, we see a narcissistic Prime Minister ensuring that the truth is buried in the interest of looking after the Party and his own career. We see the police and the press and a senior industrialist colluding to bring this about. And we see that, while there is some sense that the triggering incident showed regrettably bad form, the ensuing cover-up is seen as statesmanship.
I'm tempted to say that nothing has changed but that's not true. Things have gotten much worse. Our current crop of corrupt, venal, narcissistic old-Etonians no longer care about getting caught. They focus not on cover-ups but on making sure that getting caught has no consequences. As I read 'The Division Bell Mystery', I could see that even ninety years ago, we were on a path where our Prime Minister is a serial adulterer who has been fired twice from civilian jobs for lying and our Home Secretary was fired by the previous Prime Minister for trying cut a private deal with the Israelis and is such a notorious bully that the government had to make a sizeable out of court settlement to a very senior civil servant for how she treated him.
The charming thing about 'The Division Bell Mystery' is that it's not overtly didactic. The main character is a decent young man who believes Parliament is important and who wants to do the right thing. He's also the embodiment of how Party always comes first and why Parliament has become increasingly powerless in the face of Ministerial ambition.
I've picked out some quotes to demonstrate the way Ellen Wilkinson displays Rober West's thoughts.
Here's Robert reflecting on the changing status of England, impoverished after the First World War and the rising power of Financiers (Dalbeattie, an English Financier and Tory Party bigwig and Oissel, an American millionaire and Financier:
England, "which Robert through school and university had been trained to think was the centre of the universe, governing itself by its own elected Parliament. Dalbeatties and Oissels held the power now. To them and their like, whatever their nationality, England was but an incident, a set of statistics. The scope of their interests was international."
I think that analysis is in play again today with 'The Sovereign individual' ideology driving the Tory Party sponsors on a path that benefits only billionaires.
West senses that the game is changing and that he doesn't understand the new rules:
"Not for the first time did Robert West rage angrily against that public-school education which had given him no clue to this new world."
Then we get West's impression of the Tory old guard Backbenchers:
"West felt sorry for the old man, his fierce pride, and his patriotism that could only see a little island leading the world."
Finally, I offer this insight into the mentality of Robert West, a thoroughly decent up and coming Tory Party star. This is him preparing for a discussion on the murder he's investigating
"Robert felt that he must appear to be frank."
The strategy of appearing to be frank as a way of getting what you want reminded me of a common piece of advice from my days as a consultant: 'Sincerity is the most important thing. If you can fake that, the rest is easy.'
If you're looking for a strong Golden Age Mystery, this is not the book for you. If you're interesting in seeing the workings of the House in the 1920s from one of the first women MPs, a woman who was one of the leaders of the Jarrow March and who became one of Attlee's Ministers, you'll find a lot here to reflect on.
June 2, 2019
The mystery itself is quite average. A murder in a locked room (really, those are dangerous places, it seems to be much safer to be out in open spaces, possibly surrounded by your enemies…), an amateur sleuth who semi-reluctantly gets involved in the whole affair (after the victim’s very beautiful daughter asks him very nicely) and police who are only semi-bothered by said amateur meddling in their investigation.
The uniqueness of the story comes from the fact that the locked room isn’t situated in a country house but in the House of Commons. And that the book was written by an MP (and minister) who had an actual insight into the going-ons there, so the setting isn’t just some nice window-dressing, it’s an important part of the story and it feels real. And more than that: Wilkinson also had actual insights into politics itself…and a sharp tongue (feather? typewriter?) so we are treated to paragraphs like that:
Additionally, Wilkinson also had actual insights into being a woman in politics (and some idea of what men thought them):
Poor Robert…you almost feel sorry for him.
Almost.
And all of this was brilliant. But it also made it somewhat hard to read. I am going to assume that you haven’t been living under a rock and that you know what’s currently going on in (British) politics so paragraphs like this:
will make you laugh first and then depress you because this book was written in 1932 and things really haven’t changed much, have they? And that’s probably the reason it took me so long to read it. Because even a hilariously witty look at politics is still…well a look at politics and who wants to do that in their free time right now?
But really, this isn’t me saying that you shouldn’t read this book. Just…be prepared for what you’re getting yourself into? Because I picked it up in the middle of the major Brexit chaos and after watching MPs shout at each other for hours, the thought of picking up a book where MPs solve murders (and also shout occasionally) really wasn’t that appealing.
The uniqueness of the story comes from the fact that the locked room isn’t situated in a country house but in the House of Commons. And that the book was written by an MP (and minister) who had an actual insight into the going-ons there, so the setting isn’t just some nice window-dressing, it’s an important part of the story and it feels real. And more than that: Wilkinson also had actual insights into politics itself…and a sharp tongue (feather? typewriter?) so we are treated to paragraphs like that:
[h]e was always assuring himself that some time or other he would settle down and find out how the country ought to be run, and why politicians made such a mess of running it. But as a popular young bachelor he found life too interesting at any particular moment to acquire sufficient of that knowledge to be awkward to his party whips.
Additionally, Wilkinson also had actual insights into being a woman in politics (and some idea of what men thought them):
“And why should I help you?”
Robert was positively shocked. Why should she help him! What did she think women were in politics for if not to be helpful? He came from an old political family. Had one of the women of his family ever asked why she should help?
Poor Robert…you almost feel sorry for him.
“Oh Damn these modern women,” he thought desperately. If only they would be either modern or just women, but the combination of the two was really unfair on a fellow who had to deal with them!
Almost.
And all of this was brilliant. But it also made it somewhat hard to read. I am going to assume that you haven’t been living under a rock and that you know what’s currently going on in (British) politics so paragraphs like this:
I’ve often wondered, West, what it is that happens to most men – not all, of course – when they get into a Government […] I remember when a previous Government was within three days of dissolution and a smashing defeat talking to a Cabinet Minister who was calmly making plans for the following years.
will make you laugh first and then depress you because this book was written in 1932 and things really haven’t changed much, have they? And that’s probably the reason it took me so long to read it. Because even a hilariously witty look at politics is still…well a look at politics and who wants to do that in their free time right now?
But really, this isn’t me saying that you shouldn’t read this book. Just…be prepared for what you’re getting yourself into? Because I picked it up in the middle of the major Brexit chaos and after watching MPs shout at each other for hours, the thought of picking up a book where MPs solve murders (and also shout occasionally) really wasn’t that appealing.
January 9, 2025
Finally read this thing 3 years later after buying it while studying abroad in London / interning at Parliament. Thought I would read it while being so in context of the story. Did not read it. Until my great return to the great city 🇬🇧
Loved how the main character Robert West was repeatedly described as hot. Love a hot Parliament man (thinking about my hot coworker from when I interned).
Overall, pretty mid mystery (probably best she stuck to politics) - wasn’t exactly a twist, could pretty easily predict who did it. But that isn’t really what I read it for - I read it for the Parliament part, and it delivered on that front! Truly very interesting to hear about what Parliament had been like 90 years ago from an MP herself (yes, the author was an MP, and one of the first (and very few) female MPs of the time!) I really enjoyed the social commentary within the realms of the murder and Parliament, and the observations about the female experience in Parliament in the 1920s/30s. Crazy how even back then people were like - “the politicians don’t really do anything, they just fuck around, it’s all big business/oil.” Things don’t really change as much as they should over a hundred years, do they?
Also loved how the author made a side character after herself and described her as super smart and pretty. Queen behavior.
Loved how the main character Robert West was repeatedly described as hot. Love a hot Parliament man (thinking about my hot coworker from when I interned).
Overall, pretty mid mystery (probably best she stuck to politics) - wasn’t exactly a twist, could pretty easily predict who did it. But that isn’t really what I read it for - I read it for the Parliament part, and it delivered on that front! Truly very interesting to hear about what Parliament had been like 90 years ago from an MP herself (yes, the author was an MP, and one of the first (and very few) female MPs of the time!) I really enjoyed the social commentary within the realms of the murder and Parliament, and the observations about the female experience in Parliament in the 1920s/30s. Crazy how even back then people were like - “the politicians don’t really do anything, they just fuck around, it’s all big business/oil.” Things don’t really change as much as they should over a hundred years, do they?
Also loved how the author made a side character after herself and described her as super smart and pretty. Queen behavior.
November 21, 2021
An Amercian financier is shot and killed in the House of Commons while at dinner with the Home Secretary to discuss a potential loan to the government. Nobody was in the room at the time of his killing and it is initially assumed to be suicide. Robert West, a young member of Parliament, was at the door when the shot was heard and finds himself assisting the police. Ellen Wilkinson was the second female member of Parliament in England and the book contains all kinds of fascinating little details on procedures and places. A solid plot and interesting setting.
February 13, 2023
I didn't read the new reprint but an older one from 1976, that had a nice intro that gave background on the writer. The murder, which happens fairly quickly is almost a means for you to tour the House of the Commons and see the inner workings. While Robert West is the main person we follow who is secretary to the Home Office big wig allows us to see who holds what secrets and what is kept from the public. He tries to investigate to some degree- but he is too emotionally discreet to come to some kind of decision to point out a guilty party. We do however, meet others in the political theater that are more than willing to start to get down to business and point fingers. There is a final scene that brings about the answer to how the murder what done though it seems the police (yes they got it right) had a good idea of the who. Enjoyable but not engrossing in terms of a mystery. There's interesting thoughts that go through West's mind about the times- of the past and the future and who has control of what and England's place in the world- this was quite interesting. Very happy my library had a copy.
September 24, 2018
Unusually centred around a mystery in the House of Commons. The infighting and intrigue make it all the more interesting.
November 9, 2018
I do enjoy a good murder mystery and when I came across the opportunity to read and review a novel from the golden age of murder mysteries. My knowledge of authors from this period is fairly limited to the well known and still popular (Christie, Marsh and Sayers mostly) and I had not heard of Ellen Wilkinson. This is possibly because, unlike the others mentioned, she only wrote the one detective novel. She was, in fact, the first female, Labour MP in Britain and a bit of a character by all accounts. I do feel that I've been a bit remiss in not knowing more about her before now, seeing as she was a trailblazer for women, a writer, a left-wing politician and just so happens to share my birthday. Still, by the happy accident of coming across this book, I do now know a little more about her.
On to the mystery itself. It focuses on the government and parliament. The division bell of the title being the bell that is rung to signal the vote in the houses of parliament and also in this book, the murder of Georges Oissel, who had been negotiating a loan to the government. Young tory MP Robert West, who is parliamentary private secretary to the Home Secretary tries to solve the murder. Particularly as the Home Secretary is implicated by way of his being the last person to see Oissel alive. As the story progresses he finds himself drawn to the attractive granddaughter of Oissel. Although it appears that she herself might be caught up in the murder somehow.
In many ways, this book is as much a book about the way parliament works, as it is a murder mystery. There was much the reminded me of the wonderful yes minister and it's clear that it's a world that Wilkinson knows well. In many ways, it's surprising how little has changed since it was written.
I enjoyed the whole book, both the parliamentary aspect and the mystery. I have to admit that I didn't solve it, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment. I particularly liked the character of Grace Richards, who I believe was based on Wilkinson herself. I would have been interested to see how the relationship between the MP's on opposite sides of the house might have developed had there been future books.
This isn't a perfect book, there are a number of things that don't really work so well. Characters that play a large role and then vanish suddenly, others who pop up unexpectedly as though they had been there from the start. I'm not entirely convinced by the method of murder either, but perhaps this is simply because I can't really picture it from the description. Still, overall this is very enjoyable and if it is taken as a 'first' book in a series, even if there aren't any further books, then it stands up quite well. I really enjoyed it and can't help but be sad that it's an only one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
On to the mystery itself. It focuses on the government and parliament. The division bell of the title being the bell that is rung to signal the vote in the houses of parliament and also in this book, the murder of Georges Oissel, who had been negotiating a loan to the government. Young tory MP Robert West, who is parliamentary private secretary to the Home Secretary tries to solve the murder. Particularly as the Home Secretary is implicated by way of his being the last person to see Oissel alive. As the story progresses he finds himself drawn to the attractive granddaughter of Oissel. Although it appears that she herself might be caught up in the murder somehow.
In many ways, this book is as much a book about the way parliament works, as it is a murder mystery. There was much the reminded me of the wonderful yes minister and it's clear that it's a world that Wilkinson knows well. In many ways, it's surprising how little has changed since it was written.
I enjoyed the whole book, both the parliamentary aspect and the mystery. I have to admit that I didn't solve it, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment. I particularly liked the character of Grace Richards, who I believe was based on Wilkinson herself. I would have been interested to see how the relationship between the MP's on opposite sides of the house might have developed had there been future books.
This isn't a perfect book, there are a number of things that don't really work so well. Characters that play a large role and then vanish suddenly, others who pop up unexpectedly as though they had been there from the start. I'm not entirely convinced by the method of murder either, but perhaps this is simply because I can't really picture it from the description. Still, overall this is very enjoyable and if it is taken as a 'first' book in a series, even if there aren't any further books, then it stands up quite well. I really enjoyed it and can't help but be sad that it's an only one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 17, 2021
"West felt sorry for the old man, his fierce pride, and his patriotism that could only see a little island leading the world...But why would these old men whine like ladies in reduced circumstances , like genteel governesses always talking about the glories of the old families, and refuse to face the facts of the world that they are living in. They hung on to the rope, jealous that the ship should sail on new adventures." 90 years later, and the sentiment still seems pretty fair.
The most fascinating thing about this book is that it was written by a serving MP - one of the first female MPs in fact. Writing what she knew - this tells the tale of a murder during a meal in the House of Commons.
There is a lot of reality in this book (apart one hopes, from the murder!) There's a huge amount of detail of parliamentary procedures, the foibles of The House the way politicians interact with each other etc. It's a fascinating insight.
It isn't without quite a few flaws though. The first half is really gripping, the second slow and plodding. There are are too many investigators of the crime, they come and go and you wonder what happened to them. It's well-observed and probably realistic - but it doesn't always flow as a great read.
As a locked room mystery, it works well. And Wilkinson is certainly a good writer - it's a shame this is her only detective story, because I think if she honed her skills over a few more we would really have seen some gems!
The most fascinating thing about this book is that it was written by a serving MP - one of the first female MPs in fact. Writing what she knew - this tells the tale of a murder during a meal in the House of Commons.
There is a lot of reality in this book (apart one hopes, from the murder!) There's a huge amount of detail of parliamentary procedures, the foibles of The House the way politicians interact with each other etc. It's a fascinating insight.
It isn't without quite a few flaws though. The first half is really gripping, the second slow and plodding. There are are too many investigators of the crime, they come and go and you wonder what happened to them. It's well-observed and probably realistic - but it doesn't always flow as a great read.
As a locked room mystery, it works well. And Wilkinson is certainly a good writer - it's a shame this is her only detective story, because I think if she honed her skills over a few more we would really have seen some gems!
December 3, 2018
Set in the houses of Parliament in 1932, when it was also written, the Division Bell Mystery is the first mystery written by a female member of Parliament.
Someone is murdered. However, the focus is on British politics. Not being British, I had a hard time following the story. Those familiar with Parliament might enjoy the intrique. However, I didn’t think the mystery was good enough to wade through all the politics. It is more of a curiosity than a good read. 2 stars.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Someone is murdered. However, the focus is on British politics. Not being British, I had a hard time following the story. Those familiar with Parliament might enjoy the intrique. However, I didn’t think the mystery was good enough to wade through all the politics. It is more of a curiosity than a good read. 2 stars.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2022
Ellen Wilkinson takes us into the center of Parliament with this mystery written in the 1930s. And who better that one of the first women elected to the Parliament. Wilkinson was elected first in 1924 — just five years after the first woman achieved that position. She would serve a number of years including terms as parliamentary secretary for the home department — the same role she gave to her protagonist, Robert West — for none other than Winston Churchill. She eventually became Chairman of the Labour Party and minister of education.
Wilkinson created a smart amateur detective with Robert West, a 29-year-old member, who is immersed in the politics of the day as the parliamentary private secretary for the home secretary. Through his eyes, we see the inner workings and get a glimpse into the physical layout of the Houseof Commons.
West has made arrangements for his chief to have a private dinner with his old friend and American financier and director of the American Foreign Loans Corp., Georges Oissel, a somewhat mysterious character who is normally reclusive, prior to a meeting with the prime minister for a discussion of a loan to the government.
He just has time to have dinner with his friend Don Shaw before heading into chambers for a final vote in the evening ... as the two young men walk past the private dining rooms, the division bell rings and then there's a gunshot. Shocked into action, West and Shaw plunge into the room where the shot was heard and discovers Oissel, apparently having committed suicide. But what would cause him to do so?
This is a very clever mystery that provides great insight into the ins and out of Parliament and those who serve there. There's no one else who can give that picture of the scene and situation as someone who has been there. I learned a lot despite some of the little quirks in the story.
Example: West is supposedly sworn to secrecy but he seems to share what he knows to nearly everyone that he comes into contact with, and would someone this young (when did he get elected a member of Parliament?) has has much responsibility as he seems to hold?
Despite these quirks, I enjoyed this work and it is a shame that Wilkinson never return to the genre but then she has a full career serving her country. While she wrote only one mystery, it was not her only foray fiction: there was the novel Clash written in 1929. Most of her writing efforts were nonfiction, including The Terror in Germany, Why Fascism and, The Town That was Murdered, a book on the plight of the town of Jarrow, which she represented from 1935 to 1947. She died to young at the age of 55.
Wilkinson created a smart amateur detective with Robert West, a 29-year-old member, who is immersed in the politics of the day as the parliamentary private secretary for the home secretary. Through his eyes, we see the inner workings and get a glimpse into the physical layout of the Houseof Commons.
West has made arrangements for his chief to have a private dinner with his old friend and American financier and director of the American Foreign Loans Corp., Georges Oissel, a somewhat mysterious character who is normally reclusive, prior to a meeting with the prime minister for a discussion of a loan to the government.
He just has time to have dinner with his friend Don Shaw before heading into chambers for a final vote in the evening ... as the two young men walk past the private dining rooms, the division bell rings and then there's a gunshot. Shocked into action, West and Shaw plunge into the room where the shot was heard and discovers Oissel, apparently having committed suicide. But what would cause him to do so?
This is a very clever mystery that provides great insight into the ins and out of Parliament and those who serve there. There's no one else who can give that picture of the scene and situation as someone who has been there. I learned a lot despite some of the little quirks in the story.
Example: West is supposedly sworn to secrecy but he seems to share what he knows to nearly everyone that he comes into contact with, and would someone this young (when did he get elected a member of Parliament?) has has much responsibility as he seems to hold?
Despite these quirks, I enjoyed this work and it is a shame that Wilkinson never return to the genre but then she has a full career serving her country. While she wrote only one mystery, it was not her only foray fiction: there was the novel Clash written in 1929. Most of her writing efforts were nonfiction, including The Terror in Germany, Why Fascism and, The Town That was Murdered, a book on the plight of the town of Jarrow, which she represented from 1935 to 1947. She died to young at the age of 55.
August 22, 2018
This is an interesting book because it was written by one of the earliest women MPs. Seeing the House of Commons through the eyes of a woman is fascinating. It's a reasonably interesting mystery too, but I felt the characterisation could have been improved. I never really felt I got to know any of the characters or their motivations properly.
There were a few too many of them, too, which could have been judiciously pruned. Investigating MP Robert West, his friend Donald Shaw (who seems to have no purpose other than to have things explained to him), a journalist, a financier... All belonging to this clubbable world of professional and upper-class men. Despite being written by a woman, there are only three women in the story, all portrayed entirely through the eyes of men.
The other thing that bugged me was how indiscreet everyone was. I know it was a long time ago and it's fiction, but the casual carelessness of the hero and the inspector in chattily sharing information about the crime with their friends, a stray journalist, etc, was irritatingly unprofessional. I was also depressed to see the senior political figures more worried about how the crime would reflect on 'the Party' than on finding the truth. How times don't change!
There were a few too many of them, too, which could have been judiciously pruned. Investigating MP Robert West, his friend Donald Shaw (who seems to have no purpose other than to have things explained to him), a journalist, a financier... All belonging to this clubbable world of professional and upper-class men. Despite being written by a woman, there are only three women in the story, all portrayed entirely through the eyes of men.
The other thing that bugged me was how indiscreet everyone was. I know it was a long time ago and it's fiction, but the casual carelessness of the hero and the inspector in chattily sharing information about the crime with their friends, a stray journalist, etc, was irritatingly unprofessional. I was also depressed to see the senior political figures more worried about how the crime would reflect on 'the Party' than on finding the truth. How times don't change!
December 19, 2020
First published in 1932, The Division Bell Mystery is imbued with all the cosiness that can be expected from a representative of the "Golden Age of detective fiction".
But there is an extra dimension to this "locked room" mystery, which together with its impeccable writing (although some of the language is outmoded), makes it thoroughly enjoyable.
The book, written by a then former MP (Wilkinson got reelect later), is set in Parliament. This provides an interesting and intriguing insight into the politics of an era in turmoil, as well as in the bumbling workings of a House of Commons that was only just welcoming its first female members.
As we are told in the preface by Rachel Reeves MP, Wilkinson was the only female Labour MP during her first mandate. She transparently writes herself in as Grace Richards, while just as transparently turning Lady Nancy Astor (the first female MP to take her seat) into Lady Ivy Bell-Clinton.
What is particularly interesting is how contemporaneous the book feels and how familiar the concerns ascribed to the hero (Robert West MP) about a society in flux between conservative outlooks and international financial forces are. As a bonus, and despite the hero being a decent young male Tory MP, the author being a fiery woman from the left means that the foreseeable misogyny is only there to be denounced and mocked.
Wilkinson could perhaps have done more Don Shaw (West's visiting best friend) or have done away with him completely, while questions that should be asked at the beginning of the inquiry are oddly omitted. The ending feels a little abrupt too, but the plot is convincing enough and does for a thoroughly charming and easy to read novel.
But there is an extra dimension to this "locked room" mystery, which together with its impeccable writing (although some of the language is outmoded), makes it thoroughly enjoyable.
The book, written by a then former MP (Wilkinson got reelect later), is set in Parliament. This provides an interesting and intriguing insight into the politics of an era in turmoil, as well as in the bumbling workings of a House of Commons that was only just welcoming its first female members.
As we are told in the preface by Rachel Reeves MP, Wilkinson was the only female Labour MP during her first mandate. She transparently writes herself in as Grace Richards, while just as transparently turning Lady Nancy Astor (the first female MP to take her seat) into Lady Ivy Bell-Clinton.
What is particularly interesting is how contemporaneous the book feels and how familiar the concerns ascribed to the hero (Robert West MP) about a society in flux between conservative outlooks and international financial forces are. As a bonus, and despite the hero being a decent young male Tory MP, the author being a fiery woman from the left means that the foreseeable misogyny is only there to be denounced and mocked.
Wilkinson could perhaps have done more Don Shaw (West's visiting best friend) or have done away with him completely, while questions that should be asked at the beginning of the inquiry are oddly omitted. The ending feels a little abrupt too, but the plot is convincing enough and does for a thoroughly charming and easy to read novel.
September 5, 2018
This British Library Crime Classic comes along with two interesting introductions. The first by Rachel Reeves - who discusses Ellen Wilkinson's life and her career as an early female MP. And secondly a simple commentary about Politics in Golden-age Detective Fiction by Martin Edwards. The story is also one of a hundred books used in Edwards book - The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books which shows the development of Crime Fiction 1901-1950.
As others have pointed out - this crime fiction novel is much more about how Parliament functions and it's customs and rules that have to be adhered to - than the crime itself. So if you are interested in The House of Commons and it's practices/ways and how women MPs faired in pre WWII times this book is going to interest you (this is the part of the book that I enjoyed). If you are not interested in these things - the crime story within the novel, perhaps - will not keep you that entertained or even awake.
The story is centred around Robert West an MP (Conservative) and also a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary who while showing his friend Donald Shaw around the House for the first time - hears a gunshot in a private dining room - and runs in quickly with Shaw to find Georges Oissell (an international financier, a friend of the Home Secretary & somebody negotiating a loan to the Government) alone and dead with his gun nearby. Georges was the dinner guest of the Home Secretary who had just left the room to make a speech and to vote. It appears at first as if it is suicide - but as this is crime fiction - it is discovered that Georges was murdered. But how are the police to investigate such a murder in the busy precincts of The House of Commons and the exceptional busy lives of the politicians who make up the government. They call on Robert West to help with the investigation.
The whole crime investigation within the novel is fraught with holes - starting with the fact that Robert could have been a suspect himself as well as the police making such big obvious blunders in their searching/interviewing/evidence gathering & guarding of the crime scene & items of evidence techniques that even a school child probably wouldn't make! From a crime novel prospective this story clearly shows that the author was new to the genre of crime fiction and also didn't bother to edit out (by asking others to spot any inconsistencies or mistakes) any of the more sillier ideas Wilkinson had about crime & investigation techniques. The denouement is also rushed and becomes ridiculous especially as to the way the murder was committed - and even more so - how nobody had discovered it until days later - one expects that the room was searched by people in blindfolds!
However as a novel Wilkinson has portrayed parliamentary life exceptionally well (which she should have done as she had been and would be again a MP). Her characterisation of MPs lives and workloads also similarly conveys a true understanding - she adeptly fills out the characters in a way that we expect politicians to act and behave. I really enjoyed the tour of the House of Commons and getting an experienced guide to explain some of the customs of The House as well as discussing the viewpoint of woman MPs - who were probably still a novelty in the early 1930s.
I would give this book 7 out of 10 as I enjoyed the setting of the novel immensely - as a crime fiction novel I would have given it 3 or 4 out of 10.
As others have pointed out - this crime fiction novel is much more about how Parliament functions and it's customs and rules that have to be adhered to - than the crime itself. So if you are interested in The House of Commons and it's practices/ways and how women MPs faired in pre WWII times this book is going to interest you (this is the part of the book that I enjoyed). If you are not interested in these things - the crime story within the novel, perhaps - will not keep you that entertained or even awake.
The story is centred around Robert West an MP (Conservative) and also a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Secretary who while showing his friend Donald Shaw around the House for the first time - hears a gunshot in a private dining room - and runs in quickly with Shaw to find Georges Oissell (an international financier, a friend of the Home Secretary & somebody negotiating a loan to the Government) alone and dead with his gun nearby. Georges was the dinner guest of the Home Secretary who had just left the room to make a speech and to vote. It appears at first as if it is suicide - but as this is crime fiction - it is discovered that Georges was murdered. But how are the police to investigate such a murder in the busy precincts of The House of Commons and the exceptional busy lives of the politicians who make up the government. They call on Robert West to help with the investigation.
The whole crime investigation within the novel is fraught with holes - starting with the fact that Robert could have been a suspect himself as well as the police making such big obvious blunders in their searching/interviewing/evidence gathering & guarding of the crime scene & items of evidence techniques that even a school child probably wouldn't make! From a crime novel prospective this story clearly shows that the author was new to the genre of crime fiction and also didn't bother to edit out (by asking others to spot any inconsistencies or mistakes) any of the more sillier ideas Wilkinson had about crime & investigation techniques. The denouement is also rushed and becomes ridiculous especially as to the way the murder was committed - and even more so - how nobody had discovered it until days later - one expects that the room was searched by people in blindfolds!
However as a novel Wilkinson has portrayed parliamentary life exceptionally well (which she should have done as she had been and would be again a MP). Her characterisation of MPs lives and workloads also similarly conveys a true understanding - she adeptly fills out the characters in a way that we expect politicians to act and behave. I really enjoyed the tour of the House of Commons and getting an experienced guide to explain some of the customs of The House as well as discussing the viewpoint of woman MPs - who were probably still a novelty in the early 1930s.
I would give this book 7 out of 10 as I enjoyed the setting of the novel immensely - as a crime fiction novel I would have given it 3 or 4 out of 10.
January 1, 2019
Written by one of the first women elected to Parliament as a Labour MP, this novel features an attractive detective (of the opposite party!) who is tasked, along with Scotland Yard, with solving an impossible crime. An eccentric American financier is left alone in one of the private dining rooms. A shot rings out, and the closely observed door is opened. The man is dead, and there's no other entrance or exit from the room. Of course, the first thought is suicide, but his beautiful, imperious granddaughter tells the police that he would never have killed himself. And some of the forensic evidence also argues against suicide. There's also a young, charming Labour MP who may harbor tender feelings for someone on the other side of the issues. A gem of a period piece.
January 30, 2019
This is a workmanlike murder mystery, a bit dulller than it need have been, but competent. Its real interest, however, is in its depiction of parliamentary life, which is startlingly relevant to today in places. As some one who was once involved in local politics, I found its depicting of the House of Commons as a club both convincing and alarming. I think this comes about from the freshness of observation of one of first women MPs. Although I've never liked Edwina Currie, I enjoyed '
A Parliamentary Affair', written aver fifty years later, interesting for the same reason.
A Parliamentary Affair', written aver fifty years later, interesting for the same reason.
February 22, 2019
As golden age detective fiction this is definitely second-tier but good, lively fun. Above all it’s a real curiosity piece. The solution is disappointing but is made up for by the atmosphere of 1930s Parliament and political culture. I wanted (much) more of this - allusions abound to the tumult going on in the Depression-era society outside the House, and there are prescient hints about how this may (eventually) come to revolutionise politics inside. Odd that a Labour heroine should set her story in the broadly sympathetic surrounds of a Tory government but a PPS is an excellent choice as hero/sleuth
September 28, 2020
This is a lively and well-written mystery taking place in the British Parliament of the mid-1930s (and written by an ex-MP herself!). It's as much an homage to the Parliamentary quarters as it is a mystery. The solution to the murder is certainly far-fetched and not too credible, but it fits with the tone set throughout.
June 2, 2020
3.5 stars
May 26, 2025
Some interesting details about the ins-and-outs of the interwar Parliament but I struggled to care about any of the characters.
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