Quiet Murder

G.D.H. Pringle Mystery #8

by Nancy Livingston

When the mysterious senior citizen who each year awards money to "six pious women and six men of virtuous character" is murdered, tax inspector G.D.H. Pringle begins an investigation.

Genres: Mystery

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1993

Reviews

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am beginning to feel in the holiday spirit already and so I picked up Quiet Murder from my local used bookstore purely based on the cover. It is part of a series which I have not read or even heard of before. The story is centered around the torture and murder of an old age pensioner, indeed most of the characters are old age pensioners from the same area of London. It is refreshing to read a book in which the aged are not just sitting by the fire or needing protection from the evils of the world.

There are lots of interesting elements here, references to war crimes, theft of Jewish assets during the war, fate of the elderly poor, and the interaction between Mavis and GDH Pringle. And I certainly didn’t solve the crime before the reveal. I just felt that it lacked some suspense or tension to keep the reader turning the pages. A quiet, cozy mystery with dark themes (torture, war crimes).

[Shubhi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it difficult to finish, as there were too many viewpoints and characters to follow. I felt that the story lacked the suspense and tension needed to keep the reader engaged and turning the pages.

[Johnmarilyn Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a strange, but fascinating story. Many of the characters had great issues & trials in their lives, but the ending was "wrapped up in a neat little bow" for all surviving and generally well-meaning residents of Inkerman Street.

[Barbara Cryer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really don't care for contemporary british mysteries. Too convoluted

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tightly plotted. Interesting twists. Too many characters.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Quiet Murder" is the first mystery I have read by Nancy Livingstone. G.D.H. Pringle, a retired tax inspector, takes on the challenge of solving the murder of a harmless old man living on a pension, in Pringle's own Inkerman Street neighborhood. The revelation that Ernest Clare had been tortured before he died just adds to the complexity, as did the possible tie-in with a brutal attack on a young woman in London's Southend. Mr. Pringle is urged on by his lady friend Mavia Bignell - and the details of their relationship alone make for good reading. Populated by a group of old age pensioners, "Quiet Murder" is quite a murder indeed. It's a good read.

[Dick Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been many years since I read one of her books. This one seems to be a bit darker and more violent than the previous books I read. It is not extremely violent, just more so than I would have expected. I love the interplay between Mr Pringle and Ms Bignall (sp?). The characters are wonderfully and compassionately drawn. There is a little medical hysteria which no longer exists and is a sign of the times pointing to when the books was written. I don't want to say more because I don't want to spoil anything.

[Grey853 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book hard to read. There were far too many point of view shifts and characters, none of whom I cared about. A definite thumbs down.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery is first rate, not so much because of the plot per se, but rather because of its superior ethnographic slant.