Who Is Simon Warwick?

Inspector Henry Tibbett Mystery #14

by Patricia Moyes

Millionaire Lord Charlton altered his will in favor of his nephew, Simon Warwick, who had been adopted by American parents when his own were killed in World War II. When Lord Charlton dies, two men claiming to be Simon Warwick turn up in London to claim the estate. Then one is found dead, and Chief Superintendent Henry Tibbett is faced with a double mystery: Who is the murderer, and who is Simon Warwick?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British Literature, Detective, Procedural

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Moyes was born in Dublin on 19 January 1923 and was educated at Overstone girls' school in Northampton. She joined the WAAF in 1939. In 1946 Peter Ustinov hired her as technical assistant on his film School for Secrets. She became his personal assistant for the next eight years. In 1960 she wrote the screenplay for the film School for Scoundrels starring Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, and Alastair Sim. She married photographer John Moyes in 1951; they divorced in 1959. She later married James Haszard, a linguist at the International Monetary Fund in The Hague. She died at her home on the island of Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands) on 2 August 2000.

Her mystery novels feature C.I.D. Inspector Henry Tibbett. One of them, Who Saw Her Die (Many Deadly Returns in the US) was nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1971. She also wrote several juveniles and short stories.

Series:
* Inspector Henry Tibbett Mystery

Reviews

[Chana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty decent British murder mystery. A rich and dying uncle decides to try to locate his nephew, who was adopted as an infant, and leave his fortune to him rather than leave the money to charity as he had previously willed. So the search is on for the nephew, 2 claimants come forward and one is murdered. So "who done it?" is the question, along with the crux of the book; who is the nephew, Simon Warwick? The answer may surprise you.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wealthy Lord Charlton decides to alter his will, leaving everything to his missing nephew whom he hasn't seen since the boy was a baby. Simon Warwick was adopted after his parents were killed in an Air Raid, and taken to America as a one-year-old. But no one knows the name of his parents, where he is now, or what his new name is. It seems almost impossible to find him, and when Lord Charlton dies before the missing heir can be found, his lawyer is stuck.

But 2 men show up, each claiming to be the missing nephew. Before the lawyer can validate the claims of either one, one of the men is dead.

Enter Chief Superintendent Henry Tibbett. He must uncover the backgrounds of both heirs, the dead man and his rival, who is now suspect number one. He thinks he has it all figured out when a jaw-dropping plot twist changes everything.

I really enjoyed this book. I probably would not have given it 5 stars because I did guess the identity of the murderer quite early, but the book is really two mysteries, the identity of the murderer, and the identity of Simon Warwick. And the the latter involved a plot twist I have never before seen in a mystery book and it may still be unique. Even if someone else has used it, I am sure that this is the first time it was ever used, and it will blow you away. Wow! Wow! Wow!

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading merrily along, until the big reveal. THAT was weird.

Two stars- written well, but really bizarre ending. I have no warm fuzzies for transvestism.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unusual ending for a book written in the 70's.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Lord Charlton's brother and sister-in-law were killed in a London bomb attack during WWII, he wanted nothing to do with his young nephew and arranged for a quiet adoption to an American soldier and his wife. Charlton had felt ill-used by his family when he was young and so, when he made his millions, he determined that none of them would benefit. For years, his will would leave everything to a foundation whose sole purpose was to dispense the funds to suitable charities with a substantial legacy for his secetary as well. Late in life when his doctor tells him that he has little time to live, he repents of his earlier behavior towards his young nephew and decides to leave everything to the young man who was born Simino Warwick. He hopes to live long enough to meet any claimants.

But who is Simon Warwick? Once the will is signed and his attorney, Ambrose Quince, has placed notices in all the important newspapers (both in England and America), Lord Charlton dies. Soon after two claimants (out of all the usual hopefuls) rise to the top. Each hold important documents that give credence to their claim--Simon Finch has letters from the attorney (not Ambrose Quince) who arranged the adoption to his parents, the Finches and the man currently known as Harold Benson has a passport made out to Simon Alexander Warwick, newborn. Quince believes Finch to be the legitimate claimant and is even more sure after a visit to America. But he still has one question that he plans to put to both men. And he decides to meet them both at the same time, in the hopes that the confrontation will help solve the issue.

The meeting never takes place. Simon Finch arrives early for the appointment and is sent by the secretary to wait in the waiting room. Harold Benson arrives and finds Finch dead. Enter Chief Superintendent Henry Tibbett who must decide not only who the murderer is but also who the victim really was. Is Simon Warwick dead and will the inheritance now (as stated under Lord Charlton's will) revert to the terms under the old will? Or is Benson really Warwick and killed in an effort to claim the inheritance? Tibbett keeps saying that Simon Warwick's identity doesn't concern him...but until he knows who Finch really was, he won't know who killed him.

This is an unusual mystery in a number of ways. Not least because there are actually two mysteries whodunnit and who was it done to. It isn't often that the identity of the corpse is in such dispute because the victim claimed to be someone that they may or may not have been. Another unusual point is Tibbett's apparent lack of concern about the identity of the victim. He does find out during the course of his investigation but it doesn't seem to be all that important to him. And, finally, the big reveal about who Simon Warwick really is. That is a first for me in all of my mystery reading. And, considering when the book was published, it is also unusual in the way it handles certain issues--issues that are very much a hot topic right now in 2023 (and, quite frankly, are not handled nearly as well by a great many in today's world). It is all made to seem very matter of fact by Tibbett and his wife It certainly would have made for an interesting point of law if Warwick had decided to follow up on the claim.

This is, I think, one of the best mysteries I have read by Moyes. An interesting mystery with an intriguing premise and I appreciated how Emmy Tibbett got involved and managed, in certain ways, to save the day. A quick read with plenty of action once the initial groundwork was laid. ★★★★ and 1/2. [not rounded up]

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.

[Jay Maxfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my fourth review of a Patricia Moyes novel. This book is well ahead of it's time with it's acceptance of issues that we now take for granted - I don't wish to say what issues as it would be a spoiler to future readers - this has elevated Patricia Moyes to a new level for me as she is an obvious advocate of issues that in 1978 would have been considered by many as difficult to stomach. The novel has her usual style of writing (similar to Agatha Christie) which flows nicely and is easy to read - her plot styles are also similar but her characters are somehow a bit more padded out than Christie's making them more realistic and memorable. She is definitely an author to read for all devoted cosy & classical crime readers. My only criticism of the novel is that the ending and final denouement came too quickly and that Moyes didn't quite play fair with her readers as some information Chief Superintendent Tibbett knew about was held back until the solution was given. Even with these faults the book is a pleasure to read - it twists and turns without losing the reader. I would give the book 8.5 out of 10 - had the book not had it's progressive ideas I would have given it 7 out of 10 as the ending definitely seems too rushed.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. It involves the search for a missing heir, a boy who was adopted in England as an infant by an American Army officer and his English wife during World War II. When he is named as the major beneficiary in his uncle's will, the race is on to claim the prize. Two main claimants appear, both with seemingly believable stories. But when one of them is murdered, who committed the crime, and why? Henry Tibbett must use all the resources at his fingertips — including the help of his wife — to come up with an answer. A very surprising answer. Highly recommended!

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freely admit it I am a British fan of both literature and mysteries. I like old-fashioned mysteries with plots. Who is Simon Warwick is a mystery with an interesting conclusion. There are two contenders both of whom in one way or another prove to be pretenders. Will the rich guy not have a relative to leave his money to? Will the members of his corporation benefit. With a murder the plot turns. Suffice it to say there is a solution, but you will have to read the book.

[Jlnpeacock Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main characters are familiar and continue to be of interest in this story. The plot is clever, and I appreciate that the author was dealing with difficult moral issues in that there is some confusion regarding the birth of some children that display both sexual components making it necessary for parents to decide on the gender of the child. The book deals with such decisions and the long term effect on individuals. It was worth the reading to view the current philosophy of 1978.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rich man dies leaving a large estate to a missing nephew. Claimants come forward. A man is murdered. The question of who is Simon Warwick plays out on several levels. A number of people stand to benefit if Warwick is dead. Has he been killed? If so, who did it? A fast read with plenty of layers.

[Calum Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

B+:

Wow. Talk about a twist I didn't see coming!!!

At 170 pages this is a compact little potboiler of a mystery, easily readable in one sitting. The plot is old-fashioned but the topics are fresh and the outlook is super progressive. A big step up from the four books preceding it and the second-best in the series after Murder Fantastical.

[David C Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inheritance case with two claimants, a group of aggrieved disinherited heirs (hence suspects), and a murder. And there’s a big twist (with contemporary relevance!) that you won’t see coming. Plus Emmy gets to play a role.

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice mystery with lots of little twist and turns to keep the story interesting

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author keeps you guessing right until the end.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some Arresting Surprises

Emmy Tibbett is such o lovely wife for Henry! Loyal, braver than she thinks, tenacious & such a dear!!! Read!

[Lyle Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery wasn't solved until the near the end of the book. I enjoyed the yarn.

[Tina Benagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

well plotted

But tired of having trans injected into everything word word word a a a a a a a a a

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as no. 6,7 or 9 in the series. The main twist was surprising .

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first Patricia Moyes book I read, many years ago, and while I love it, I would recommend others not read it until they've read other Henry Tibbett mysteries. Henry and Emmy are the stars of Moyes' body of work, but the perspective this novel is written in does not allow the reader to get to know them the way the others do. The final solution will come as a surprise to the reader, which is part of why I love it. Moyes took a page out of Agatha Christie's ground- and rule-breaking novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, but since I read this book before knowing anything of Christie's novel, I never even considered the character in question as a possibility. Also, because I'd not read anything else of hers, I somehow was under the impression that the narrator was a regular character in Moyes' books, and since I wasn't fond of him and was especially not fond of his wife, I didn't walk away with the desire to read any that came before. Moyes often used themes that were pushing the social limits of the publication date in her novels. In this case it's a subject that even today doesn't get used, and yet she must have done some serious research because it's handled well and with empathy.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who is Simon Warwick? by Patricia Moyes is the 15th book of the Inspector Henry Tibbett mystery series. At first the plot seems straightforward: a wealthy British businessman alters his will in favor of an illegitimate son he never revealed or acknowledged; then after the man's death, his executor must determine which of 2 claimants is the true heir. But the story is packed with plot twists and surprises. When Detective Superintendent Henry Tibbett of Scotland Yard is called in to investigate a death, the culprit seems obvious - so obvious that Tibbett is suspicious. And well he should be!

Although the Henry Tibbett mystery series is set decades ago (1950s-1990s) without the high-tech forensics found in recent police-procedural bestsellers, Moyes' books are always a treat to read. Henry and his wife Emma are "good people" you wish you could meet and befriend. The stories move at a good pace, with sentences are so well constructed you want to repeat and savor the words.

I would love to read them all, in order, but only a few books in the series are still available at the public library. Read them while you can!

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am fairly sure that synchronicity is in the eye of the beholder or in this case the eye of the reader. At any given time, I can find connections among the books I am reading that would probably appall the authors of those books. So take my connections between this book and A Queer and Pleasant Danger with a large grain of salt. They were published thirty years apart. However, it just feels weird to read these two books both about transgendered people within weeks of each other. This one is a novel and the other is a memoir, but there were some similiarities.

This is the fifth mystery I have read by Moyes and it is probably my favorite. The story was a bit different since I found the subject matter unexpected. I had no idea that anyone was putting transgendered characters in mainstream fiction in the 80's. I am sure that is my blind spot, but I was surprised.

Moyes writes well and I easily fall into her stories. This one was no exception.

[Panu Mäkinen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kuka on Simon Warwick? (1978) on juoneltaan yllättävän moderni teos. Tällaista olisi odottanut oikeastaan vasta 2000-luvun kirjailijoilta. Alkuasetelma on lähes kliseinen: upporikas lordi testamenttaa omaisuutensa veljenpojalleen Simon Warwickille. Lordi kuolee, ja asianajaja Ambrose Quince saa tehtäväkseen perijän tavoittamisen. Tehtävä osoittautuu odotettua hankalammaksi, ja lopulta perijäehdokkaita ilmaantuu kaksi, joista kumpikin väittää olevansa Simon Warwick. Henry Tibbett saa visaisen jutun ratkaistavakseen.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Ahead of its time

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[John Bohnert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a most unexpected ending for me. I'm so glad that Melody Mazuk gave me a big bunch of Patricia Moyes' crime fiction paperbacks.