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Inspector Harry Charlton #13
There Was a Crooked Man
Detective-Inspector Peter Bradfield investigates the murder of Charlie Keldrick, a local woodworker and handyman
- GenresMystery
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1960
About the author
Clifford Witting
39 books15 followersClifford Witting (1907-68) was an English writer who was educated at Eltham College, London, between 1916 and 1924.
During World War II he served as a bombardier in the Royal Artillery, 1942-44, and as a Warrant Officer in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 1944-46.
He married Ellen Marjorie Steward in 1934 and they had one daughter. Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked as a clerk in Lloyds bank from 1924 to 1942. He was Honorary Editor of The Old Elthamian magazine, London. from 1947 up to his death.
His first novel 'Murder in Blue' was published in 1937 and his series characters were Sergeant (later Inspector) Peter Bradford and Inspector Harry Charlton. Unusually, he didn’t join The Detection Club until 1958 by which time he had written 12 detective novels.
In their 'A Catalogue of Crime', Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor stated, 'Witting started feebly, improved to a point of high competence, and has since shown a marked capacity for character and situation, with uneven success in keeping up the detective interest.'
On the gadetection website it reports, 'Why is Witting so obscure? His detection is genuinely engrossing, and his style is witty, if occasionally facetious. He could do setting very well—Army life in Subject: Murder. His books have the genuine whodunit pull. He can brilliantly misdirect the reader (Midsummer Murder) or invent a genuinely clever and simple murder method (Dead on Time).
'He experimented with form: the surprise victim (whowillbedunin?) of Measure for Murder, or, weak as it is otherwise is, the riff on the inverted detective story in Michaelmas Goose. In short, he always has something to offer the reader, and found original ideas within the conventions of the formal detective story.
'And yet he’s barely known—no entry in 20th Crime and Mystery Writers, and only a passing reference in the Oxford guide. Only treated in detail in Cooper and Pike, and in Barzun.'
During World War II he served as a bombardier in the Royal Artillery, 1942-44, and as a Warrant Officer in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 1944-46.
He married Ellen Marjorie Steward in 1934 and they had one daughter. Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked as a clerk in Lloyds bank from 1924 to 1942. He was Honorary Editor of The Old Elthamian magazine, London. from 1947 up to his death.
His first novel 'Murder in Blue' was published in 1937 and his series characters were Sergeant (later Inspector) Peter Bradford and Inspector Harry Charlton. Unusually, he didn’t join The Detection Club until 1958 by which time he had written 12 detective novels.
In their 'A Catalogue of Crime', Jacques Barzun and Wendell Hertig Taylor stated, 'Witting started feebly, improved to a point of high competence, and has since shown a marked capacity for character and situation, with uneven success in keeping up the detective interest.'
On the gadetection website it reports, 'Why is Witting so obscure? His detection is genuinely engrossing, and his style is witty, if occasionally facetious. He could do setting very well—Army life in Subject: Murder. His books have the genuine whodunit pull. He can brilliantly misdirect the reader (Midsummer Murder) or invent a genuinely clever and simple murder method (Dead on Time).
'He experimented with form: the surprise victim (whowillbedunin?) of Measure for Murder, or, weak as it is otherwise is, the riff on the inverted detective story in Michaelmas Goose. In short, he always has something to offer the reader, and found original ideas within the conventions of the formal detective story.
'And yet he’s barely known—no entry in 20th Crime and Mystery Writers, and only a passing reference in the Oxford guide. Only treated in detail in Cooper and Pike, and in Barzun.'
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 29, 2020
Would say this is more a 3 1/2 star. This is a shorter book, 214 pages. We start the story on the "night" of the murder seeing a number of people who will be involved in the investigation. One who is a loud mouth and not such a good hider and another one would think was obvious to identify but doesn't get identified until later. Then there is the victim who is a man of many colors! Just when you think you know what kind of person he is- things change.
Insp. Bradford leads the investigation, and there are various other police (of various ranks) that get involved as well- but you don't get lost in all the names. This impressed me a lot as this is not always the case. A more irksome writing pastiche, is the "phonetic" dialogue for the "locals" who have a thick English accent. But I can't tell you which one it is. I find this really just slows things down. And at times, I can't figure out what is being said without reading twice.
The uptick is that the story which has a slightly slow start, forms well at the middle and moves as Bradford unravel clues and get information- The end was satisfying.
This was written in the 1960's according to this book- feels like it too with fashion and language. Will see about finding other stories by this author, who I think may have some reprints of work created, or will.
Insp. Bradford leads the investigation, and there are various other police (of various ranks) that get involved as well- but you don't get lost in all the names. This impressed me a lot as this is not always the case. A more irksome writing pastiche, is the "phonetic" dialogue for the "locals" who have a thick English accent. But I can't tell you which one it is. I find this really just slows things down. And at times, I can't figure out what is being said without reading twice.
The uptick is that the story which has a slightly slow start, forms well at the middle and moves as Bradford unravel clues and get information- The end was satisfying.
This was written in the 1960's according to this book- feels like it too with fashion and language. Will see about finding other stories by this author, who I think may have some reprints of work created, or will.
August 7, 2021
A police procedural from 1960, centered around the murder of "Crooked Charlie" Kendrick. Not only does the handyman live in unexpectedly luxurious surroundings, it seems that on the night of the murder he was expecting several visits from people he had summoned with the promise of a good story and/or financial benefits. The police have to sort through the victim's double life, as well as the comings and goings in the lanes around the property where Charlie was murdered. The solution to the mystery is not totally fair to the reader, but it was an enjoyable book, nevertheless.
August 15, 2019
Very enjoyable read. Full review at classicmystery.blog
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews