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Inspector Pel #1
Death Set to Music
Deep in the Burgundy countryside, a murder case is perplexing Inspector Pel. The body was found in the salon, an elegant room with a grand piano and a Louis XIV escritoire. The shutters were still closed and the dead end of a record of Rigoletto was still turning.
There are some obvious suspects, yet the clothes of none of them show any signs of blood. And what were the tensions that must have torn at this family? It’s only when a second murder takes place that the method of the first becomes startlingly clear.
Moody, sharp-tongued and worrying constantly about his health, Inspector Evariste Clovis Désiré Pel ensures that no case goes unsolved, in these mordantly witty French mysteries.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1979
About the author
Mark Hebden
50 books6 followersMark Hebden is the pseudonymn of John Harris, who is well-known for a series of best-selling adventure stories. He wrote 35 books under his own name, 27 under the name of Mark Hebden and a further 10, mostly of a military nature, under the pseudonymn of Max Hennessy.
He was born in Yorkshire in 1916 to Mr and Mrs E J Harris who had The Stag Inn at Herringthorpe. He attended Rotherham Grammar School and after leaving there became a reporter on the Rotherham Advertiser before moving on to the Sheffield Telegraph. He also did some freelance work with a colleage in Cornwall and at various times worked as a cartoonist, travel courier and history teacher.
In World War II he served as a corporal in the RAF and was seconded to the South African Air Force. Indeed, it was said that he served two navies and two air forces during the course of the war!
He returned to the Sheffield Telegraph after the war where he as a political and comedy cartoonist and he remained with the paper until the mid-1950s.
On 31 January 1947 he married Betty Wragg at St Michael & All Angels Church, Northfield, Rotherham. The couple had a son, Max, in 1950 and a daughter, Juliet, in 1950.
He had his first novel, 'The Lonely Voyage' published in 1951 but it was in 1954 that he really came to the fore when his 1953 novel 'The Sea Shall Not Have Them' was made into a successful film. Thereafter he turned full-time to writing novels.
He wrote his first novel under the pseudonymn Mark Hebden, 'What Changed Charlie Farthing', in 1965 and his first novel featuring his French detective Chief Inspector Pel, 'Pel and the Faceless Corpse', was published in 1979. His daughter Juliet was to continue the Pel series after his death under the pen-name Juliet Hebden.
The family moved to West Wittering, near Chichester in Sussex in 1955 and he continued to write his novels from there.
He died on 7 March 1991 with his last book, 'Pel and the Sepulchre Job' being published posthumously in 1992.
The protrait accompanying this article is a cartoon self-portrait.
He was born in Yorkshire in 1916 to Mr and Mrs E J Harris who had The Stag Inn at Herringthorpe. He attended Rotherham Grammar School and after leaving there became a reporter on the Rotherham Advertiser before moving on to the Sheffield Telegraph. He also did some freelance work with a colleage in Cornwall and at various times worked as a cartoonist, travel courier and history teacher.
In World War II he served as a corporal in the RAF and was seconded to the South African Air Force. Indeed, it was said that he served two navies and two air forces during the course of the war!
He returned to the Sheffield Telegraph after the war where he as a political and comedy cartoonist and he remained with the paper until the mid-1950s.
On 31 January 1947 he married Betty Wragg at St Michael & All Angels Church, Northfield, Rotherham. The couple had a son, Max, in 1950 and a daughter, Juliet, in 1950.
He had his first novel, 'The Lonely Voyage' published in 1951 but it was in 1954 that he really came to the fore when his 1953 novel 'The Sea Shall Not Have Them' was made into a successful film. Thereafter he turned full-time to writing novels.
He wrote his first novel under the pseudonymn Mark Hebden, 'What Changed Charlie Farthing', in 1965 and his first novel featuring his French detective Chief Inspector Pel, 'Pel and the Faceless Corpse', was published in 1979. His daughter Juliet was to continue the Pel series after his death under the pen-name Juliet Hebden.
The family moved to West Wittering, near Chichester in Sussex in 1955 and he continued to write his novels from there.
He died on 7 March 1991 with his last book, 'Pel and the Sepulchre Job' being published posthumously in 1992.
The protrait accompanying this article is a cartoon self-portrait.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 20, 2019
This is a new edition of the first Inspector Pel mystery, first published in 1979. The series is set in Burgandy, France, and features the chain smoking, grumpy Inspector Evariste Clovis Désiré Pel. This feels very much like a first book; introducing the characters and setting. So you have Pel himself, with his loyal assistant, Sergeant Darcy, and his bullying housekeeper, who seems to spend most of her time, loudly, watching television. As I am no lover of television myself, and find it really intrusive, I sympathised with him very much over this!
Pel is called to investigate the murder of Madame Chenandier, who made much of the fact she once sang in the chorus and was beautiful. She lived with her husband, a wine exporter, who was away on business at the time, her housekeeper, and her lonely daughter, Odile, who lacked her mother’s confidence and self esteem.
The mystery is a fairly gentle one. Pel uncovers the clues and interviews the witnesses; including the ne’er do well brother, neighbours and relatives, to discover who is guilty. The joy is in the characters and setting. You realise that Pel is not quite as fearsome as he pretends – especially once he befriends the housekeepers nephew. Despite his temper, he obviously is not the master of his own house and enjoys the small victories he gains in life. I look forward to reading more of Pel’s adventures. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Pel is called to investigate the murder of Madame Chenandier, who made much of the fact she once sang in the chorus and was beautiful. She lived with her husband, a wine exporter, who was away on business at the time, her housekeeper, and her lonely daughter, Odile, who lacked her mother’s confidence and self esteem.
The mystery is a fairly gentle one. Pel uncovers the clues and interviews the witnesses; including the ne’er do well brother, neighbours and relatives, to discover who is guilty. The joy is in the characters and setting. You realise that Pel is not quite as fearsome as he pretends – especially once he befriends the housekeepers nephew. Despite his temper, he obviously is not the master of his own house and enjoys the small victories he gains in life. I look forward to reading more of Pel’s adventures. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
December 16, 2019
This first Inspector Pel mystery was originally published in 1979 and has now been republished by Farrago, an imprint of Duckworth Books, UK, who gave me the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy through NetGalley. Once again, I thank Farrago for introducing me to some great detective fiction of the past.
In this intriguing police procedural set in France, Inspector Pel is called in to investigate the bludgeoning death of a woman in her country home. There are a slew of possibilities for 'whodunit' but the most obvious suspects seem to all have alibis. Step by step, Inspector Pel and Sergeant Darcy dig through the lies and secrets to get to the truth.
This crew of police investigators are interesting characters and their interactions are often quite humorous. This is a fun, quick read.
Written forty years ago, the reader may notice some gender stereotyping and misogyny that wouldn't be accepted today but, taken for what it is and the time in which the story is set, this doesn't detract much from the total enjoyment of the mystery.
In this intriguing police procedural set in France, Inspector Pel is called in to investigate the bludgeoning death of a woman in her country home. There are a slew of possibilities for 'whodunit' but the most obvious suspects seem to all have alibis. Step by step, Inspector Pel and Sergeant Darcy dig through the lies and secrets to get to the truth.
This crew of police investigators are interesting characters and their interactions are often quite humorous. This is a fun, quick read.
Written forty years ago, the reader may notice some gender stereotyping and misogyny that wouldn't be accepted today but, taken for what it is and the time in which the story is set, this doesn't detract much from the total enjoyment of the mystery.
October 12, 2019
I enjoyed Death Set To Music. Written in 1979, this is the first of the Inspector Pel series (and the first that I have read); it is a decent police procedural with some amusing aspects which is very well written.
Pel is an Inspector in the French Police, based in Burgundy. He is a grumpy, rather misanthropic hypochondriac, but a very good detective. Here he and his team investigate the gruesome murder of a fairly wealthy woman and the story unfolds slowly (rather too slowly at times) as Pel’s well-drawn officers diligently pursue leads. It can drag a bit, but it isn’t too long, it was well written and had enough humour to keep me interested. The denouement was a little contrived but it didn’t spoil the book and I found the whole thing an enjoyable read.
I can’t say that this is a classic, but it’s certainly good enough for me to read more of Inspector Pel and I can recommend it.
(My thanks to Farrago for an ARC via NetGalley.)
Pel is an Inspector in the French Police, based in Burgundy. He is a grumpy, rather misanthropic hypochondriac, but a very good detective. Here he and his team investigate the gruesome murder of a fairly wealthy woman and the story unfolds slowly (rather too slowly at times) as Pel’s well-drawn officers diligently pursue leads. It can drag a bit, but it isn’t too long, it was well written and had enough humour to keep me interested. The denouement was a little contrived but it didn’t spoil the book and I found the whole thing an enjoyable read.
I can’t say that this is a classic, but it’s certainly good enough for me to read more of Inspector Pel and I can recommend it.
(My thanks to Farrago for an ARC via NetGalley.)
June 1, 2020
This book was something that caught my eye solely because of the time and place where the story took place. It is based in France in the 1970s. The copy I read is a reprint, and I am glad I got a chance to read it. Inspector Pel is an intriguing character, short and brusque with his subordinates. He nonetheless has his lighter moments. He is almost scared of offending his landlady and is happy for some people on his team when things go well making him a study of contradictions.
The story is quite straightforward. A woman is found dead with music playing in the background. Even the mildest digging brings out the dirty laundries of all the key players, and nothing (by the end) will end up surprising us. This is a proper police procedural with a painstaking investigation into every avenue available. We are kept updated about all the findings, the guesses and all the interactions between the suspects (which includes almost everyone). The second in command is also an interesting caricature, a man who has a way with women, immune to the harshness of his superior as well as being someone who takes different roles in the team hierarchies based on the mood of the exact situation. Pel is not a very complex character or stand out in any extraordinary way except for his inner reflections which are quite heavy and even mildly melodramatic. Despite this (or maybe because of it), he was someone I found very realistic and therefore enjoyed reading this. It is a quick read, and I might pick the next one up given a choice.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based only on my reading experience.
The story is quite straightforward. A woman is found dead with music playing in the background. Even the mildest digging brings out the dirty laundries of all the key players, and nothing (by the end) will end up surprising us. This is a proper police procedural with a painstaking investigation into every avenue available. We are kept updated about all the findings, the guesses and all the interactions between the suspects (which includes almost everyone). The second in command is also an interesting caricature, a man who has a way with women, immune to the harshness of his superior as well as being someone who takes different roles in the team hierarchies based on the mood of the exact situation. Pel is not a very complex character or stand out in any extraordinary way except for his inner reflections which are quite heavy and even mildly melodramatic. Despite this (or maybe because of it), he was someone I found very realistic and therefore enjoyed reading this. It is a quick read, and I might pick the next one up given a choice.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based only on my reading experience.
July 30, 2023
Poor Insp. Pel — he's just sure he will die of cancer because of the cigarettes he can't seem to stop smoking, going to get indigestion from something he ate or drank, and his housekeeper appears to be hooked on watching anything and everything on his TV with the volume turned up high.
But one thing going for him is his detective skills and the subordinates (who he never seems to appreciate) who work with him. And he needs all the help he can get when one investigation bogs down and a new one of a woman who is bludgeoned in her own home. The first has no suspects and the other has a lot of them, from the woman's neighbors and gardener to her husband, daughter and housekeeper.
And to add to his woes, he also has a commissioner who keeps after him, demanding to know how the investigations are going and why they are taking so long. What's an inspector to do? Its enough to drive Pel to drink but he's already doing that with fear that that will lead to an early death along with the cigarettes.
It takes a while to get into the story and into the personality of this rather moody, sharp-tongued worry-wart of a detective but once the reader does, there's some subtle humor going on as the detectives struggle for clues, motive and means, but together they manage to solve both murders, surprising themselves in the result. Its a fun, good read and Death Set to Music is a great new story — and series — discovery.
But one thing going for him is his detective skills and the subordinates (who he never seems to appreciate) who work with him. And he needs all the help he can get when one investigation bogs down and a new one of a woman who is bludgeoned in her own home. The first has no suspects and the other has a lot of them, from the woman's neighbors and gardener to her husband, daughter and housekeeper.
And to add to his woes, he also has a commissioner who keeps after him, demanding to know how the investigations are going and why they are taking so long. What's an inspector to do? Its enough to drive Pel to drink but he's already doing that with fear that that will lead to an early death along with the cigarettes.
It takes a while to get into the story and into the personality of this rather moody, sharp-tongued worry-wart of a detective but once the reader does, there's some subtle humor going on as the detectives struggle for clues, motive and means, but together they manage to solve both murders, surprising themselves in the result. Its a fun, good read and Death Set to Music is a great new story — and series — discovery.
November 11, 2019
A book and an author that makes so many references in his first novel about Maigret is going to be finally judged by that standard and come up short.
Chief Inspector Pel is no Maigret and Mark Hebden is no Georges Simenon. Apples and Pears.
Hopefully, as the series progresses this preoccupation will fade, and more focus can be brought to his own creation. Pel is observant and methodical; slow to form opinions and quick to delegate. His junior detectives are interesting and enough has been revealed to indicate these books will appeal to followers of police procedurals.
The plot is clever and well balanced with the reader being able to assemble the clues and become involved in the crime drama / murder mystery.
Unfortunately, my review loses another star due to the treatment of women in the book and the view of the male protagonists towards the female characters. There seems to be a sexual context to most encounters and some repressed sexual tension. To the point where you wonder if the author has a low opinion of women bordering on misogamy.
I love that these are books written in a less contemporary time, this first one originally published in 1979. It is good to have another detective series based in France and Burgundy is an interesting location.
Pel is an interesting detective. A bachelor, struggling with a dominating housekeeper. A borderline hypochondriac who beats himself up when he smiles or drinks too much alcohol. Enough to want to spend time in his company providing we lose Maigret as a benchmark and more seriously write less openly about women as sex objects.
Chief Inspector Pel is no Maigret and Mark Hebden is no Georges Simenon. Apples and Pears.
Hopefully, as the series progresses this preoccupation will fade, and more focus can be brought to his own creation. Pel is observant and methodical; slow to form opinions and quick to delegate. His junior detectives are interesting and enough has been revealed to indicate these books will appeal to followers of police procedurals.
The plot is clever and well balanced with the reader being able to assemble the clues and become involved in the crime drama / murder mystery.
Unfortunately, my review loses another star due to the treatment of women in the book and the view of the male protagonists towards the female characters. There seems to be a sexual context to most encounters and some repressed sexual tension. To the point where you wonder if the author has a low opinion of women bordering on misogamy.
I love that these are books written in a less contemporary time, this first one originally published in 1979. It is good to have another detective series based in France and Burgundy is an interesting location.
Pel is an interesting detective. A bachelor, struggling with a dominating housekeeper. A borderline hypochondriac who beats himself up when he smiles or drinks too much alcohol. Enough to want to spend time in his company providing we lose Maigret as a benchmark and more seriously write less openly about women as sex objects.
Want to Read
May 29, 2020Farago Books 99
April 2, 2025
I found a new favorite European detective (sorry Poirot)!!! I love the moody silliness of Inspector Pel. I found this book in a thrift store, and I hope I can find more.
April 27, 2024
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the other 17 in the series.
December 11, 2014
Also published as "Pel and the Parked Car"
PROTAGONIST: Inspector Pel
SETTING: Burgundy, France
SERIES: #1 of 17
RATING: 4.0
WHY: Mme Chenandier has been murdered. The suspects are plentiful, including various members of the household staff, her lover, her philandering husband and her strange daughter. The investigation is led by Inspector Evariste Clovis Desire Pel, an intriguing character who is grumpy, sarcastic, worried about his health (but not enough to really do something about it). He is assisted by the charming unflappable Darcy and a new guy lacking confidence, Nosjean. I'm looking forward to further adventures with this crew. I found the book to be delightful.
PROTAGONIST: Inspector Pel
SETTING: Burgundy, France
SERIES: #1 of 17
RATING: 4.0
WHY: Mme Chenandier has been murdered. The suspects are plentiful, including various members of the household staff, her lover, her philandering husband and her strange daughter. The investigation is led by Inspector Evariste Clovis Desire Pel, an intriguing character who is grumpy, sarcastic, worried about his health (but not enough to really do something about it). He is assisted by the charming unflappable Darcy and a new guy lacking confidence, Nosjean. I'm looking forward to further adventures with this crew. I found the book to be delightful.
February 26, 2013
To be fair, I'd probably give this 2 1/2. It takes place in Dijon, in France, and has an interesting Police Inspector/protagonist. I like his description. He is happiest when he is convinced he is going to die soon. I liked his friendship with a young boy and the fact that he is bullied by his housekeeper. But, ultimately,I was disappointed by the classic puzzle mystery and not that interested in the characters beyond the inspector so I'll be passing on others in the series.
November 9, 2015
Three and a half stars.
Slow to start with and I didn't think I was going to like it but it improved as I got further into it.
Not bad but Maigret needn't worry : Pel won't be knocking him off the top French spot.
Slow to start with and I didn't think I was going to like it but it improved as I got further into it.
Not bad but Maigret needn't worry : Pel won't be knocking him off the top French spot.
October 15, 2022
I'm a big fan of Max Hennessy's military fiction books so I grabbed this one immediately when I found out he also wrote detective stories. This was written under a pen name. Unfortunately the writing is very awkward. The pace is very slow, Hennessy uses dialog to move the story along and the characters aren't very interesting at all. There just isn't a lot of life in the writing. I dnf'd this at 20%.
Spoilers ahead:
A stay at home wife is found dead in the suburbs. Pel and his assistant Darcy go over to investigate. The first 20% of the book is spent at the scene of the crime and interviewing a lot of people. The dialog is poorly written and grammatically bad (don't know if it's supposed to mimic Frenchmen speaking English). The questions seem rude, inappropriate and ill fitting. The characters' actions seem preemptory, abrupt and unrealistic.
Anyway, I could have slogged through the entire book but I didn't get any pleasure from the first 20% I didn't think I would for the next 80% either.
Spoilers ahead:
A stay at home wife is found dead in the suburbs. Pel and his assistant Darcy go over to investigate. The first 20% of the book is spent at the scene of the crime and interviewing a lot of people. The dialog is poorly written and grammatically bad (don't know if it's supposed to mimic Frenchmen speaking English). The questions seem rude, inappropriate and ill fitting. The characters' actions seem preemptory, abrupt and unrealistic.
Anyway, I could have slogged through the entire book but I didn't get any pleasure from the first 20% I didn't think I would for the next 80% either.
November 25, 2019
A somewhat tedious murder mystery with dated characters and social conventions. I looked up the copyright date this evening before finishing the book and wasn't surprised to find it was published in 1979. In other series or dramatizations, unhappy or bad tempered main characters are treated in a way that makes us like them or quite interested in them. Hebden/Harris' Inspector Pel isn't rendered in a way that engages me. The stereotypes about some of the other police officers such as Sergeant Darcy, the ladies' man, are repetitive and also didn't serve to make me want to know more about them. I didn't have a sense of a single well rounded character among the cast of people involved in the murder either.
I would give the book 2-1/2 stars for at least keeping me interested in who had perpetrated the grisly murder, the only reason I read to completion.
I would give the book 2-1/2 stars for at least keeping me interested in who had perpetrated the grisly murder, the only reason I read to completion.
November 5, 2019
2.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this copy in exchange for an honest review
Inspector Pel is a peculiar kind of man fixated on how anything could potentially lead to his death. In this book he takes us through his investigation of a murder.
I was intrigued and wanted to know who had committed the crime and how they'd done it, the story kept me distrusting my theories which is always good in a mystery novel.
However, the pace of this book felt odd, at times it felt dragging but at the same time it seemed like it kept skipping things, which made it hard to connect with the story. I also found it hard to connect with any of the characters. Overall I think it lacked depth and development to keep me involved in the plot.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this copy in exchange for an honest review
Inspector Pel is a peculiar kind of man fixated on how anything could potentially lead to his death. In this book he takes us through his investigation of a murder.
I was intrigued and wanted to know who had committed the crime and how they'd done it, the story kept me distrusting my theories which is always good in a mystery novel.
However, the pace of this book felt odd, at times it felt dragging but at the same time it seemed like it kept skipping things, which made it hard to connect with the story. I also found it hard to connect with any of the characters. Overall I think it lacked depth and development to keep me involved in the plot.
June 7, 2021
A random purchase I really enjoyed this 1st outing for the grumpy chain smoking hypochondriac Pel. Perhaps he struck a chord! Lots of very dry humour and French mores with each of the main protagonists having their own foibles.
I dislike the term ‘procedural’ but it was like a slow jigsaw for Pel or perhaps a slow dance to the title ‘music’ which was most enjoyable and great fun.
Looking forward to my next meeting...
I dislike the term ‘procedural’ but it was like a slow jigsaw for Pel or perhaps a slow dance to the title ‘music’ which was most enjoyable and great fun.
Looking forward to my next meeting...
November 9, 2021
At about a quarter of the way through, this wasn't holding my interest. The characters were not particularly likeable and the mystery was just not engaging. Also, the formatting was weird on my kindle -- I couldn't set the print style to my preferred settings. Possibly that's because I got it as a free book from somewhere other than Amazon. Anyway, a DNF for me.
May 12, 2021
I liked spending time with Inspector Pel
I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading some more inspector Pel stories. It bounds along at a good pace, and although I worked out who the killer was and how he'd done it. The conclusion was still enjoyable.
I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading some more inspector Pel stories. It bounds along at a good pace, and although I worked out who the killer was and how he'd done it. The conclusion was still enjoyable.
August 20, 2021
Enjoyable, but no more - a cosy police procedural set in Burgundy. A new series to me, although dating back to 1979. I got this free via Farrago’s Facebook page. OK but there are too many better books on my to-read pile to justify adding more from this series.
January 5, 2022
Good local detail, Burgundy, but the murder itself was only of minimal interest. Nevertheless, Pel, the irascible, grumpy detective, and his subordinates are engaging enough to warrant trying the next book in the series.
December 5, 2019
Barely ok.
April 1, 2020
I keep trying new things. I liked Inspector Pei, but the plot didn't grab me.
October 13, 2020
Excellent mystery
This has the atmosphere and the personalities that engage you. Inspector Pel has the quirks and foibles of the best detective genre.
This has the atmosphere and the personalities that engage you. Inspector Pel has the quirks and foibles of the best detective genre.
July 24, 2021
An enjoyable introduction to Inspector Pel. I'm looking forward to reading more of the series.
January 17, 2022
I've lost patience with Pel ! Why doesn't he get rid of that infuriating housekeeper.
Not inclined to read anymore Pel books.
Not inclined to read anymore Pel books.
Read
November 12, 2024Too dated, too sexist, too French for me! Oh well. It said it was "witty and delightful".
January 7, 2025
Too boring and annoying
January 25, 2024
Book 117 - Mark Hebden - Death Set to Music
With this book I finish a run of 10 free eBooks. Mostly good…some very good…this one…clever…witty…Film Noir-ish with a touch of Maigret thrown in.
Written by Mark Hebden also known as Max Hennessy both were actually pen names of the late John Harris.
A prolific writer of the Inspector Pel mysteries. Set in France the chain smoking inspector solves crime at a leisurely Columbo rate…with a house keeper who looks after herself more than him and a small team of officers who almost see detecting as secondary to everything else in life, Pel goes about his job and life with a packet of cigarettes in one hand and a large glass of red in the other, at most of the cafes he frequents when thinking and solving crime.
Well written…bit slow and for once I worked this one out from the who…to the how and the why…
A real change of pace from more modern thrillers which build and build to a crescendo of action…this one meanders…plateaus…stumbles forwards…rests and draws you in to the inevitable reveal.
Don’t get me wrong…that isn’t a bad thing…indeed…I found it very refreshing…slow and steady wins the race…very much of its time, set in the late 1970s when it was written.
If Columbo…Maigret or any of the other detective stories of that era pique your nostalgic muscles, I recommend a visit to the old Gallic country.
With this book I finish a run of 10 free eBooks. Mostly good…some very good…this one…clever…witty…Film Noir-ish with a touch of Maigret thrown in.
Written by Mark Hebden also known as Max Hennessy both were actually pen names of the late John Harris.
A prolific writer of the Inspector Pel mysteries. Set in France the chain smoking inspector solves crime at a leisurely Columbo rate…with a house keeper who looks after herself more than him and a small team of officers who almost see detecting as secondary to everything else in life, Pel goes about his job and life with a packet of cigarettes in one hand and a large glass of red in the other, at most of the cafes he frequents when thinking and solving crime.
Well written…bit slow and for once I worked this one out from the who…to the how and the why…
A real change of pace from more modern thrillers which build and build to a crescendo of action…this one meanders…plateaus…stumbles forwards…rests and draws you in to the inevitable reveal.
Don’t get me wrong…that isn’t a bad thing…indeed…I found it very refreshing…slow and steady wins the race…very much of its time, set in the late 1970s when it was written.
If Columbo…Maigret or any of the other detective stories of that era pique your nostalgic muscles, I recommend a visit to the old Gallic country.
June 5, 2021
This was originally published in the 1970s and a lot of the attitudes are very much of that period. This applies particularly to the way women are portrayed.
In many ways crime fiction from that era appears more dated than that of the Golden Age.
Pel is slightly in the Clouseau mould but less amusing. The French setting is well-evoked but I did not enjoy the detection that much.
3.25 stars
In many ways crime fiction from that era appears more dated than that of the Golden Age.
Pel is slightly in the Clouseau mould but less amusing. The French setting is well-evoked but I did not enjoy the detection that much.
3.25 stars
November 4, 2019
Death Set to Music is an enjoyabe police procedural set in Burgundy. The lead character is Inspector Pel, an irascible hypochondriac with a weakness for alcohol. A local woman had been bludgeoned to death. It appears 3000 francs and some jewelry were stolen. She was a former opera singer and died while an opera album was playing which made her death “set to music” and probably covered up the sounds of her brutal murder for the housekeeper and her daughter who were both home at the time.
There are plenty of suspects with opportunity, her brother, the neighbors, the gardener, the housekeeper, daughter. There are also plenty with motive, including her husband. She was killed with the fireplace poker so anyone had the means. Figuring it out will take true discernment as there are plenty of red herrings.
I like curmudgeons, particularly when you can see their surface misanthropy hides tenderness and compassion. That’s Inspector Pel. There is a lot of humor, some of it a bit broad when mocking Pel’s hypochondriam his weakness in the face of offers of beer and wine, and the way he treats his subordinates. Death Set to Music is my introduction to this series and I look forward to enjoying his futher adventures.
I received an e-galley of Death Set to Music from the publisher through NetGalley.
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
There are plenty of suspects with opportunity, her brother, the neighbors, the gardener, the housekeeper, daughter. There are also plenty with motive, including her husband. She was killed with the fireplace poker so anyone had the means. Figuring it out will take true discernment as there are plenty of red herrings.
I like curmudgeons, particularly when you can see their surface misanthropy hides tenderness and compassion. That’s Inspector Pel. There is a lot of humor, some of it a bit broad when mocking Pel’s hypochondriam his weakness in the face of offers of beer and wine, and the way he treats his subordinates. Death Set to Music is my introduction to this series and I look forward to enjoying his futher adventures.
I received an e-galley of Death Set to Music from the publisher through NetGalley.
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
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