The Brooklyn Murders: A Superintendent Wilson Detective Novel

Superintendent Wilson #1

by G.D.H. Cole, Margaret Cole

• The much-revered crime writers G.D.H & Margaret Cole’s first-ever crime novel back in print for the first time in almost a century. • ‘Inspired… will no doubt have a wide circulation’ NEW YORK TIMES. • ‘A first-class detective story’ THE SPECTATOR. • Includes a complete bibliography of the Coles’ crime novels. • Includes all the original illustrations, critical to the plot. ABOUT 'THE BROOKLYN MURDERS': The setting is the London mansion and nearby theatre belonging to Sir Vernon Brooklyn, the famed theatrical impresario. On the night of his birthday he announces a new will – and two dead bodies are discovered the next day. The clues point to the conclusion that each man killed the other – a physical impossibility as the two victims lie not together, but apart. The discovery of a heavy club at the scene of the crimes points to Sir Vernon’s wastrel brother, Walter, as the murderer. Determined to prove Walter’s innocence, Joan Cowper his estranged stepdaughter and her lover, Robert Ellery, set out to establish his movements. Meanwhile, Superintendent Henry Wilson of Scotland Yard is called in to officially investigate… ABOUT THE G.D.H. and Margaret Cole were a husband and wife detective fiction writing duo who wrote over thirty novels between 1923 and the early 1940s. Much admired at the time (‘The collaborating Coles, have long been known as writers of skilfully constructed detective tales’ NEW YORK TIMES; ‘Among the most remarkable and efficient of English detective story writers’ TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT), their success is all the more remarkable because they both led sterling careers in addition to their prodigious crime-writing output; George as an Oxford University economist and Margaret as a socialist politician. Their best-known character, Superintendent Wilson, starred in twenty-three novels. Originally a conscientious Scotland Yarder, Wilson is eventually forcibly retired into private practice after catching-out an ex-Home Secretary. Among their other literary creations are medic turned private detective, Dr Ben Tancred, the prickly and difficult Inspector Tom Fairford and the gentle, old-lady sleuth, Mrs Warrender. G.D.H. Cole died in 1959 and Margaret in 1980. PRAISE FOR G.D.H & MARGARET ‘Any mystery story by the Coles is sure to be worth while’ NEW YORK TIMES; ‘Highly recommended to readers who like a good, practical mystery neatly and entertainingly recorded’ CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE; ‘I enjoy all Mr and Mrs Cole’s stories’ THE SUNDAY TIMES; ‘Mr and Mrs Cole are deservedly noted for their detective stories’ THE SCOTSMAN; ‘A really entertaining yarn’ NEW YORK TRIBUNE; ‘Few crime experts are so consistently good as are the two Coles’ EVENING NEWS; ‘These famous authors have achieved a flawless technique’ COUNTRY LIFE; ‘A Cole story is always a first-class story’ ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS; ‘Well-written and carefully planned… will please the most fastidious devotee of mystery stories’ BOSTON TRANSCRIPT.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, British Literature, Golden Age Mystery, Classics

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1923

About the author

George Douglas Howard Cole was an English political theorist, economist, writer and historian. As a libertarian socialist he was a long-time member of the Fabian Society and an advocate for the cooperative movement. He and his wife Margaret Cole (1893-1980) together wrote many popular detective stories, featuring the investigators Superintendent Wilson, Everard Blatchington and Dr Tancred.

Cole was educated at St Paul's School and Balliol College, Oxford.

As a conscientious objector during World War One, Cole's involvement in the campaign against conscription introduced him to a co-worker, Margaret Postgate, whom he married in 1918. The couple both worked for the Fabian Society for the next six years before moving to Oxford, where Cole started writing for the Manchester Guardian. During these years, he also authored several economic and historical works including biographies of William Cobbett and Robert Owen. In 1925, he became reader in economics at University College, Oxford. In 1944, Cole became the first Chichele Professor of Social and Political Theory at Oxford. He was succeeded in the chair by Isaiah Berlin in 1957.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old Sir Vernon Brooklyn had planned to leave his fortune to his two nephews. But now both are dead, with clues indicating that they murdered each other. Of course, Superintendent Wilson realizes that that would have been an impossibility. As he directs Inspector Blaikie to investigate, they learn that Sir Vernon's housekeeper Joan(the young step-daughter of his dissolute brother) and a family friend who wants to marry her are investigating, too. And the official investigation and the amateur one are converging on the same person.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discounted | Too obvious but not bad | The killer was very clear immediately after the murder, so to have to spend so much of the book watching characters go to a murderer for advice was deeply frustrating. But that is one of the issues with the earlier mysteries.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks like I've found myself a new detective series to follow. The writing was good, the story was interesting, and it is one of those mysteries you can eventually guess for yourself. No surprise characters or previously hidden clues brought in at the last minute. My biggest beef, apart from a few minor problems with the chain of evidence (as in, no one, including the police, seemed to worry about documenting found clues) is the book description at the top of the book's Goodreads page, which gives away what happens in the first several chapters.

The story alternates between the limited POV of the police and various friends/family/servants of the murder victims, shifting chronologically to follow the story. The POV shifting is well-done and appropriate, and not one of those breaking away just when things are getting interesting things.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries with amateur sleuths, give this one a try.

[Jacqueline]

“Man is everywhere in chains, and his chains will not be broken till he feels that it is degrading to be a bondsman, whether to an individual or to a State. The disease of civilization is not so much the material poverty of the many as the decay of the spirit of freedom and self-confidence. The revolt that will change the world will spring, not from the benevolence that breeds "reform", but from the will to be free. Men will act together in the full consciousness of their mutual dependence; but they will act for themselves. Their liberty will not be given them from above; they will take it on their own behalf.”

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant read, but with caveats. The book was published in 1923, and detective fiction—at least those with the police as investigators—was still in its infancy. So the inspector comes off as dull-witted and Scotland Yard as amateurish. I guessed the identity of the killer well before it was obvious to the characters, including the young couple whose detective work runs rings around the cop's. When they finally figure out whodunit, there's a lot of gruntwork involved in collecting proof. Still, I enjoyed the book.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was interesting, but the characters in this novel were so annoying. From the very stereotyped women, to the bungling and somewhat dumb police inspector who was convinced he had a convincing court case based on circumstantial evidence laid down by the actual murderer ... just annoying. It got better toward the end, the solution was clever, and it's not hard to read -but characters who behave like idiots for the first third of the book is not great.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a Fan

Mystery, murder, suspects & sleuth ing. Between the detectives & amateur discoveries discussions it became redundant & slowed the pace.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book more than I expected to! The plucky young couple who solve the mystery are very sweet. It was first published 100 years ago.

[Dieu Nhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

simple story

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: have the nephews of Sir Vernon Brooklyn murdered each other, asks Supt. Wilson. The police get some amateur help on this one.