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Inspector Harry Charlton #1
Murder in Blue
John Rutherford, bookseller and sometime fiction writer, discovers the bludgeoned corpse of a policeman one evening while taking a stroll in a rainstorm. The policeman's overturned bicycle is what first catches Rutherford's eye. Then he sees Officer Johnson's body sprawled on the sodden ground of Phantom Coppice. Rutherford takes Johnson's bike and pedals to rural Paulsfield police station, two miles away, to report the crime. There he finds Sgt. Martin who initiates calls to a doctor, a photographer and Inspector Charlton.
But it is not these two lead detectives who are the most interesting characters of the book. That honour goes to 19 year-old George Stubbings, assistant at "Voslivres," the bookshop Rutherford owns. George is a detective story addict and he is keen on solving the various mysteries surrounding Johnson's violent death. He is both ingenuous in dealing with Rutherford and ingenious in his precocious observations about the apparent murder.
Murder in Blue is the second of Galileo's Clifford Witting's re-issued classic detective thrillers. The first, Catt Out of the Bag, was enthusiastically received by fans of the genre in late 2020.
Clifford 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.
But it is not these two lead detectives who are the most interesting characters of the book. That honour goes to 19 year-old George Stubbings, assistant at "Voslivres," the bookshop Rutherford owns. George is a detective story addict and he is keen on solving the various mysteries surrounding Johnson's violent death. He is both ingenuous in dealing with Rutherford and ingenious in his precocious observations about the apparent murder.
Murder in Blue is the second of Galileo's Clifford Witting's re-issued classic detective thrillers. The first, Catt Out of the Bag, was enthusiastically received by fans of the genre in late 2020.
Clifford 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.
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1937
37 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Clifford Witting
37 books16 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 7, 2021
"Catt Out of the Bag" was one of the highlights of my reading in 2020, and so it was with some trepidation that I approached this latest reprint of Witting's sadly difficult-to-find novels. However the trepidation was unfounded.
The author's first novel is full of character and wit. It is neatly and effectively written and the plot, while not entirely fair on the reader-as-detective, certainly has plenty of puzzling moments.
The narration is in the hands of bookseller, John Rutherford, who is the finder of the first body, and the investigation is carried out by the sardonic Inspector Harry Charlton, who says sagely :-
"To be a detective, you’ve got to have the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, the indifference to discomfort of a Stoic, the hide of a rhinoceros and the constitution of a horse!"
The characters are interesting, including Rutherford's assistant George who is a fan of detective fiction, and there are a number of metafictional asides.
This was fun to read but the humour did not ever descend into the deadly fatuousness or jarring jocosity often found in 1930s detective novels.
A very good, recommendable read.
4.25 stars.
The author's first novel is full of character and wit. It is neatly and effectively written and the plot, while not entirely fair on the reader-as-detective, certainly has plenty of puzzling moments.
The narration is in the hands of bookseller, John Rutherford, who is the finder of the first body, and the investigation is carried out by the sardonic Inspector Harry Charlton, who says sagely :-
"To be a detective, you’ve got to have the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, the indifference to discomfort of a Stoic, the hide of a rhinoceros and the constitution of a horse!"
The characters are interesting, including Rutherford's assistant George who is a fan of detective fiction, and there are a number of metafictional asides.
This was fun to read but the humour did not ever descend into the deadly fatuousness or jarring jocosity often found in 1930s detective novels.
A very good, recommendable read.
4.25 stars.
February 10, 2022
Sometimes some really good reads are picked up more or less by accident or on the strong recommendation of an authority, which is how I found this entertaining and well written book. It originally appeared in 1937 and has just been reprinted by Galileo Publishers in Cambridge, where it was recommended to me in Heffers bookshop. According to his daughter Diana Cummings’, note in the front, this was his first book, and two others have been reprinted. On the evidence of this one, I have bought one other and am looking to get the third soon! It is thoughtfully yet naturally written in the narrative voice of John Rutherford, bookseller and library owner. Curious, attentive and inspired by a complex series of mysteries linked to the murder of a police officer, he has adventures and contemplates possible answers with the aid of George, assistant and avid crime reader. When Inspector Charlton becomes involved, they form an unofficial investigating team which is not without danger and benefits. This is a novel very much in the best traditions of the Golden Age Detection Fiction, and cleverly combines just the right amount of clues with red herrings, side issues and general background. Being written at the time, this book is full of life in the 1930s: bicycles, small local police forces, thoughtful pipes for the evening, variety shows and so on. My husband really enjoyed this book, not being a great reader of Golden Age novels, so I had to wait to read it, but it was well worth it.
The book opens with the discovery, on a wet evening in the darkness, of a body. Not any body, but the corpse of a recently deceased policeman, with his head having met with a blunt instrument. After telling himself to “pull yourself together”, he decides to find help, as on a deserted country lane after dark there are unlikely to be any passers by. He uses the nearby bicycle for speed, and makes his way to an open local police station, where he knows Sergeant Martin. Once convinced that there is a real murder in the locality, he springs into action. This is a world of many men who know about death from the fairly recent “Great War”, but even they say “One can hardly associate such a violent death with a country lane in peaceful England”. Despite the almost crossword solver’s puzzle that emerges, there is real shock at the murder, and it is fair to say that Rutherford himself encounters some tricky situations as he strives to work out the timings, possibilities and alibis of potential killers within a relatively small community. Inspector Charlton is a skilful investigator willing to bend the rules to identify the guilty, but even he is bewildered by some of the leads he has to diligently follow.
Without giving too much away, this is a clever book of murder and mystery in a small community setting. It is dominated by the men of the society, but they are shown with all their contradictions and confusions. I thoroughly recommend this little known author’s book, not least because the narrator is a bookseller, and look forward to discovering more of his work.
The book opens with the discovery, on a wet evening in the darkness, of a body. Not any body, but the corpse of a recently deceased policeman, with his head having met with a blunt instrument. After telling himself to “pull yourself together”, he decides to find help, as on a deserted country lane after dark there are unlikely to be any passers by. He uses the nearby bicycle for speed, and makes his way to an open local police station, where he knows Sergeant Martin. Once convinced that there is a real murder in the locality, he springs into action. This is a world of many men who know about death from the fairly recent “Great War”, but even they say “One can hardly associate such a violent death with a country lane in peaceful England”. Despite the almost crossword solver’s puzzle that emerges, there is real shock at the murder, and it is fair to say that Rutherford himself encounters some tricky situations as he strives to work out the timings, possibilities and alibis of potential killers within a relatively small community. Inspector Charlton is a skilful investigator willing to bend the rules to identify the guilty, but even he is bewildered by some of the leads he has to diligently follow.
Without giving too much away, this is a clever book of murder and mystery in a small community setting. It is dominated by the men of the society, but they are shown with all their contradictions and confusions. I thoroughly recommend this little known author’s book, not least because the narrator is a bookseller, and look forward to discovering more of his work.
May 28, 2024
3.5-4 stars. I enjoyed this dry, clever GA mystery, and would like to read more by this author.
Full disclosure, I read 80% plus of this group read, then had a guest for the holiday weekend, lost the thread, and didn't feel like trying to get back into it to wrap it up - so I checked the last chapter to see whodunnit, and called it read - I’ve got a couple library books I’ve waited for for awhile, and won’t be able to renew. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, but I find if a book is dragged out too long, I lose interest and begin to forget the beginning bits and details.
So this book starts off with the very likable hero, John Rutherford, on his evening walk on a cold rainy night through his village, when he comes across a bicycle on the ground. Nearby is an apparently dead constable from the village. He takes the bike and rides for help; the police surgeon determines the officer is dead, and Inspector Charlton is called into investigate. I really enjoyed the inspector and Rutherford as characters, and hope they star in other mysteries. There’s a bit of romance for our hero, but 8f you prefer your mystery separate from your romance, don’t worry, it’s kept mostly in the background, and provides a bit more humor, while fleshing out Rutherford as a character.
The inspector keeps Rutherford informed of his progress, partly for reasons I don’t want to spoil! John does his part, as it’s a small town, he owns a bookshop in the middle of it, and some clues are put in his path. There are a couple other deaths that could be questionable, and the murderer almost seems to be toying with the police. When the killer is revealed in a climactic ending, I wasn’t really sure I saw the motive, but I was certainly surprised! I might’ve missed something, as I skipped to the ending. Definitely worth reading more by this new-to-me author.
Full disclosure, I read 80% plus of this group read, then had a guest for the holiday weekend, lost the thread, and didn't feel like trying to get back into it to wrap it up - so I checked the last chapter to see whodunnit, and called it read - I’ve got a couple library books I’ve waited for for awhile, and won’t be able to renew. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, but I find if a book is dragged out too long, I lose interest and begin to forget the beginning bits and details.
So this book starts off with the very likable hero, John Rutherford, on his evening walk on a cold rainy night through his village, when he comes across a bicycle on the ground. Nearby is an apparently dead constable from the village. He takes the bike and rides for help; the police surgeon determines the officer is dead, and Inspector Charlton is called into investigate. I really enjoyed the inspector and Rutherford as characters, and hope they star in other mysteries. There’s a bit of romance for our hero, but 8f you prefer your mystery separate from your romance, don’t worry, it’s kept mostly in the background, and provides a bit more humor, while fleshing out Rutherford as a character.
The inspector keeps Rutherford informed of his progress, partly for reasons I don’t want to spoil! John does his part, as it’s a small town, he owns a bookshop in the middle of it, and some clues are put in his path. There are a couple other deaths that could be questionable, and the murderer almost seems to be toying with the police. When the killer is revealed in a climactic ending, I wasn’t really sure I saw the motive, but I was certainly surprised! I might’ve missed something, as I skipped to the ending. Definitely worth reading more by this new-to-me author.
June 7, 2024
I did like this book, but must admit I did get lost around the triangle of roads and had to go back to it to work it out. I also got the constables mixed up for a while. That may be because l am on holiday and got distracted. I liked that the narrator as the author spoke to the reader. For a first in series it was engaging. The method of the murders was pretty convoluted, and wonder if the following books will continue things vein.
December 5, 2021
A real pleasure ,
What can I say ? I like it ! This book is cleanly written,in English, nothing is unlikely, apart from the plot. A breath of fresh …
What can I say ? I like it ! This book is cleanly written,in English, nothing is unlikely, apart from the plot. A breath of fresh …
June 20, 2022
Three and a half stars.
A quite enjoyable and thoughful read. The relationship between the narrator and Inspector Charlton was, I thought, very well done. The story is about the murder of a police constable and gets a bit convoluted but the plot is clever. I look forward to reading more of this author.
A quite enjoyable and thoughful read. The relationship between the narrator and Inspector Charlton was, I thought, very well done. The story is about the murder of a police constable and gets a bit convoluted but the plot is clever. I look forward to reading more of this author.
March 15, 2018
A very enjoyable traditional puzzler in the classic tradition. John Rutherford, bookseller, has the incorrigible habit of going out for evening walks. On one such occasion, he comes across the dead body of a local constable, who was murdered during his evening patrol. The victim, Johnson, was a bit of a ladies' man, and Rutherford and his new friend, Inspector Charlton, initially look for "cherchez la femme". But the story becomes more complicated when it turns out that the bicycle found next to Johnson was not his service bicycle. Rutherford tries to focus on his bookshop and his nascent romance with a local girl, but is at risk of becoming the murderer's next victim.
I enjoyed this book by this forgotten writer. There was a fair bit of puzzling to do, and the author threw one red herring after another at the reader. I did spot the murderer from their very first entrance on the scene, even though I can't say why - perhaps the introduction into the story was just a tad too casual?
I enjoyed this book by this forgotten writer. There was a fair bit of puzzling to do, and the author threw one red herring after another at the reader. I did spot the murderer from their very first entrance on the scene, even though I can't say why - perhaps the introduction into the story was just a tad too casual?
May 30, 2024
I have enjoyed previous books by Clifford Witting and so I was pleased to read the first novel in his Inspector Harry Charlton series (and indeed his first mystery) first published in 1937.
John Rutherford, who owns a bookshop in the village of Paulsfield, is out for a stroll when he comes across the body of a police constable. Inspector Charlton is investigating the murder and Rutherford falls in love with his niece, Molly, during the case.
The mystery had an interesting setting and a good cast of characters. I enjoy much of the social history around Golden Age mysteries and it was fun to read about the way bookshops acted as libraries, with customers paying a fee to use the service and servants often sent to pick up a romance or mystery! I also liked young George, who worked alongside John Rutherford, and the way everyone in the village - of course - knew everyone's secrets.
Clifford Witting was an excellent author and I pleased he is back in print. If you enjoy Golden Age crime, he is an author you might well enjoy discovering too. I know that I am pleased that I did.
John Rutherford, who owns a bookshop in the village of Paulsfield, is out for a stroll when he comes across the body of a police constable. Inspector Charlton is investigating the murder and Rutherford falls in love with his niece, Molly, during the case.
The mystery had an interesting setting and a good cast of characters. I enjoy much of the social history around Golden Age mysteries and it was fun to read about the way bookshops acted as libraries, with customers paying a fee to use the service and servants often sent to pick up a romance or mystery! I also liked young George, who worked alongside John Rutherford, and the way everyone in the village - of course - knew everyone's secrets.
Clifford Witting was an excellent author and I pleased he is back in print. If you enjoy Golden Age crime, he is an author you might well enjoy discovering too. I know that I am pleased that I did.
September 1, 2023
A truly excellent trip to the past!
Clifford Witting wrote a wonderful introduction to his series starring Inspector Harry Charlton, when he wrote Murder in Blue. It is a classic in that he plotted the whole thing out so perfectly. Alibis were set up and swept away including a superfluity of bicycles, red herrings abounded and the whole novel was a delight. I have all five of Mr Witting's works currently reprinted for the digital age, and I trust that more will become available in the not too distant future.
Clifford Witting wrote a wonderful introduction to his series starring Inspector Harry Charlton, when he wrote Murder in Blue. It is a classic in that he plotted the whole thing out so perfectly. Alibis were set up and swept away including a superfluity of bicycles, red herrings abounded and the whole novel was a delight. I have all five of Mr Witting's works currently reprinted for the digital age, and I trust that more will become available in the not too distant future.
January 11, 2023
Very clever writing, with subtle humor. Few characters and what seemed like a simple set of clues got more and more complicated. The guilty party wasn't expected and the motive wasn't given until after the whole case was wrapped up. That seemed a little unfair - better to have too many suspects with motives than a belated motive added at the end. Still a fun read.
February 20, 2023
Loved This Book
I truly enjoy Clifford Witting’s books and this was no exception. I will admit that the author is not fair with the reader in that he doesn’t give you all the clues before the end. However that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment for me. I had early on decided on two who were most likely to be the murderer but as usual I was totally wrong.
I truly enjoy Clifford Witting’s books and this was no exception. I will admit that the author is not fair with the reader in that he doesn’t give you all the clues before the end. However that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment for me. I had early on decided on two who were most likely to be the murderer but as usual I was totally wrong.
February 18, 2024
I'm a fan of Golden Age mysteries and until the end,this one was a 4 star read. The writing style is delightful - the narrator addresses the reader. The characters are interesting and there are lots of them! The killer was a mystery to me until he was revealed. At that point I felt the book lost it's punch by giving the murderer such a lame motive.
March 6, 2024
Just another good old fashioned murder mystery. I seem to be turning to these detective "classics" more than usual. Right now I cannot seem to stomach the explicit violence, gore...etc. of more modern thrillers. I don't mind an occasional up to date murder....edge of your seat mystery, but a little grit goes a long way for me at the present moment.
November 30, 2022
B+:
Would be close to perfect if the motive didn't feel like such an afterthought. I love a first-person narrative and was so pleased that the culprit was not the person I'd anticipated (and is hinted at a couple of times - naughty Clifford!).
Would be close to perfect if the motive didn't feel like such an afterthought. I love a first-person narrative and was so pleased that the culprit was not the person I'd anticipated (and is hinted at a couple of times - naughty Clifford!).
June 28, 2023
I had more fun reading this than the story warranted. Great atmosphere, believable characters and a very attractive evocation of life in a post-war British village. I will give Clifford Witting another read.
July 26, 2023
I liked the book and the characters, and a clever wrap-up. I was expecting a little more humor which was promised, but it seemed way too subtle for me. As a first book, I think it was fine, but I expect I'll enjoy Witting's later titles more than this one.
June 2, 2024
Quite good Golden Age mystery with interesting plot and characters. The village atmosphere was great with the narrator running bookstore / lending library with a novel approach to make it profitable. Touches of humor in the writing and a bit of romance.
November 21, 2024
If you’re looking for a solid Golden Age murder mystery with a more relaxed pace and witty characterisation, you’ll like this. It doesn’t really comply with the “rules”, but that didn’t matter to me as it was such an enjoyable read. Will definitely be trying the author’s other works.
November 30, 2024
I enjoyed this book very much. The writing was slow paced but the characters were real enough - for their time. It was liking walking through a chunk of the past and catching glimpses of an idealized version. Iconic images and characters. Plot was fun with lots of twists.
December 22, 2024
Kindle book.
Quite convoluted and the murderer and his reason for it came out of the blue at the very end. They hadn't been more than a background character for the rest of the book.
I'll try another in the series if I can find one.
Quite convoluted and the murderer and his reason for it came out of the blue at the very end. They hadn't been more than a background character for the rest of the book.
I'll try another in the series if I can find one.
August 15, 2025
My first venture into Witting is his debut in 1937. I particularly enjoyed the narrator's voice - a bookseller who ends up involved in the complex case of a murdered policeman. He has a dry sense of humour and a way with unusual metaphors! I'll certainly read more Witting books.
July 24, 2022
I got very confused with all the bicycles! (The ‘N’ word could have been deleted with no effect whatsoever on the novel.)
August 8, 2022
A perfect little British murder.
January 28, 2025
Excellent. I didn’t guess the murderer!
July 18, 2022
Great Read!!!
I enjoyed this book,lovable characters…I didn’t guess the “Murder “. This the type of “cozy “ read I love….Going to start 2nd book in the series….
I enjoyed this book,lovable characters…I didn’t guess the “Murder “. This the type of “cozy “ read I love….Going to start 2nd book in the series….
March 1, 2022
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