Sergeant Cluff Laughs Last

by Gil North

Detective-Sergeant Cluff, from the shadows of a ginnel, watches a young woman weeping in Gunnarshaw’s busy high street – and wonders why. But when a dead body is discovered in a forest plantation, Cluff calls on his extensive knowledge of Gunnarshaw folk, as well as his instinctive perception of human nature, to uncover a trail of fateful and unrequited love.
As the investigation progresses, nothing is as it seems, and as Cluff knows only too well from a lifetime of detective work, when it comes to crimes of passion, there are never any easy answers. Inspector Mole, on the other hand, is certain he has the case all wrapped up – and is determined to prove Cluff wrong. ‘Gil North’s atmospheric writing shows the influence of Simenon, and Gunnarshaw’s finest, Sergeant Caleb Cluff, is a memorable detective – the Maigret of the Dales.’ Martin Edwards, CWA Diamond Dagger winner 2020 and author of Mortmain Hall. Gil North’s novels, which follow the investigations of Detective-Sergeant Cluff in the fictional and close-knit moorland market town of Gunnarshaw, were first published in the 1960s. Gil North was the pen-name of Geoffrey Horne (1916–1988). He was born in Skipton, North Yorkshire, where his father was Town Clerk. Horne was educated at the local grammar school, then studied at Christ’s College, Cambridge, before embarking on a career as a civil servant in Nigeria and Cameroon. He later returned to pursue his writing ambitions in his native Skipton – the inspiration for Gunnarshaw.

154 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

Gil North is the pseudonym of Geoffrey Horne, a British writer. He was born in Skipton Yorkshire and educated at Ermysted's Grammar School and Christ's College Cambridge. He married Betty Duthie in 1949. From 1938 to 1955 he was a civil servant in the African colonies. He has also written novels under his own name.

Reviews

[Plum-crazy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was quite excited to find three of the "Sergeant Cluff" series in my local Telephone Box Book Swap. Never heard of it & a new series is always good to find - plus it's set in Yorkshire -yay! So I just picked up this copy (didn't want to be greedy after all I might not like it!) & had high hopes for it - I was hoping Cluff would be a gruff but likeable character that I'd take to immediately.

Sadly it wasn't to be. From the off I found the story hard to follow mainly as I couldn't always tell who was supposed to be speaking & found it often seemed disjointed. Disjointed to the extent I found myself frequently going back to re-read parts as I felt I must have missed a sentence or two! Still I read onto the end- after all it's a mere 154 pages - but it was hard work at times.

The back cover blurb says the writing "show's the influence of Simenon and Gunnarshaw's finest, Sergeant Caleb Cluff, is a memorable detective - the Maigret of the Dales" Well, I can't comment on that, not having read any Maigret (though I do have one sat on my shelf. That recommendation isn't selling it to me though) but I'm guessing he's not a bolshy Jack Frost type character, as I had hoped Cluff would be!

Overall, sorry to say I found it disappointing. However, now I know a little of Cluff's personality (not much was given away) & the writing style, I may give him another chance....but only if the another of books is still at the Phone Box Swap next time I go, I'm not going looking for any.

[Jean Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'm a rare person being a fan of this series. I think of Cluff as Yorkshire's answer to Maigret and have enjoyed the three books I've read so far. I understand a tv series was made which I never saw and I keep hoping they'll bring it back. God knows there are so many repeats about these days one more wouldn't make much difference.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although dated, this was the paciest of the Cluff novels.