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Mark Treasure #2

by David Williams

University College, Itchendever is short of funds - and up for grabs. The rival parties in the proposed takeover seem to be the American Funny Farms Foundation, run by the widow of a board-games mogul, and a calculating Arab prince. Banker sleuth Mark Treasure tries his hardest to adjudicate, but instead finds a baffling murder on his hands. And this isn't a mere case of finding the culprit - there are other knotty problems with a bearing on the case. Who sent the gory sheep's head to the eccentric American millionairess? Was the celebrated Dr Goldstein, senior tutor and TV personality, behind the bomb scare? And why have the Arabs kidnapped an English Literature lecturer? The second of David Williams' wonderfully witty murder mysteries, starring the urbane banker and classy detective Mark Treasure, Treasure by Degrees is sure to delight.

334 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.


David Williams (June 8, 1926 – September 26, 2003) was a Welsh advertising executive who became a crime writer after suffering a stroke.

Williams was born in Bridgend in Wales. He started in advertising as a medical copywriter, rising through the ranks to head one of the largest advertising agencies in the country. He suffered a severe stroke in 1977 and realised that he would not be able to return to the stresses of life in the advertising industry. He had written crime fiction in his spare time, with Unholy Writ being written before his stroke in 1976. He turned from advertising to writing "whodunnits": he wrote 23 novels in all, most featuring Mark Treasure, Oxford graduate and vice-chairman of a merchant bank, and his successful actress wife Molly. A second series of books featured Chief Inspector Merlin Parry of the South Wales Constabulary, together with Sergeant Gomer Lloyd. His books were twice shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger award and he was elected as a member of the Detection Club in 1988.

Reviews

[Sandy Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book (set in a deservedly not well-known English University) The mystery novel is filled with whimsical characters -- the eccentric widow of an American millionaire, an Arabian sheik and his more modern son, college tutors, administration, students and a protest which goes terribly wrong. But Mark Treasure, the banker/detective sorts everything out (and the plot is suitably complex).

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A library find.
June 2024.
Fun read.
Enjoyable.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

reminds me of Emma Lathem, whose books I liked a lot.