Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

by C.W. Grafton

Paperback

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime

338 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Cornelius Warren ("Chip") Grafton (June 16, 1909 – January 31, 1982)[1] was an American crime novelist. He was born and raised in China, where his parents were working as missionaries. He was educated in Clinton, South Carolina, studying law and journalism, and became a municipal bond attorney in Louisville, Kentucky.[2]

He is the father of author Sue Grafton.
The hero of his first two mystery novels (The Rat Began to Gnaw the Rope and The Rope Began to Hang the Butcher) was a lawyer named Gilmore Henry. Using the first two lines of a nursery rhyme as the titles of his first two novels suggested that other Gilmore Henry novels would follow, but none did. (A partial manuscript of a third novel, The Butcher Began to Kill the Ox, is known to exist.)[2] Henry did not appear in Grafton's two subsequent novels

Reviews

[Sketchbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to find and hard to write a good mystery, esp if you like the stand-alone kind, ie, not part of a detective series. Written in the '40s, here's a dandy set amid Smalltown, US, where booze and smokin' dominant bored lives. In a "lost moment" a young lawyer kills his sister's husband. At trial he turns Truth upside down which gets him an innocent verdict. We follow every step, which makes for the fascination. What is Truth anyway ?

[Judy Fleming · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is dated and the ending is a let down. Not much of a mystery because you know who did it - you also know that going through the whole trial becomes draggy and is irrelevant because of course they find him not guilty. I read because this is Sue Grafton’s father as author - the daughter is the better story teller.

[Deb Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A change in the usual patterns of murder mysteries and courtroom dramas is found in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. The story introduces us to the protagonist, Jess London, a newly minted attorney who has secured a job with his brother-in-law's law partnership.

After a few chapters to establish these two individuals' character and relationship, both personal and professional, the crime occurs. A murder is committed.

London quickly confesses to the murder, which is just as quickly rejected by the detective to whom he confesses. To tell any more would spoil the rest of the story. Suffice it to say, as readers we become well-acquainted with London -- and the detective. It's worth the read.

[Vincent Lombardo · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the book initially, but the more that I read, the more that I disliked the protagonist and all of the other characters, and the more confused, irritated, and bored that I became, so I gave up on page 105. I liked his first book, "The Rat Began to Gnaw at the Rope", but I think that I have had enough of Daddy C.W. Grafton and will stick with Daughter Sue Grafton, whom I love!

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to read this because I adored his daughter's mystery series.

"Mitch and Marty had a reputation for good parties."

Marty is a nickname for Marcella.

"We went to a miscellaneous place, and ate miscellaneously."

[C.]

Made it about half way before finally giving up.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this after it was recomended in “Booked to Die”
I liked it
It is in two definite parts. The first Jess London our main character kills his brother in Law and the following week. In the second half he defends himself in court and builds a case of reasonable doubt.
Written in the 40’s it is amazing how much drining and smoking was a part of life and mentioned.
At times, especially in the first part our main charactter has some unlikeable aspects.
He writes well has some great phrases and descriptions.

[valpal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated but enjoyable

[Regine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-crafted.

[Rebekah]

Written by the father of Sue Grafton

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: lawyer Jess London murders his brother-in-law and makes a full confession. But then he retracts it and defends himself in court.