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Chief Inspector Littlejohn #28
Death Sends for the Doctor
Upper Square is the last stronghold of snobbery in Abbot's Caldicott, a dying little metropolis in East Anglia, and the remnants of queer old families reside there. Doctor Beharrell, a prominent physician, is found murdered in a secret room in his home at Bank House, in the square, and Superintendent Littlejohn, warned before it has been discovered that the crime has been committed, goes to investigate. Before he leaves Caldicott with the case solved, a lot of strange past history comes to light and the repressions and inbreeding of the upper ten of Caldicott produce some queer twists of hatred and madness. Littlejohn, whom David Holloway calls ' the most courteous of all fictional detectives,' finds all his good manners are needed in dealing with this strange affair among a crowd of characters who live in an atmosphere of days that are gone.
222 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1957
158 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
George Bellairs
73 books100 followersAKA Hilary Landon
George Bellairs is the nom de plume of Harold Blundell, a crime writer and bank manager born in Heywood, near Rochdale, Lancashire, who settled in the Isle of Man on retirement. He wrote more than 50 books, most featuring the series' detective Inspector Littlejohn. He also wrote four novels under the alternative pseudonym Hilary Landon.
George Bellairs is the nom de plume of Harold Blundell, a crime writer and bank manager born in Heywood, near Rochdale, Lancashire, who settled in the Isle of Man on retirement. He wrote more than 50 books, most featuring the series' detective Inspector Littlejohn. He also wrote four novels under the alternative pseudonym Hilary Landon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 24, 2019
A doctor is found murdered in his own basement, and Chief Inspector Thomas Littlejohn, accompanied by his dutiful Sergeant Cromwell, turn over ever stone to find out why the doctor had to die. I never guessed the culprit until author George Bellairs revealed it at the end, although the motive was a bit weak. A fine book in a fine series.
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August 24, 2017
Newly promoted, Superintendent Littlejohn is summoned from Scotland Yard by the local Chief Constable to investigate the murder of Dr. Beharrell in the faded East Anglian town of Abbot's Caldicott.
Although first published in 1957, this mystery shares some features of classic, Golden Age, British detective novels. It is set in a quiet, slightly old-fashioned English country town; the suspects are from a rather small community of upper-middle class people; and, at the end, the suspects are gathered while the detective expounds his solution.
In the course of his usual painstaking investigation and careful questioning, Littlejohn, ably assisted by Sergeant Cromwell, uncovers blackmail, secrets and past killings, as well as dealing with a further murder and attempted murder consequent on that of the Doctor.
We also encounter jealousy, adultery, madness and attempted suicide in this supposedly peaceful backwater.
Bellairs describes, with gentle irony, the faded grandeur of Upper Square and its inhabitants in such a way that the doctors and lawyers, the hoteliers, the singing teacher, and the hairdresser, all come vividly to life.
A most enjoyable, if slightly restrained, outing for Littlejohn and Cromwell.
Although first published in 1957, this mystery shares some features of classic, Golden Age, British detective novels. It is set in a quiet, slightly old-fashioned English country town; the suspects are from a rather small community of upper-middle class people; and, at the end, the suspects are gathered while the detective expounds his solution.
In the course of his usual painstaking investigation and careful questioning, Littlejohn, ably assisted by Sergeant Cromwell, uncovers blackmail, secrets and past killings, as well as dealing with a further murder and attempted murder consequent on that of the Doctor.
We also encounter jealousy, adultery, madness and attempted suicide in this supposedly peaceful backwater.
Bellairs describes, with gentle irony, the faded grandeur of Upper Square and its inhabitants in such a way that the doctors and lawyers, the hoteliers, the singing teacher, and the hairdresser, all come vividly to life.
A most enjoyable, if slightly restrained, outing for Littlejohn and Cromwell.
February 26, 2023
Having just re-read this, I have uprated my star rating to four and a half. My original review as below still stands-
Another typical English, class-ridden small town murder. Littlejohn has an anonymous letter informing him of a murder before the body had even been discovered. The local police also had warnings. They call in The Yard and Littlejohn & Cromwell set about immersing themselves among the upper crust inhabitants of the town and their servants and neighbours. By digging up all the muck that lay below the surface Littlejohn does his usual good work. Plenty of good detection and Bellairs as usual plays fair with the reader. Four stars is possibly a bit generous but it's better than a three star story.
Another typical English, class-ridden small town murder. Littlejohn has an anonymous letter informing him of a murder before the body had even been discovered. The local police also had warnings. They call in The Yard and Littlejohn & Cromwell set about immersing themselves among the upper crust inhabitants of the town and their servants and neighbours. By digging up all the muck that lay below the surface Littlejohn does his usual good work. Plenty of good detection and Bellairs as usual plays fair with the reader. Four stars is possibly a bit generous but it's better than a three star story.
May 28, 2024
3.5 stars really. Nice whodunnit set in a small Fenland town around 1960. The drama centres on the Georgian square at the top of the town where the better off residents live and work. Bellairs’ depiction of the square and the comings and goings of its inhabitants, loafers, cats and bird life provides a jaunty atmosphere to this tale of historical morbid jealousy and murder. Superintendents Littlejohn and his sidekick, Cromwell, make the usual enquiries and smoke their pipes continuously. I’d not read any George Bellairs before (there appear to be at least 56 in this series alone!) and I found this delightful and satisfying except for the glaring plot hole concerning people’s ability to not to notice something atmospherically unpleasant in a building in daily use. I assume their olfactory senses were blunted by universal smoking. Back to 3 stars.
September 3, 2022
Another very good Littlejohn mystery. He receives a mysterious letter that a murder was committed several days ago in a town that used to be important. Although no body is seen at first, the body of one of the town’s doctors is discovered in a secret room, behind a wall. At first the mystery seems straightforward, but there are twists and turns as it comes out that the doctor killed his unfaithful wife and her RAF lover during WWII, and then the question becomes whether a man who was in love with the doctor’s wife finally found the body and killed him—or just beat him badly. Everyone has secrets In this town and many are connected with economic and social issues that are treated as important by some, especially from formerly important families, but not by others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2024
The mystery is fine but the characters really haven't aged well -- especially the abusive drunk whose wife is apparently supposed to forgive him. Everyone Sucks Here, as they say.
February 21, 2025
For my full review click on the link below:
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https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
July 11, 2025
“A murder was committed at Abbot’s Caldicott last Friday.”
All police departments receive anonymous notes written by nutters. The problem with this one is that no death has been reported in Caldicott. Then an elderly housekeeper discovers a door hidden behind a large wardrobe. The door leads to stairs and at the foot of the stairs, there’s a murdered man.
Caldicott was once a prosperous town and the wealthy families living in the Upper Square were its aristocracy. The house fronts, gas lights, and brick pavements are still elegant, but the huge houses are now rental property, divided into apartments and small businesses. Only Dr Beharell remains in his family home. His medical offices are on the ground floor and he and his junior partner live upstairs.
Dr Beharell is popular with his patients, but he has enemies. He was insanely jealous of his much younger wife. When beautiful Grace Beharell ran off with a young RAF officer in 1941, her family and friends blamed her husband. The couple disappeared, presumed killed in the German bombing raids that were destroying London.
Dr Beharell eventually became nervous about being away from his house. He strongly objected to anyone but his housekeeper and partner coming into any part of the house or grounds except his medical offices. His housekeeper said there had been attempted break-ins, which the doctor refused to report to the police. People wondered and gossiped. Now Dr Beharell has been murdered in his own home.
Scotland Yard’s Superintendent Littlejohn and Sergeant Cromwell arrive to investigate. Littlejohn is convinced that the murder stems from the disappearance of Grace Beharell and her reputed lover, but that narrows the suspects to those intimately connected with the Upper Square almost two decades ago.
Grace’s relatives and two men who loved her were against the marriage and resented the way the doctor treated her. There’s another jealous, angry husband on the Square who claims that the doctor is having an affair with his wife. The elderly vicar and his middle-aged daughter were living on the Upper Square when Grace disappeared and when Dr Beharell was murdered. Do they know something?
The Upper Square is filled with people who cling to the past and its secrets. As the two detectives unravel those secrets, there are shocking discoveries. There are two blackmailers. One successful, the other a murder victim himself. A dedicated local policeman finds out that no one is more dangerous than a cornered murderer.
This one started out slowly, but picked up as the story went along. As always, Bellairs gives us enough information about the characters to bring them to life, which I love in a mystery. Littlejohn and Cromwell are a fine team, working together with respect and affection. They're always a joy and some of the minor characters are quirky and appealing.
My beef is that a few of the characters are overwrought to the point of being unbelievable. OK, there are strange people in the world, but so many in one small area? Is it something in the water?
The BIG SECRET that drives the plot isn't much of a secret at all. An intelligent toddler could figure it out in the first few chapters. There's also less humor here than in most of the series. In short, I enjoyed it and I'm not sorry I read it, but don't make it your first Bellairs mystery. It's not the best in the series.
All police departments receive anonymous notes written by nutters. The problem with this one is that no death has been reported in Caldicott. Then an elderly housekeeper discovers a door hidden behind a large wardrobe. The door leads to stairs and at the foot of the stairs, there’s a murdered man.
Caldicott was once a prosperous town and the wealthy families living in the Upper Square were its aristocracy. The house fronts, gas lights, and brick pavements are still elegant, but the huge houses are now rental property, divided into apartments and small businesses. Only Dr Beharell remains in his family home. His medical offices are on the ground floor and he and his junior partner live upstairs.
Dr Beharell is popular with his patients, but he has enemies. He was insanely jealous of his much younger wife. When beautiful Grace Beharell ran off with a young RAF officer in 1941, her family and friends blamed her husband. The couple disappeared, presumed killed in the German bombing raids that were destroying London.
Dr Beharell eventually became nervous about being away from his house. He strongly objected to anyone but his housekeeper and partner coming into any part of the house or grounds except his medical offices. His housekeeper said there had been attempted break-ins, which the doctor refused to report to the police. People wondered and gossiped. Now Dr Beharell has been murdered in his own home.
Scotland Yard’s Superintendent Littlejohn and Sergeant Cromwell arrive to investigate. Littlejohn is convinced that the murder stems from the disappearance of Grace Beharell and her reputed lover, but that narrows the suspects to those intimately connected with the Upper Square almost two decades ago.
Grace’s relatives and two men who loved her were against the marriage and resented the way the doctor treated her. There’s another jealous, angry husband on the Square who claims that the doctor is having an affair with his wife. The elderly vicar and his middle-aged daughter were living on the Upper Square when Grace disappeared and when Dr Beharell was murdered. Do they know something?
The Upper Square is filled with people who cling to the past and its secrets. As the two detectives unravel those secrets, there are shocking discoveries. There are two blackmailers. One successful, the other a murder victim himself. A dedicated local policeman finds out that no one is more dangerous than a cornered murderer.
This one started out slowly, but picked up as the story went along. As always, Bellairs gives us enough information about the characters to bring them to life, which I love in a mystery. Littlejohn and Cromwell are a fine team, working together with respect and affection. They're always a joy and some of the minor characters are quirky and appealing.
My beef is that a few of the characters are overwrought to the point of being unbelievable. OK, there are strange people in the world, but so many in one small area? Is it something in the water?
The BIG SECRET that drives the plot isn't much of a secret at all. An intelligent toddler could figure it out in the first few chapters. There's also less humor here than in most of the series. In short, I enjoyed it and I'm not sorry I read it, but don't make it your first Bellairs mystery. It's not the best in the series.
June 3, 2017
Death sends for the doctor another great book in the Littlejohn series, and like all of these this 1 is as unique as are the rest none are alike. They do all have great twists humour and great verity of characters. This adventure starts with a note to the newly promoted Superintendent Littlejohn advising him of a death before a body is found in Caldicott. Once it's found Littlejohn and Cromwell set of from the Scotland yard to the Train Station and travel to Caldicott where the body of a doctor has been found dead and was hidden away but as fortune would have it was found whilst making space for some furniture due to the (natural) death of the Doctors Mother not that long before his own. Two of the early characters we meet is PC Plumtree a large gentleman with a orange shaped head (Victorian possibly boom boom), also a lawyer Mr Pochin also a larger gentleman (wonder if its worth opening a pie shop there?) They meet Mr Pochin on the train on route who recognises Super Littlejohn from the papers and proceeds to update him on all there is to know and a heck of a lot more, this may bore the tired Littlejohn but you will not be bored reading this page turner. there are great twists and turns all the way through this book, i thought i had it sussed early on but such is the talent of George Bellairs that nothing is always quite what it seems and hence his books are so wonderful. In my opinion anyway, whether this is your first or not of this series i do recommend it to you.
April 3, 2018
Suspects everywhere!
In this installment of now Superintendent Little John there are suspects everywhere! I'd picked the wrong one in the end unfortunately. There's always a big surprise who did the murder in these wonderfully written books. They're all such enjoyable reading that I'll be disappointed when the I'm at the last book. The characters are well written as if you might look for them in their village doing their everyday jobs. Also all the clues are there to follow, but there's always a twist to what unfolds in the end who did the deed. So off too the next book. One thing, I've stated this before, is the book don't tell you the sequence they were written in. That's really annoying, but you can go to the website of George Bellairs & follow them in the order they were written there. I've found out also it really doesn't matter in which order they were written by each of the stories. Only Littlejohns promotions in the ranks & Cromwells advance in his private life. At first Littlejohn is only an inspector, & Cromwell isn't married. Now Littlejohn has just been promoted to Superintendent at the beginning of this story, & Cromwell has, for many books now, married & with 3 daughters, who he's quite proud of & a very dotting father. They're just great books to get lost in, each of them is as good as the next one. I'm sure they'll be very to enjoyable to those whom love this period of mysteries, & the procedurals of Scotland Yard.
In this installment of now Superintendent Little John there are suspects everywhere! I'd picked the wrong one in the end unfortunately. There's always a big surprise who did the murder in these wonderfully written books. They're all such enjoyable reading that I'll be disappointed when the I'm at the last book. The characters are well written as if you might look for them in their village doing their everyday jobs. Also all the clues are there to follow, but there's always a twist to what unfolds in the end who did the deed. So off too the next book. One thing, I've stated this before, is the book don't tell you the sequence they were written in. That's really annoying, but you can go to the website of George Bellairs & follow them in the order they were written there. I've found out also it really doesn't matter in which order they were written by each of the stories. Only Littlejohns promotions in the ranks & Cromwells advance in his private life. At first Littlejohn is only an inspector, & Cromwell isn't married. Now Littlejohn has just been promoted to Superintendent at the beginning of this story, & Cromwell has, for many books now, married & with 3 daughters, who he's quite proud of & a very dotting father. They're just great books to get lost in, each of them is as good as the next one. I'm sure they'll be very to enjoyable to those whom love this period of mysteries, & the procedurals of Scotland Yard.
January 2, 2025
I have never read an Inspector (Superintendent) Littlejohn novel that I didn’t like and this is no exception.
Littlejohn receives an anonymous note telling him there has been a murder in a small town called Abbots Caldicot. Getting in touch with the local police there he finds that all is well, no body discovered. However,that soon changes.
About half way through we get a confession which kind of throws you but things go awry and Littlejohn finds himself bewildered by the choice of possible culprits.
Bellairs delights in detailing not just the town and its buildings but also the appearance of the inhabitants and an odd lot they are. It all makes for very good reading. I’m so glad he wrote so many.
Littlejohn receives an anonymous note telling him there has been a murder in a small town called Abbots Caldicot. Getting in touch with the local police there he finds that all is well, no body discovered. However,that soon changes.
About half way through we get a confession which kind of throws you but things go awry and Littlejohn finds himself bewildered by the choice of possible culprits.
Bellairs delights in detailing not just the town and its buildings but also the appearance of the inhabitants and an odd lot they are. It all makes for very good reading. I’m so glad he wrote so many.
May 2, 2025
A better than average outing for Inspector, now Superintendent, Littlejohn. Towards the middle you think the murderer has been revealed. Then, evidence points another way but finally there is a twist at the end. The only problem with these mysteries is that although the murderer gets caught there are usually secondary characters, sometimes many, that have committed lesser crimes: theft, blackmail, false witness; but do have have justice served against them. Sometimes I would rather see them punished more than the murderer because even though the murder was the prime crime, it is all these other ones that are the stronger poison to the community.
November 26, 2019
Excellent
Another mystery for Chief Superintendent Littlejohn to solve. Three anonymous letters have been sent, one to Littlejohn at Scotland Yard, one to the Chief Constable of Caldicott and one to Sergeant Plumtree of Caldicott Police. As no reports of murder or any person is missing Sergeant Plumtree is at a loss, it is only when a furniture van with antiques from the late Dr Beharrel's mother arrive and furniture is being moved around that the body of Dr Beharrel is discovered. Scotland Yard are immediately called in to investigate the murder.
Another mystery for Chief Superintendent Littlejohn to solve. Three anonymous letters have been sent, one to Littlejohn at Scotland Yard, one to the Chief Constable of Caldicott and one to Sergeant Plumtree of Caldicott Police. As no reports of murder or any person is missing Sergeant Plumtree is at a loss, it is only when a furniture van with antiques from the late Dr Beharrel's mother arrive and furniture is being moved around that the body of Dr Beharrel is discovered. Scotland Yard are immediately called in to investigate the murder.
February 9, 2019
Kindle Unlimited | In some ways, one of the best Littlejohn mysteries I've read, but also just didn't grab me | it took weeks to read this, instead of hours, and I don't really know why. Some aspects were pretty obvious early on, but they were still unique. Fewer characters were defined by their unnecessary quirks, but they were drawn well. Maybe i just wasn't in the mood for the book and didn't realize it
February 19, 2021
Another Fun Littlejohn Mystery
This mystery had murder(s) occurring in a close-knit upper-class neighborhood in a small town. In some ways it follows the typical Littlejohn formula--multiple deaths and diverse and eccentric characters. But the formula never gets old and tired and keeps the reader's attention till the very end. You'll enjoy this mystery I believe; I certainly did.
This mystery had murder(s) occurring in a close-knit upper-class neighborhood in a small town. In some ways it follows the typical Littlejohn formula--multiple deaths and diverse and eccentric characters. But the formula never gets old and tired and keeps the reader's attention till the very end. You'll enjoy this mystery I believe; I certainly did.
January 29, 2022
For a book on mystery, its development was far too linear. There are some minor twists to make the murder interesting, but they also feel unconvincing. Most mystery novels tend to highlight the reader's blindsides to the author's cues in the grand reveal, and in this case the cues didn't blow my mind as much as others from other authors. Overall, not a bad book, although it did feel too drawn out and monotonous.
January 23, 2024
Some ten/fifteen years ago, the town doctor's young wife eloped with a RAF officer, and the doctor has never recovered. He doesn’t leave home, and is paranoid about burglars. When he is found murdered in a secret room of his house, was it a burglar who took him out? Or something more sinister?
A tidy well-organized mystery. Despite all the usual complement of violence, passion, and mayhem, it somehow feels a little antiseptic and restrained. May just have been my mood.
A tidy well-organized mystery. Despite all the usual complement of violence, passion, and mayhem, it somehow feels a little antiseptic and restrained. May just have been my mood.
December 27, 2018
Superintendent Littlejohn receives a letter that someone is dead in Abbott's Caldicott. The police have no idea, but finally the body of a doctor is found in a secret room in his house. As Littlejohn and his team investigate, they uncover a lot of strange history. Can they figure out who did it?
Well-written and goes at a normal pace. Enjoyable.
Well-written and goes at a normal pace. Enjoyable.
January 22, 2018
A little convoluted
The book was on but an attempt to make the story more complex made it convoluted, a little hard to follow and fifty pages longer than it ought to have been. I almost gave up but endured till the end. The except for the next book after the end if this novel sounds interesting. So I will give this author another chance.
The book was on but an attempt to make the story more complex made it convoluted, a little hard to follow and fifty pages longer than it ought to have been. I almost gave up but endured till the end. The except for the next book after the end if this novel sounds interesting. So I will give this author another chance.
May 12, 2018
Possibly the best of the Littlejohns I've read so far.
These are real comfort reading and I'll repeat what I say in each Bellairs review - these would make a much better TV series than Heartbeat or Midsomer Murders.
These are real comfort reading and I'll repeat what I say in each Bellairs review - these would make a much better TV series than Heartbeat or Midsomer Murders.
January 5, 2019
3 1/2 stars. I don't necessarily think this is more clever than most of the others in the series but something appeals particularly to me in this book. Twists and though some things were obvious there were still surprises.
May 18, 2020
Web we weave
The trouble one pretty girl could cause in a rigid crazy town. All of it in the name of love. Five “society” men all loved the same cute thing and one wed her and the rest responded in bizarre ways.
The trouble one pretty girl could cause in a rigid crazy town. All of it in the name of love. Five “society” men all loved the same cute thing and one wed her and the rest responded in bizarre ways.
July 7, 2020
A good series.
No violence, outside of the requisite murder, no suspense, no fighting between the police officers, no fisticuffs. Well mannered polite criminals. 😉🙂 i enjoyed it very much. My type.
No violence, outside of the requisite murder, no suspense, no fighting between the police officers, no fisticuffs. Well mannered polite criminals. 😉🙂 i enjoyed it very much. My type.
October 19, 2017
One of the silly ones. I like most Littlejohn books I have read, but this one turned an entire town into clowns...just slapstick.
November 29, 2018
The Inspector/Superintendent Littlejohn books are always a treat! Great character painting, great atmosphere, great interior monologues.
December 22, 2018
Just OK. This was not one of Bellairs best stories. Kind of boring for me. I have read other stories of his that I liked. I'll keep reading.
August 6, 2021
Initially you think you’ve got what has happened sussed and you wonder what’s going to happen for the rest of the book. And then it gets complicated. Very readable.
September 3, 2021
Interesting story but a litte too drawn out for my tastes.
November 19, 2021
Good, good, good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews