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Inspector West #16
So Young, So Cold, So Fair
Two strangled dead girls and Inspector West finds they were both regional winners in a soap company's beauty contest.
- GenresMysteryProceduralFiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
2 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
John Creasey
697 books78 followersAKA Gordon Ashe, M E Cooke, Norman Deane, Robert Caine Frazer, Patrick Gill, Michael Halliday, Charles Hogarth, Brian Hope, Colin Hughes, Kyle Hunt, Margaret Lisle, Abel Mann, Peter Manton, J.J. Marric, Richard Martin, Rodney Mattheson, Anthony Morton, Jeremy York, Henry St. John Cooper and Margaret Cooke.
John Creasey (September 17, 1908 - June 9, 1973) was born in Southfields, Surrey, England and died in New Hall, Bodenham, Salisbury Wiltshire, England. He was the seventh of nine children in a working class home. He became an English author of crime thrillers, published in excess of 600 books under 20+ different pseudonyms. He invented many famous characters who would appear in a whole series of novels. Probably the most famous of these is Gideon of Scotland Yard, the basis for the television program Gideon's Way but others include Department Z, Dr. Palfrey, The Toff, Inspector Roger West, and The Baron (which was also made into a television series). In 1962, Creasey won an Edgar Award for Best Novel, from the Mystery Writers of America, for Gideon's Fire, written under the pen name J. J. Marric. And in 1969 he was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
John Creasey (September 17, 1908 - June 9, 1973) was born in Southfields, Surrey, England and died in New Hall, Bodenham, Salisbury Wiltshire, England. He was the seventh of nine children in a working class home. He became an English author of crime thrillers, published in excess of 600 books under 20+ different pseudonyms. He invented many famous characters who would appear in a whole series of novels. Probably the most famous of these is Gideon of Scotland Yard, the basis for the television program Gideon's Way but others include Department Z, Dr. Palfrey, The Toff, Inspector Roger West, and The Baron (which was also made into a television series). In 1962, Creasey won an Edgar Award for Best Novel, from the Mystery Writers of America, for Gideon's Fire, written under the pen name J. J. Marric. And in 1969 he was given the MWA's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 11, 2016
The story starts with beautiful young Betty Gelibrand having an argument with her boyfriend, Harold Millsom. Betty has won the Conway Soap Beauty Contest and is convinced she is going to be a star like Vivien Leigh or Jean Simmons. Harold wants none of it. He wants Betty to marry him and settle down. Betty storms off, leaving Harold to take his fury out on an innocent bystander. Soon afterwards, Betty is found strangled and Harold is the chief suspect for obvious reasons. However, it soon becomes apparent that someone is killing the winners of the Conway Soap Beauty Contest.
Chief Inspector Roger West is assigned the investigation of Betty’s murder and the eventual serial killings. Unfortunately for him, he is assisted by the arrogant, callous Detective Inspector Warren Turnbull, who complicates the investigation by openly flouting the rules. West is incredibly patient with him, far more than Turnbull deserves. In fact, Turnbull’s behavior actually distracts from the story since he has much more personality than West and dominates their scenes together.
That’s actually the problem with the story. While the mystery is interesting, West is not. He’s quite dull and wooden. He’s like a marionette, not a person. The story actually seems to move faster when he is not around. Another weak point is the ending. There was no suspense in the discovery of the killer, who was actually quite forgettable. It was all very anti-climactic.
This was an okay way to pass some time, but it’s not something I want to read again or a series that I want to revisit. This is my third read of a Creasey novel and there won’t be a fourth. I think three stars is being generous.
Chief Inspector Roger West is assigned the investigation of Betty’s murder and the eventual serial killings. Unfortunately for him, he is assisted by the arrogant, callous Detective Inspector Warren Turnbull, who complicates the investigation by openly flouting the rules. West is incredibly patient with him, far more than Turnbull deserves. In fact, Turnbull’s behavior actually distracts from the story since he has much more personality than West and dominates their scenes together.
That’s actually the problem with the story. While the mystery is interesting, West is not. He’s quite dull and wooden. He’s like a marionette, not a person. The story actually seems to move faster when he is not around. Another weak point is the ending. There was no suspense in the discovery of the killer, who was actually quite forgettable. It was all very anti-climactic.
This was an okay way to pass some time, but it’s not something I want to read again or a series that I want to revisit. This is my third read of a Creasey novel and there won’t be a fourth. I think three stars is being generous.
May 15, 2023
When beautiful Betty Gelibrand is found strangled after she and her boyfriend Harold Millsom have a very public argument, Detective Inspector Turnbull, is sure this is going to be an easy one. Especially after he and Chief Inspector Roger West find out Millsom also beat up the man who overheard the argument. And that during the argument, Millsom had said that he'd rather see her dead than "ruined by that theater mob." Millsom runs the boyfriend to earth atop a church roof, but the young man falls from the roof and dies before he can be questioned properly. It looks like the case will be closed without the cost of a trial.
West, on the other hand, isn't convinced and soon discovers that another pretty young woman was strangled previously in similar circumstances...and that both women were contestants in the same beauty contest. And another young woman follows the first two.It isn't long before he and Turnbull are in a race to find the killer before s/he eliminates all bathing beauties. Is it a case of someone getting rid of the competition for their favorite? Or does someone just hate beauty that much?
Generally speaking, I have enjoyed the Inspector West police procedural series. I've given out mostly four stars with one three star winner in previous My Reader's Block reviews. But this one falls flat for me. I really don't care for Turnbull at all and, like West's fellow police officers, I can't for the life of me figure out why West doesn't take him down a peg or two from the very beginning. Turnbull is cocky and overbearing and very full of himself. He may be a bright young detective but he goes plunging in when a lighter touch is required and he says things to West that no subordinate should ever say unless a relationship has been established that would allow for him to speak his mind freely (it hasn't). And even then, some of the things he says are so out of line, that a good working relationship wouldn't excuse them. On top of it all, he's not even really contrite when West solves the murders and saves him (Turnbull) from the discipline he's got coming from the higher ups. He's been busted back to Detective Sergeant but he tells West "What the hell difference do you think a year or two is going to make? I'll catch up and pass you before you're really awake!" The quote my edition has from Anthony Boucher, indicates that Boucher thought this conflict between West and Turnbull "affords Creasey a chance for the most rounded characterization he has written." Um. If you say so, Mr. Boucher.
Not my favorite Inspector West novel by a long shot.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
West, on the other hand, isn't convinced and soon discovers that another pretty young woman was strangled previously in similar circumstances...and that both women were contestants in the same beauty contest. And another young woman follows the first two.It isn't long before he and Turnbull are in a race to find the killer before s/he eliminates all bathing beauties. Is it a case of someone getting rid of the competition for their favorite? Or does someone just hate beauty that much?
Generally speaking, I have enjoyed the Inspector West police procedural series. I've given out mostly four stars with one three star winner in previous My Reader's Block reviews. But this one falls flat for me. I really don't care for Turnbull at all and, like West's fellow police officers, I can't for the life of me figure out why West doesn't take him down a peg or two from the very beginning. Turnbull is cocky and overbearing and very full of himself. He may be a bright young detective but he goes plunging in when a lighter touch is required and he says things to West that no subordinate should ever say unless a relationship has been established that would allow for him to speak his mind freely (it hasn't). And even then, some of the things he says are so out of line, that a good working relationship wouldn't excuse them. On top of it all, he's not even really contrite when West solves the murders and saves him (Turnbull) from the discipline he's got coming from the higher ups. He's been busted back to Detective Sergeant but he tells West "What the hell difference do you think a year or two is going to make? I'll catch up and pass you before you're really awake!" The quote my edition has from Anthony Boucher, indicates that Boucher thought this conflict between West and Turnbull "affords Creasey a chance for the most rounded characterization he has written." Um. If you say so, Mr. Boucher.
Not my favorite Inspector West novel by a long shot.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
June 8, 2022
A typical Inspector West yarn, fast moving and with plenty of incident.
This one has West investigating the killing of a beauty queen, which soon develops into a serial-killer type story where someone is apparently targeting all the contestants. To further complicate matters, one of West's colleagues is letting his rivalry with the Yard's golden boy, as well as his attraction to one of the potential victims, interfere with the case. A good solid procedural.
This one has West investigating the killing of a beauty queen, which soon develops into a serial-killer type story where someone is apparently targeting all the contestants. To further complicate matters, one of West's colleagues is letting his rivalry with the Yard's golden boy, as well as his attraction to one of the potential victims, interfere with the case. A good solid procedural.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews