Off the Record

Jack Haldean Murder Mystery #5

by Dolores Gordon-Smith

The new entry in the popular ‘Jack Haldean’ series, set in the Roaring Twenties  -  Charles Otterbourne’s New Century company should have been the perfect partner for Professor Alan Carrington’s radical new gramophone. After all, Charles was not only a leading manufacturer, but also a noted philanthropist. But when murder is the result of their meeting, Jack Haldean takes up the case, in a desperate bid to save a man from the gallows. But what led to the crime? The answer is Off the Record . . .

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Fiction, British Literature

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

Dolores Gordon-Smith is the author of A Fete Worse than Death, the first in the Jack Haldean series. She graduated from the University of Surrey in 1981. She lives in Cheshire, United Kingdom.

Extra info found on Wikipedia

Reviews

[Tiffany E-P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m confused-book 5 does not pick up where book 4 left off. I felt a bit let down that I didn’t get to find out what happened to everyone and how they made it out of the desert.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Haldean's Scotland Yard inspector friend asks for his opinion on a murder case. Oh, they've caught the murderer, but something about the proof seems--well, unconvincing. As Jack digs further into the case, he realizes that the loathsome victim had a lot of enemies, but the roots of the case seem to go back to an earlier crime which had never been solved in a satisfactory way. Again, there's a strong case against a suspect--but Jack still thinks there's something wrong. This is so charming that I didn't even mind figuring it out before Haldean.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like other reviewers, I found the mystery element of this one to be too convoluted, although easier for me to figure out than previous books in the series. I saw the bad guy early on. The romance plot was unbelievable. But I did enjoy how she visualized an alternative history of recording. These books do a good job of being rooted in the time, and Gordon-Smith does her research.
I just re read this, and I had no memory of having read it before. Nothing triggered any thought that I had read this before. Does this say more about me or the book?

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery in this one felt very much rooted in character development which was fairly interesting. There was a lot going on in showing the many facets of each of the characters. The solution ended up being fairly complex and I didn't really understand one of the character's motivations and there were other loose ends but it was a good story and a nice addition to the series. I really liked and appreciated Gordon-Smith's note at the beginning explaining the history.
Jack Haldean is at the center of a new mystery where a man whose invention could revolutionize the way music is played. But why would the professor seemingly murder the man who could make his ambition even bigger? Could it be that the entrepreneur had secrets of his own.

[David C Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

A retro or neo Golden Age English mystery with cocktail shakers, cigarette cases, dining in white tie and an amateur sleuth telling Scotland Yard what’s what. A series of frankly cockamamie assaults and murders as well as faked suicides, unlikely impersonations and other red herrings set against the history of sound recording and control of the new technology. Entertaining except that untangling the plot(s) - the main characters all withhold evidence (or lie) in order to keep the plot going - is tiring.
Also: shooting a small caliber bullet into a plaster ceiling is not going to cause the clouds of dust that occurs here.

[Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

22 Oh dear. I sort of enjoyed the earlier one in the series that I read but this one came across as even more middle class orientated than the earlier one. And frankly just
Not for me at this particular time

[Sandra Jamieson, · Rating 2 out of 5]

No Clue

For me, Off The Record contained too many red herrings and not enough clues to enable me to follow, or even guess at, the evidence and conclusions reached by Jack Haldean.
A reader likes to perhaps feel more invol

[Karen Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

By the first murder, I knew "whodunit", and confirmed by reading the last chapter...I'd found the other, earlier books better. And Lotd, the explanation was convoluted! Hoping for a return to standards.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting mystery also involving improving the development of the gramophone. I must admit I knew pretty soon who the murder was, but it didn’t stop my enjoyment of the mystery.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 A very convoluted story revolving around ground breaking improvements in recorded sound. The mystery/murders were interesting, if not quite believable, but still enjoying the series.

[Jackie Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I nearly gave up on this one , as I found the characters at the beginning very confusing.
Glad I didn’t however as this proved another great page turner with another unexpected ending.

[Val Sanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to be intrigued by Major Jack Haldean. He's a 20th century Sherlock Holmes with a dashing wardrobe, a fast car and a quick wit. This story takes us through the industrial coming of age for wireless recording and playback. An eccentric and rough genius is embroiled in heated talks with a captain of industry and the bodies start adding up. This was the first of the series where I was pretty sure I had the loose ends tied up, but like Lord Peter Whimsey, Haldean keeps his thoughts close to the vest. The outcome is tragic and unnecessary.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Golden Age style story. With lots of red herrings and a colorful cast of characters, Jack gets pulled into another puzzle.

I liked this exchange in the book:
"...They're talking about trivialities and you want to talk about real things?
...
And yet, you know, ordinary people have a lot to talk about. All you have to do is listen.
Listen. ... I can do that, I suppose. Anyone can do that.
You'd be surprised how many people don't want to. ..."

[Christine Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as previous.
It was too obvious from the very first chapters who was going to be "the villian" and the means used to obfuscate the truth (before, even, a crime was committed). So i spent the rest of the novel skimming portions that were obvious red herrings, and waiting for the denoument. Not enough Jack Haldean & extended family. I did enjoy the quirky characters (Both the Carringtons & Mrs. dunbar) and the explanation of logic & justice jack gave Gery Carrington.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This mystery has a lot of the elements I really like in a story. It takes place "between the wars" and includes a lot of useful clues which are generally doled out fairly. The author sets up an interesting tension between who the reader "wants" the to be the murderer and the clues. I suppose I should applaud her for that, but somehow when I finished I felt a little cheated.

[Kathy Moberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of the Jack Haldean books. this one may not have been quite up to snuff -- I did find myself getting a little bogged down and confused about which young man was which, but that may just have been because I was interrupted so many time while reading it. It was quite a puzzle, tho, and Jack continues to intrigue me.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dependable but not sterling series. There was not enough of Jack Haldean in this one. I had figured out the murderer early on and how he had done it. It was almost an "Unknown twin," one of the no no's of mystery writing form the golden era.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dolores Gordon-Smith is my 'new' go to author. Slowly reading through ALL of her books. They are mysteries set in England WWI and just after. Very witty; reminds me a bit of the writing of Dorothy L. Sayers (who I love) and her Peter Wimsey character. Love them!

[SuedePuzzler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read several of the author's books, this one is the best so far. Lots of murders, but in classical Golden Age style it never gets gruesome or depressing. The mystery is a fair-play mystery with some real twists in the solution.

[Miki · Rating 1 out of 5]

BORING. Which is funny because I liked the other two in the series.

[Cece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Figured it out about 1/2 way through.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of her best.

[Homerun2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Readable, a little predictable but a pretty good series.