Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our August 22 challenge read of Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles a pseudonym for Anthony Berkeley
(Anthony Berkeley Cox) (1893 - 1971) who also used the name A Monmouth Platts and was a founding member of The Detection Club.

First published in 1931, this mystery has been called an extraordinary mystery landmark, brilliant and innovative, which not only "established a distinctive new subgenre of 'inverted' novels" (Malcolm Turnbull), but also, according to critic/author Julian Symons, begat "the post-war realistic crime novel."

Summer. 1930. The hottest day of the year. And Dr Bickleigh has murder in mind.

On a balmy summer's day in 1930 the great and the good of the county are out in force for the annual, much-anticipated tennis party at the Bickleighs, although not everyone has much enthusiasm for the game. The tennis party exists for other reasons - and charmingly mannered infidelity is now the most popular pastime in the small but exclusive Devonshire hamlet of Wyvern's Cross.

Which is why, in his own garden, the host, Dr Edmund Bickleigh, is desperately fighting to conceal the two things on his mind: a mounting passion for Gwynyfryd Rattery - and the certain conviction that he is going to kill his wife . . .

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

Just opening this up a day early as it is the weekend - many thanks to Susan for setting up the threads.

Who is reading this one? The spoiler thread is linked below:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I'm not always a big fan of inverted mysteries where we know the villain from the start, but must say I really enjoyed this one and found it very difficult to put down - I loved to hate Bickleigh and enjoyed the author's sarcastic wit.

I can definitely see why this is one of Anthony Berkeley's most famous titles. Although he wrote it under a pseudonym, he gave readers a clue by giving the main character a name so similar to his own!

I'll post more thoughts about the plot over in the spoiler thread soon.

I've just started this and yes, Berkeley does seem in a category of his own when it comes to GA - I like the variety of his books and just that indefinable something that gives his writing flair.

Yep, I think a category of his own is right, RC! He clearly enjoyed putting his own spins on the genre with books like this one and The Poisoned Chocolates Case.

I get the impression at the time he was up there with Christie, Sayers, Marsh and Allingham, but for some reason he went out of fashion - good to see more of his books being reprinted now.

He's certainly a new favourite of mine so thanks group! and it's such a shame that he's not coming back into print evenly with our US members unable to get many of his titles.

Roman Clodia wrote: "I've just started this and yes, Berkeley does seem in a category of his own when it comes to GA - I like the variety of his books and just that indefinable something that gives his writing flair."

Yes! His writing is so witty, almost catty in parts, reminds me of EF Benson’s “Lucia” novels - but with a mystery attached, frabjous joy!

I’m just in the second chapter, so will return later to post more. But I am definitely enjoying it, and the variety of his mysteries, he didn’t get locked into a set plot or series detective. Well, Roger Sheringham, but even the ones I’ve read don’t seem predictable. Intriguing for us readers!

I'm slightly ahead of you, Susan in NC, and yes, agree about the cattiness! I also think this is pretty racy in parts for a book published in 1931.

It's a bit of a puzzle, though, why so many young women fall for Dr Bickleigh given what we know about him...

Julia and the doctor are somehow reminding me of so many married couples in Roald Dahl's short stories - so I keep expecting an unexpected twist!

In inverted mysteries, I often dislike having to see through the villain's eyes, but that wasn't a problem for me in this one because Berkeley makes it so clear he can't stand Bickleigh and doesn't expect readers to have much sympathy, through all the sarcastic (catty, as you say, Susan) comments about him.

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm slightly ahead of you, Susan in NC, and yes, agree about the cattiness! I also think this is pretty racy in parts for a book published in 1931.

It's a bit of a puzzle, though, why so many you..."

Halfway through now, and I must say, I agree with you, I can’t see much attractive about the doctor!

Judy wrote: "In inverted mysteries, I often dislike having to see through the villain's eyes, but that wasn't a problem for me in this one because Berkeley makes it so clear he can't stand Bickleigh and doesn't..."

Good point, Judy, Berkeley makes it clear we aren’t to see the doctor as a misunderstood or sympathetic character.

The doctor is quite successful with some of the women, considering we are told that he is fairly unnattractive. I liked the opening, with the tennis party and the way the locals feeling sorry for the hen-pecked husband. The writing is, as RC says, above average.

It's such an odd marriage, isn't it? I'd originally thought that Julia had money to explain it, but turns out either she didn't, or it's all been passed to Bickleigh as her husband.

It reminded me of a discussion we were having about Celia Fremlin on the Twentieth Century group, where it's perfectly usual for people to marry without any special regard on either side, just a social arrangement with varying degrees of transparency.

I'm suspicious of Madeleine!

I've just started! So far Julia seems a very one-dimensional caricature of a nagging wife. I wonder if we're going to see any redeeming qualities in her at all.

This is immaculately structured: part 1 ends at exactly 50% (thanks Kindle), with two major strands coming together perfectly.

Yes, Julia escaped her family and the label of spinster, and presumably our doctor got her family status, as he is from a lower social class.

Susan wrote: "The doctor is quite successful with some of the women, considering we are told that he is fairly unnattractive. I liked the opening, with the tennis party and the way the locals feeling sorry for t..."

Definitely, that opening tennis party scene is rife with snarky observations (Julia and the vicar being the moral arbiters of the village, who the gossips are), and intriguing clues foreshadowing events and personalities.

Gina wrote: "I've just started! So far Julia seems a very one-dimensional caricature of a nagging wife. I wonder if we're going to see any redeeming qualities in her at all."

Hi Gina! Hope you enjoy this one. I'll be interested to hear what you think about Julia when you get further in the book. I agree she seems like a stereotyped nagging wife at the start.

I am very close to halfway mark, and no one seems to be quite as they appear. Fascinating read but there is no one to rout for.

I agree that Berkeley is an interesting author with a different variety of plots. I'm enjoying the sarcasm and like the comparison to the Lucia series.

Judy wrote: "Hi Gina! Hope you enj..."

Yes, I'm about a third of the way through now, and I see what you mean! She has more sense and discernment than she seemed to have at first (and definitely more than her husband! :-) ).

I read this ages ago and enjoyed it a lot more than the mystery novels he wrote as Anthony Berkeley, which I feel take the insouciant, inter-war light-heartedness of their protagonists a bit too far. I seem to remember comparing it to Nicholas Blake's 'The Beast Must Die' (but preferring the NB).