English Mysteries Club discussion

I like Brand so I'm happy :) And for those who are interested, there is also a good (b&w) movie of this with Alastair Sims.

Leslie, I bought this some months ago, probably on your recommendation, and it's still in my tbr pile (which seems to expand daily), so I will be delighted to have the excuse to read it from 15th or earlier!

What a delight. This has been on my shelf since I purchased a vintage edition after seeing it recommended in a prior nomination. I'm so glad we will be discussing it this month.

I was able to get the DVD from the library .There are loads of Christianna Brand books at our library ,they look really interesting.

Is it necessary to read the first story in this series? I noticed it was the second.

Arpita wrote: "Is it necessary to read the first story in this series? I noticed it was the second."

Not that I recall.

Oh no, I ordered Green for Danger from my library but didn't pay attention to the author and just picked up Green for Danger....by Martin Edwards. Who would have thought there were Two Green for Danger books.

Diane wrote: "Oh no, I ordered Green for Danger from my library but didn't pay attention to the author and just picked up Green for Danger....by Martin Edwards. Who would have thought there were Two Green for Da..."

My library doesn't have Green for Danger ...

My library doesn't have it either.

Cracking mystery. Really enjoyed this. Thanks whoever nominated this one!

I guess discussion is open now? I figured out the way in which the first murder was committed but not the motive or who did it. Really enjoyed the oppressive atmosphere of the hospital and the threat of the blitz. I would be grateful for recommendations of other titles by this author. Or even similar golden age mysteries.

I got it on my Kindle. It was a good story as well as a good mystery. I just ordered book one from Amazon for $1.99 Love the Golden Age mysteries.

Book one is "Heads You Lose".

I want to read more from this author as well. Going to see the film version tonight. Looking forward to it!

I love Christianna Brand. There are some links between two of her series, with Inspector Charlesworth appearing in books by Inspector Cockrill:

Inspector Charlesworth
Death in High Heels (1941)
The Rose in Darkness (1979)

Inspector Cockrill
1. Heads You Lose (1941)
2. Green for Danger (1944)
3. Suddenly at His Residence (1946)
aka The Crooked Wreath
4. Death of Jezebel (1948)
5. London Particular (1952)
aka Fog of Doubt
6. Tour De Force (1955)
The Three Cornered Halo (1957)
The Spotted Cat and Other Mysteries from Inspector Cockrill's Casebook (2002)

However, her books do not feature the detective much outside of the mystery, and so (much as I hate doing it myself) you can read these out of order. Some are hard to get hold of and, sadly, out of print, but worth tracking down if you enjoy Golden Age Mysteries.

That's very helpful Susan. Do you have any favorites among the books she wrote ( apart from Green For Danger)?

I found the film version very disappointing. They had changed the plot slightly and the story lacked the tension that the book had, at least for me.

That's very helpful Susan. Do you have any favorites among the books she wrote ( apart from Green For Danger)?

I found the film version very disappointing. They had changed the plot slightly and the story lacked the tension that the book had, at least for me.

"Death in High Heels" is a fun read - if you can overlook the now, extremely, un-PC language. "Suddenly at his residence" and "London Particular" are also good. I was lucky enough to get most of these on kindle, when they were available. A couple were hard to get in any edition, but, along with Nicholas Blake, she is a real favourite of mine.

Film versions of books are usually disappointing in my experience. I don't really watch films, but I will only watch if I haven't read the book. David Suchet is an exception, as he really played Poirot properly!

Is Goodreads confused, or did we extend Green for Danger for another month since so many of us have had trouble getting it? Mine just arrived.

Susan thank you very much for those recommendations.

Carol I thought it was for March which was why I started discussing it but I could be mistaken.

It WAS for March -- but there's now an announcement that it's for April. ???

And I second thanks to Susan for the recs!

Well, I finally got my copy & finished reading it, & it was worth the long Q at the library. Fascinating to step into a minutely described WWII hospital & operating theatre, along with the lives & domestic arrangements of those who worked there saving lives after each night's bombing. I like the book's unusual structure: in the opening scenes, we meet a future murder victim plus the tight-knit group that includes his killer. They all know too, as bodies start piling up, that one of them must be doing this; yet the ending came as a surprise to me as well as them.

I wonder why Christianna Brand isn't better known, & suspect it's because her protagonist (Inspector Cockrill) is not as distinctive as e.g. Poirot or Holmes or Wimsey, nor as interesting as her other characters.

Did anyone else have this reaction?

I too wondered why she isn't better known. I had never heard of her before we read this book. I plan to read more.

I agree with you Carol. She wrote a really good story. I'm wondering if the rest of her books are as good regarding plot. The inspector does seem a little dull compared to others. So happy that these books and others are available as e books now. Vintage books are entering into a Renaissance of sorts.

I just wish the ebooks were available outside UK/USA. None of my libraries hold copies either, so I just have to keep an eye on the used book stalls.

Did you know that Nanny McPhee is based on her Nurse Matilda Tales?

I just read "Heads You Lose", book one and liked it a lot.

Good to know Kay that the book was good. It's on my wish list and I believe it's on sale on Amazon at the moment. Ella's Gran- it is so frustrating when the e books are not available.
I notice that the UK sometimes has the best availability.