Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our Feb/March 24 Buddy Read of Helen Passes By Book 23 in the Bobby Owen series this was published in 1947.

"I don't like it, Olive. No good, plain evidence, not so much as the smell of a fingerprint. Nothing but psychology and an atmosphere of doubt, menace, and suspicion."

Bobby Owen's latest case begins with him warily lending five shillings to an old reprobate. But this is driven from his mind when he hears of the murder of one Itter Bain, found shot in the woods. Bobby is called into the case, one already made controversial by the alleged shielding of an aristocratic suspect. The evidence certainly ought to make the aristocrat a figure of particular interest to the police. But Bobby needs to tread lightly to prevent a national scandal.

Other suspects include the irresistibly beautiful Helen, Wing Commander Winstanley (a rival for Helen's affections), and a suspiciously well-informed reporter on a local newspaper. All the while the killer is biding time before striking again - unless Bobby can unmask the fiend first.

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

I'm rather tired of this series as I felt the books were becoming samey, so am not reading them at the moment (but may be tempted back).

However, I thought I'd post a link to this blog review of the book which also includes a couple of contemporary reviews - they look a bit spoilerish, so I've put it in the spoiler thread:
https://grandestgame.wordpress.com/li...

Judy wrote: "I'm rather tired of this series as I felt the books were becoming samey, so am not reading them at the moment (but may be tempted back).

However, I thought I'd post a link to this blog review of t..."

I bought a few of the books when they were cheap (or even free!). If I have a copy of the book under discussion, I will read it: if not, like you, I will sit it out.

I've rounded this up to a 4 star rating but really it may just fall short of that. I did like it but there were so many times when Bobby was hampered by wanting to do well for Scotland Yard, and so was unable to to pursue his personal method of investigating. Quite a few times he had to hold his tongue, for fear of upsetting what we would then have called the upper class. I did like the fact that he was writing to Olive, his wife, pointing out these problems, and letting him say exactly how he felt about it. Promotion obviously means a lot to him, whereas it didn't seem to before.
I found his accepting the way the home for the elderly was being used and their time was being cut short, and the fact that young women were also going there to obviously have abortions, which were against the law at that time, was treated lightly. I think the old Bobby would have taken up these breaches in the law.

Not my favorite Bobby Owen entry mostly because the (missing) Helen is not in the least believable and she takes up way too much print. I also missed Olive's insight and imagine Bobby did as well. On the plus side, Wayling is an interesting character, though unbelievable in his own way. Bobby's temporary boss, Seers, and Bobby's handling of him, added a humane touch.

So glad Jane is planning on paying all Wayling's debts; it seems a fitting tribute.

Jill wrote: "I've rounded this up to a 4 star rating but really it may just fall short of that. I did like it but there were so many times when Bobby was hampered by wanting to do well for Scotland Yard, and so..."

No sure I agree that the old Bobby would follow up on the nursing (if one can call it that) home. It was closing down, and his 'not part of my investigation' mantra seems very familiar.

This is the first that I've read in this series. I thought it was okay. I enjoyed the dramatic ending quite a bit. It felt a bit like he needs a sidekick, but I guess maybe his wife normally fills that role.

I couldn't really tell what the author was going for with Helen. I got the Helen of Troy reference, but I wasn't sure if I was supposed to find it amusing or what. I thought it might not have been quite so odd if I was more familiar with the series' tone.

Vanessa wrote: "This is the first that I've read in this series. I thought it was okay. I enjoyed the dramatic ending quite a bit. It felt a bit like he needs a sidekick, but I guess maybe his wife normally fills ..."

I've read all the Booby Owens before this one and I have no idea what the Helen theme was about. I've decided I'm glad Bobby never saw her because either of his reactions would have been an anticlimax.