Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our October 25 group read of Murder Included by Joanna Cannan The first book in the D.I. Price series was first published in 1950.

In the prospectus for the Aston Park Guest House and stables, murder is not mentioned among the many attractions. But when a sudden death arrives to upset the family and guests, it seems to become a full-time occupation . . .

Impoverished squire Sir Charles d'Estray brings home his second wife, Bunny, from the French Riviera. A free-spirited and determined bohemian, Bunny commits herself to converting Sir Charles' estate into a paying guesthouse and dragging his family out of their financial woes. Despite the success of the guesthouse, however, the new Lady d'Estray never quite seems to fit in with the old aristocratic family.

When one of the guests, an elderly cousin of the Estrays, is found in her bed dead one morning, suspicion is concentrated on the household alone. But while servants' gossip, personal feuds and large sums of inheritance crop up in investigations, nothing seems to shine light on an adequate motive for murder.

It is up to Detective Inspector Price - a bourgeois townsman with a pure loathing for the effete English aristocracy - to solve the mystery. But will his prejudices and suspicions cloud his judgement?

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

I found this book quite slow to get going and pretty uneven overall, but in the second half I thought the plot was exciting and cleverly worked out - the second murder came as a total shock.

I was surprised to see that this book was chosen for the Green Penguin series, but then saw there were a couple of great twists later on, which I think must be the reason why it was chosen.

I was also pleased that Bunny turns detective in this part of the book, and pretty much solves the crime, as she is a much more appealing character than Ron Price. There is a lot of snobbishness in this book, with most of the characters looking down on someone else, but Bunny seems to do it less than most of the others. Her husband, Sir Charles, is awful and seems to think he has done her a huge favour by marrying her because she is half-French.

Finally finished and really disliked the detective. Bunny and her daughter were great characters, much more interested in actually solving the murders then Price was. I am so glad she left her husband to his distasteful daughter, ineffectual son and bankruptcy.

I thought the plot was very well done once the story finally got moving, but there was quite a lot of non-action in the first half.

I am 'almost' tempted to continue the series just to see if the author continues with the unlikeable and inept detective. But probably not.

I thought the book improved somewhat, but Price would be a difficult police character to continue as he was so unlikeable and biased. I liked Bunny and Lisa. Good for them leaving and going back to France. Sir Charles was a total - well, insert word of choice. I hated his stupid daughter too.

Sandy wrote: "I am 'almost' tempted to continue the series just to see if the author continues with the unlikeable and inept detective. But probably not...."

I might read more by her but would probably prioritise reading any books by her that don't feature Ron Price!

He was oddly unaware. I am almost tempted just to see where she goes with him. Would it be another suspect who carried the story?

Susan wrote: "He was oddly unaware. I am almost tempted just to see where she goes with him. Would it be another suspect who carried the story?"

Good question! I may be tempted after all now, especially as I've just noticed that I own The Complete Detective Price Mysteries Books 1-5 which are currently 99p on Kindle - I must have picked them up a while ago, and also had a separate Kindle copy of just this first book! Looking at the comments on Amazon, quite a few readers don't care for D.I. Price.

That five book set must have been a deal at some point as I have it as well. I also read readers comments for all five and I don't think Price improves (though at some point he has twins).