George Bellairs (1902–1985)

The Murder Of A Quack (1943) by George Bellairs. This is another delightful murder mystery set in small town England. Think of this as a grandfather to Midsomer Murders and Foyle’s War as it has strains of both television series running though it. The mystery novels of George Bellairs are designed as both intriguing mysteries in themselves and as a light pleasure dalliance away from the horrible war during which these novels are set and written.
We can look back on this series of stories and wonder at the level of everyday detail displayed, but of course it would be. Bellairs wrote about his time and with a sharp eye reflecting what was happening all around. It is that he selected to have his Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Littlejohn become involved in the working of small towns and small town people that enabled him to bandy about the odd ways of life and the insecurities of everyday people, while a great evil lurks under their collective noses.
In this case, the quack referenced to in the title is one of a line of healers who practice curative medicine outside of the official halls of medicine. Decades ago the family started by setting bones for farmer and villages alike with almost no cost the the receiver of their ministrations. They did not prescribe medications nor did they attempt to “horn in on” the medical practitioners within the community. By doing this they garnered a good reputation among almost all medicos and lay person alike.
Nathaniel Wall, a “homeopath healer” and the current “quack” of the Wall family, is found hanging from a series of ropes and pulleys he has used for the performance of his work in his consulting room. Inspector Littlejohn is soon called in to the village of Stalden by the local constabulary to assume control of the investigation. He, along with the local constable, PC Mellalieu, try to unravel the mystery which includes the victim’s collection of newspaper stories concerning a London heist of several years prior. Do they have anything dot do with this murder, and if so, what. There is also a young woman who Mr. Wall, although not related, had been treating as a daughter. And the local doctor has to be considered as the bonesetter was more popular with his “quackery” than the doc with his degree and license.
It is a merry little chase, and even through there is a scant number of possible killers, Mr. Bellairs manages to bring in connections to causes both old and new. Overall he sprinkles a sense of amusement, even hilarity, but with a deft touch.
While you might discover the killer long before the end of the story, the rationals will keep you reading to the end.
While Mr. Bellairs (real nome Harold Blundell) was never a big name in writing during the Golden Age of Mysteries, I think he is a name worth looking for while scanning the shelves of your favorite used book store. Or order online from Poisoned Pen Press, but only if you can’t get out of your residence for some reason. These books are meant for a quiet weekend type of read. Besides I like his work.… (meer)