Gently vs The Bikers
Review of the Constable Kindle eBook edition (2011) of the Cassell Crime Connoisseurs hardcover original (1961).

‘I wouldn’t help you if I could, screw. You make it a crime for these kids to get a touch out of smoking. That’s Squaresville from Squaresville. It’s no crime east of Suez.’
‘I wouldn’t know,’ Gently said. ‘It’s outside our jurisdiction.’

Gently Go Man was the basis for the first TV episode of the Inspector George Gently (2007-2017) series, but those who seek out the book hoping for a more extensive background will likely be disappointed. The original novel is very much dated by its antiquated beatnik-like slang used by its biker gang, some members of which (mild spoiler) are running a marijuana distribution ring. The sometimes page long dialogues denouncing 'screws' (i.e. the police) & squares (i.e. straight society) and promoting getting a 'touch' (i.e. getting high) become tiresome to read at length.

Inspector Gently is called in when one biker is run off the road and killed while his passenger survives in a coma. The sole other witness and chief suspect has disappeared. Gently interviews various members of the bike gang and realizes there is more to the crime than first appears. The gang describe themselves as 'Jeebies' and their preferred music is jazz. This is not a UK youth movement that I've ever heard of, unlike Mods, Rockers or Teddy Boys, so perhaps it is something invented by the author. The charismatic leader of the gang attempts to manipulate Gently, who is not impressed.

The unflappable Gently is always entertaining, but this was a chore to get through. Not recommended except for completists.

See cover at https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7b/ce/09/7bce098cb9896a70a176045969212294.jpg
The dust cover of the original hardcover of 'Gently Go Man', published by Cassell Crime Connoisseurs in 1961. Image sourced from Pinterest.

Trivia and Links
Gently Go Man was adapted as the very first episode of the Inspector George Gently TV series (2007-2017) in 2007. The TV adaptation is considerably different from the original book. Very few of the other TV episodes are based on the original books and the characters are quite different e.g. Sgt Bacchus does not appear in the books. A trailer for the series can be seen here. There is no free posting of the entire Episode 1 but it is available on various streaming channels such as BritBox. Someone posted an edit of all the scenes involving actor Richard Armitage as the biker gang leader, which you can see here (Note: This includes some spoilers about the plot of the TV adaptation). ( )