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Bezig met laden... Death at Breakfast (1936)door John Rhode
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Onderdeel van de reeks(en)Dr Priestley (23) Onderdeel van de uitgeversreeks(en)The Albatross Crime Club (No. 161)
A classic winter's crime novel by one of the most highly regarded exponents of the genre. Victor Harleston awoke with uncharacteristic optimism. Today he would be rich at last. Half an hour later, he gulped down his breakfast coffee and pitched to the floor, gasping and twitching. When the doctor arrived, he recognised instantly that it was a fatal case of poisoning and called in Scotland Yard. Despite an almost complete absence of clues, the circumstances were so suspicious that Inspector Hanslet soon referred the evidence to his friend and mentor, Dr Lancelot Priestley, whose deductions revealed a diabolically ingenious murder that would require equally fiendish ingenuity to solve. Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
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Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)823.912Literature English English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1901-1945WaarderingGemiddelde:
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The narrative begins with Victor Harleston’s murder and the investigation into that crime. Then, after Mr. Knott’s disappearance, the focus switches to the investigation of that mystery. Although the two crimes are interrelated and eventually connected, the sudden switch in focus from one to the other makes the story disjointed.
As usual, Inspector Hanslet comes across as a mindless buffoon. He is highly susceptible to manipulation, and always seems ready to believe the most obvious suspect just has to be guilty and should be immediately arrested. He routinely goes to Dr. Priestley for advice, but rarely seems inclined to take it. One has to imagine that, in cases for which Dr. Priestley is not consulted, countless criminals are walking free and that numerous innocent people have been dragged to the gallows just because of Hanslet’s gross incompetence.
Of course, Dr. Priestley is an equally disagreeable character in his own way. He appears to know the solution to the crimes very early on, but refuses to say directly what is on his mind. He just sort of sits in his armchair giving vague suggestions to Hanslet and Waghorn without explanation or elaboration, while secretly laughing at them behind their backs. Consequently, he comes across as incredibly pompous and self-absorbed. And, because he enjoys toying with the police like they are his personal playthings, the solution of the crime takes about five times longer than it should.
This is an interesting mystery with a well-crafted solution. Unfortunately, it drags on way too long and I found myself skimming towards the end. ( )