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crazygoangirl's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
2.0
This is my first book by Christianna Brand and unfortunately might be my last! Listened to this on Audible. The narrator was alright.
This is the first in her Inspector Cockrill series, in which a gathering of six close friends at Pigeonsford House become involved in a horrific murder. The Squire of the house, Stephen Pendock is host to Lady Hart and her two grandchildren, Venetia married to Henry and her twin Francesca, single and loved desperately by a Captain James Nichol and the Squire himself in the desperate way that I so abhor! I’m not fond of love that a man has for a woman whom he’s been around as a child! I find that downright creepy! Grace Morland, a spinster neighbour desperately in love with Pendock and jealous of Francesca is found horrifically murdered in the gardens of the estate and the cast of characters is dragged into a seemingly endless investigation led by Inspector Cockrill.
I’ve yet to find an Inspector as inept as this one is. Although Moresby by Anthony Berkeley isn’t far behind! From allowing suspects to roam free, handle evidence and generally conduct a parallel investigation according to their own whims and fancies, he has no control and apparently no skills! Brand’s plotting is haphazard and she concentrates more on emotions and feelings rather than the basics of a murder investigation. This is published in 1941, and I expected a proper police procedure. Instead characters make random guesses as to guilt and innocence and investigate accordingly. Even murder is apparently excusable if the motive is ‘noble’ as judged by them. Unbelievable🤦🏻♀️
The whole thing was fantastical and unbelievable from start to finish. The writing isn’t bad but all those ‘darlings’ and ‘dears’ made me cringe 🤪 The murders themselves were gorier than I expected in a cosy mystery and the climax was unnecessarily emotional and sappy. I’d guessed the culprit before the Inspector did and frankly didn’t give a damn about any of the characters by the end.
Won’t be reading Brand mysteries for a while. But might read her Nurse Matilda stories on which Nanny McPhee is based! Didn’t know she’d written children’s literature!
This is the first in her Inspector Cockrill series, in which a gathering of six close friends at Pigeonsford House become involved in a horrific murder. The Squire of the house, Stephen Pendock is host to Lady Hart and her two grandchildren, Venetia married to Henry and her twin Francesca, single and loved desperately by a Captain James Nichol and the Squire himself in the desperate way that I so abhor! I’m not fond of love that a man has for a woman whom he’s been around as a child! I find that downright creepy! Grace Morland, a spinster neighbour desperately in love with Pendock and jealous of Francesca is found horrifically murdered in the gardens of the estate and the cast of characters is dragged into a seemingly endless investigation led by Inspector Cockrill.
I’ve yet to find an Inspector as inept as this one is. Although Moresby by Anthony Berkeley isn’t far behind! From allowing suspects to roam free, handle evidence and generally conduct a parallel investigation according to their own whims and fancies, he has no control and apparently no skills! Brand’s plotting is haphazard and she concentrates more on emotions and feelings rather than the basics of a murder investigation. This is published in 1941, and I expected a proper police procedure. Instead characters make random guesses as to guilt and innocence and investigate accordingly. Even murder is apparently excusable if the motive is ‘noble’ as judged by them. Unbelievable🤦🏻♀️
The whole thing was fantastical and unbelievable from start to finish. The writing isn’t bad but all those ‘darlings’ and ‘dears’ made me cringe 🤪 The murders themselves were gorier than I expected in a cosy mystery and the climax was unnecessarily emotional and sappy. I’d guessed the culprit before the Inspector did and frankly didn’t give a damn about any of the characters by the end.
Won’t be reading Brand mysteries for a while. But might read her Nurse Matilda stories on which Nanny McPhee is based! Didn’t know she’d written children’s literature!
maplessence's review against another edition
3.0
3.5★
I'll start by saying I prefer reading uncensored. If a few offensive words or expressions are edited out, who knows what else could be changed?
But Brand's first anti-Semitic comment (yes, there was more than one) was tossed out so casually. For me this made it all the more shocking. This may explain why Brand's adult books are now so hard to find.
Before the book begins we are given a character list, which finishes with;
Kind of fun having clearly defined parameters, but the story goes off the boil at the end, because the author
An easy quick read and interesting as a depiction of life in wartime Britain. I enjoyed enough to search out Brand's best known adult book, [b:Green for Danger|1024750|Green for Danger|Christianna Brand|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1436252130s/1024750.jpg|1010989]
Edit; 18/8/17 Just to clarify (after discussion with other members of the Reading the Detectives Group )Brand has her characters think or say racist things. This doesn't mean Brand herself is racist. I guess this has parallels with the recent [b:The Black Witch|25740412|The Black Witch (The Black Witch Chronicles, #1)|Laurie Forest|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487956992s/25740412.jpg|45580046] controversy.
I'll start by saying I prefer reading uncensored. If a few offensive words or expressions are edited out, who knows what else could be changed?
But Brand's first anti-Semitic comment (yes, there was more than one) was tossed out so casually. For me this made it all the more shocking. This may explain why Brand's adult books are now so hard to find.
Before the book begins we are given a character list, which finishes with;
Among these very ordinary people were found two victims and a murderer.
Kind of fun having clearly defined parameters, but the story goes off the boil at the end, because the author
Spoiler
decides to give everyone a turn at being Chief Suspect. This manages to become both tortuous and boring for this reader. & I was disappointed that Fran wasn't one of the victims. Even though this book was written in 1941, both Fran & her slightly less annoying sister Venetia were written as Bright Young Things & Fran came across more as a Spoilt Brat - in particular her behaviour at the inquest. Were we meant to find that appealing? Or even understandable?Seriously???An easy quick read and interesting as a depiction of life in wartime Britain. I enjoyed enough to search out Brand's best known adult book, [b:Green for Danger|1024750|Green for Danger|Christianna Brand|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1436252130s/1024750.jpg|1010989]
Edit; 18/8/17 Just to clarify (after discussion with other members of the Reading the Detectives Group )Brand has her characters think or say racist things. This doesn't mean Brand herself is racist. I guess this has parallels with the recent [b:The Black Witch|25740412|The Black Witch (The Black Witch Chronicles, #1)|Laurie Forest|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487956992s/25740412.jpg|45580046] controversy.
ssejig's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Grace Morland is a painter and she's been using that excuse to come and sit on Stephen Pendock's terrace at Pigeonsford Estate. Venetia Gold is a golden woman and she is mirrored by her twin Fran whose mien is rather darker. Grace is jealous of Fran who is young and vivacious and whom she assumes is after Mr. Pendock. When Fran gets a new hat, Pen shows his favor and Grace bites back that she wouldn't be caught dead in that hat.
Well, it turns out that she IS found dead in that hat. Then, while the house guests are mourning Grace, another person is murdered. It's a twisty tale that is definitely a product of its time.
People familiar with Agatha Christie will probably figure out early who the killer is. I'm usually terrible and I figured it out. The problem is that Brand's sensibilities are jarring to read in a more enlightened time. Lots of sweeping generalizations that are racially based.
Well, it turns out that she IS found dead in that hat. Then, while the house guests are mourning Grace, another person is murdered. It's a twisty tale that is definitely a product of its time.
People familiar with Agatha Christie will probably figure out early who the killer is. I'm usually terrible and I figured it out. The problem is that Brand's sensibilities are jarring to read in a more enlightened time. Lots of sweeping generalizations that are racially based.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Xenophobia
tahlia__nerds_out's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dgrachel's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
2.0
The audiobook narrator was good. The casual racism and misogyny was breathtaking (not in a good way), but for the most part, I found this forgettable.
bookaneer808's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Set during a snowy week in a rural English house, a local woman is found dead on the grounds - decapitated. It seems to follow a pattern set the year before when the headless body of another young woman was found.
There are six people staying in the house who become suspects - the squire and his guests. But the crime seems impossible - then another woman is killed...also beheaded.
A tense, claustrophobic tale where to suspect ones friends is impossible - yet what other explanation could there be?
There are six people staying in the house who become suspects - the squire and his guests. But the crime seems impossible - then another woman is killed...also beheaded.
A tense, claustrophobic tale where to suspect ones friends is impossible - yet what other explanation could there be?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Classism
slferg's review against another edition
4.0
Set in England during WWII, there is a house party at Pigeonsford Estate. The owner, Stephen Pendock, has as guests Lady Hart, her two grandaughters Venetia and Francesca, Venetia's husband Henry, and James Nicholl. Grace Morland, who always paints the church tower has invited herself to the patio to paint the tower in the snow. As per custom, she is invited to tea before she returns home. She is in love with Stephen Pendock, but he appears to be falling for Francesca. The summer before there was a murder in the woods by the house where a young woman was decapitated with a scythe that is still unsolved. They memory is hanging heavily on the house. Then Grace Morland's adopted? cousin Pippi turns up at her house. Grace is murdered that night and decapitated with Fran's new hat placed on her head. Inspector Cockrill is not happy with the behavior of the house party, although he does derive some amusement from them trying to work out theories to solve the crime.
The ending and solution are rather unusual.
The ending and solution are rather unusual.
fernandie's review against another edition
3.0
Despite the handful of suspects, I really had no idea who did it.
Content warning: Lots of anti-Semitic remarks / Jewish stereotypes.
Content warning: Lots of anti-Semitic remarks / Jewish stereotypes.