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srash's review
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
The Happy Valley set of British colonial expats in Kenya in the 1920s through 1940s were especially notorious for their infamous drug-fueled adulterous antics. Things all came crashing down in 1941 when Joss Hays, who's debauched but charming reputation was legendary, was murdered. The most likely suspect--the husband of Hays' most current fling--was tried and ultimately found not guilty.
This book is divided into 2 parts--one chronicling the Happy Valley set and the murder and trial and another that traces the very long investigation/research process that the author did for the book. Both make for interesting reading.
This book is divided into 2 parts--one chronicling the Happy Valley set and the murder and trial and another that traces the very long investigation/research process that the author did for the book. Both make for interesting reading.
blueskygreentreesyellowsun's review against another edition
3.0
The early chapters are slow, but necessary in order to set the scene. Once the murder happens things get interesting.
mwyatt62's review against another edition
2.0
The story is pretty interesting, but the book was pretty bland. It is about a group of English expats in Kenya in the 1920's and 30's. Like the American Jazz Age characters (Fitzgerald, Hemingway...), this is an insular group that is dedicated to having fun. Fun seems to involve alcohol and wife-swapping. Also, these people do not seem to have the kind of talent that can justify wild behavior. Maybe it is that lack of genius that makes them seem less fascinating.
The first half of the book tells the story that leads up to murder. It included a lot of lists of titles--the second son of the fourth earl....I guess it's a British thing. The second half tells the story of the writer's attempt to solve the murder some 20-30 years later. The ending is somewhat anticlimactic--but this part of the book seemed to have the more fascinating stories. The story was written by a journalist and was very factual--I would love to see what the BBC could do with this story. Of course, one thing they would do is romanticize all these characters, instead of showing them to be the selfish, immature drunks that this book revealed them to be.
The first half of the book tells the story that leads up to murder. It included a lot of lists of titles--the second son of the fourth earl....I guess it's a British thing. The second half tells the story of the writer's attempt to solve the murder some 20-30 years later. The ending is somewhat anticlimactic--but this part of the book seemed to have the more fascinating stories. The story was written by a journalist and was very factual--I would love to see what the BBC could do with this story. Of course, one thing they would do is romanticize all these characters, instead of showing them to be the selfish, immature drunks that this book revealed them to be.
spyralnode's review
2.0
If you are not interested in the murder of the Earl of Erroll from January 1941, don't bother reading this book. It is written in the style of a documentary, not that of a fictional work, and does little to engage the reader in the story. It's purely factual and informative, not relying on techniques that would cause empathy or affection towards any of the characters.
I read this for my book club, by the way, and it was a struggle, if anything it made me not want to read at all this past 2 weeks! It had all the ingredients that should have made me enjoy it: crime, romance, history, a foreign culture and country, but it didn't deliver at all. It's just very dry, and it's really only worth it if you are genuinely interested in the topic. It's very obvious that this was written by a journalist, because it's essentially a report of the Happy Valley social life, Broughton's trial, and his interviews with his acquaintances.
I read this for my book club, by the way, and it was a struggle, if anything it made me not want to read at all this past 2 weeks! It had all the ingredients that should have made me enjoy it: crime, romance, history, a foreign culture and country, but it didn't deliver at all. It's just very dry, and it's really only worth it if you are genuinely interested in the topic. It's very obvious that this was written by a journalist, because it's essentially a report of the Happy Valley social life, Broughton's trial, and his interviews with his acquaintances.
dreamwanderer's review
3.0
The place is Kenya. The time period stretches from the early days of the twentieth century to World War II. British settlers have arrived to work the land and escape from the hardship and dangers that plague their fellow countrymen back home. Most are hard working decent people but a select few suffer from having too much money, too much time and too many vices. They are known as the 'Happy Valley set' named so after the geographical location. Their lives are full of nothing but drugs, drink and promiscuous behavior.
Joss Hay, the Earl of Erroll, catches the eye of the young, beautiful and married Lady Diane Broughton. She plans to leave her much older husband for him and her husband outwardly appears to have agreed to her requests to a divorce without much rancor but then The Early is found dead, shot to death in his car. Who killed Joss Hay? The lifestyle of Happy Valley is exposed and the suffering people in England are understandably angry. These socialites partied while they bore the brunt of shortages and bombing raids. It should come as no surprise that many of the participates ended up suffering from depression and some committed suicide. The murder of Joss Hay brought about the end of the party for the Happy Valley set.
The story had its beginnings in a magazine article which gradually turned into the book White Mischief. The writing can at times come across as notes of an investigation rather than a coherent story. If you are looking for an expose like 'In Cold Blood' you will be disappointed but the story itself was interesting enough to make me want to keep reading.
Joss Hay, the Earl of Erroll, catches the eye of the young, beautiful and married Lady Diane Broughton. She plans to leave her much older husband for him and her husband outwardly appears to have agreed to her requests to a divorce without much rancor but then The Early is found dead, shot to death in his car. Who killed Joss Hay? The lifestyle of Happy Valley is exposed and the suffering people in England are understandably angry. These socialites partied while they bore the brunt of shortages and bombing raids. It should come as no surprise that many of the participates ended up suffering from depression and some committed suicide. The murder of Joss Hay brought about the end of the party for the Happy Valley set.
The story had its beginnings in a magazine article which gradually turned into the book White Mischief. The writing can at times come across as notes of an investigation rather than a coherent story. If you are looking for an expose like 'In Cold Blood' you will be disappointed but the story itself was interesting enough to make me want to keep reading.
sarah42783's review
4.0
A fantastic read! Well-researched, very insightful, this book makes the Happy Valley community come alive.
lauraadriana78's review
5.0
This is like a crazy ass soap opera...with all kinds of sex and intrigue, based in the African bush and it's all TRUE.
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