Reviews - Detection Unlimited

41 reviews for:

Detection Unlimited

Georgette Heyer

3.46 AVERAGE

rebroxannape's review against another edition

3.0

But what you see in this case to be pleased about I can’t make out! Seems to me it’s either going to be so easy that this local Sergeant you think so well of might just as well have solved it for himself; or it’s going to be such a snorter that we shall never get to the bottom of it.’ ‘It’s got class,’ said Hemingway, selecting a radish from the dish. ‘It’s got a good decor, too, and, barring the Pole, I like the sound of the dramatis personae. It isn’t every day you get a murder amongst a lot of nice, respectable people living in a country village.

For some reason, I never read this mystery by Georgette until this week. The narration and acting by the reader, Ulli Burve' was excellent. The puzzle was clever and twisty and Inspector Hemingway is as bright as ever. And yes, he still is a fan of "psychology." As always in a cozy mystery many secrets are revealed. Heyer is a master at the characterization of the mostly stock English village types. And always, the witty repartee and humorous observations were one of the strengths. There is a slight but sunny little romance as well. I was mystified as to the perpetrator until the end but it was one of two people I hoped it would be. I wish the final confrontation and reveal would have been real time and not just regurgitated later because it would have made a deliciously satisfactory scene. I'm knocking off part of star for that **3 1/2 stars**

artmajorese's review

4.0

funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

cimorene1558's review against another edition

5.0

Delightful and hilarious book! The Ultima names are funny enough to carry the whole book, and although they may be the best joke, they aren't the only one!

katherineannpotter's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous hopeful mysterious relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

maplessence's review against another edition

4.0

Sadly this is the last detective story that GH wrote.

Hemingway (now a Chief Inspector) sparkles throughout & this book worth reading for his dialogue alone.

I have one leg longer than the other myself & I was wondering why Gavin simply didn't wear a lift in his shoe? Surely they would have been available in the 50s?

But a minor quibble for a very enjoyable book.

maplessence's review against another edition

4.0

4.5★

Heyer's final detective novel, first published in 1953. She enjoyed writing them & working with her husband (who supplied a lot of the plots & legal knowledge) but her continual problems with the British taxation system (at least partially her & her husband's own fault) meant she needed to write more of her wonderful Regency romances.

Were her readers the winners? The 1950s are when GH wrote some of her finest Regencies -[b:Sylvester|32105|Sylvester|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360785384l/32105._SY75_.jpg|1415782], [b:Cotillion|311165|Cotillion|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1615476505l/311165._SY75_.jpg|2093215], [b:Venetia|32102|Venetia|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531460508l/32102._SY75_.jpg|3234302], [b:The Unknown Ajax|311095|The Unknown Ajax|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320389044l/311095._SY75_.jpg|302202] but I just love Chief Inspector Hemingway & his wit & sparkle just really lift this book, so I have adjusted my rating upwards by half a star.

So who murdered unpopular resident of the village of Thorndon, Sampson Warrenby? There are certainly plenty of candidates.

With her usual skill, GH has given us a great cast of characters & I like that, like real life not every person living in Thorndon is a potential suspect (although certainly gun laws seemed to be very lax.)

For me, the only fault this book had was the resolution went on forever! I had to talk sternly to myself not to start skimming, but this is why this book didn't rise to a 5★ rating.

I know I am lucky as I was reading a very old paperback [bc:Detection Unlimited|58908044|Detection Unlimited (Inspectors Hannasyde & Hemingway #8)|Georgette Heyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630532685l/58908044._SY75_.jpg|1298320]that contained a very useful map of the village.

I'd recommend noting down who lived where as well as you read. It is a reasonably large cast of characters.

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