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abookishtype's review against another edition
4.0
Like his thoughtful Verdict of Twelve, Raymond Postgate’s Somebody at the Door serves as both an intriguing puzzle to solve and as commentary on mysteries in general. The novel begins with a character sketch of the disagreeable town Councillor Henry James Greyling. We follow him from work to the train home, where he shares a compartment with eight others. The next thing we know, Greying is dead of gas poisoning. Investigator Holly begins asking questions, only to find that most of the people in that train compartment plus two others have motive to kill the man. So, who done it? And, which of the several motives is enough to drive someone to kill?
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration.
fannerz's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
chewdigestbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I've been enjoying all of the re-releases of classic British mysteries by Poisoned Pen Press that I was more than ready to like this one as well. Unfortunately, that was not the case with Somebody at the Door.
Set during WWII, you'd think that the background of the war would make it more interesting. Instead, it led to long side roads that went on so long that I honestly forgot I was reading a murder mystery and when it got back to the actual plot, it was jarring and I found myself looking at the synopsis to refresh my mind on just what in the heck I was reading.
Yes, there were a lot of suspects because Grayling (the victim) was not a well-loved guy, so I can understand why Postgate had to go into, a bit, why each suspect was under suspicion. However, the tangents that this lead to were just too freaking long and other than the Home Guard and the mention of black-out curtains, you'd have hardly known that the war was touching most of the characters. Sure there were mentions and one tangent was a story something that happened before the war yet involving the suspect being helped out of pre-war Nazi Germany because he was, I assume, Jewish. For a blurb that includes, "paints an interesting picture of the everyday life during the war" it seemed like everyday life was going on as usual for most of them. No mention of rationing, no constant fear of bombing in Grayling's town, etc, it was a backdrop and an excuse for tangents, nothing more.
Hey, this is just my opinion and you may like it. I'm never one to be fond of pointless tangents, that's why I usually stay away from literary fiction and grab mysteries.
Set during WWII, you'd think that the background of the war would make it more interesting. Instead, it led to long side roads that went on so long that I honestly forgot I was reading a murder mystery and when it got back to the actual plot, it was jarring and I found myself looking at the synopsis to refresh my mind on just what in the heck I was reading.
Yes, there were a lot of suspects because Grayling (the victim) was not a well-loved guy, so I can understand why Postgate had to go into, a bit, why each suspect was under suspicion. However, the tangents that this lead to were just too freaking long and other than the Home Guard and the mention of black-out curtains, you'd have hardly known that the war was touching most of the characters. Sure there were mentions and one tangent was a story something that happened before the war yet involving the suspect being helped out of pre-war Nazi Germany because he was, I assume, Jewish. For a blurb that includes, "paints an interesting picture of the everyday life during the war" it seemed like everyday life was going on as usual for most of them. No mention of rationing, no constant fear of bombing in Grayling's town, etc, it was a backdrop and an excuse for tangents, nothing more.
Hey, this is just my opinion and you may like it. I'm never one to be fond of pointless tangents, that's why I usually stay away from literary fiction and grab mysteries.
depizan's review against another edition
1.0
The basic problem with this book is that the murder victim is so thoroughly unlikable that it's very hard to scrape up any concern about who killed him. Worse, the vast majority of other characters in the book are unlikable or luckless or both. All in all it just makes for an oddly unpleasant read.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
I always like British Library Crime Classics as they help me to discover hidden gems of the Golden Age of mystery.
This is a hidden gem that somehow reminds me of Christie's Murder on the Orient Express as there are both a train involved and the stories of the different suspects.
The grime atmosphere reflects the historical period and even if it is nearly 70 years old it aged well.
Recommended
Many thanks to Poison Pen Press and Netgalley
This is a hidden gem that somehow reminds me of Christie's Murder on the Orient Express as there are both a train involved and the stories of the different suspects.
The grime atmosphere reflects the historical period and even if it is nearly 70 years old it aged well.
Recommended
Many thanks to Poison Pen Press and Netgalley
tonstantweader's review against another edition
3.0
Somebody at the Door is a war-time murder mystery by Raymond Postgate. Published during the war, much of the plot hinges on the war-time environment, the dangerous darkness of the London blackouts and the training of citizens for para-military home guard and civil defense. A disagreeable man is murdered on his way home, dragging himself to his door. Coincidentally, nearly everyone in his train compartment is someone who has reason to dislike him enough to kill him. I think that says more about his character than anything else.
Inspector Holly is a highly organized and methodical detective investigating the murder. He is frustrated because there are simply too many suspects. Nearly everyone he investigates, it turns out, has plenty of motive, means, and opportunity. Henry Grayling is just a disagreeable, miserable cuss and worked at making other people miserable, though I am certain he thought himself a thoroughly proper gentleman.
I enjoyed the investigation in Somebody at the Door. It was methodical, clear, fair and everything a classical detective lover would hope for. It also is a fascinating insight into the lives of people during the War. There are so many narratives that come together on that train ride and so many secrets: theft, corruption, adultery, illegal abortions, espionage, all on one train. It seems Grayling knew no ordinary people.
I was disappointed in the resolution, though it is totally in keeping with the character. I wanted someone else to be the murderer, but sometimes that happens. I followed a couple red herrings, something I hardly ever fall for. I am always happy when I don’t know for certain who the killer is within five paragraphs of his/her introduction. When a red herring succeeds in leading me down a false path, I like it even better. So there is a lot to like about Somebody at the Door. It just ended somewhat anti-climactically–totally in character, but not satisfying for the reader.
I received an e-galley of Somebody at the Door from the publisher through NetGalley.
Somebody at the Door at Poisoned Pen Press
Raymond Postgate – Wikipedia
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/9781464209123/
Inspector Holly is a highly organized and methodical detective investigating the murder. He is frustrated because there are simply too many suspects. Nearly everyone he investigates, it turns out, has plenty of motive, means, and opportunity. Henry Grayling is just a disagreeable, miserable cuss and worked at making other people miserable, though I am certain he thought himself a thoroughly proper gentleman.
I enjoyed the investigation in Somebody at the Door. It was methodical, clear, fair and everything a classical detective lover would hope for. It also is a fascinating insight into the lives of people during the War. There are so many narratives that come together on that train ride and so many secrets: theft, corruption, adultery, illegal abortions, espionage, all on one train. It seems Grayling knew no ordinary people.
I was disappointed in the resolution, though it is totally in keeping with the character. I wanted someone else to be the murderer, but sometimes that happens. I followed a couple red herrings, something I hardly ever fall for. I am always happy when I don’t know for certain who the killer is within five paragraphs of his/her introduction. When a red herring succeeds in leading me down a false path, I like it even better. So there is a lot to like about Somebody at the Door. It just ended somewhat anti-climactically–totally in character, but not satisfying for the reader.
I received an e-galley of Somebody at the Door from the publisher through NetGalley.
Somebody at the Door at Poisoned Pen Press
Raymond Postgate – Wikipedia
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/9781464209123/
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