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A review by jenn756
Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles
4.0
I enjoyed this. It’s a light read and against the protocols of 1930s detective fiction you’re introduced to the murderer on the very first page. Edmund Bickleigh is a rather stereotype fictional murderer – very much of his time – short, bullied by an overbearing wife, with a strong inferiority complex and a liking for other women. It is how murderers were supposed to be in those days, inspired I think by Crippen.
The other stereotype too is that Bickleigh is a Doctor – handy for all those medicines lying about, so convenient for a Doctor to kill people. Nonetheless it’s an engaging book – Francis Iles is good at portraying small village society and pithy character summaries. He is quite witty in a deadpan way. And Bickleigh’s wife is awful, she deserved bumping off.
It would make a good play – the sort that regional drama companies put on in draughty village halls, and it would give people the opportunity to dress up in those nice 1930s outfits.
The other stereotype too is that Bickleigh is a Doctor – handy for all those medicines lying about, so convenient for a Doctor to kill people. Nonetheless it’s an engaging book – Francis Iles is good at portraying small village society and pithy character summaries. He is quite witty in a deadpan way. And Bickleigh’s wife is awful, she deserved bumping off.
It would make a good play – the sort that regional drama companies put on in draughty village halls, and it would give people the opportunity to dress up in those nice 1930s outfits.