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A review by robinwalter
The Crooked Wreath by Christianna Brand
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The third Inspector Cockrill mystery and my second, this was one was even worse in the end than Green for Danger. Cockrill is BIZARRE - two mysteries in a row where's he's personally known to many of the suspects, consistently called by them "Cockie", treated as a cross between a personal friend and domestic staff and does nearly zero actual detection.
In Green for Danger, he set up an elaborate ruse that nearly enabled a second murder, in this book, he accused an illiterate man of writing his own suicide note. In the end, he had nothing whatsoever to do with the resolution of this mystery. I may be old-fashioned when it comes to mysteries, but I do prefer the detectives therein to be competent. Brand writes VERY well, her description of the aftermath of bomb falling on a house is magnificent, but I'm not sold on her as a mystery writer
In Green for Danger, he set up an elaborate ruse that nearly enabled a second murder, in this book, he accused an illiterate man of writing his own suicide note. In the end, he had nothing whatsoever to do with the resolution of this mystery. I may be old-fashioned when it comes to mysteries, but I do prefer the detectives therein to be competent. Brand writes VERY well, her description of the aftermath of bomb falling on a house is magnificent, but I'm not sold on her as a mystery writer