Death of a busybody

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Death of a busybody

Title:

Death of a busybody

Author:

Bellairs, George, 1902-1985, author.

Edwards, Martin, 1955- writer of introductory text.

Series:

British Library crime classics ;

Series Number:

45.

Summary:

"Miss Tither, the village busybody, is not the best-loved resident of Hilary Magna. She has made many enemies: bombarding the villagers with religious tracts, berating drunkards, and informing the spouses of cheating partners. Her murder, however, is still a huge shock to the Reverend Ethelred Claplady and his parish. Inspector Littlejohn's understanding of country ways makes him Scotland Yard's first choice for the job. Basing himself at the village inn, Littlejohn works with the local police to investigate what lay behind the murder. A second death does little to settle the collective nerves of the village, and as events escalate, a strange tale of hidden identities, repressed resentment, religious fervour and financial scams is uncovered. Life in the picturesque village of Hilary Magna proves to be very far from idyllic."-- Amazon.com.

General Note:

Originally published in 1943 by The MacMillan Company.

Edition:

First US trade paperback edition.

Physical Description:

199 pages ; 21 cm.

Genre:

Detective and mystery fiction.

Subject Term:

Littlejohn, Thomas (Fictitious character) -- Fiction.

Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction.

Villages -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

England -- Fiction.

Author(s):

Edwards, Martin, 1955-

Publisher:

Poisoned Pen Press,

Publication Date:

2017

1943

ISBN:

9781464207365

Publication Information:

Scottsdale, Arizona : Poisoned Pen Press, 2017.

Call Number:

BELLAIR

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003334656	Adult Fiction	BELLAIR	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder

"Fascinating period detail from the blackout days, a plot that keeps surprising, and contemporary crime novelist Martin Edwards' insightful introduction add to the fun." --Booklist

Miss Tither, the village busybody, is not the best-loved resident of Hilary Magna. She has made many enemies: bombarding the villagers with religious tracts, berating drunkards, and informing the spouses of cheating partners. Her murder, however, is still a huge shock to the Reverend Ethelred Claplady and his parish.

Inspector Littlejohn's understanding of country ways makes him Scotland Yard's first choice for the job. Basing himself at the village inn, Littlejohn works with the local police to investigate what lay behind the murder.

A second death does little to settle the collective nerves of the village, and as events escalate, a strange tale of hidden identities, repressed resentment, religious fervour and financial scams is uncovered. Life in the picturesque village of Hilary Magna proves to be very far from idyllic.

Author Notes

GEORGE BELLAIRS was the pseudonym of Harold Blundell (1902-1985), a prominent banker and philanthropist from Manchester who became the author of a popular series of detective stories featuring Thomas Littlejohn, which were published for nearly forty years.

Reviews (1)

Publisher's Weekly Review

First published in 1942, this atmospheric whodunit from Bellairs (1902-1982) in the British Library Crime Classics series kicked off a decades-long series featuring affable Scotland Yarder Thomas Littlejohn. Littlejohn travels from London to the quintessential quiet English village of Hilary Magna after the local gossip and scold, Ethel Tither, is found dead in the cesspool on the property of the Rev. Ethelred Claplady. Tither, who had no shortage of enemies, apparently drowned in a few inches of water, but she also suffered several head injuries. The inspector sets about listening to the locals' theories of the case while exploring the possible guilt of some of those who wished the victim ill because of her penchant for interfering with others' lives, as well as those with a financial stake in her demise. Readers should be prepared for a solid if unspectacular characterization of the lead. This mystery will appeal to those in search of a comfort read rather than a dazzling display of deductive brilliance. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.