A clever slice of "old fashion" British mystery.
The police are presented as not too bright, but prove more than equal to the task.
Many possible suspects, but no one seems to have an adequate reason.
Once it finally comes together you think it's all over. But wait for the last page. It's a wonderful surprise joke!

What a gem! If you enjoy Agatha Christie type mysteries this series is for you. A sleepy little town somewhere in the countryside in England with a mysterious death that appears to be a suicide but doesn’t quite make sense. A quirky investigator who does his job with a small team of helpers. And low and behold, a nefarious underworld. Lots of tongue in cheek moments and of course the good guy figures it all out. Definitely a fun read and a treat from more modern style police investigations.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

There is a certain dry, sardonic wit common to many British novels--a slightly understated, slid in dig that can go unnoticed or over the head. To be honest, it took me a few chapters to settle into the rhythm of the novel and start really enjoying myself. But as the plot unfolded (and the body count rose) and my own gray cells started trying to keep up with the inspector's I found myself virtually flipping through the pages as fast as I could to see if Purbright could beat the reaper.

I would place the time of the action at about early Dr. Who (which had some of that same sly humor)--no cell phones, no computers and, sadly for the detective, no Tardis.

The UK publisher Farrago (Prelude) seems to search out the overlooked and underappreciated gems of 20th century humor and mystery of which this is clearly one, so I look for Farrago/Prelude titles on NetGalley and am seldom disappointed, nor am I this time, and am eager to continue reading this series as it is (re?) introduced to the American public.

In the town of Flaxborough, one of its prominent citizens is found electrocuted in his house slippers on the crossbars of an electricity pylon. This rather bizarre death follows the altogether unremarkable death of his neighbor and fellow prominent citizen just a mere six months earlier. Was the electrocution a murder? Are the two deaths connected? And what seedy business could be occurring in this otherwise pleasant town? Originally published in 1958 as the first in the Flaxborough series, Colin Watson wrote a delightful mystery that did not require gruesome crimes and heart-pounding action to hold the reader’s attention. Instead, Watson relied on a solid mystery with a well-plotted ending and deliciously witty insights into small town life and personalities. Now that the Flaxborough series is in the process of being reprinted, a new generation of readers can enjoy a sense of nostalgia while puzzling over a mystery that withstood the test of time.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time focusing in on this book (but that's mostly my own fault). It was a very quick and easy read. I saw that someone called it a "British cozy mystery", and I would have to agree. The writing gave me a Sherlock Holmes/Arthur Conan Doyle vibe, and it wasn't just the British aspect. And honestly, the writing was a nice change of pace from my predominately female crime fiction.

There were a ton of characters, and that kind of distracted me. And investigating multiple murders/deaths/suspects was a lot of keep track of. But I just wasn't fully into it. I'll be reading the rest of the series though - thanks to NetGalley!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Farrago for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

This book wasn't for me and I gave up early on I'm afraid.

A pleasure. A witty and delightful detective, Inspector Purbright is a character to savour. This, the first novel in the series, is a joy - set in 60's England, Purbright gives foul play the boot with aplomb and a huge dose of dry humour. Certainly not 'just' a whodunnit! Highly recommended and not to be missed.

I can dig this book. It's British with a classic feel and plenty of humor. The title alone was enough to garner my interest. It's a reasonable who-done-it, and I really like those. It borders on a cozy and was just the right read for when I read it. If you're looking for a mystery without gore or excess violence, this is a good choice. It has some fun prose as an added bonus.

My copy came via Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free choosing.

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more in the series. I very much appreciated the old-timey setting and the solid characters developed by the author.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

When one man is killed in a village it isn't really news unless a few months later another turns up dead - this time a suicide; and connected to the other. Now, it seems at first all cut and dried, but to Inspector Purbright, a highly intelligent policeman, he knows that it's foul play. But proving it is going to be another matter.

Not to mention that the reason for both deaths escape him at the time; he doesn't seem to have any headway by questioning the dead man's companions; nor does he get anywhere questioning his housekeeper. But then, something occurs to him: it is only a matter of a book at the home of the deceased Mr. Gwill, and a list of repetitive advertisements that bring his attention. And our intrepid inspector is on his way to solving a very intricate and detailed operation of the highly delicate sort that could just change everything...

What a delightful surprise this book was. I have never read anything by Mr. Watson before, but I can tell you that I am going to read the rest in this series. As far as British police procedurals go, this is one of the best. I can almost see it come to life, with the late Alistair Sim playing Inspector Purbright; a man who knows in his gut what is going on around him, and uses his wits to discover the truth of the matter.

What seems at first as cut and dried isn't; and by use of several policemen Purbright manages to get all the pieces of the jigsaw and put them together. And what a puzzle he has fashioned! This is an older book, but masterfully written, and is right up there with the best of them. Murder, blackmail, and scandalous immorality are woven within indeed make for a remarkable mystery that is very well written.

When all is said and done and the ending comes, we realize how simply enjoyable it was to read. I look forward to the next book by this late author. Highly recommended.

DNF the series as of today ,I tried to read it in fact I read about 67% of it but the story was so boring that it put me to sleep two times while I was reading it., thinks Netgalley for at least letting me give this series a try.

The writing is clearly of its time. Characterisation is enigmatic. The lead character is charming and polite but clearly astute. The story, as a series of red herrings and implications, lead the inspector on a journey of examination where all is very definitely not what it seems. Colloquial, countrified and very polite, murder and other misdeeds are perpetrated in a most inconvenient manner.

The style of writing is quite difficult to grasp at first, but as the story unravels the reader gets used to the steady yet often stilted pace. Described as witty, there is clearly a lightness to the presentation that implies wry humour. Perhaps this would be more clear in a play format where nuances can be better inferred, but here it can sadly pass you by.

As for the ending, it was not really a big surprise to know who did it, but the explanation of the timeline and what really happened was an interesting if unrealistic twist.

Not an unpleasant read, but I'm not sure I would be in a hurry to read more

Another fun classic British mystery with characters I found very realistic. It was hard to follow the story in the beginning I don't know why, but I kept turning pages and found the conclusion a surprise. Thank you NetGalley!

Originally written in the 1950’s, this opportunity to read a ‘classic’ British mystery was not to be missed. Clever word-play, a touch of humor that never ventures into satirical send-ups and plenty of twists that add layers of possibility as you puzzle out the culprit, the story was atmospheric and engrossing. And the sense of multiple stories and agendas behind the scenes in this picturesque English village.

In this story, the market town of Flaxborough is finding a curious decrease in the group of movers and shakers: losing two members in a six month period. The second death just happens to be the neighbor of the first, and the investigation by DI Purbright and DS Love turn up several clues that point to murder. Being a particularly thorough man, Purbright’s digging along several possible trails leads to the uncovering of several ‘not as they appear at first look” situations that lead to a darker, and possibly menacing element in the village. Completely engaging as each new revelation is explored as others surface, the challenge in solving the puzzle before Purbright and Love do is a seriously difficult one – never once leading me to expect the twist at the end.

Yes, the attitudes are slightly dated, but the flow and language, similes and metaphors are poetic and clever: adding to the reader’s visualization and enjoyment. Bringing the sensibilities of a Christie novel, the story is about uncovering a motive and reason, rather than focusing on the more salacious elements of gore, gunshots and fast-paced chases. If you enjoy a British murder mystery, particularly those that harken back to the ‘good old days’, this is a series to put on your shelf.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9G5/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

A really entertaining and humorous mystery. Funny and interesting characters and a sound plot make this book really enjoyable.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Farrago and Netgalley

Read a third of the book and can't finish it. Will not leave any reviews anywhere

It took awhile to get the hang of the tone of the author, since this would be the first time I would be reading his work. Coffin, Scarcely Used is actually a murder mystery. The build up towards establishing that a murder or a series of murder really did occur was slow paced but intriguing that you would be hard put to stop reading. Inspector Purbright is an interesting and often times, almost nondescript protagonist. He's investigative style appears meandering but when everything else seems to be chaotic individual events, he seems to be able to see a pattern. Those who love cozy murder mysteries with a lot of eccentric characters and a not so easy to solve plot would love Coffin, Scarcely Used.

A great light read. No jumping at noises but a great story with lively characters and a solid mystery. I enjoyed my time with this book and look forward to spending time with more by this author.

A very interesting mystery! I enjoyed the character development and the story itself had plenty of twists and turns that I did not puzzle out. Very enjoyable and will definitely recommend it!

I do enjoy a good cozy mystery, and this series definitely qualifies as such. I am glad I got to start with the first book in the series, because I also read the second one, and I think it helps to read them in order. The plot is a little obscure if not to say silly, sure, but it is engaging, and the characters are fun to follow. Looking forward to see how this series develops!