Blue Murder

Blue Murder is the tenth of Colin Watson's Flaxborough novels and it's another thoroughly enjoyable read.

This time, a celebrity journalist from a Fleet Street scandal-sheet and his small retinue arrive in Flaxborough intent, it seems, on exposing immoral goings-on in the town. An almost farcical situation arises involving absurdities including a vindictive police constable, a duel and a dodgy kidnapping; eventually a death brings Inspector Purbright and his redoubtable team onto the scene and darker secrets begin to emerge.

As always, this is a decent mystery but it is Watson's dry, witty style and amusing but penetrating characterisation which provides the real enjoyment. Just as a small example, as a young woman is trying to charm the editor of the local paper: "Mr Kebble found a chair for her. She spiralled into it as if sitting down was a notable sensual accomplishment." If you like that, you'll like the book.

The absence of Miss Lucilla Teatime meant that a little of the real zing of some other Flaxborough books wasn't there, but Blue Murder is still very entertaining and, like all Colin Watson's books, I can warmly recommend it.

(My thanks to Farrago for an ARC via NetGalley.)

Amusing, rather than chortle-provoking, this is a somewhat low-key dig at the foibles of Fleet Street and some of its less worthy worthies, The murder comes late on and the citizens of Flaxborough and district receive less exposure than might be expected in a novel centred on a blue movie.

Miss Teatime is missing- off on a charitable mission, perhaps- and there are not as many of the interesting verbal exchanges between Chief Constable Chubb and DI Purbright which ardent fans have come to expect. A bit of fun poked at exiled Scots and some interesting insights into the art of duelling do not quite make up for the thinness of the detection element, and the hastily concocted kidnapping is sprung rather suddenly.

Not one of the better entries in the series, but still a recommendable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrago for the digital ARC.

When members of a newspaper come to town in order to find out which residents of Flaxborough have participated in a blue film, there is immediate outrage by the mayor. This is fueled by the fact of an oculist who has recently purchased a pair of dueling pistols and wants to get some use out of them. When the mayor goes to the local newspaper editor, Kimble, the oculist, Hoole, is there and they convince Mayor Hockley to challenge Clive Grail to a duel to defend the town's honor.

But while Grail has no desire to participate, he's also in a bit of a quandary. It seems that he and the rest of his crew have watched the film, along with Kimble and one of his reporters - who informs them that there is a bit of a problem with it. In fact, if it were to get out, Grail could be made a laughingstock.

So Grail and his cronies devise a way to exit the situation: fake a kidnapping and demand the film never be shown - and, as his "friends" have devised among themselves without his knowledge - the added bit of a 'ransom' of fifteen thousand pounds. But something goes terribly wrong, and that's when DI Purbright steps in...

This is another wonderful mystery from the mind of Colin Watson. DI Purbright learns about the duel from his chief constable, Mr. Chubb, and does his best to inform the parties that it might be better if it didn't go off, being illegal and all. But then he learns about the film and when he discovers something more fatal along the way, it is up to himself and his team of officers to try and find the truth of the matter.

It is enjoyable indeed to watch our Purbright at work as he puts the clues together, and I love this series and wish there were more (alas, it was not to be as Mr. Watson passed away in 1982). Purbright is an intelligent man who has a way of watching people and learning things from them without even apparently trying. The endings are not traditional, as it were, but still things are always wrapped up tidily. However, while they can be read as stand alone novels, I suggest you begin with the first and read them in order. Highly recommended.

Nice to read another Colin Watson book about Flaxborough. I love the way the murder doesn't actually take place until the second half of the book, before then it's mainly about how some Londoners find Flaxborough and vice versa - the result being a possible duel in the English countryside.

An amusing and gently paced book. Very enjoyable.

Blue movies and tabloid journalism come to Flaxborough which reels at these inroads into its Middle England respectability... more snark and wit from Watson, but the lack of Miss Lucilla Teatime is sorely felt. Still, another immaculately written piece from Watson's acidic pen.

I am still amazed how Colin Watson managed to incorporate so many concepts in his book plots.
None of his books are repetitious. His use of appropriate words that describe the theme of his books seem to differ with each story. He uses agricultural and animal similes to describe people and to name the characters in his Blue Murder, perhaps to follow through with his theme of a sensual video that was produced in Flaxborough.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Farrago for an advance copy of Blue Murder, the tenth novel in the Flaxborough Chronicles series of police procedurals featuring Inspector Purbright, originally published in 1979.

Clive Grail, columnist at The Sunday Herald, arrives in Flaxborough hot on the trail of another scurrilous scandal, this one involving the citizens of Flaxborough and the production of blue movies. The mayor is so incensed at the aspersions cast on his constituency that he challenges Grail to a duel. Inspector Purbright is hovering on the periphery, but with no evidence of a crime is powerless to act.

I thoroughly enjoyed Blue Murder which is another humorous tale of middle class England with a good mystery thrown in as a bonus. It held my attention from start to finish and had me laughing out loud at times. Mr Watson had a wicked sense of humour and an unerring eye for the foibles of human nature so I enjoyed the story of the blue movie, both its content and the reaction to said content. There is no professionalism in the crimes which finally occur so it is strictly amateur hour but this only adds to the humour of the situation. The plotting is clever with several twists and a well concealed motive. This is often overlooked in the ongoing fun but it is very well done.

Inspector Purbright has changed as the series progresses. Originally he was, if not inept, rather slow to catch on. In this novel he is razor sharp with a good understanding of what is happening. As usual he is all work with little mention of his home life, although he is known to read The Sunday Herald. His interactions with the rather hapless Chief Constable Chubb are now a joy to read and extremely amusing. To my disappointment there is no guest appearance from the estimable Miss Lucilla Teatime, she of questionable morality but unquestionable intelligence, although Birdy Clemonceaux, Grail's assistant looks to be a junior version.

Blue Murder is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

This book was so much fun- wonderful puzzle and characters. Just love the way the book develops in small increments until it is drawn together at the end. All those lose bits making sense and pulled together.

Flaxborough is crying Blue Murder in the 10th mystery in the excellent British small town police procedural.

A writer for a London tabloid is sent to find a porno supposedly filmed with the town’s citizens. Mayor Hockley challenges the writer to a duel. Several mysterious deaths are investigated by the local police.

For such a short book, Blue Murder has a multitude of plots. However, the conclusion nicely merges them together well. This British mystery is extremely well written. The ending is surprising but fair. 4 stars!

Thanks to Farrago Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

This is the tenth book in the Flaxborough mystery series written by the late Colin Watson in the 70s and currently being republished by Farrago Books UK. These are witty British police procedurals that skewer human foibles.

In this outing, a team from London's Sunday Herald has arrived in Flaxborough to compile an article about a salacious film allegedly made by the local photography club--hoping to expose a scandal. The local mayor is so enraged, he challenges the newspaper editor to a duel!

But when the group actually views the film, they find they've been had. Someone has taken films of local music productions and doctored them, marketing the films as porn in the far east. "Flaxborough must be the only town in England that requires its amateur opera singers to be Khama Sutra specialists."

But the expose' has already been announced as a teaser in the previous Sunday's edition--now how to save face and back out of writing the article?? The team comes up with a complicated plot but the whole thing falls apart when someone dies and it appears to be an unnatural death. Is there a bigger plot at work here?

I have really enjoyed this series of mysteries with its wry humor, eccentric characters and intriguing plots. I received an arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. Many thanks!

This is yet another fine entry in the Flaxborough series! A carload of reporters show up in town following a tip that will lead them to a scandal of outlandish proportions - could all the town leaders actually be involved with the production of "blue movies?" Along the way, they find a murder scheme, revenge plots and an old fashioned duel? As crazy as that sounds, this might be my favorite plot in the series, at least most logical to follow. Once again, the gem here is the witty dialog, the witty banter between the characters is something to laugh at and to savor.

This is another joyous mystery in the Flaxborough Chronicles. As always there’s the wonderful wry humour and ingenious plot twists to keep up utterly delighted.
A consignment of Fleet Street journalists arrive in the village to investigate rumours of blue movies. They wreck market day and a series of unfortunate events follows including a kidnapping and a threatened duel. It’s all wonderfully crazy.
Our hero DI Purbright is in his usual fine form, even though he’s without his usual unofficial sidekick of Miss Teatime. We miss here but there’s enough liveliness and fun to keep the reader thoroughly entertained. Lots to chuckle at and admire.