The nastiest of the Morse's. Also, the most experimental, in terms of the telling. In some ways, it seems like a cubist version of a Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes novel, with a mystery & its solution linked to events in the distant past. ( )

Up to the sixth in the Inspector Morse series now, and they're steadily improving. I've not really considered it before, but I think that each work can stand alone, and there is no real need to have read the preceding books in order.

This one has a more traditional detective fiction structure about it, although the précis at the start of each chapter together with the third person view give it quite a different feel. The start of the book offers a motive, and then strands are introduced that you know are going to be interwoven in a complex cat's-cradle. Lines are dangled about Morse's early days at University, and his eye for the ladies is apparent although the attachment to alcohol seems just incidental, now. Early motives are questioned as the story progresses, with stolid work by Lewis backing up the flighty Morse. Some interesting twists and turns emerge as the conclusion is reached, but the ending seems a bit rushed.

I really enjoyed the read; it was very comfortable. I was all set to elevate this above the previous outings, but I felt let down by the ending, so I've scored it the same as the ones that preceded it. This book is almost halfway through the series, and I'm encouraged that they keep on getting better and better. ( )

Good, but very comples

#6 in the Chief Inspector Morse series set in Oxford. In this book, an Oxford don goes missing and Morse is contacted by the Vice-Headmaster. A body later turns up, of course, but how did it get to where it was found and who would so savagely mutilate it? And is it really Dr. Browne-Smith’s body after all? Enjoyable read, as all the Morse books have ever been for me. One of my favorite series. ( )

An enjoyable Morse. Perhaps too complex, or at least very contrived. ( )