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Wobble to Death (1970)

by Peter Lovesey

Series: Sergeant Cribb (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
3391475,899 (3.62)45
"London, 1879. Crowds have gathered at Islington's chilly Agricultural Hall to place their bets on who will become the next world champion in a six-day, 500-mile speedwalking race, the "wobble." When one of the highly favored contenders dies under suspicious circumstances, Sergeant Cribb also has a race on his hands-to pursue a ruthless murderer. Fifty years ago, Wobble to Death launched the writing career of one of the world's greatest crime fiction writers. Since its initial publication, Peter Lovesey has written forty novels and six short story collections, and has become one of three living writers to receive both the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award and the Crime Writers Association Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement. There is no better place to dive into Lovesey's legendary oeuvre than with this sparkling debut"--… (more)
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Showing 1-5 of 14 (next | show all)
Maybe I am being generous with my rating, as the detection by Sgt. Cribb didn't impress me, but I thought that the historical fiction aspect was excellent. The setting of the murders was unusual and I learned a new aspect of the late nineteenth century (the professional pedestrian racer whose races last days and who typically go 90-100 miles in a day!). ( )
  leslie.98 | Jun 27, 2023 |
Note: I received a paperback copy of this book at ALA Midwinter 2020.
  fernandie | Sep 15, 2022 |
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
  fernandie | Sep 15, 2022 |
Lovesey has resurrected a popular sport of the Victorian era and created an entertaining mystery novel. Six day "Go As You Please" contests - or "Wobbles" were instituted by Sir John Astley in 1878 and became very popular on both sides of the Atlantic. The contestants may choose to walk or run with brief rests for six days on a track. Lovesey's race takes place in the vast Agricultural Hall in Islington in 1879 with a first prize of £500, lower amounts for second and third places. With so much money at stake, to say nothing of the bets placed with bookies, there are bound to be shenanigans. In this case one contestant died of a massive dose of strychnine, commonly administered in minute amounts by his trainer as a stimulant. Then the trainer died too. And that wasn’t the only strange method trainers used. Combining the mystery with a sport I've never heard of before was a lot of fun. Dashing around Victorian London in hansom cabs and thick fog was wonderful. ( )
  VivienneR | Aug 5, 2022 |
What's a Wobble? Turns out it is a race-walking competition, and was all the rage in Victorian England. It's the first of Peter Lovesey's Sgt. Cribb's detective series. Walkers must walk around a track for six days; the one walking the greatest distance wins! During the course of this race, there are a couple of murders, a cast of characters, and a variety of motives.

Oh, by the way, the winner walks over 500 miles. But I won't tell you who that is. ( )
  steller0707 | Aug 25, 2019 |
Showing 1-5 of 14 (next | show all)
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The 12.05 a.m. trundled out of Highbury and Islington station and along the line.
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"London, 1879. Crowds have gathered at Islington's chilly Agricultural Hall to place their bets on who will become the next world champion in a six-day, 500-mile speedwalking race, the "wobble." When one of the highly favored contenders dies under suspicious circumstances, Sergeant Cribb also has a race on his hands-to pursue a ruthless murderer. Fifty years ago, Wobble to Death launched the writing career of one of the world's greatest crime fiction writers. Since its initial publication, Peter Lovesey has written forty novels and six short story collections, and has become one of three living writers to receive both the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award and the Crime Writers Association Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement. There is no better place to dive into Lovesey's legendary oeuvre than with this sparkling debut"--

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Cribb of Scotland Yard is a down to earth, no- nonsense character with a methodical mind. Aided by the long suffering Constable Thackeray, he investigates the death of a champion walker, during a 6 day event at the agricultural Hall in Islington.
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