Death of a Busybody

What a delight to read Bellairs! The plot is not especially original - murder isn´t - in fact it is in itself drab, dull and raw. It is not how the case is solved that makes reading the book an experience far above the reading of most crime stories. Not even the unmasking of the hypocrisy, sanctimony and greed behind the crime. It is how he does it. His grasp the language is pure joy, as is the precise and funny characterizations of the culprit, the villagers and local police alike, they come alive in a few well chosen words, as individuals, and locals. The way he handles the human folly that gives the busybody her power, the unmasking of what we think we need to hide from all others - that they usually know anyway - how ridiculous show more people taking themselves too seriously are, and what humourless life that makes way for - all without lifting a moral finger. The finger he raises is far more powerful, it´s comical. And thus tragical as well, because murder is simply not worth it. A combination of George Simenon and P.G.Wodehouse, this is black comedy at its very best. show less

Miss Ethel Tither is the kind of unpleasant, prurient busybody that everyone wishes dead—and now she is, left floating in the cesspool at the back of the village vicarage.

Death of a Busybody is a perfectly competent, undemanding Golden Age murder mystery. George Bellairs plays fair by his readers—you're given all the relevant clues, even before Inspector Littlejohn gets them sometimes—so whodunnit and why is actually fairly easy to figure out. Bellairs writes with enough humour and eye for the absurd (the vicar rejoices in the name of Ethelred Claplady, for instance) to make this a quick read, but the overt classism and implied sexism throughout were a bit wearying. The main detective character, Littlejohn, is also a bit of a show more nonentity. I wouldn't absolutely swear off Bellairs in the future, but I'm not overly minded to seek out more of his work either. show less

When George Ballairs penned his Inspector Thomas Littlejohn stories their humor appealed to war-weary British readers in need of a little light escapism. His third novel Death of a Busybody was published in 1942.

I have long wanted to read some of Poisoned Pen Press's British Library Crime Classics. The cover art of the series is gorgeous. And I am glad I requested this little gem, as it provided a bit of fun and relief I needed in these contemporary grim times.

The Rev. Ethelred Claplady of Hilary Magna and its smaller satellite sister city Hilary Parva is returning to the vicarage after pastoral visitations when he discovers Miss Tither laying face down in his cesspool.

The deceased had her nose into everybody's business, especially show more calling out the foibles and failings of her neighbors and pressing them to turn from their sinful ways. In her quest for the Christian improvement of humanity, she supports charities that carry on such good works as reclaiming fallen women. Miss Tither has made numerous enemies, all with a motive to do her in.

The murder depresses the Rev. Claplady who feels that all his efforts have fallen on 'stony ground.' (Sounds like a pretty accurate view of basic humanity!)

The murder 'has come at a most awkward time' and local authorities agree to call in Scotland Yard, bringing Inspector Littlejohn to investigate.

We meet colorful local villagers and become privy to the equally colorful rumors and gossip. It turns out that Hilary Magna is rife with sin.

I loved the humor. The gardener digging potatoes has "a huge backside protruding like some monstrous, black toadstool." Miss Tither's tongue was a weapon "which she used like a pair of bellows, fanning a spark of a whisper into a consuming fire of chatter, a holocaust of pursuing flame." I loved the rumor network reporting Miss Tither's death, with the story changing until it is reported that the "vicar's done it."

With another death, things get even more complicated, eventually revealing a charity fraud. "What a queer, even grotesque crime it is," said Sir Francis when the complicated relationships and animosities are revealed.

Death of a Busybody was a light fun read with a satisfying twist and wonderful characters. And to think, Bellairs wrote over fifty Littlejohn novels! That's a whole year of reading!

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. show less

The village busybody and scandalmonger made it her business to spread gossip and rumour about who was up to no good. When Miss Tither was found dead in the vicar's cesspool it appeared that almost everyone had motive but would they have resorted to the ghastly method that was used? This is a classic Golden Age mystery that includes a fair amount of humour to making it even more entertaining.

It's one of the British Library Crime Classics. I’ll be on the lookout for more by Bellairs.

Death of a Busybody was originally published in 1942, the third book George Bellairs wrote and the third to feature Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard. This time, Inspector Littlejohn is called to the villages of Hilary Magna and Parva to solve the murder of the local nosy parker. Miss Tither is one of those annoying people who makes it her mission to question, snoop, and poke her nose into everyone’s business. Now, in a typical murder of a busybody, the motive would be some extortion scheme, but Miss Tither was never motivated by greed, but by a salacious self-righteous fascination with sin. She was constantly telling tales to expose those she considered sinners.

When she is found dead in cesspool, drowned in the water after being show more knocked on the head, the problem is not too few suspects, but too many. There’s twin villages full of options because Miss Tither has been a very busy busybody.

Death of a Busybody is a scrupulously fair mystery. We learn the important facts as soon as, and even sometimes before, Inspector Littlejohn. We are party to all of the investigation which is conducted with professionalism and respect for the law and the public. There is a lovely, gentle humor in the book, making it clear that Bellairs may smile and find amusement in human foibles and vanities, but he clearly loves humanity in all its varieties.

It’s useful to remember that some of the devices that may seem old today, were probably much fresher in 1942 when this was released. I have read so many hundreds of mysteries, that I recognized who the killer was long before I knew the motive or even the connection to Miss Tither, but in 1942, that “wrongness” I recognized was 75 years newer. I think many alert readers will twig to that pretty quickly, but it does not spoil the mystery. The story is not just a whodunnit after all, but also a whydunnit, and that is the real mystery. That is complex and the investigation is painstaking in presenting the facts, just as it should be.

I enjoyed Death of a Busybody quite a bit. It’s an excellent police procedural that highlights the systematic procedural method of investigation, the very best of investigation that keeps the investigators mind open to different ideas, that follows the evidence, not impulses and hunches.

Death of a Busybody will be released September 5th. I was provided an e-galley by the publisher through NetGalley.

Death of a Busybody at Poisoned Pen Press
George Bellairs author site

https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/9781464207365/ show less

I was unfamiliar with George Bellairs, who wrote several dozen cozies over four decades featuring Scotland Yard detective Thomas Littlejohn. Poison Pen Press has reissued the third in the series, Death of a Busybody, and I hope they reissue the entire lot! George Bellairs deserves to be rescued from obscurity.

Miss Ethel Tither, the eponymous busybody, takes it upon herself to be God’s scourge on earth to ferret out moral turpitude in all of its guises. From the irreligious to lazy scalawags to the good-time girls (and their secret sugar daddies), there are plenty in the village of Hilary Magna and environs who are glad she’s dead. But which one of the villagers was desperate enough to shut her up permanently?

The first third of the show more novel plods along a bit too predictably; however, after that, Bellairs (née Harold Blundell) lards the novel with plenty of twists and surprises. I never saw the end coming. Here’s to hoping that there will be more reissues soon.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I received this book free from NetGalley, Poison Pen Press, and British Library Publishing in return for an honest review. show less

Death Of A Busybody (1943) by George Bellairs. 1943 was a time of looming death and/or destruction for the vast majority of England’s population. What better way to divert attention from your own troubles than by publishing this humorous murder mystery. Set in the small Suffolk town of Hilary Magna, lead than two hours drive from London, ‘Busybody’ is aptly named. Miss Tither is the local snoop, holier-than-thou type who’s only passion is to uncover the “dirt” on her neighbors and confront them knowing she could save them if only they would heed her warnings. And if she can’t make then see their sins for what they are, she’ll let the village know all about them.
A most detested nuisance to be sure, but up to now, not show more worth killing. When her body is found in the cesspit belonging to the Reverend Claplady, the local constable feels it is out of his depth. Scotland Yard, in the form of Inspector Littlejohn, is called in to solve this stinking problem. While there are plenty of suspects, there is very little evidence. The case hinges of who saw whom and when, but the truth is hard to discover.
This is the first in the “Inspector Littlejohn” series and it makes a very good introduction. The Inspector is accustomed to the ways of the country folk and manages to collect evidence without strong-arm tactics. The locals seem to take him in as their new champion of justice, and together they solve the crime.
And there is plenty of fun mixed throughout the story, just what was needed at the time. show less