Fear Round About

I am more familiar with George Bellairs' juvenile mysteries. This was a pleasant surprise and I will look for more of his adult works.

Drommett, a retired county coroner, has retired and moved to a decrepit manor house in the country. Hearing of Chief Superintendent Littlejohn's nearing retirement, Drommett sends a letter to Littlejohn requesting a meeting of offer a proposition. When Littlejohn arrives, he finds Drommett murdered. So starts an interesting and complicated mystery.

Drommett's bodyguards with questionable backgrounds (and why does Drommett need bodyguards?), crimes from Drommett's past that may tie in with the murder, mysterious postcards, red herrings that need to be checked out; all elements in a complicated and twisted show more solution with an interesting end.

Not a cut and dried plot line, but one that does need your attention. Very, very enjoyable! show less

Littlejohn receives a letter from Sebastian Drommett,who was County Coroner with whom he had had some troublesome dealings some years ago. Drommett writes to ask Littlejohn to call and see him about a proposition he wishes to discuss with him. However when Littlejohn arrives in the nearly deserted village of Swinton Lazars but it is only to find that he is too late,and the dead body of Drommett is all he finds.
After quite a few red herrings and misdirections which this author is always so good at producing,the crime is solved to the full satisfaction of the local police.