Death by Sheer Torture

One of the review quotes on my edition of this book is from a wisely unnamed reviewer for the Chicago Tribune: "Robert Barnard has never produced anything but four-star suspense." The other quotes make it plain Barnard's real fortes are wit and ingenuity; if he ever tried to write a suspenseful novel, I've yet to come across it. He triumphs in the same sort of mystery subgenre as Colin Watson; his books are less outright comedies than Watson's, but they have if anything a more lingering cleverness.

Here the victim of an aristocratic country house murder is, unfortunately for our narrator, Inspector Perry Trethowan, his father; even more unfortunately, Dad died suspended from the strappado he'd commissioned as a masochistic masturbatory show more aid. It's going to be difficult to live this one down at the Yard. Much of the mirth of this novel derives from Perry's ghastly elderly relatives: the Trethowans have long been famous for using aggressive publicity to make the most of their generally somewhat secondary artistic talents. (The only genuinely talented one among them, the now-dead painter Elizabeth, is generally disparaged by the rest.) As for Perry's Dad, a very minor composer, Perry is at pains to point out to us that his father's greatest compositional triumph was probably the occasional musical fart.

The solution to the murder mystery is satisfying. The solution to Perry's other problem -- making sure he doesn't inherit the ancestral seat -- had me grinning. What more could I ask? This is hardly a major work, but it's a very jolly piece of entertainment. show less

Well written (overall) but not that interesting. For all his attempts at character depth, I felt most of the players were rather one-dimensional. Was just missing something.

I read some Robert Barnard books decades ago, but I’d never read one featuring Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Perry Trethowan. Poor Trethowan comes from one of the most dysfunctional families in life or literature. Having cut off all contact with his family 15 years ago, Trethowan is drawn back to them against his will (and better judgment) when his superior sends him to help out in the murder investigation of Trethowan’s estranged father, a perfectly god-awful sado-masochist who loved to stir things up.

Barnard puts plenty of twists and humor into Death by Sheer Torture, and I’ve already ordered the sequel, Death And the Princess.

Robert Barnard’s books are well written plots with a few kinks in them. Tongue-in-cheek humour and tucked in with murder.

Detective Inspector Perry Trethowen has been estranged from his family for the last thirteen years or so. When his father is found dead in an odd and suspicious manner, the Deputy Assistant Commissioner decides it would be a good idea for Perry to return to the family estate and investigate. Perry would have the inside scoop and be able to get better information.

Told from Perry’s perspective, you are introduced to his unusual family: Aunt Kate, who is a bit off her rails; Aunt Sybella, who loves any and all publicity; shady Cousin Pet and his Sicilian wife Maria and their five offspring known collectively as the show more “Squealies”, Cousin Mordred, and Uncle Lawrence, all who live at the sprawling family estate, Harpenden House

Considering Perry’s father, Leo, was found hanging from a strappado wearing spangled tights, you know this is going to be a strange mystery. By the by, a strappado is an antique torture device and one of Perry’s father’s interests.

Nothing is as it seems, or even close to being normal, but it is a fun British mystery with lots of twists, turns and a few embarrassments for Perry. show less

As this, the first in Barnard's brief series featuring Scotland Yard detective Perry Trethowan, begins, Perry has just learned of the death of his estranged father. Worse still, the elder Trethowan was found in one of his own torture devices. Although it's the last thing he wants to do, Perry must go to the family estate in Northumberland to help in the investigation, renewing ties with his eccentric family after a 14-year absence. Surprisingly enough, the book is rather light-hearted, and it is possible to see the real people underneath all the eccentricity. It was a nice, quick book to read after the two excellent, but rather long and grisly, thrillers I just finished. Robert Barnard's writing is always enjoyable.

Light-hearted detective novel set in a zoo for eccentrics. Occasional whiffs of Kingley Amis-like attempts to shock our liberal sensitivities, but not enough to interfere with the fun.

Silly, but not inspired silliness.