Suddenly at His Residence

Green for Danger is author Christianna Brand’s most popular book and the second in the series featuring gruff, perceptive Inspector Cockrill. In that novel, Cockrill figures out the murderer early on, but can’t prove it.

In The Crooked Wreath, Sir Richard Marsh, set to change his will, gets murdered for his effort. But in Brand’s deft hands, the plot is anything but cliché. As in Green for Danger, Cockrill has a small group of suspects — six in this case — but how to prove who he suspects? Except for Marsh’s second wife, the Marsh family’s pretty awful, but none of them seem bad enough for murder.

And that’s my only quarrel with this third in the Cockrill series. The murder — and the ending — seem pretty unlikely to show more me; still, I’m glad I read it, as Brand’s send-up for the leisure class is worth every minute. show less

An impossible crime mystery set in during WW2 in England, with a cast consisting of an extended family, including the second wife of the patriarch, who has established a shrine to his first wife within the family home. Other characters are a few minor servants but importantly Inspector Cockrill who is a regular character in Brand's mysteries.

It is a somewhat intricate investigation, propelled by a proposed change to the patriarch's will, including as to who was to gain and lose, if in fact that change was consummated before the patriarch dies.

A generally enjoyable read, though not my favourite Brand to date.

Big Ship

13/11/2024

I put this down sometime during the week of 15 December 2025 and at the same time misplaced the bookmark. I can't for the life of me remember where I was in the book, but the relatives of the murdered man were especially unpleasant, and I had zero interest in figuring out where I'd left off or whodunnit, so a bail it is.

3.5*

Not bad but nowhere nearly as good as Green for Danger. Cockrill doesn't seem to do much detecting; the book focuses on the family and their reactions to events. David Thorn did a good narration in this audiobook edition.

Not bad but nowhere nearly as good as Green for Danger. Cockrill doesn't seem to do much detecting; the book focuses on the family and their reactions to events. David Thorn did a good narration in this audiobook edition.

DETECTIVE CLUB

Review is here:

https://nordie.wordpress.com/2025/03/30/book-review-suddenly-at-his-residence-by....