The second book in one of my all time favourite series, the Flaxborough Chronicles, BUMP IN THE NIGHT, sees DI Purbright on temporary secondment to Chalmsbury after a series of monuments explode. Things get a lot more serious though when local "identity" Stan Biggadyke is blown up on the nights he normally spends with Police Chief Hector Larch's wife - the same Inspector Larch who volunteers at the local civil defence centre that is missing boxes of explosives.

By this second book Watson had really hit his straps with eccentric characters, elaborate and stagey plots, a lot of mayhem and dollops of gossip, small town characteristics and general craziness.

It's a joy to go back to this series, now available in ebook format which is just as well - my precious, much loved paperbacks are starting to show signs of fragility and have had to be tucked away in protective coverings. Those books are staying with me even if I manage to work up the necessary bravery to undertake the increasingly desperately required "grand cull".

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/bump-night-colin-watson ( )

Bump in the Night by Colin Watson is a 2018 Farrago publication. (First published in 1960)

The Flaxborough Chronicles by Colin Watson is a mystery series, which began in 1958 and ran through the mid-1980s. Farrago has reissued the series in digital format and has given the covers a new and improved look.

I had never heard of this author or series until I discovered them on Netgalley a while back. What a terrific find!

In this second installment, the country town of Chalmsbury is experiencing a spate of explosions, decimating objects like a statues and park fountains. It could be a the handiwork of a prankster, but then the pranks turn deadly.

The characters in this procedural, which might also appeal to cozy mystery fans, are so quirky and the dialogue is often hilarious. The story is so absorbing, with a unique plot, which is packed with some very interesting details, as the underbelly of the quaint country town is exposed. It is obvious the author put a lot of thought into the story. While this is a short book it packs a nice punch and is wildly entertaining.

I am so thrilled Farrago has reissued these books. The series and this author are underrated, in my opinion. I’d love to see the books get a little overdue recognition.
4.5 stars ( )

The town of Chalmsbury experiences a series of explosions that blow up monuments and landmarks, and the small town's police force is making no progress. Flaxborough loans DI Purbright to conduct an investigation--one perhaps less hampered by being personally connected, for good or ill, to every possible suspect.

Police chief Hector Larch is married to Hilda, daughter of Councilman Pointer. Local haulage magnate Stan Biggadyke is having an affair with Hilda, and last year, had a car accident that killed a young woman. Biggadyke's long history of malicious pranks includes having tormented Barrington Hoole, local optometrist, since their school days.

And Larch, sadly, thinks aggressive bullying is the way to question suspects and make them spill what they know.

What most of the town doesn't know is that Larch attends weekly civil defense training in Flaxborough, where he teaches explosives handling. A supply of explosives has gone missing, more than enough to account for the explosions so far.

Purbright takes lodging in Chalmsbury, and sets about piecing his way through gossip, innuendo, colorful local stories, adultery, and hidden secrets, to find the culprit.

This is a police procedural series from the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has a slower, gentler pace, with an arch sense of humor lurking in the corners. (What my Mom called a British sense of humor. What my Dad, and I, and the Irish/French side of the family called, "how we make jokes and cope with stress.) It's enjoyable, pleasant reading, when you want to engage your mind rather than looking for a more emotional read.

Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley from the publisher via NetGalley. ( )

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is the second of the Flaxborough series and I found it far less enjoyable than the fourth (Lonelyheart 4122) - I am reading them out of order. Here a series of explosions demolishes a statue, a fountain and an optician's sign. The initial investigation is carried out by an Inspector Larch. It was hard to warm to Larch and Inspector Purbright, whom I know from the fourth instalment and who is much more relatable, did not appear until the half-way mark.

There were touches of humour, but mainly a series of indistinguishable middle-aged men making "witty" and/or dull conversation with each other. Even the conclusion was dragged out and the murderer turned out to be the person I had suspected by reason of his having no discernible reason for otherwise being in the narrative. Hopefully the third in this series will mark a return to form. ( )

I received a free e-copy of this book and have chosen to write an honest and unbiased review. I have no personal affiliation with the author. This is the second Colin Watson British murder mystery that I’ve read. I love his quirky and eccentric characters with their wry British humor and slang. Full of twists and turns, secrets, and red herrings. I’m so happy these republished mysteries were brought to my attention. This is a great series, well written with quirky characters and unique plots. Colin Watson is a great storyteller. These are well worth the read and I look forward to reading more British mysteries by Colin Watson in the future. ( )