The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn

The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter is part of the Inspector Morse books, a series that I hadn’t read in some time. This particular book was originally published in 1977 and it’s style is reminds one of detective stories written in the 1940s and 50s. The reader is not privy to the inner workings of Inspector Morse’s mind, we are rather his audience that he plays to, announcing the murderer and his methods at the end of the book. We also learn very little of his private life away from the actual job of detecting.

Set in the university town of Oxford, this case deals with the Foreign Examination Board and the murder of one it’s appointees. Somehow, Morse decides that the murderer must be one of the small group of show more people who work there, and so most of the book is about this small academic organization. Along the way there is a secondary murder, and the book is rife with red herrings and a few twists to keep the reader guessing.

Personally, I am not sure whether I will continue with this series, I didn’t find Morse particularly likeable or sympathetic. The story was very well written, but some of the very characteristics that I enjoy in the Inspector Frost books by R.D. Wingfield, I found intolerable here. I missed the tongue-in-cheek humor which helps to offset the rudeness and arrogance. show less

Early and not as finely crafted as later Morses but still a highly enjoyable read. The younger Morse is more coarse and less of the enigmatically attractive to women but more of the chaser. Here, I also felt like the murder was never really well solved, and the epilouge didn't make me sure of it.

This, the third of Dexter’s Morse novels, shows more depth in the writing style compared to the first two novels, and much more development of Morse’s character.

Another improvement in quality of writing over the previous book, this time without the jumbled mess of an ending. However, it is replaced with Morse/Dexter explaining at great length to Lewis/the reader the intricacies of plot that we missed whilst attempting to reassure him/us that he/we were not stupid for doing so. My current feeling is that Dexter fancies himself as too clever for his own good, but we'll see how the series develops.

Probably my favorite Morse, although The Riddle of the Third Mile runs it close. The frantic, almost demented way in which Morse tries to solve the mystery as well as furthering his love life, two not necessarily congruous goals, is both amusing and touching.

This Inspector Morse installment was a vast improvement over the previous one, and I suspect the novels will continue to get better in both plot and characterization. Morse is still trying to ply his assistant Lewis with beer and sherry and excursions to a few blue movies, but it's not without its critique, as Lewis notes that Morse can be needlessly crude at times. It is 1977 Oxford after all, where sexism is both a town and gown preoccupation.

A great murder mystery. A well written, good tight story with interesting characters and lots of fun reveals and surprises. This is the first Inspector Morse book I've read, I'm sure I'll read more.