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Loading... The Borough Treasurer (1921)by J. S. Fletcher
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Fletcher was good in two related sorts of mysteries --those that focused on the BRtish legal profession (like some of Cyril Hare) and those set in small traditional British towns. This is the second sort. If I recall (it is ng since I read it) it involves two men who were convicted of fraud, served their time, changed their names, and became successful builders and civic officials (mayor and borough treasurer) in a North of England town. Then they are recognized by a retired detective who tries to blackmail them... An enjoyable book, though far less engaging than Fletcher's "The Middle Temple Murder" which I read a little earlier this year. Set in the northern town of Highmarket the novel opens in the offices of the building firm of Mallalieu & Cotherstone, a successful practice. The two partners are pillars of the local community and are both on the local council - indeed, Mallalieu is Mayor while Cotherstone is the Borough Treasurer. However, a recent arrival to the area comes in to the office to pay Cotherstone his rent for the coming quarter, and, once that business is completed, identifies himself as a retired detective who had, thirty years ago, lived in Wilchester (a small borough at the other end of the country). This newcomer, Mr Kitely, goes on to say that he recognised Cotherstone and his partner, though in those days they had been known by different names under which they had defrauded a local building society and subsequently gone to prison. Kitely clearly threatens Cotherstone that he could easily wreck his and Mallalieu's current high standing if he were to expose their past peccadilloes and arranges to meet the two of them the following morning. That meeting never happens because Kitely is found murdered later that very night. When the news emerges both Cotherstone and Mallalieu are convinced that the other is to blame. As the police start their investigations another man is arrested for the murder, but did any of these men commit it? Another death ensues and the investigations spreads more widely ... no reviews | add a review
Classic Literature.
Fiction.
Mystery.
HTML: British poet, journalist, and avid amateur historian Joseph Smith Fletcher went on to become one of the foremost figures in the genre of detective fiction in the early to mid-twentieth century. Set in a quiet community in the north of England, The Borough Treasurer is an enjoyable mystery that will keep even the most astute readers guessing. .No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.912Literature English & Old English literatures English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1901-1945LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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A descent story which was first published in 1921 ( )