Customer Reviews

Death and the Chaste Apprentice

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Robert Barnard is an Englishman who has been a professor both in Australia and Norway (and both locales have turned up in his books). Since sometime in the '70s he has been publishing mystery novels. The novels are characterized mostly by their dryly satiric tone. They are very funny, and very biting. For the most part, he seems to have eschewed the continuing series format, although he has published several books featuring Scotland Yard's Perry Trethowan, and a couple more featuring a character first introduced in the Trethowan books, Charlie Peace (who has a small role in Death and the Chaste Apprentice). Given that the non-series books feature one-off detectives, he is more free than usual to turn his sights on the foolishness and incompetence of the crime-fighters, as well as that of the criminals, and in several of his books a main object of satire is the police.

Death and the Chaste Apprentice is not his best book, but it's a solid book, and also a bit less savage than some of his works. The Chaste Apprentice of the title is also the title character of a fictional Jacobean comedy which is being staged at an arts festival near London. The arts festival is held in part in an old inn, and we are introduced to the cast of the play, staying at the Inn, a couple of classical singers who are also performing at the festival, and the manager of the Inn, a rather odious, snoopy, Australian (Barnard really seems to have it in for Australia). Barnard spends some time setting up the complex dynamics of the characters: a young actor who seems to be falling for the Russian singer, an alcoholic actress, the leading couple of the play, who are married to each other but engage in very public adultery, the incredibly self-centred Indian singer and his manager, the tyrannical conductor of the opera, the eccentric director of the play, and of course the Inn's manager, who alienates everyone with his snooping and his know-it-all attitude. Then, as the play opens, a murder occurs, and the police have to investigate. Naturally, the investigation reveals a variety of unpleasant secrets which don't have anything to do with the murder, before finally ending with a slight twist and a nicely logical solution. (Actually one of Barnard's stronger mystery plots: many of his books, while still thoroughly entertaining, have very strained solutions.)

The true pleasure of this book, as with all Barnard, is the sly sarcastic asides which pepper the descriptions of the characters and events. At the same time, the characters are mostly rather sympathetic, even when somewhat flawed: this is not always true with Barnard, as I have read books of his which feature literally no likable characters. This book is also interesting for the snippets of information about Jacobean drama as well as 19th century opera.

Robert Barnard is usually a treat to read. And "Death and the Chaste Apprentice" is no exception. Bernard is quite prolific in his writing/subject matter and often chooses literary characters or subjects about which to write. In this work, we find the London suburb of Ketterick presenting its annual fine arts festival, "The Chaste Apprentice" being the theatrical entry (an "easily forgotten" Elizabethan drama!). Des Capper, the obnoxious Aussie host of The Saracen's Head Hotel, where the play is being presented and where the actors themselves are residing, is found stabbed in the back--a rather symbolic gesture, as it were, due to Capper's zeal to "unearth the hidden" from the cast and company. It appears that all the cast members have their own alibies--as he certainly died during the performance! Or so we think. Barnard is always quite clever with his story line--and plethora of literary allusions and references. He also introduces young Charlie Peace, who is to be featured in later Barnard stories. This book is fraught with clever theatrical references and idioms and moves along at a fast pace. Barnard's wit and expertise show through readily. Not a "deep" book, but certainly a worthwhile one, especially if you like British mysteries with a twist of wry! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Robert Barnard never fails to please, and this wry tale of a podunk arts festival growing in strength, the dedicated yet-second rate actors and singers, and the fading theatrical stars (like the Barrymores, battling, boozing, and committing adultery) and rising fascistic international conductor (a bit like von Karajan?), is hilariously funny and incisively observed. The manager of the inn where part of the festival is held is the quintessential Australian know-it-all bore. Highly recommended.

Robert Barnard, currently lives in Yorkshire with his wife. He was born in Essex on 23 November, 1936. Educated at the Royal Grammar School in Colchester and at Balliol College, Oxford, taking his Ph.D. from the University of Bergen, Norway, in 1972, he spent many years as a distinguished academic while establishing himself as one of today's most distinguished crime writers. His fascination with the pure detective story is evident in his many novels.

Robert Barnard is a great example of the writer who prefers his detective novels to be just that, based on detection . There are no `bells and whistles' in his books. It is virtually always true that good honest police work gets to the bottom of the crimes being committed. This is one of his earlier books published in 1989 and introducing a young and fresh Charlie Peace, a character who will feature in many of his later stories.

The story revolves around a long forgotten Elizabethan drama, The Chaste Apprentice, an entry in a fine arts festival in London. The host of the Saracen's Head, the place where the members of the cast are staying, is found dead and not from natural causes. He has been stabbed in the back. Although all the members of the cast come under suspicion, they would seem to have cast iron alibis, as it is almost certain that the man died during the performance of the play . . .

Robert Barnard writes mysteries that are almost better as novels than as mysteries.

Death and the Chaste Apprentice is wonderful as both.

His description of characters is flawless and wide-ranging; his command of plot superb; his side-trips into and satires on the pedantry of Elizabethan plays is laugh-out-loud.

The characters are truly memorable, even moving; and the plot will stay with you a long time.

This is a strong mystery, with plenty of red herrings and choice dialogue. In style it is similar to Barnard's other mysteries, but still is a refreshing entry in his series. It's recommended to readers who like intellectual or literary mysteries instead of just suspenseful ones.