Customer Reviews

Dover One (Chief Inspector Wilfred Dover Novels)

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I have read just about every detective and find Dover the most original and enjoyable detective ever invented. His character is a work of pure genius. He has absolutely no redeeming quatilities. And this is where Joyce Porter has outdone every other author. She doesn not fall into the trap of giving him even one. Yet he winds up being someone you cant get enough of.
However, I must add that to appreciate him you must have a special sense of humor and character. It is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. But if you find he is to your taste, you
will find none better. And he grows on you until you become as I -completely addicted and cant get enogh of him. Let me finally add that they should make a movie or tv featuring him, but if you do, please do not ruin him by giving him any redeeming qualities at all.

You'll hate Detective Wilfred Dover, but love Dover One. He's a fat, loutish, lazy, slob, but not unintelligent. Paired with fastidious Sargeant MacGregor, they are sent out on assignment, only when absolutely no one else is available at Scotland Yard. The pair often has to sneak out of town, in the middle of the night, after having failed to solve the case. Once in a blue moon they do get lucky. The local police are always initially pleased to see the duo, but have second thoughts when Dover wants to go right to his hotel or pub, and has no interest at all in visiting the crime scene. Dover would rather spend his working hours having a think/nap, or telling his unhappy listeners about his digestion problems. Once dragged to the scene of the crime though Dover just might come up with a solution.

A young girl goes missing, and the local constabulary soon realizes they should probably call in the Yard. It's just their luck that the Yard sends Wilfred Dover, along with Sgt. MacGregor, to their aid. When he arrives at the scene of the crime, he's faced with an assortment of rather eccentric people (and some who are just plainly weird) who, as it turns out, all had a reason to do away with the girl. He deduces that she didn't leave of her own accord, and is either being held as a kidnap victim or worse, she is dead. Normally the wheels of Scotland Yard detection would begin turning in this case, but Dover would much rather have a nap.

This is a rather comic sort of mystery -- Dover is an obnoxious man who relies on luck and the work of others to solve cases rather than his own efforts. He's a slob -- one of the characters watched in horror as dandruff flaked off of his head. He loves to eat, has been known to put away the pint or two, and his detection skills leave a lot to be desired.

While some of the characters come off as being a bit over the top, this novel works and it works well. Dover is a person with absolutely zero redeeming qualities, but you can't help but like him. The book was written before political correctness entered the picture, so the author allows her characters to speak their minds. It's entirely different than anything I've ever read, and it's a treasure. I hope the rest of the series is as good as this series opener.

Die-hard fans of serious British mysteries might find this book a little out there and silly, but there is actually a good mystery at the core of this novel. There are a wealth of suspects, some red herrings, and the solution is satisfying. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who reads British mysteries -- but beware: it stands police procedurals on their heads. If you're looking for something entirely different, you have to give this one a try.