The last thing you need when you're on holiday is to become involved in a murder. For most people, that would easily qualify as the holiday from hell. For George Gently, it is a case of business as usual. The Chief Inspector's quiet Easter break in Norchester is rudely interrupted when a local timber merchant is found dead. His son, with whom he had been seen arguing, immediately becomes the prime suspect, although Gently is far from convinced of his guilt. Norchester City Police gratefully accept Gently's offer to help investigate the murder, but he soon clashes with Inspector Hansom, the officer in charge of the case. Hansom's idea of conclusive evidence appalls Gently almost as much as Gently's thorough, detailed, methodical style of investigation exasperates Hansom, who considers the murder to be a straightforward affair. Locking horns with the local law is a distraction Gently can do without when he's on the trail of a killer.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Book Description
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About the Author
Alan Hunter was born in Hoveton, Norfolk in 1922. He left school at the age of 14 to work on his father's farm, spending his spare time sailing on the Norfolk Broads and writing nature notes for the Eastern Evening News. He also wrote poetry, some of which was published while he was in the RAF during World War II. By 1950, he was running his own book shop in Norwich and in 1956, he wrote the first of 45 George Gently novels. He died in 2005 aged 82.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The First Gently - Hunter Learning His Craft,
This review is from: Gently Does it (Fiction - crime & suspense) (Hardcover)
"Gently Does It" is the first Alan Hunter mystery that I've read in many a year. Hunter (1922-2005) who wrote the Inspector Gently series was one of my favorite British mystery writers so I looked forward to dipping into his books again. I recently watched some of the television adaptations of his books and enjoyed them. They were so lively, and the character of Gently was so feisty. Hunter wrote 47 books in the Gently series from 1955 to 1999. They've been out-of-print in the U.S. for years partly because of the competition from so many new writers in the crime fiction genre. In England reprints of three of his books are due out in September of 2010. In "Gently Does It" from 1955, Gently has a few character tags, his peppermint cream candies and his pipe, but we learn very little about the man's personal life. The book was disappointing, creaky, clunky, and mannered, very much a creature of its time. This one has a short list of suspects, and Hunter's strong suit is not characterization or individualization of his people. They are not three-dimensional living, breathing human beings who have a life of their own. This book is a humorless slog as we plod through a style that seems old-fashioned and musty. In this one Chief Inspector Gently of London's C.I.D. is in Norchester off his home turf. He involves himself in the investigation of a murder and steps on the toes of the local inspector and his superintendent who all through the novel never agree with his conclusions and resent his intrusion. A mean-spirited lumber merchant, Huysman, may have been murdered in a burst of passion by his estranged son Peter. When Peter makes a run for it, the local coppers, think they have their man. At the time of the death 40,000 pounds went missing from the victim's safe. Gently thinks someone else is the culprit: daughter Gretchen, maid Susan, chauffeur Fisher, or works manager Leaming. Methodically Gently questions and re-questions each person, retraces alibi routes and times. One of the leading suspects gets murdered so the field is narrowed down to a precious few. There are some fairly good waterway descriptions and a few action scenes, but basically it's a no-nonsense procedural with good steady investigation at work. Somebody's on the fiddle business-wise, there's a spot of blackmail, and someone engages in a "clumsy attempt at inspectorcide."
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
gently Great Stories,
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This review is from: Gently Does It (Inspector George Gently 1) (Paperback)
Love the series,so started reading the books.I've bought used books,most in nearly perfect condition.This is the first in the series,and really have enjoyed the four I've read so far.Some differences from the show,but I enjoy picturing Martin Shaw in action while reading.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
fabulous,
By Sarah Stapleton (Beaconsfield, WA, AU) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gently Does It (Inspector George Gently 1) (Kindle Edition)
This is a great read. so much better than the stuff i have been dredging up lately. If you have seen the tv series this will charm you even more.
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