Customer Reviews

Gently Does It (Thorndike British Favorites)

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"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."

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.

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.

Having seen 4 of the BBS episodes of this character I decided to try the book version. I have to say the character in the book is somewhat different than the one in the TV version. And the sidekick in the TV series is nowhere to be seen in this book, which I believe was the first of some 40 or so mysteries with this character. So I imagine he shows up later.

I guess it all depends on what style of mystery one likes. On the plus side, I solved this one, which I usually am not good at doing. But if you preference is for the Jo Nesbo, Mankell, Ake Edwardson, etc., (which are my preferences), Inspector Gently may not be your cup of tea.