Customer Reviews

Malice Aforethought

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I have to confess that I don't own the audiotape, but I've read the book several times and think it's one of the best mystery novels ever written. It definitely, but definitely does not deserve to be out of print! Humorous mysteries are often not well plotted, but this is an exception; it's wickedly funny and ironic, yet it's also cunningly structured, with a story full of twists and turns that lead to a truly satisfying surprise ending. The character of Dr. Bickleigh, the hapless protagonist, is truly a hoot, and the supporting cast is fabulously drawn as well. Don't miss this one.

High quality meets high readablity! I wish everything I've read could meet such high standards of full character development, and intriguing, original, yet beliveable plot. This book is definately deserving of precious leisure reading time.

This is a glorious book if you like cosy English mysteries! A classic from 1931, the dialogue is marvelous; you can just "hear" the English manerisms and personalities through the writing! The characters are charming and likeable, and the main character is fantastic and amusing with his running internal rationalizations that lead to his decisions and actions. Don't miss this one!

A delightful comedy (for this is its main strength, not the fact that it was the first "psychological thriller"-and I have my doubts about this fact: didn't Mrs. Belloc Lowndes anticipate Cox?). Dr. Bickleigh, a philandering medico suffering from an inferiority complex, determines to rid himself of his wife, a bullying and domineering shrew, in order to marry his mistress-who announces her engagement to another man immediately after the murder. (Of course, his "ingenious" plan is immediately seen through by the other villagers.) Superb wit: excellent social satire-St. Mary Mead steeped in venomed ink, with plenty of amusingly catty back-biting and splendid caricatures. Berkeley at his most acerbic is highly amusing, in small doses-like aconitine.

Dr. Edmund Bickleigh compares to Walter Mitty at first: a meek soul given to escapist daydreaming but living in reality under the thumb of a domineering wife. That's where the resemblance leaves off, however. Bickleigh, conceived by Frances Iles circa 1930, isn't all that innocent. An English country doctor, already given to dalliances with younger, more pliant women, he decides to do away with the wife and move completely to the role of steamroller rather than steamrolled. This is established in the very first sentence of MALICE AFORETHOUGHT, which gleefully follows Bickleigh from conviction to action and consequences.

The book is a brilliant tour de force. The suspense grows rather than diminishes with every page. There is something for everyone: social satire, mystery and suspense, police procedurals, even the type of science popularized by the CSI shows. The characters are astutely drawn with psychological and sociological nuance. I never saw the PBS version of the book, but it can't possibly have what lifts the book high and above its ilk: the Iles voice. On the page, the omniscient narrator is witty and smart. Iles has an uncanny gift for revealing information. Every twist, every outcome is airtight. He skillfully moves between the up close and personal perspective of Bickleigh, the view of neighborhood gossips and court and newspaper accounts. Most highly recommended. Despite its age, the book hardly seems dated except for references to standard plumbing of the era.

This excellent, classic novel should be read by all lovers of great, well-written mysteries. The large-print type from the publisher is easy on the eyes, and the book came with lightening speed across a great distance from the very reputable seller. Sorry it's no longer in print in large-type. It should be! Grab a good used copy whenever you can!

Francis Iles is considered the "father" of the inverted mystery. You know who did it at the beginning of the story. It's fascinating how the story unfolds from there. He does a great job of drawing you in and wondering what will happen next. A great read.