Morse's Greatest Mystery [Hardcover]

Colin Dexter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 14, 1995

Chief Inspector Morse, the irascible, brilliant detective of the Thames Valley Police, returns in six intriguing tales of detection, accompanied by five self-contained mysteries ranging in setting from a prison cell to a hotel lounge in the American Midwest. 25,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dexter (The Daughters of Cain) demonstrates his absolute mastery of the art of plotting in these 11 short stories, six of which feature Inspector Morse. Morse fans might fear that, by confining the Thames Valley investigator to the short form, Dexter risks losing all that irascible interplay between the beer-swilling snob of a copper and his dogged subordinate, Lewis. Not to worry. In the title story, Morse's heretofore unrecognized largesse is put to the test when the Christmas charity collection at a local pub is pilfered. In another, a car is borrowed and the owner receives a charming letter and an opera ticket. All these stories are powered by such ruthlessly cunning plot lines that the reader is quickly tipped the wink and finds himself or herself feverishly striving to second-guess the sleuth. In one non-Morse story, "At the Lulu-Bar Motel," Dexter spins an elaborate plot but struggles to create all-American con men, but another Morseless yarn, "Evans Tries an O-Level," is a terrific prison-break tale. Watching Dexter?and Morse?work in constricted space is great, challenging fun.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

You've seen him on TV, now catch him in print. Dexter's Chief Inspector Morse is back in six of the 11 short stories featured here-enough for a whole new PBS series. Dexter throws in five unrelated works for good measure.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 242 pages
• Publisher: Crown (November 14, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517799928
• ISBN-13: 978-0517799925
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,401,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A great disappointment., August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories (Audio Cassette)

As a long-time Colin Dexter fan, I looked forward to a long auto trip while listening to this book. Beware, all ye of similar expectations. This is not Colin at his best, or even average. None of the stories is very interesting, most are easily solved, (if you care enough to try), none is suspenseful. I had the feeling these stories were rejects from other publications. The Sherlock Holmes story is just dumb. Don't bother with this one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh, now..., February 21, 2004

By 

Donnald (Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories (Inspector Morse Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Oh, now! It's not so bad! Don't you listen to 'em. Bunch of filthy liars. But, everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I for one think it a good read. I mean of course it's not like the books; this is just a bit of fun. Some anecdotes with Morse and others. The stories are well-written... adequate anyway...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Morse is OK, but Dr. Watson shines., March 14, 2003

By 

D. B. Killings "Dagnabbit!" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories (Inspector Morse Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Fans of Dexter's Inspector Morse series will probably be a little disappointed by this book, since only five of the ten collected stories actually have the cantankerous Thames Valley detective, and with a few exception those stories tend to be the shorter entries of the batch. But still, this is a very readable collection of mysteries and other crime stories, one which as a whole tends to lean more toward the light-hearted rather than the serious. Probably the high point of the collection is not a Morse story but a Sherlock Holmes tale, in which the perrenially overshadowed Dr. Watson finally gets a little bit of recognition.

Overall not a stellar collection, but easily an enjoyable lazy afternoon's read.