Quiet Murder (G.D.H. Pringle Mystery Series) [Hardcover]

Nancy Livingston (Author)

Book Description

Series: G.D.H. Pringle Mystery Series | Publication Date: April 1993

When the mysterious senior citizen who each year awards money to ""six pious women and six men of virtuous character"" is murdered, tax inspector G.D.H. Pringle begins an investigation.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Back from the delights and terrors they encountered in America's gambling capital in Unwillingly to Vegas , the amateur detective team of retired tax collector G.D.H. Pringle and his lively companion, barmaid Mavis Bignell, pursue a case of murder in their own London neighborhood. Elderly Ernest Clare is found killed shortly before his annual disbursement of Christmas club money at Mavis's pub. Suspicion falls on former resident Karl Gough, a young truck driver and petty criminal inexplicably returned to the area that day, who disappears after the crime is uncovered, having stolen another senior citizen's credit card. Mavis convinces her paramour to break into Ernest's house to see if the money is still there; Mr. P. is caught, but not before finding a possible clue. That and their belief that Gough wasn't violent enough to have committed such a brutal murder, or to have assaulted his estranged wife (as is later reported), lead the duo to the resolution of this sad tale of contemporary life. Livingston's quiet humor and sure affection for her cast of pensioners shine through a thoroughly satisfying puzzler.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

In London's East End, the brutal murder, in his bleak apartment, of elderly loner Ernest Clare is engaging the energies of CID's Colin Cass and his superior officer Bramwell. Clare lived on Inkerman Street, home to many senior citizens, most of whom spend time at Bricklayers, the local pub, where retired accountant G.D.H. Pringle's dearly loved Mavis Bignell tends bar. Clare was an occasional visitor who handed out small bequests at Christmas time. Rumor has Karl Gough--lorry driver and small-time crook--pegged as the killer, especially when it's learned that his wife, Sharon, is in the hospital, paralyzed and near death after a violent beating. Meanwhile, Karl is on the run, but reports of a prowler and news that Clare was far from impoverished inspire Pringle (Mayhem in Parva, etc.) to further thought. He pins down Clare's murderer, motive rooted in history, but reveals nothing, while Cass and his co-workers probe the tawdry, tragic life of Sharon Gough. The two narratives never really mesh. Plotting is over the top here, with enough angst and twisted character for several novels. Flow and cohesion come up short, but interesting backgrounds and acid-tinged vignettes provide sporadically intriguing entertainment. Medium-grade Livingston. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st U.S. ed edition (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312088787
• ISBN-13: 978-0312088781
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,137,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A SURPRISING ENDING!!, October 18, 2002

By 

Kathylene Privitera (Augusta, WV United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quiet Murder (Mass Market Paperback)

AFTER READING THE FIRST REVIEW ON THIS BOOK (ABOVE), I WONDERED HOW ONE READER COULD COME UP WITH THAT OPINION AND ANOTHER (MYSELF), COME UP WITH SUCH A DIFFERENT ONE!! THE THING IS, THIS IS MY FAVORITE OF THE G. D. H. PRINGLE STORIES, AND I LOVE ALL OF THEM. JUST THE PREMISE, A RETIRED TAX AUDITOR, AND OAP, OR AS THE BRITS SAY, OLD AGE PENSIONER, AND HIS BARTENDING, FLASHY MIDDLE-AGED GIRL FRIEND, SOLVING MURDERS?? IT IS TOO FUNNY. BUT THIS PARTICULAR BOOK IS OUTSTANDING BECAUSE JUST WHEN THE READER THINKS HE'S FIGURED OUT WHY & WHO, N. L. TURNS EVERYTHING AROUND & SHOCKS THE HECK OUT OF YOU!! I HAVE READ IT TWICE & I'LL READ IT AGAIN IF THE AUTHOR DOESN'T WRITE SOME MORE G.D.H. PRINGLE SOON!!