The Riddle of the Third Mile (Inspector Morse Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Colin Dexter (Author)

Book Description

Series: Inspector Morse Mysteries | Publication Date: August 30, 1997

"[Morse is] the most prickly, conceited, and genuinely brilliant detective since Hercule Poirot."
--The New York Times Book Review

Inspector Morse isn't sure what to make of the truncated body found dumped in the Oxford Canal, but he suspects it may be all that's left of an elderly Oxford don last seen boarding the London train several days before. Whatever the truth, the inspector knows it won't be simple--it never is. As he retraces Professor Browne-Smith's route through a London netherworld of topless bars and fancy bordellos, his forebodings are fulfilled. The evidence mounts; so do the bodies. So Morse downs another pint, unleashes his pit bull instincts, and solves a mystery that defies all logic.

"[Dexter] is a magician with character, story construction, and the English language. . . . Colin Dexter and Morse are treasures of the genre."
--Mystery News

"It is a delight to watch this brilliant, quirky man deduce."
--Minneapolis Star & Tribune

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"[Morse is] the most prickly, conceited, and genuinely brilliant detective since Hercule Poirot."
--The New York Times Book Review

Inspector Morse isn't sure what to make of the truncated body found dumped in the Oxford Canal, but he suspects it may be all that's left of an elderly Oxford don last seen boarding the London train several days before. Whatever the truth, the inspector knows it won't be simple--it never is. As he retraces Professor Browne-Smith's route through a London netherworld of topless bars and fancy bordellos, his forebodings are fulfilled. The evidence mounts; so do the bodies. So Morse downs another pint, unleashes his pit bull instincts, and solves a mystery that defies all logic.

"[Dexter] is a magician with character, story construction, and the English language. . . . Colin Dexter and Morse are treasures of the genre."
--Mystery News

"It is a delight to watch this brilliant, quirky man deduce."
--Minneapolis Star & Tribune

About the Author

Colin Dexter lives in Oxford, England. He has twice won Britain's Gold Dagger Award for the best crime novel of the year--for The Wench Is Dead and The Way Through the Woods.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Ivy Books (August 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804114889
• ISBN-13: 978-0804114882
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 0.7 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pure vintage Inspector Morse., August 24, 2001

By 

Leonard L. Wilson (Springfield, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Riddle of the Third Mile (Inspector Morse Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

When the trunk of a dismembered body is fished out of the canal, Inspector Morse is almost certain that it is Oxford don Browne-Smith, who has recently dropped out of sight. But then a letter, purportedly written by that don, indicates that perhaps the body is that of a different don. But then perhaps the letter is deliberately misleading, and the remains may be Browne-Smith after all. This is one of the most perplexing of the Morse mysteries. The apparent motive is supplied in a World War 2 flashback at the beginning of the novel, when Browne-Smith's cowardice prevents the saving of a soldier who could be the younger brother of a set of twins in the same tank unit, who are now seeking revenge after all these years. But as the novel progresses, the possible identity of the headless, handless, legless corpse keeps changing, and as soon as a new candidate appears, his readily identifiable body pops up elsewhere, until all the probabilities seem to be exhausted. Don't bother trying to guess the outcome of this novel. Just try to keep up with the sudden changes. Morse is at his best here, unraveling the bewildering texture of this complex mystery thread by thread. The characterizations are excellent, and although the overall plot is a bit incredible, it is handled in Dexter's usual smooth style. This is one of the best of the Morse series.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Going Down For the Third Time, December 8, 2000

By 

Joseph Furshong - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Riddle of the Third Mile (Inspector Morse Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Was it that I wasn't paying attention? Or was it that this Colin Dexter novel just wasn't as well written as his others? An avid Inspector Morse fan (to the extent of visiting the sites of several of his books in Oxford) I struggled with this one. A very clever double identity premise is doubled again. Then redoubled? I'm not sure. I got lost in the middle and by the time I turned the last page I just shook my head. Despite my going down for the third time on this one, I continue to enjoy the irascible Morse and the ploddingly faithful Lewis. And of course I'll read the next Colin Dexter.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good start, poor execution., May 16, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Louisville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Riddle of the Third Mile (Inspector Morse Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Twin brothers, a fifty year old grievance, and an anagram set the stage for another adventure with Chief Inspector Morse. A good start, but the rush to the conclusion in the last two chapters causes the otherwise intriguing story line to collaspe into a shambles. A poor performance by Colin Dexter ruins a potentially good book.