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Whatever's Been Going On At Mumblesby?,Six Nuns and a Shotgun,It Shouldn't Happen To A Dog

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Colin Watson, Whatever's Been Going on at Mumblesby? (Dutton, 1983)

Colin Watson gives us a new Flaxborough novel, but this time he's one town over in Mumblesby. A leading solicitor has died, and Inspector Purbright is all set to attend the funeral. However, when he gets there, he finds the deceased's new wife is nowhere to be found. He finds her at home, locked in a bathroom, and no sooner is she released and on her way to the funeral when Purbright notices smoldering; a heap of clothes thrown over a space heater. Things seem just a tad odd in Mumblesby...

As usual, Colin Watson gives a decent mystery with a jaundiced eye towards the upstairs-downstairs aspect of drawing room comedy. There are a few unpredictable turns, and the pace is good enough to keep the pages turning.

This is my fourth Flaxborough novel, and it finally occurred to me while reading this one what the failing of Watson's novels is; his characters are eminently forgettable. They're drawn well-enough not to be caricatures, but after finishing one Watson novel, there's nothing about Purbright, his sidekick Love, antique dealer/spinster Miss Teatime, et al. to keep them in mind until I pick up the next Flaxborough novel that comes across my path (which doesn't happen often, as they've been out of print for some time). Still, if you're looking for a fast, easy read and a cozy mystery, Watson can be just the ticket. ***