Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Eric Brown's Murder By the Book, in which crime hits the literary scene of '50s London

Donald Langham now writes about crimes rather than solving them. A prolific mystery novelist in 1955 London, he’s happy with his sedate life, preferring to live vicariously through the exploits of his fictional detective, private eye Sam Brooke. But when his longtime agent Charles Elder approaches him about a “delicate matter” – Charles is being blackmailed with scandalous photos of himself and a male lover – Langham springs into action.

With the help of contacts from his former PI days and Charles’ attractive assistant, the razor-sharp Maria Dupré, Langham tries to find the culprit before the incriminating pictures become public. However, it soon becomes apparent this is no ordinary case of extortion.

This is a fun old-fashioned mystery set amid London’s bustling literary community. There are occasional references to the war, and the neighborhoods and environs of the city are vividly described, but otherwise the historical backdrop isn’t prominent. As the tension ratchets ever higher, Langham and Maria begin falling in love, and their sweet, un-angsty romance is a pleasure to follow. A good-hearted, portly man who appreciates the finer things in life, Charles is quite an entertaining character, although some phrases he uses are overdone. He calls Langham "my dear boy" over thirty times in all!

The best part involves just sitting back and watching all the literary types – agents, editors, successful authors, disgruntled hacks, and a grande dame novelist in the Agatha Christie mold – interact within the sometimes congenial, sometimes cutthroat publishing scene. Langham is also a freelance critic of some note, and after an old friend offers to meet him for a pint, Langham tells him, “You’ve saved me from a dull evening of reading for review.” This reviewer, fortunately, had no such worries with this book.

Murder By the Book, first volume of the Langham and Dupré mysteries, was published in July 2013 by Crème de la Crime, a mystery imprint of Severn House ($28.95/£19.99, hb, 224pp). This may be the first historical I've read with a book reviewer as protagonist!  This review first appeared in the Historical Novels Review's August issue as an online exclusive.

8 comments:

  1. Speaking of London novelists in the fifties, I just read a book by Edmund Crispin and didn't like it. Is he an acquired taste?

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    1. I haven't read any of his work, but maybe someone else here has.

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  2. Ooh that sounds good! I might have to look this one up. Thanks for the heads up, Sarah :)

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    1. Hi, Kate! I'd think this one would be especially fun for an author or reviewer to read. Although it's set during an earlier age of fiction writing, some things just don't change!

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  3. This sounds delicious!

    Thanks.

    Love, C.

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  4. So Eric Brown has a long list of Science Fiction titles.

    If this is the same Eric Brown. There are a lot of authors named Eric Brown. As well a lot of mystery novels titled Murder By the Book, including by Rex Stout!

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    1. It looks to be the same fellow! Here's his bio from the publisher's website.

      I agree. The title may be catchy, but it's not unique.

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  5. Reading this review makes me want to go out and buy this book! It sounds like it has a lot of things I enjoy in a novel: romance, mystery and a twist!

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