It’s been a while since I reviewed a classic crime novel. It’s not that I haven’t been reading them. They’re a very enjoyable distraction especially when I want to read a book over an afternoon. However, I often neglect to review them which is a shame as there are some very good books by authors who are now sadly neglected. One such writer is Pamela Branch whose Murder Every Monday I read recently.
Clifford Flush hasn’t murdered anyone for a long time until one day he pushes a friend into the path of an oncoming bus. The man survives but insists Clifford leaves town. He takes an entourage, all of whom have been acquitted of at least one murder, into the countryside to become homicide consultants, helping people who want to commit murder. All goes well until one of the students is killed in the middle of the course. And there are plenty of suspects to choose from.
The edition that I read was a vintage penguin. The biography of Pamela Branch on the back cover reveals a fascinating life although I can see that she later died in her forties. It’s a shame she isn’t more well-known. Murder Every Monday falls into the humorous crime category but it’s so much more than that. Clifford Flush is a Ripley style figure who is part cold calculated murderer but also keeps a reign on the more extreme members of his team. The victim isn’t given much character development until his death. The focus is on first the motley bunch that constitute the criminals and then on the guests who come to learn how to kill people. Both groups are subtly portrayed. There are degrees of ‘badness’ although no-one is completely without stain.
The humour comes from the watching the characters interact with each other. There are romances, fallings out and murders committed in others’ names. It adds up to a rich melee of murderous fun and I’m definitely going to be reading more of Branch.
Oh, this does sound like a fun read, Sarah! And I’m glad you took the time to post this review. I think there are indeed a lot of great classic crime novels that don’t get the attention they deserve.
Thanks, Margot. And I’m resolved to post more reviews of the classic crime books that I read.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for reminding me of the existence of Pamela Branch. I read a couple of her novels back in the day (although not I think this one) and loved them to pieces. I must see if I can find some of her books. They’re tremendous fun.
They’re brilliant fun. I definitely intend to read more. And she looks impossibly glamorous on the cover.
There’s a longish and interesting biographical essay here.
Brilliant. Thanks. I’m away at Newcastle Noir at the moment but I’ll have a look at this when I get back home on Monday.
Thanks Sarah, this sounds ace and I’m adding her to my list of authors to look out for.
Great, Rich! Thanks.
“Homicide consultants?” That’s the first I have heard. I like the humour behind it. I will look for this book, Sarah, also because Pamela Branch is a new author for me.
It’s a great idea isn’t it, Prashant? And very sharp humoured.
Love the premise of this one – forgotten books have so much to offer, and it’s great to see such a revival going on.
Yes, it’s a great premise and also executed very well.
This sounds good – I read one recently by her and wasn’t that taken, but definitely willing to give her another go….
Which one was that, Moira? Some writers have a slightly patchy output. Christianna Brand comes to mind.
yes, true for Brand. The Branch book was called The Wooden Overcoat.
Sounds fascinating. Will add it to the burgeoning TBR list.
Great!
Not tried her yet – only listened to a couple of radio adaptations by Mark Gatiss so far. Thanks.
Thanks, Sergio. I need to try those adaptations sometime.
If I can dig them out, would you like a copy?
Oh yes, that would be wonderful. Thanks!
Right-o
Are they online anywhere?
They’ve been repeated on the BBC online service but do not seem to have been made available commercially: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008hsky
Thanks for the link. Annoyingly, the episode is unavailable here. I’ll look around.
Sorry, the link was ‘proof of concept’ only – it link doesn’t work here either! I’m planning to lend Sara my personal copy.
Found it! David Tennant’s fan site (I assume) offers an mp3: http://davidtennantontwitter.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/mp3-of-david-tennant-in-wooden-overcoat.html
Yeah, I was deliberately avoiding that on the grounds that it is 100% illegal …
It is? Oh, blast. I assumed it was kosher because of Tennant’s involvement.
Strictly a fansite but I;m not judging here (though I do prefer Matt Smith) But hey, not wishing to piddle on anybody’s parade – but I’m a lawyer so I HAVE to pay attention to this stuff.
Normally I do too. Oh, well . . .
“Matt Smith”?
I rediscovered ODCTOR WHO with my nieces and it was just when Smith took over – he is definitely MY doctor (used to be Sylvester McCoy but nieces rule in my house) and I love what he did in the role.
Ah! Haven’t seen Doctor Who in years. I’m more of a William Hartnell/Patrick Troughton/Jon Pertwee man myself. I lost a bit of interest when they started trying to make the doctor cool/geeky.
You’re missing out chum!
My nephews introduced me to Doctor Who this time around. I was the Tom Baker generation. But now Peter Capaldi is my favourite 🙂
That’s the thing, isn’t it? Really seeing it with a child and through their eyes
I have not read anything by Pamela Branch but I have The Wooden Overcoat that Moira mentioned. Good to know that this one has some good qualities if don’t like the first one.
For what it’s worth, The Wooden Overcoat was the first Branch novel I read and I loved it to pieces — read it more than once, in fact.
Great review, definitely want to track this book done now, as I really enjoyed another novel of Branch’s The Lion in the Cellar.