“What is distinction? The few who achieve it step – plot or no plot – unquestioned into the first rank… in the works of Mr. E.R. Punshon we salute it every time.”
NO MAJOR SPOILERS
Bobby Owen has been a beat policeman for just over three years when he finds himself at the scene of a murder. At first he is simply another policeman at the scene but his inquisitive nature and frustrations at not not being more involved finally get him seconded to the C.I.D temporarily on this case.
He finds himself mainly doing the footwork but the detective in charge sees something more in Bobby and starts to include him more in the crime investigations.
This is the first of over thirty books about Bobby Owen as we follow his career in the police force of thirties and Forties Britain.
Originally published in 1933 this first instalment is a brilliant insight into life of thirties England. I really enjoyed this ebook even if the storytelling is a bit convoluted and life is seen through rose tinted glasses. Owen is an interesting character, driven by the need to know answers to unsolved mysteries. Dedicated to the truth at any cost to himself.
This story has a great plot with twists and turns on almost every page. I am not one who can ever guess early who the perpetrator of these crime books is, in this one it was even harder because we do not find out until quite late in the story that there are two.
I highly recommend this ebook if you enjoy period crime writing, or even crime writing in general.
Reviewed by:
Trevor Litchfield
Added 1st October 2018
