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Johnson Johnson #3
Match for a murderer
First American Edition. Dunnett was a Scottish novelist best known for her historical fiction. This is the third in her series of suspense novels starring Johnson Johnson, portrait painter and spy. The UK title was Dolly and Doctor Bird.
306 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
About the author
Dorothy Dunnett
30 books864 followersDorothy Dunnett OBE was a Scottish historical novelist. She is best known for her six-part series about Francis Crawford of Lymond, The Lymond Chronicles, which she followed with the eight-part prequel The House of Niccolò. She also wrote a novel about the real Macbeth called King Hereafter and a series of mystery novels centered on Johnson Johnson, a portrait painter/spy.
Her New York times obituary is here.
Dorothy Dunnett Society: http://dorothydunnett.org
Fansite: http://www.dorothydunnett.co.uk/
Her New York times obituary is here.
Dorothy Dunnett Society: http://dorothydunnett.org
Fansite: http://www.dorothydunnett.co.uk/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 20, 2018
As a literate member of society you are not, I take it, familiar with skin diving, rum punches, calypso night-clubs, surfing, dancing, gambling and lying oiled in the sun. That some people do so indulge, many of them failed medical students, is fortunate for the Bahamians, who have no no taxes, a warm climate and small scope or aptitude for intensive cultivation and industry.
Doctor B Douglas MacRanoch, M.B. is not in Nassau in order to indulge in these tempting pastimes. She's in the Bahamas against her wishes, here to keep an eye on her elderly father whose allergies made it difficult for him to remain in Scotland and take care of his clan and his castle. Dr. B (as in Beltanno) is the heiress to the extensive MacRanoch clan, and her father is willing to pay good money to somebody willing to marry her and take her off his hands. She is only interested in two things though: medical research and golfing, and they leave little spare time for parties or for romance.
To slide the driver out of your bag and stand facing the first of eighteen beautiful fairways, your feet planted apart and the wind in your hair – what satisfaction is there like it in Scotland, with the sandy ground under your spikes, and the sea roaring there on the shingle and the cold trying in vain to penetrate your woollen stockings, your tweed skirt and pullover?
The arrival in the Bahamas of the yacht "Dolly", captained by a little aggravating gentleman wearing bifocals and going by the improbable name of Johnson Johnson, is about to throw Dr. B's well order life into a tailspin.
Why am I lying under this palm tree, watching a banana bird?
It all starts with a routine trip to neighboring Miami where she is required to give first aid to a diplomat complaining of stomach ache that looks suspiciously like an arsenic poisoning. Her troubles escalates from here to blackmail, arson, mugging in dark alleys, gun fights in the middle of the night, espionage, wiretapping, speedboat chases and finally –
"Ever seen a doctor bird, doctor bird?"
"Frequently," I said.
"They're a damn nuisance, aren't they?" said Johnson.
Beltanno and Johnson Johnson play a great game of advance and retreat, cross and double-cross, with witty repartees and murderous looks ( You bloody little cold-bellied stinkpotter! ) reminiscent of the best classic Hollywood screwball comedies. Yet Johnson is not the only gentleman taking an interest in the stern doctor. A Turkish ballet dancer, an American architect, a British petty officer and a Japanese businessman are also chasing after this doctor bird, and she would be interested, if only she could determine which one of them is a genuine suitor and which one a deranged criminal.
—«»—«»—«»—
This is my third episode in the Dolly series, after one featuring an opera singer in Scotland and one with a haute-cuisine chef in Ibiza. I was saving it on my reader for a long and boring airplane trip and it filled the time wonderfully as I crossed the Atlantic recently. I believe Dorothy Dunnett had a lot of fun writing this romantic crime caper comedy and the entertainment value made me pass over the improbable plot twists and shady motivations of the actors.
I plan to continue with the exploits of Johnson Johnson in other exotic locations and with other alluring feminine leads.
Read
March 10, 2014Operation Nassau starts promisingly, with a main character who is observant and very good in a crisis. A woman who has chosen to place her medical career above all else (though driven there to a degree by her eccentric father, who wants her to get married and give his clan heirs), she is perhaps a little over inclined to use exact medical terms, but she worked well as a person.
Unfortunately, the point of this novel is to teach Dr McRannoch that she is wrong to be this way.
This series has always been a trifle rapey - all three of the female main characters I've read so far have had to deal with people trying to have sex with them ("forcible passes"). The first two deal with this casually, as a kind of occupational hazard of being female. Dr McRannoch brings to mind a line from a different detective series, where one woman says of another: "What she needs is a good rape".
The tee-total career-minded doctor, in other words, needs to learn to dress better, drink more, and appreciate (among others) a man who spikes her drink, hides under her bed, and ties her up - all because he knows she won't let him kiss her in other circumstances.
So, yeah...this wasn't my idea of a fun story. Especially since .
I'll give this series another shot, because the prior two didn't stray into quite so offensive areas, but I strongly recommend readers to stay away from this one. [Additional note: some dated racist terminology, though not strictly racist attitudes.]
Unfortunately, the point of this novel is to teach Dr McRannoch that she is wrong to be this way.
This series has always been a trifle rapey - all three of the female main characters I've read so far have had to deal with people trying to have sex with them ("forcible passes"). The first two deal with this casually, as a kind of occupational hazard of being female. Dr McRannoch brings to mind a line from a different detective series, where one woman says of another: "What she needs is a good rape".
The tee-total career-minded doctor, in other words, needs to learn to dress better, drink more, and appreciate (among others) a man who spikes her drink, hides under her bed, and ties her up - all because he knows she won't let him kiss her in other circumstances.
So, yeah...this wasn't my idea of a fun story. Especially since .
I'll give this series another shot, because the prior two didn't stray into quite so offensive areas, but I strongly recommend readers to stay away from this one. [Additional note: some dated racist terminology, though not strictly racist attitudes.]
July 10, 2012
After the vivacious, frothy Sarah Cassells, Dr. B. Douglas MacRannoch was a bit hard to get used to. She's extremely stern, dry, antisocial and judgmental, like Dr. Temperance Brennan of the television show Bones, but without all the whimsy. However, we can't all be Sarahs, and I stuck with it. Dr. MacRannoch becomes embroiled in several attempted poisonings and gets whisked off to various Bahamanian islands for a series of adventures and some serious personal development. Beltanno (as her first name is eventually revealed to be) finds herself in a whirlwind of murder attempts, international espionage, and, as if that weren't enough, an involuntary personal makeover.
I'm not always a fan of the Pygmalion plot of a woman discovering who she is by getting a new haircut and wearing more revealing clothes. However, as testament to the fact that Dunnett can do anything, she makes this an appealing and reasonable development. Her slow thawing is done exceptionally well, beginning with peeks of wit and emotion until Beltanno is revealed to be a fully realized human being (with a sense of humor even!) as well as a woman. It's a heck of a story, and takes place in an exotically beautiful location, with a cast of characters including socialites, diplomats, Japanese golfers, and Turkish dancers.
It's so interesting to see the way Johnson Johnson interacts with each of the heroines, and especially interesting in this case. Very, very fun to read, and Dunnett always keeps you guessing right up until the end.
I'm not always a fan of the Pygmalion plot of a woman discovering who she is by getting a new haircut and wearing more revealing clothes. However, as testament to the fact that Dunnett can do anything, she makes this an appealing and reasonable development. Her slow thawing is done exceptionally well, beginning with peeks of wit and emotion until Beltanno is revealed to be a fully realized human being (with a sense of humor even!) as well as a woman. It's a heck of a story, and takes place in an exotically beautiful location, with a cast of characters including socialites, diplomats, Japanese golfers, and Turkish dancers.
It's so interesting to see the way Johnson Johnson interacts with each of the heroines, and especially interesting in this case. Very, very fun to read, and Dunnett always keeps you guessing right up until the end.
July 29, 2013
Dorothy Dunnett has long been a favorite writer of mine, but I've never really gotten into her Johnson Johnson mysteries, probably because so many of the British mystery protagonists seem like wimps to me. I tell myself that Ms. Dunnett does this on purpose with Johnson Johnson, but it doesn't really make me like him any better. On the other hand, I really liked the first person perspective from the doctor, a character who starts off as a brilliant female in a world where men predominate, a role that would be difficult to write if the author were not also brilliant. It comes across better than most so-called genius characters. It's more than coming up with frequent esoteric facts. It's a way of looking at life, and I think Ms. Dunnett does an excellent job of portraying that. Unfortunately, B. Douglas slowly evolves into Beltanno, probably a more balanced individual but definitely not as interesting. I loved her descriptions of her father, had wildly swinging reactions to the Begum and Krishtof Bey, and was most disappointed in the ending. By that I don't mean the resolution of the mystery, which I had pretty much figured out by then, but by Beltanno's leaving the medical field and joining the ranks of the rich and frivolous. Too bad.
August 7, 2011
I'm starting to re-read Dorothy Dunnett's "Dolly and...." series. Dunnett has such a distinct style, and if you like that sharp, witty, literature-referencing style, the Dolly series will be exactly your cup of tea. Somewhat mysterious hero (Johnson Johnson, world-renowned painter and also spy), strong women, and lots of action. The Doctor Bird is Beltanno Douglas MacRannoch, only child of the head of the MacRannoch clan, and a woman trying to chart her own destiny in the middle of madness. One word of warning - the book was written in the early 70s and so some of the mores, language and geo-political set-ups clearly reflect those times. Still, quite a fun read.
November 27, 2012
Also titled Dolly and the Doctor Bird.
Enjoyed reading this again. Noticed how dated it was--swinging sixties I'm guessing? Enjoyed Dunnett's complicated plotting and humor. Found it helpful to read on my Kindle this time awround, where I could get some of the complex vocabulary words defined for me on the fly. That helped. Although for her plays on words and portmanteauisms, not so much. Reading Dunnett is always a challenge and good for brain exercise. Time for a re-read of this series I think.
Enjoyed reading this again. Noticed how dated it was--swinging sixties I'm guessing? Enjoyed Dunnett's complicated plotting and humor. Found it helpful to read on my Kindle this time awround, where I could get some of the complex vocabulary words defined for me on the fly. That helped. Although for her plays on words and portmanteauisms, not so much. Reading Dunnett is always a challenge and good for brain exercise. Time for a re-read of this series I think.
July 27, 2015
One of my favorite Johnson Johnson mysteries. The protagonist is a strict, iron-bound woman doctor in a time when woman doctors weren't nearly as common as they are now; she is also the heiress to a Scottish laird. Picking up the pieces after a poisoning with international implications doesn't suit her, but it's her clear duty. Dunnett uses Dr. MacRannoch's personality for very funny, intellectual, deadpan humor. A delicious reread.
Other title: DOLLY AND THE DOCTOR BIRD.
Other title: DOLLY AND THE DOCTOR BIRD.
October 3, 2022
This is definitely my favorite so far in the series because Johnson is everywhere. Thing is, Johnson is only where and when he is needed, which means the situation is drastic, which means there is a ridiculous number of drastic situations throughout this book. And we only made it through by Johnson Johnson's impossible wit and will and skill in lying by omission.
It was a weird sensation where I felt kind of drunk (a lot of people get drunk and get others drunk in this story) but also very sharp about everything. Not that that made it any easier for me to guess the plot, though. I'm still in awe by the whole revelation. As expected of Lady Dunnett --- she never fails to deliver this kind of vertigo and she does it so masterfully and satisfactorily every single time.
I like the ensemble characters in this one a lot. Our narrator, Dr. B. Douglas MacRannoch is a very level-headed and intelligent person who also excels at physically demanding tasks. It was very enjoyable reading the story from her perspective. The suitors --- Wallace, Trotter, and Krishtof --- are distinct and three-dimensional and smart. Everyone is so smart in this book. It's so satisfying to see smart people fighting each other, even if I have no way of catching up with them.
It was a weird sensation where I felt kind of drunk (a lot of people get drunk and get others drunk in this story) but also very sharp about everything. Not that that made it any easier for me to guess the plot, though. I'm still in awe by the whole revelation. As expected of Lady Dunnett --- she never fails to deliver this kind of vertigo and she does it so masterfully and satisfactorily every single time.
I like the ensemble characters in this one a lot. Our narrator, Dr. B. Douglas MacRannoch is a very level-headed and intelligent person who also excels at physically demanding tasks. It was very enjoyable reading the story from her perspective. The suitors --- Wallace, Trotter, and Krishtof --- are distinct and three-dimensional and smart. Everyone is so smart in this book. It's so satisfying to see smart people fighting each other, even if I have no way of catching up with them.
December 21, 2020
It's the fourth book I read for my ATW80 challenge, "visiting" The Bahamas.
A thriller that made me think a bit on Agatha Christie novels, Mission impossible movies and Agent 007. It's not original but it's entertaining.
A thriller that made me think a bit on Agatha Christie novels, Mission impossible movies and Agent 007. It's not original but it's entertaining.
August 18, 2023
Here we have another action packed instalment in the fantastic Dolly mysteries series!
This is book 4 in the new series order and was first published in 1971. Each of the books can easily be read as a standalone, but having read the previous 3, I’m certainly starting to build up a better picture of our leading man.
Johnson Johnson and his yacht Dolly are the glue that hold the series together. Each novel takes place in a different exotic setting and each has a different female narrator who teams up with Johnson (famous portrait painter and secret British agent) to solve a mystery.
This time it’s the turn of practical, no-nonsense, Dr B. Douglas Macrannoch, or Beltanno, as she hates to be called currently living in the Bahamas, due to her father’s ill health. Her pragmatic attitude has seen her work hard in a man’s world to become a respected medical doctor, and golf player! She’s confident and cool under pressure and is probably my favourite narrator so far.
When British agent Bart Edgecombe takes ill on his way back from New York, Beltanno saves his life and quickly realises that the ‘food poisoning’ was really arsenic.
After teaming up with Johnson, she is drawn into a world of fresh murder attempts and espionage, which she takes comfortably in her stride.
There are a classic range of suspects, with red herrings and subtle clues along the way, that’ll keep you guessing until the end.
I also love the way Dunnett switches seamlessly from vivid description (I almost felt like I was in the Bahamas) to action packed chase scenes and tense conversations.
All this is combined with a subtle humour. I particularly enjoyed the way Dr B sees the world in terms of medicine; the use of medical metaphors is perfect! At one point, Johnson is described as creeping efficiently ‘like an embolism’. 😂
I’m already looking forward to the next in the series, ‘Roman Nights’.
This is book 4 in the new series order and was first published in 1971. Each of the books can easily be read as a standalone, but having read the previous 3, I’m certainly starting to build up a better picture of our leading man.
Johnson Johnson and his yacht Dolly are the glue that hold the series together. Each novel takes place in a different exotic setting and each has a different female narrator who teams up with Johnson (famous portrait painter and secret British agent) to solve a mystery.
This time it’s the turn of practical, no-nonsense, Dr B. Douglas Macrannoch, or Beltanno, as she hates to be called currently living in the Bahamas, due to her father’s ill health. Her pragmatic attitude has seen her work hard in a man’s world to become a respected medical doctor, and golf player! She’s confident and cool under pressure and is probably my favourite narrator so far.
When British agent Bart Edgecombe takes ill on his way back from New York, Beltanno saves his life and quickly realises that the ‘food poisoning’ was really arsenic.
After teaming up with Johnson, she is drawn into a world of fresh murder attempts and espionage, which she takes comfortably in her stride.
There are a classic range of suspects, with red herrings and subtle clues along the way, that’ll keep you guessing until the end.
I also love the way Dunnett switches seamlessly from vivid description (I almost felt like I was in the Bahamas) to action packed chase scenes and tense conversations.
All this is combined with a subtle humour. I particularly enjoyed the way Dr B sees the world in terms of medicine; the use of medical metaphors is perfect! At one point, Johnson is described as creeping efficiently ‘like an embolism’. 😂
I’m already looking forward to the next in the series, ‘Roman Nights’.
November 23, 2021
It took some time to warm up to Dr B. McRannoch (the female lead) in this novel about families and murder. Still enjoying the character of Johnson Johnson, this was mainly a romance with the murder mystery coming in a distinct second and really only a focus in the majority of the novel because it caused the doctor difficulties in deciding who to sleep with as she wasn't sure who was the murderer.
An okay entry in the Johnson Johnson series, but not one to begin with.
An okay entry in the Johnson Johnson series, but not one to begin with.
October 12, 2008
I really enjoy everything Dorothy Dunnett has written. She's written a couple of series of many long books, which are very involving, but her stand-alone mysteries are a great place to start. A signature aspect of her writing is that you get to a place in the book and find that the ground is shifting under you--a new angle forces you to reinterpret what you've already learned. Lots of fun.
July 2, 2014
skimmed
December 16, 2018
The Johnson Johnson mysteries are witty, intelligent thrillers in glamorous settings amongst the global jet-set and wealthy elite narrated by young professional women drawn into the dangerous affairs of the Intelligence trouble-shooter, and usually feature at least one jaw-dropping and/or incredibly tense set-piece murder attempt. This is no exception, and yet it is also the most weirdly alien one, as the doctor bird of the (other) title, a cool, detached medical practitioner with an extremely trying father who is also chief of a Scottish clan helps a victim of food poisoning only to discover that it was actually a deliberate poisoning and has her life threatened for her efforts. There are three murder suspects running around and at least two of them are seen as marriage prospects for the Doc, even though she doesn't want to get married, unless it's to the Japanese businessman, to spite her hugely racist father, to whom the chieftainship will pass if the Doc doesn't have any issue.
There's a whole weird romantic comedy running through the darker suspense aspect, something Dunnett herself has no problem in accomplishing, but I can't tell if everyone's attitudes are just old-fashioned - this was published in 1970 - or these people - wealthy modern vestiges of crumbled aristocracy - are truly an alien race, particularly in a setting as modern as the latter part of the twentieth century. Everyone seems to think it's perfectly fine and proper to pressure her into marriage for her own good. She admits herself she is emotionally stunted, and at least JJ concedes that if she doesn't need to marry she at least needs a few healthy relationships in her life, which is solid advice. But that's a rare moment of restraint when it comes to interference, and JJ's the worst when it comes to subterfuge and interference anyway. Some of the stuff her father's mistress gets up to is frankly appalling and the real mystery is why a strong-willed young woman like the doctor doesn't frankly kick the crap out of some of them and have them arrested into the bargain. But no, everyone's way too sophisticated for anything as common and mundane as that. Weird.
Or, possibly, it was written using fictional conventions that are indistinguishable from certain behaviours that women were obliged to endure as part of the price of being a woman, even more so as an independent professional woman, and which had to present as comedy because the only alternative was endless rage.
There's a whole weird romantic comedy running through the darker suspense aspect, something Dunnett herself has no problem in accomplishing, but I can't tell if everyone's attitudes are just old-fashioned - this was published in 1970 - or these people - wealthy modern vestiges of crumbled aristocracy - are truly an alien race, particularly in a setting as modern as the latter part of the twentieth century. Everyone seems to think it's perfectly fine and proper to pressure her into marriage for her own good. She admits herself she is emotionally stunted, and at least JJ concedes that if she doesn't need to marry she at least needs a few healthy relationships in her life, which is solid advice. But that's a rare moment of restraint when it comes to interference, and JJ's the worst when it comes to subterfuge and interference anyway. Some of the stuff her father's mistress gets up to is frankly appalling and the real mystery is why a strong-willed young woman like the doctor doesn't frankly kick the crap out of some of them and have them arrested into the bargain. But no, everyone's way too sophisticated for anything as common and mundane as that. Weird.
Or, possibly, it was written using fictional conventions that are indistinguishable from certain behaviours that women were obliged to endure as part of the price of being a woman, even more so as an independent professional woman, and which had to present as comedy because the only alternative was endless rage.
August 9, 2023
This is book 4 in the Dolly Mysteries series. I've been reviewing these books over the last few months and have now read all 3 previous books in this series - Tropical Issue, Rum Affair and Ibiza Surprise. I'm so pleased that I've been able to read this series in order and to continue the journey so far (with book 5 coming in September too)
Each of the books so far have worked well as a standalone - but I do love the fact that we keep encountering Johnson and are able to see his character develop over the series.
In this book we see the mystery led by another strong female protagonist, Dr B McRannoch, of course being aided and abetted by Johnson and his crew.
A British agent, Sir Bart, is poisoned with arsenic on his way home from New York and our lovely Dr gets sucked into a whole series of events that involve her in a complicated espionage plot with many suspects.
I love that each book is set in a different era and find it really fun working out which one we're diving into each time. Dunnett, however, makes this really easy for us as her descriptive writing gives us clues throughout and I often find this informative and/or nostalgic too.
As ever, the characters are all great. There's usually a good mix of personalities to explore and in this case, it was difficult to work out who to trust given they all were pretty secretive due to the theme.
This was another great read with some humorous moments that lighten up the tension of the overall plot. I'm really enjoying working my way through this great series.
I'm definitely now looking forward to bringing you my review for book 5, Roman Nights. I've not yet read the blurb - but the title is already conjuring up some great ideas.
Each of the books so far have worked well as a standalone - but I do love the fact that we keep encountering Johnson and are able to see his character develop over the series.
In this book we see the mystery led by another strong female protagonist, Dr B McRannoch, of course being aided and abetted by Johnson and his crew.
A British agent, Sir Bart, is poisoned with arsenic on his way home from New York and our lovely Dr gets sucked into a whole series of events that involve her in a complicated espionage plot with many suspects.
I love that each book is set in a different era and find it really fun working out which one we're diving into each time. Dunnett, however, makes this really easy for us as her descriptive writing gives us clues throughout and I often find this informative and/or nostalgic too.
As ever, the characters are all great. There's usually a good mix of personalities to explore and in this case, it was difficult to work out who to trust given they all were pretty secretive due to the theme.
This was another great read with some humorous moments that lighten up the tension of the overall plot. I'm really enjoying working my way through this great series.
I'm definitely now looking forward to bringing you my review for book 5, Roman Nights. I've not yet read the blurb - but the title is already conjuring up some great ideas.
September 30, 2017
This isn't one of my favourites in the Dolly series, mostly because the heroine is hard to like, and plays little real part in the eventual solving of the mystery, but the plot is interesting enough to keep you involved.
I thought the heroine at the start was a judgemental, humourless prig despite her intelligence and ability, which makes it quite enjoyable that she has to be taught to loosen up and pay more attention to her appearance etc - the impression you get is that she has reacted to her upbringing rather than made an informed choice - but it is irritating at the end since she'd probably have been a better one once she got rid of some of her holier-than-thou attitudes!
Whereas in the other books in the series the details of the heroines' jobs are really interesting and a major part of the appeal, here it feels a bit like being hammered with a sledgehammer - we don't need the constant technical vocab reducing everyone to clinical examples to remind us that Beltanno is a good, observant doctor !
The location descriptions, as ever, are great, and there are lots of twists in the plot.
I thought the heroine at the start was a judgemental, humourless prig despite her intelligence and ability, which makes it quite enjoyable that she has to be taught to loosen up and pay more attention to her appearance etc - the impression you get is that she has reacted to her upbringing rather than made an informed choice - but it is irritating at the end since she'd probably have been a better one once she got rid of some of her holier-than-thou attitudes!
Whereas in the other books in the series the details of the heroines' jobs are really interesting and a major part of the appeal, here it feels a bit like being hammered with a sledgehammer - we don't need the constant technical vocab reducing everyone to clinical examples to remind us that Beltanno is a good, observant doctor !
The location descriptions, as ever, are great, and there are lots of twists in the plot.
January 7, 2025
OK, not great. As with others in this series, this tale is told in the first person by a female who has no “involvement” with the issues at hand but becomes tangentially a part of things; the protagonist (Johnson Johnson, a mysterious sort of British government spook who is also a famous portrait painter much in demand as well as quite wealthy and living on his extremely large yacht, the Dolly) is the main character and his exploits are told third person by the “narrator du jour.” This can take some getting used to, and the books seem a bit too Carnaby Street/carnival atmosphere at times, with frenetic action and pace, as well as a bit too much required of our “willing suspension of disbelief.” Beyond that, these are well told and entertaining, even if the resolutions are a bit too facile and slightly ambiguous.
Operation Nassau involves a female doctor at a hospital on the island of Nassau getting unwittingly involved with Johnson Johnson via Sir Bartholemew Edgecombe, whom she meets in a waiting area at the Miami airport when Edgecombe becomes ill with an apparent case of food poisoning. The story takes wings when the wealthy Edgecombe insists that Dr. MacRannoch continue to minister to his medical needs after their arrival in Nassau. We’re off!
Operation Nassau involves a female doctor at a hospital on the island of Nassau getting unwittingly involved with Johnson Johnson via Sir Bartholemew Edgecombe, whom she meets in a waiting area at the Miami airport when Edgecombe becomes ill with an apparent case of food poisoning. The story takes wings when the wealthy Edgecombe insists that Dr. MacRannoch continue to minister to his medical needs after their arrival in Nassau. We’re off!
April 22, 2020
Dorothy Dunnett's oblique style of writing put me off her historical novel series, but I've always enjoyed the Johnson Johnson books, even though I'm not blind to their faults (and that's why this didn't get 5 stars even though it is a real page-turner). I have to admit that it is sometimes difficult to follow what is going on, although I don't have any problem with the 1960s setting. In the case of this particular book, it's fairly easy to imagine the kind of post-colonial lifestyle the characters are leading in the Bahamas. The heroine is appealing, with a quick wit and sometimes sharp tongue. However, the attitude of Johnson and the other male characters towards her is often patronising and irredeemably sexist, as was the norm in society at the time the book was written. The chase scene and the final unmasking of the villain are both very exciting sequences, but both are pushed slightly beyond the optimal length, necessitating a long and detailed explanation from Johnson in the final chapter.
November 21, 2025
For the first half of this book, I thought it was going to be my favorite Johnson Johnson book so far. I loved the prickly, competent protagonist, and yes, although there was golf, about which I care not a whit, it was kept to a minimum. Then the golf became more and more prevalent, which was irritating, but what was full-on enraging was how the novel seemed to imply that all the things I loved about the character initially were character flaws rather than advantages, and she had to transform into the opposite to be happy and fulfilled. This book also aged particularly poorly with regards to rape, and by the end, I was so furious I debated giving this 1 star. The first half really is 4-star material, though, which goes far enough towards counteracting the 1-star second half to make this a 2.5 overall.
July 15, 2021
Dolly and the Doctor Bird has a lame title but a solid mystery inside. This is the third book in the Johnson Johnson series and it did not disappoint. I'm amazed at the author and how she writes completely different heroines for each book (the calm, cool and fashionable opera diva, the quirky, titled-but-penniless chef and now an antisocial, clinical doctor). I didn't much care for the heroine in the beginning but the setting, action and other characters kept my attention and the heroine grew on me. This book was first published in 1970 and there are some outdated racist remarks and attitudes towards women but overall the mystery was great, the setting amazing and the action fantastic.
April 27, 2025
Deeply frustrating. I've been sitting on this review for two weeks because I don't know how to pithily present my feelings. I loved Dr. MacRannoch as a character and the mystery was satisfyingly twisty but this book betrayed her. Her father's intense racism towards the Japanese and the Turkish is played for laughs, she is physically assaulted and shocked out of her sartorial comfort zone as a means of "helping" rescue her from her pathetic straight-laced virginity, and we are meant to cheer that just as we're meant to cheer her resigning from her medical career. There was some interesting psychology posed in terms of MacRannoch trying to be her father's son, but the conclusion of that arc is sexist and demeaning.
A rare miss from Dunnett - I'm still bothered by it.
A rare miss from Dunnett - I'm still bothered by it.
August 24, 2017
Johnson Johnson at his best in this rousing tale of crime and hilarity. I find most Johnson Johnson novels hilarious. Maybe I'm the only one. The fact remains that the final reveal and the ending parade in this novel was fabulous. However, as usual, it was the subtle portrayal of Johnson Johnson himself that kept me reading, kept me wanting more.
September 8, 2019
Not a bad mystery, but thought the story dragged on too long. Also found it to be quite dated, and B. Douglas MacRannoch was quite annoying at times. Liked the Scottish stuff
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2019
This entry in the Johnson Johnson series (aka "Dolly and the Doctor Bird") was a bit too convoluted for me. Despite that, I still could see the guilty party (though I had the wrong motive).
June 18, 2020
I would love Johnson Johnson in my life!
August 16, 2023
Operation Nassau is the latest humorous mystery by Dorothy Dunnett to be re-released by Farrago Books. Ibiza Surprise, Tropical Issue and Rum Affair raised my expectations sky-high, and Operation Nassau does not disappoint. Every one of the novels in Dunnett’s Dolly series has a different strong female narrator who is investigating a murder. In each case the amateur sleuth is assisted by Johnson Johnson, a famous portrait painter and British government secret agent. Dolly is the name of JJ’s private yacht, which serves as a luxurious base while he and his guests travel the world.
The star of Operation Nassau is Dr. B. Douglas MacRannoch, who admits she chose a medical career as a way of achieving independence from her controlling father, who is head of the Scottish clan MacRannoch. By chance she is called on to give medical aid to Sir Bart, a government agent who is poisoned by arsenic on a flight to Nassau. As a result, she finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery populated by colourful characters, none of whom is trustworthy. Only JJ can be relied on to help the good doctor out at crucial moments. The trouble is, when JJ offers a solution to one crisis it usually leads to another.
All the Dolly novels feature a particular skill or pastime. In Operation Nassau the theme is golf, which makes the book an excellent gift for a keen golfer. The descriptions of locations are superb, giving a genuine sense of how it feels to be in that place. Dunnett was writing years before personal technology was available, which in my opinion adds excitement to the plot. Some of the humour around Dr. McRannoch’s resolve not to marry is jarring, because it is in the style of early James Bond films, but she is more than capable of dealing with unwanted romantic advances.
Many thanks to Farrago Books for sending me copies of this delightful series in return for honest reviews.
The star of Operation Nassau is Dr. B. Douglas MacRannoch, who admits she chose a medical career as a way of achieving independence from her controlling father, who is head of the Scottish clan MacRannoch. By chance she is called on to give medical aid to Sir Bart, a government agent who is poisoned by arsenic on a flight to Nassau. As a result, she finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery populated by colourful characters, none of whom is trustworthy. Only JJ can be relied on to help the good doctor out at crucial moments. The trouble is, when JJ offers a solution to one crisis it usually leads to another.
All the Dolly novels feature a particular skill or pastime. In Operation Nassau the theme is golf, which makes the book an excellent gift for a keen golfer. The descriptions of locations are superb, giving a genuine sense of how it feels to be in that place. Dunnett was writing years before personal technology was available, which in my opinion adds excitement to the plot. Some of the humour around Dr. McRannoch’s resolve not to marry is jarring, because it is in the style of early James Bond films, but she is more than capable of dealing with unwanted romantic advances.
Many thanks to Farrago Books for sending me copies of this delightful series in return for honest reviews.
August 24, 2023
Operation Nassau by Dorothy Dunnett continues Johnson’s espionage adventures with a new heroine- the formidable Dr Beltanno MacRannoch, heir to MacRannoch Clan.
The Dolly Mysteries featuring Johnson Johnson, portrait painter and spy have been rereleased under different names and in chronological order rather than their original publication date. Interestingly the books are told from the point of view of several strong women characters and our view of Johnston is formed through their eyes.
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I have to say, Dr MacRannoch is my favourite heroine of the Dolly mysteries so far- clever, formidable, brave, loyal, and also strangely feral and wild (for the 1970s)). Beltanno helps a man with food poisoning on a flight to New York and finds her life changed forever as a result.
The underlying mystery of who is trying to kill Sir Edgecombe plays second fiddle to Beltanno’s complicated relationship with her eccentric father and everyone’s desire to see her hitched to a man. I had some strong P. G Wodehouse vibes when reading this book.
Dunnett’s writing in this book was a delight to read- the description of the jive between Johnson and Denise Edgecombe was poetic, fluid, and reminiscent of some of the writing in the Lymond Chronicles. Dunnett again packs a lot of action, drama, and humour in a mere 260 pages.
This book felt a little more of the time it was written ( the 1970s) compared to the other Dolly books in terms of the language and the ability of a woman to exist without a man ( despite Beltanno being a capable Doctor who could make her own way in the world).
Content warning
Some racial prejudices.
The Dolly Mysteries featuring Johnson Johnson, portrait painter and spy have been rereleased under different names and in chronological order rather than their original publication date. Interestingly the books are told from the point of view of several strong women characters and our view of Johnston is formed through their eyes.
I received a copy of the book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I have to say, Dr MacRannoch is my favourite heroine of the Dolly mysteries so far- clever, formidable, brave, loyal, and also strangely feral and wild (for the 1970s)). Beltanno helps a man with food poisoning on a flight to New York and finds her life changed forever as a result.
The underlying mystery of who is trying to kill Sir Edgecombe plays second fiddle to Beltanno’s complicated relationship with her eccentric father and everyone’s desire to see her hitched to a man. I had some strong P. G Wodehouse vibes when reading this book.
Dunnett’s writing in this book was a delight to read- the description of the jive between Johnson and Denise Edgecombe was poetic, fluid, and reminiscent of some of the writing in the Lymond Chronicles. Dunnett again packs a lot of action, drama, and humour in a mere 260 pages.
This book felt a little more of the time it was written ( the 1970s) compared to the other Dolly books in terms of the language and the ability of a woman to exist without a man ( despite Beltanno being a capable Doctor who could make her own way in the world).
Content warning
Some racial prejudices.
August 27, 2023
This is book four in The Dolly Mysteries and was originally titled Dolly and the Doctor Bird when it was first published in 1971.
The first thing for me to say is that you have to appreciate that it was written over fifty years ago and the humour and attitude was a lot different then . If you have not come across it before it may take you a while to get into the book without getting a trifle irate at times. However, for those fans of Dolly, it is not going to disappoint though I would recommend that you read the previous books first and in order.
The Johnson Johnson mysteries are funny, as is this one, though there are times when DrB McRannoch and her father and friends are a little strange, so to speak. Whether this is to do with when the book was first written and the attitude at the time I cannot decide, however as the story and the poisonings and threats progress Dr B McRannoch mellows and , to me at least, becomes more likeable with a witty sense of humour.
So enjoy the location of the islands within the Bahamas with an exceptional cast of characters , including Turkish Dancers and Japanese Golfers, revel in the wide variety of upper class exotic food they are eating and accept that some of the language and attitudes dates back to the late 1960s.
The first thing for me to say is that you have to appreciate that it was written over fifty years ago and the humour and attitude was a lot different then . If you have not come across it before it may take you a while to get into the book without getting a trifle irate at times. However, for those fans of Dolly, it is not going to disappoint though I would recommend that you read the previous books first and in order.
The Johnson Johnson mysteries are funny, as is this one, though there are times when DrB McRannoch and her father and friends are a little strange, so to speak. Whether this is to do with when the book was first written and the attitude at the time I cannot decide, however as the story and the poisonings and threats progress Dr B McRannoch mellows and , to me at least, becomes more likeable with a witty sense of humour.
So enjoy the location of the islands within the Bahamas with an exceptional cast of characters , including Turkish Dancers and Japanese Golfers, revel in the wide variety of upper class exotic food they are eating and accept that some of the language and attitudes dates back to the late 1960s.
September 1, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 for Goodreads.
I do like the new and bright covers, but I will say up front that I didn't realise this was a book originally published in the 70s, and so I struggled with the language and style as it's very dated.
However, I believe if you keep that in mind when you read it, it will be quite enjoyable to those who like their cosy mysteries. Dorothy tries to throw you off the scent of what's happened with false leads along the way, so you're constantly questioning yourself. I didn't see the ending coming at all!
I don't think it's aged well in terms of sexism and the like, and I personally found the writing overly descriptive - but again, that's just due to when it was written.
This is book 4 in the Dolly Mystery series and if you like cosy mysteries, I'd say check it out - after all Dorothy was awarded an OBE for her services to literature.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from RandomThingsTours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I do like the new and bright covers, but I will say up front that I didn't realise this was a book originally published in the 70s, and so I struggled with the language and style as it's very dated.
However, I believe if you keep that in mind when you read it, it will be quite enjoyable to those who like their cosy mysteries. Dorothy tries to throw you off the scent of what's happened with false leads along the way, so you're constantly questioning yourself. I didn't see the ending coming at all!
I don't think it's aged well in terms of sexism and the like, and I personally found the writing overly descriptive - but again, that's just due to when it was written.
This is book 4 in the Dolly Mystery series and if you like cosy mysteries, I'd say check it out - after all Dorothy was awarded an OBE for her services to literature.
*I received a complimentary copy of the book from RandomThingsTours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
August 16, 2023
This is Book Four in 'A Dolly Mystery' and I've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing the first three books in the series. In this book we head to Bahamas and Nassau the capital. Dr B. McRannoch is from Scotland, but moved to Bahamas to look after her dad. Dr McRannoch is working now at the main hospital. Dr McRannoch saves a man's life, but it's not just any man, he's a member of Her Majesty's Secret Service, and that's when everything changes. At the same time Johnson Johnson is also in town investigating an attempted murder on Dolly, Johnson's Yacht. This is how Dr McRannoch help's Johnson keep Sir Bart Edgecombe from being killed. We also get to meet a few other characters, an army sergeant major, famous painter, a ballet dancer, a golfer, a builder. Could one of these be a killer or maybe something else!
If you haven't read any of 'A Dolly Mystery' you need to. This Book can be read as a standalone and has everything you want in a good book.
If you haven't read any of 'A Dolly Mystery' you need to. This Book can be read as a standalone and has everything you want in a good book.
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