The Man Who Hated Banks and Other Stories

Patrick Petrella

by Michael Gilbert

Published in honour of the fiftieth anniversary of Michael Gilbert's first book, The Man Who Hated Banks and Other Mysteries gather together eighteen previously uncollected stories about Gilbert's most popular seven about Inspector Hazlerigg, five about solicitor Henry Montacute Bohun, three about former copper Bill Mercer, and three about Inspector Patrick Petrella. Gilbert's tales range from Scotland Yard police procedurals to classic country-house mysteries, action-packed thrillers, and tales of the seamy side of London life. In all of them, Gilbert displays his seemingly effortless characterization, his use of authentic detail, and, above all, his ability to engage the reader from the first sentence. It is a rare (perhaps, non-existent) reader who can put down a Michael Gilbert story before finishing it.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories

248 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1997

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Born in Lincolnshire in 1912, Michael Francis Gilbert was educated in Sussex before entering the University of London where he gained an LLB with honours in 1937. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America - an achievement many thought long overdue. He won the Life Achievement Anthony Award at the 1990 Boucheron in London, and in 1980 he was knighted as a Commander in the Order of the British Empire. Gilbert made his debut in 1947 with Close Quarters, and since then has become recognized as one of our most versatile British mystery writers.

He was the father of Harriett Gilbert.

Reviews

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

After seeing some good reviews on GR about this author's novels, I wanted to start with his short stories. I am not very impressed, as it was like so many other average mystery novels that I have read. Some stories were good and reminded me of Agatha Christie's mysteries.

One story had Pakistani brothers named - Bapu Ram and Khalid. I guess their parents were secular. I wish authors do some basic research, at least while naming their characters from a culture they are not familiar with.

I am not too keen on reading full length novels by the author.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gilbert has written many fine novels, but has a particular talent for the short story. This collection focuses on four of his major series detectives, all but one a police officer, but all completely different. Enjoyable, but probably not best read at a sitting.

[Cynthia Grove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Gilbert is a very good writer and if you like mid 20th C crime in short stories you may well love this. Sadly, I am not a short story fan and found this disappointing. In particular I was disappointed in the two stories about the non-somniac Henry Bohun who, from "Smallbone Deceased", is among my favourite literary characters (of course thats quite a long list).
So I recommend this book to lovers of short stories but perhaps not to others.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read anything by Michael Gilbert before and this was a pleasant surprise.

[Kathryn Baron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introduction, page 7, by Michael Gilbert
Back in Five Years, page 11, told in the first person by Chief Inspector Hazlerigg ***
A Neat, Cold Killing, page 19, Chief Inspector Hazlerigg **
Ticker Batson's Last Job, page 26, Chief Inspector Hazlerigg ****
Something Like Hard Work, page 33, Chief Inspector Hazlerigg ***
Balloons Will Be Released, page 39, Chief Inspector Hazlerigg **
The Awkward Customer, page 49, Chief Inspector Hazlerigg ***
Follow the Leader, page 54, Chief Inspector Hazlerigg ***
After All These Years, page 59, Henry Bohun **
Every Monday, A New Letter, page 63, Henry Bohun **
An Appealing Pair of Legs, page 68, Henry Bohun, plus a role for Superintendent Hazlerigg **
Money Is Honey, page 73 Henry Bohun, plus a mention of Superintendent Hazlerigg **
The Craven Case, page 94, Henry Bohun **
The Man at the Bottom, page 109, Detective Chief Inspector Mercer, plus a mention of Chief Superintendent Morrissey **
The Man in the Middle, page 128, Detective Chief Inspector Mercer, plus a brief role for Chief Superintendent Morrissey ***
The Man at the Top, page 149, Detective Chief Inspector Mercer, plus an important role for Chief Superintendent Morrissey **
The Terrible Mrs. Barker, page 168, Detective Inspector Petrella ***
Petrella's Holiday, page 182, Detective Inspector Petrella—Wilfred Wetherall, the protagonist of Fear to Tread, has a small but vital role ****
The Man Who Hated Banks, page 208, Detective Inspector Petrella ***½

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable collection of short stories dating from the late Fifties to the late Seventies with most originally published in Argosy and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. I particularly liked the three stories about the young Inspector Patrick Petrella. The last of which concerns a barn job that envolves the criminals cutting they way through several London buildings to reach the bank valut. This was particularly interesting as a similar robbery took place in London just some weeks ago!
Michael Gulbert is almost always an excellent read.