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Inspector Thanet #2
Six Feet Under
Curiousity killed the cat. Did it also kill Carrie? Inspector Thanet is called in to investigate the murder of a singularly unprepossessing middle-aged spinster in a peaceful Kentish garden. The author is a winner of the Silver Daggar Award.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
307 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Simpson
37 books118 followersDorothy Preece Simpson writes...
"I was born and brought up in South Wales, went to Bridgend Grammar School and then on to Bristol University, where I read modern languages before moving to Kent, the background of the Thanet novels, to teach French at Dartford and Erith Grammar Schools.
Moving to the Maidstone area on my marriage, I then spent several years devoting myself to bringing up my three children. During that time I trained as a marriage guidance counsellor and subsequently worked as one for thirteen years.
You may think that marriage guidance counsellor to crime writer is rather a peculiar career move, but although I didn’t realise it at the time, of course, the training I received was the best possible preparation for writing detective novels. Murder mysteries are all about relationships which go disastrously wrong and the insights I gained into what makes people tick, into their interaction and motivations, have been absolutely invaluable to DI Thanet, my series character, as have the interviewing skills I acquired during my years of counselling.
I began to write after a long illness in 1975. The success of my first book, a suspense novel called HARBINGERS OF FEAR, gave me sufficient impetus to carry me through the two rejections which followed - very disheartening at the time, but invaluable in retrospect.
It was during this period that I realised that the crime novel is of such diversity that it offers enormous scope to the writer and decided to attempt to lay the foundation for a series of detective novels in my next book. This was the THE NIGHT SHE DIED." This was the first in a 15 book series starring Detective Inspector Luke Thanet. Severe repetitive stress injury caused her to stop writing in 2000.
She is an award winning author, receiving a Silver Dagger Award from the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain.
"I was born and brought up in South Wales, went to Bridgend Grammar School and then on to Bristol University, where I read modern languages before moving to Kent, the background of the Thanet novels, to teach French at Dartford and Erith Grammar Schools.
Moving to the Maidstone area on my marriage, I then spent several years devoting myself to bringing up my three children. During that time I trained as a marriage guidance counsellor and subsequently worked as one for thirteen years.
You may think that marriage guidance counsellor to crime writer is rather a peculiar career move, but although I didn’t realise it at the time, of course, the training I received was the best possible preparation for writing detective novels. Murder mysteries are all about relationships which go disastrously wrong and the insights I gained into what makes people tick, into their interaction and motivations, have been absolutely invaluable to DI Thanet, my series character, as have the interviewing skills I acquired during my years of counselling.
I began to write after a long illness in 1975. The success of my first book, a suspense novel called HARBINGERS OF FEAR, gave me sufficient impetus to carry me through the two rejections which followed - very disheartening at the time, but invaluable in retrospect.
It was during this period that I realised that the crime novel is of such diversity that it offers enormous scope to the writer and decided to attempt to lay the foundation for a series of detective novels in my next book. This was the THE NIGHT SHE DIED." This was the first in a 15 book series starring Detective Inspector Luke Thanet. Severe repetitive stress injury caused her to stop writing in 2000.
She is an award winning author, receiving a Silver Dagger Award from the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
June 19, 2017
I am really enjoying these mysteries from Dorothy Simpson. I've read three now and I can only describe this as something I could see Agatha Christie writing if she was still alive. And I love Agatha Christie!! So it goes without saying the reason why I enjoy these books so much.
This is the second mystery featuring Luke Thanet and I believe a year or so has passed since the first book, or maybe even longer than that. He's still balancing work and home life. These are not gory or outrageous killings/mysteries. They're taking place in a rural England town and Thanet is a great detective, not unlike Hercule Poirot. They're short books but the mysteries and stories are fantastic.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second mystery featuring Luke Thanet and I believe a year or so has passed since the first book, or maybe even longer than that. He's still balancing work and home life. These are not gory or outrageous killings/mysteries. They're taking place in a rural England town and Thanet is a great detective, not unlike Hercule Poirot. They're short books but the mysteries and stories are fantastic.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2017
4.5 Stars I really liked this book. Although having only read the first two books of the series I get a sense of a well grounded man in Inspector Luke Thanet. I like him immensely; he seems so real and in touch with his feelings as well as his wife's; but no slouch when it comes to solving murder. This mystery was plotted very well and was not easy to see who had "dunnit"!
November 23, 2024
I enjoyed this mystery based on a true event, according to a note by the author. This was written in the early 80’s - England seems to have been strangely old fashioned for the time. Inspector Thanet is having difficulty dealing with the idea of his wife wanting to work but he’s a thoughtful man and manages to work through his feelings. The mystery is intriguing- who could have killed such a nondescript-seeming woman? Well paced and enjoyable.
January 27, 2018
The message of this novel appeared to be that the more one tries to hold onto something, the more tenuous one's hold becomes, eventually leading to loss, the exact opposite of what one wanted. That issue even enters the marriage of Inspector Luke Thanet in Book 2 of the series when he prefers his wife not get a job. I confess it was a bit of a relief from the first book where his marriage seemed a little too picture-perfect, but it also slowed down the pace somewhat. It could provide more interest though in subsequent books if he wife has a larger professional role to play.
As for the mystery, or at least the solution, Simpson says in a note that she based it on a newspaper story from 1975. Simpson's characters and quirks are always well-drawn, with sadness and conflict more often filling their lives than joy—not in a depressing way, just as a result of life and the bitterness loneliness can bring. Thanet is the exception. He has empathy and kindness—sometimes too much, he feels—but he provides contrast to the conflicted characters. This was an interesting mystery of the secretive lives that inhabit the small village of Nettleton. As secrets are revealed, more questions pop up, and the circle of suspects broadens. The solution came as a surprise, though one large clue was offered early on if the reader doesn't soon forget it. For anyone who loves a British village mystery, this series should be of interest.
As for the mystery, or at least the solution, Simpson says in a note that she based it on a newspaper story from 1975. Simpson's characters and quirks are always well-drawn, with sadness and conflict more often filling their lives than joy—not in a depressing way, just as a result of life and the bitterness loneliness can bring. Thanet is the exception. He has empathy and kindness—sometimes too much, he feels—but he provides contrast to the conflicted characters. This was an interesting mystery of the secretive lives that inhabit the small village of Nettleton. As secrets are revealed, more questions pop up, and the circle of suspects broadens. The solution came as a surprise, though one large clue was offered early on if the reader doesn't soon forget it. For anyone who loves a British village mystery, this series should be of interest.
January 26, 2016
An elderly woman is found dead one morning. Luke Thanet and Mike Lineham get the impression that her neighbours were not that keen on Carrie even though she was necessary to them as she cleaned for some and looked after elderly relatives for others as well as looking after her own tyrant of a mother. No one is willing to talk to the police about what the victim was really like.
Gradually everything unravels and secrets are revealed that some would have preferred to keep hidden. Thanet finds his home life mirroring his work life as his wife, Joan announces she wants to return to work once their youngest child is at school. Thanet can only see his comfortable home life being disrupted if his wife is working full time.
I enjoyed this cleverly plotted mystery with its interesting and well drawn characters, Unfortunately the publishers have decided to release the first two - of which this is the second - an the last two in the series as e-books but so far have not released the books in between. Those who like to read their series in order may have to wait a while for the rest to become available.
Gradually everything unravels and secrets are revealed that some would have preferred to keep hidden. Thanet finds his home life mirroring his work life as his wife, Joan announces she wants to return to work once their youngest child is at school. Thanet can only see his comfortable home life being disrupted if his wife is working full time.
I enjoyed this cleverly plotted mystery with its interesting and well drawn characters, Unfortunately the publishers have decided to release the first two - of which this is the second - an the last two in the series as e-books but so far have not released the books in between. Those who like to read their series in order may have to wait a while for the rest to become available.
October 21, 2015
A surprisingly smooth read. Harks back to a time which is not too far away but still appears alien -when there were no mobile phones and mysteries were straight forward in their rendering. Simpson slips in these wonderful insights into the lives of individual characters drawing on her professional skills as a marriage counsellor. This and the simple narrative are what makes this book a pleasant experience. No bells and whistles, an unpretentious work by a solid craftsperson.
August 31, 2023
A very enjoyable read. Recommended.
October 28, 2022
A very enjoyable whodunnit set in a Kentish village. The murder of a mousy, nondescript and henpecked woman allows Inspector Thanet to explore the secrets and lies of the neighbours, most of whom transpire to have a motive and the opportunity.
The author explores the “...crippled relationship with those they would claim to love most” and the detectives themselves are not immune from these observations.
I find it hard to believe this was published in 1982. It reads like a 1950s murder mystery and I had to keep checking the date of publication; the atmosphere is redolent of an Agatha Christie, Inspector Thanet’s chauvinism seems to come out of a post war advert for domestic appliances.
The author explores the “...crippled relationship with those they would claim to love most” and the detectives themselves are not immune from these observations.
I find it hard to believe this was published in 1982. It reads like a 1950s murder mystery and I had to keep checking the date of publication; the atmosphere is redolent of an Agatha Christie, Inspector Thanet’s chauvinism seems to come out of a post war advert for domestic appliances.
July 12, 2018
Well Thanet starts out this novel acting like a real entitled butthole with his wife, Joan, and I kept wanting to smack him. Fortunately he straightens himself out by the end and hopefully I won't have to keep dealing with these crazy internal monologues about how much he will miss elaborate home-cooked meals when Joan goes back to work.
June 21, 2022
A Joy to Read!
I always need a good English mystery to shore me up with a great plot held up with sentence structure and good grammar! One without the other distracts from the story, which is unfortunate and stops me mid-book. This "Inspector Thanet" adventure makes me want to join him on the next one!
I always need a good English mystery to shore me up with a great plot held up with sentence structure and good grammar! One without the other distracts from the story, which is unfortunate and stops me mid-book. This "Inspector Thanet" adventure makes me want to join him on the next one!
June 25, 2017
4 stars
Carrie Birch was found dead in an old unused outhouse in the back of a property. DI Luke Thanet and DS Mike Lineham respond to the call.
When examining her room, they find nothing too remarkable except for the nearly 10,000 pounds stuffed under her mattress. Where did it come from? A house cleaner and part-time carer does not make that much.
After interviewing neighbors and Carrie’s mother, they are exactly nowhere. He does get the impression that the people he talks to are evading his questions. Carries was non-descript, inoffensive, a doormat to her overbearing and nasty mother. The villagers all say these things, but stop there almost as if there is something more that should be said, but they do not. Thanet is frustrated.
At the same time, Thanet’s wife, Joan wants to go back to work but he doesn’t want anything to change. Lineham is planning his wedding with Louise, but his mother keeps conveniently having heart attacks before the wedding comes off. It has already happened twice and Louise and Lineham are getting worn out from the constant battle.
Thanet goes along investigating and chasing clues and finally he sees who it was that killed Carrie – and more importantly – why.
I like Thanet’s observations about the psychology of situations and people with whom he comes into contact. He is very observant and likes to ponder all possibilities. I like the characters and Thanet and Lineham’s interactions. This book is very well written and plotted. It is an easy and gentle read. The reader is lulled along with the investigation and suddenly, there is a conclusion. It is very satisfying. I will continue to read Dorothy Simpson’s novels.
I want to thank Netgalley and Open Road Integrated Media for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book to read.
Carrie Birch was found dead in an old unused outhouse in the back of a property. DI Luke Thanet and DS Mike Lineham respond to the call.
When examining her room, they find nothing too remarkable except for the nearly 10,000 pounds stuffed under her mattress. Where did it come from? A house cleaner and part-time carer does not make that much.
After interviewing neighbors and Carrie’s mother, they are exactly nowhere. He does get the impression that the people he talks to are evading his questions. Carries was non-descript, inoffensive, a doormat to her overbearing and nasty mother. The villagers all say these things, but stop there almost as if there is something more that should be said, but they do not. Thanet is frustrated.
At the same time, Thanet’s wife, Joan wants to go back to work but he doesn’t want anything to change. Lineham is planning his wedding with Louise, but his mother keeps conveniently having heart attacks before the wedding comes off. It has already happened twice and Louise and Lineham are getting worn out from the constant battle.
Thanet goes along investigating and chasing clues and finally he sees who it was that killed Carrie – and more importantly – why.
I like Thanet’s observations about the psychology of situations and people with whom he comes into contact. He is very observant and likes to ponder all possibilities. I like the characters and Thanet and Lineham’s interactions. This book is very well written and plotted. It is an easy and gentle read. The reader is lulled along with the investigation and suddenly, there is a conclusion. It is very satisfying. I will continue to read Dorothy Simpson’s novels.
I want to thank Netgalley and Open Road Integrated Media for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book to read.
September 14, 2019
Second in the Inspector Luke Thanet series set in a fictional town in Kent. The Inspector and Sergeant Lineham are galvanised into action when the body of a reclusive woman, the carer for her disabled mother, is found stuffed into an outside toilet of a village house being renovated. The enquiries are focused on the immediate village where the victim lived and worked carrying out various domestic tasks. Skeleton's soon emerge from cupboards as the villagers lives come under scrutiny. The plots, for there are more than one gradually unwind to make this a most enjoyable read that had me guessing until very late on.
Good story, good plot and an easy reading style brings up a good 4 stars worth.
Good story, good plot and an easy reading style brings up a good 4 stars worth.
January 6, 2022
Not as good as the first book. Thanet's wife wants to return to work and while Thanet tells her to do as she likes, she knows he isn't happy about it. She's right - Thanet foresees his cozy home, dinner ready, and a delicious dessert after, in danger of being sacrificed. He deserved a smack for being so obtuse about how to respond to Joan but it gets settled by the end of the book, with Thanet coming to his senses. At least from a woman's point of view.
The murder mystery was less interesting than the Thanets' home life and while there was more to Carrie than meets the eye, I was a little bored by the murder thread.
The murder mystery was less interesting than the Thanets' home life and while there was more to Carrie than meets the eye, I was a little bored by the murder thread.
March 1, 2022
3.5/5
Well written British police procedural first published in the 1980’s and republished several years.
Inspector Luke Thanet and his sidekick, Mike Lineham delve into another intricate mystery in their small hamlet.
It’s quite a page turner and it takes a few minutes to realize that there were no cell phones/texts back in the 80’s!
Unfortunately, Thanet is an ass to his wife which is a recurring theme throughout the book. Snap out of it, man!
Well written British police procedural first published in the 1980’s and republished several years.
Inspector Luke Thanet and his sidekick, Mike Lineham delve into another intricate mystery in their small hamlet.
It’s quite a page turner and it takes a few minutes to realize that there were no cell phones/texts back in the 80’s!
Unfortunately, Thanet is an ass to his wife which is a recurring theme throughout the book. Snap out of it, man!
January 3, 2019
Good Enough!
I have to say, l didn’t see that one coming. This is one mystery that sent you up and down the aisle before knocking you out!
I have to say, l didn’t see that one coming. This is one mystery that sent you up and down the aisle before knocking you out!
March 8, 2017
I liked the inspector, he had a way of getting information from the suspects and good intuition about whether they were telling the truth. Nice location with interesting characters.
March 6, 2014
Blurb - [Book 2, 1982:]Curiosity killed the cat. Did it also kill Carrie? Inspector Thanet is called in to investigate the murder of a singularly unprepossessing middle-aged spinster in a peaceful Kentish garden.
(The author is a winner of the Silver Dagger Award.)
Narrated by Terrence Hardiman.
When Thanet takes us through his mental machinations re his wife towards the end of chapter 17, it becomes preachy and moralistic for long enough to drop a star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2018
These books are an incredible amount of fun. Very concise, a little old fashioned, and not a word wasted! This one gives us an interesting look at England as it recovers from WWII, and Thanet's wife considers returning to work. There's some interesting social commentary, along with the whodunit. Great read from a strong series. And you don't need to have read the predecessor for this to make sense.
June 12, 2019
Excellent murder mystery. One of the things I love most about the Inspector Thanet books is the side story where Thanet realizes something about his own life, often in relation to the case he's working on, that is quite profound and ordinary and useful in my own life relationships. Excellent characters.
January 27, 2016
A great series of British mystery with interesting characters and a well-paced plot. The best part of this book was the psychological aspect of and personal analysis engaged in by Inspector Thanet -- a truly enlightened man -- who is willing to see himself honestly.
December 21, 2023
I have decided that I don’t like Thanet.
That makes it difficult to invest in the story. Also the ending was tragic but the author manages to shrug it off as if it’s all for the best. Total rubbish.
That makes it difficult to invest in the story. Also the ending was tragic but the author manages to shrug it off as if it’s all for the best. Total rubbish.
May 26, 2017
Not a bad English country village/cozy mystery. The dialog between Inspector Thanet and his wife seem stilted but that's a minor part. There are better ones of the same genre.
August 20, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
July 15, 2018
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
April 2, 2024
3.5 stars
July 12, 2017
I just binge read 5 of Dorothy Simpsons Detective Thanet series. The first being "Six Feet Under". This the 2nd of the series.
My review will be the same for all 5 that I read. I don't like to recap what happened in the book. We can all read the blurb on the jacket, or online versions. I find it much more important to tell you, the potential reader, what I liked and why or what I disliked and why.
What i liked:
Detective Thanet is a fully realized character. We find out that he hates the first contact with a corpse. There is a mixture of anger and empathy. He often wonders if this makes him ineffective detective. We get a chance to see his family life. His wife and two children. We see the struggles and joys of a normal family. Adds a distinct layer to his character.
Their are only 2 other recurring characters, Doc Mallard, the curmudgeonly coroner, and DS Lineham, Thanets partner who has two strong women in his life, his mother and his wife. they aren't as fully realized as characters but we gather enough information to relate to them.
The tedious work of interviewing and writing reports is frequently related. Since this is a vital aspect of police work we are given an incite to the working life of the police.
The interaction between characters works well. Suspects getting annoyed with the interruptions to their lives. Family members being interviewed shortly after the murder. The difficult job the police have in doing their investigation.
Dorothy Simpson makes the whole process seem real.
What I don"t particularly appreciate. One caveat is that reading all 5 books in a row these "problems" are amplified.
There is a formula that is followed in each book. The finding of the body. the early interviews, the lack of forensic evidence, secondary interviews, the insights that lead to the murderer. Connections to evidence is lacking.
As I stated this becomes more apparent when reading one after the other.
I would like to thank the Publisher, NetGalley, and the author for my copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
My review will be the same for all 5 that I read. I don't like to recap what happened in the book. We can all read the blurb on the jacket, or online versions. I find it much more important to tell you, the potential reader, what I liked and why or what I disliked and why.
What i liked:
Detective Thanet is a fully realized character. We find out that he hates the first contact with a corpse. There is a mixture of anger and empathy. He often wonders if this makes him ineffective detective. We get a chance to see his family life. His wife and two children. We see the struggles and joys of a normal family. Adds a distinct layer to his character.
Their are only 2 other recurring characters, Doc Mallard, the curmudgeonly coroner, and DS Lineham, Thanets partner who has two strong women in his life, his mother and his wife. they aren't as fully realized as characters but we gather enough information to relate to them.
The tedious work of interviewing and writing reports is frequently related. Since this is a vital aspect of police work we are given an incite to the working life of the police.
The interaction between characters works well. Suspects getting annoyed with the interruptions to their lives. Family members being interviewed shortly after the murder. The difficult job the police have in doing their investigation.
Dorothy Simpson makes the whole process seem real.
What I don"t particularly appreciate. One caveat is that reading all 5 books in a row these "problems" are amplified.
There is a formula that is followed in each book. The finding of the body. the early interviews, the lack of forensic evidence, secondary interviews, the insights that lead to the murderer. Connections to evidence is lacking.
As I stated this becomes more apparent when reading one after the other.
I would like to thank the Publisher, NetGalley, and the author for my copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 27, 2017
I'm so glad to see this series being re-issued. For me, this is a re-reading of a favorite series and I had forgotten what a nice pace they had. The crimes, the puzzle, the interaction with the community, the family ties - it soothes the mind. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie. No cell phones, laptops, video games, none of those distractions in these excellent mysteries. In this, the second of the series, Luke Thanet must find the killer of a rather drab middle aged woman who takes care of her rather nasty mother and cleans houses in her village community. Her killer isn't satisfied with just killing her and leaving her stay where she fell - no, she was placed in an old outhouse, stripped of all dignity. Added to the puzzle, how did she acquire the stash of money found under her mattress? Luke Thanet has to find the killer while at home, get used to the idea that his wife wants to find something to do outside their home now that the children are older. Oh, how times can change in almost 40 years.
My thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for giving me a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
My thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for giving me a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
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July 25, 2022Thanet meets the "Me, Too" Question, and a Murder, Too
Dorothy Simpson's Inspector Simpson is a notably uxurious man. Joan his wife and mother to his two children is ready to reenter the work world once Ben, their youngest, enters school. Thanet, who is perfectly happy with his well tended world and in no way enthusiastic about being the husband of a working wife, has no desire for a change of his environment. This is not of course the main theme.of the book. Thanet and his number two Lineman, are called to deal with the murder of a drab, limited cleaning woman, a slavery to her fat, vicious mother and to the various folk she cleans for in the small village. She seems such an inconsequential person at first that it is hard to imagine a motive for ending her life. But as the police slowly uncover the relationships that Cassie had with the households she worked for, a different aspect to her nature emerges. Like all of Simpson's stories, the village life is in a way the main focus of the mystery. A quietly pleasing procedural that displays insight and wisdom about humanity and its foibles.
Dorothy Simpson's Inspector Simpson is a notably uxurious man. Joan his wife and mother to his two children is ready to reenter the work world once Ben, their youngest, enters school. Thanet, who is perfectly happy with his well tended world and in no way enthusiastic about being the husband of a working wife, has no desire for a change of his environment. This is not of course the main theme.of the book. Thanet and his number two Lineman, are called to deal with the murder of a drab, limited cleaning woman, a slavery to her fat, vicious mother and to the various folk she cleans for in the small village. She seems such an inconsequential person at first that it is hard to imagine a motive for ending her life. But as the police slowly uncover the relationships that Cassie had with the households she worked for, a different aspect to her nature emerges. Like all of Simpson's stories, the village life is in a way the main focus of the mystery. A quietly pleasing procedural that displays insight and wisdom about humanity and its foibles.
June 28, 2018
The worst part was . The old-fashioned trend continues here - it looks like the whole series goes on to be published through the 1980s and 90s, so I'm interested to see if anything changes. In this book, Thanet has a hard time with his wife wanting to go back to work - acting quite the cad in the process. Really interesting - I would like to know more about why these are quite so old-fashioned. Were the 80s in small-town Britain really so behind the times? Anyways, for the time being I think I will continue the series - they are tidy little mysteries that I am fond of, mostly because I feel like I am watching an old-timey BBC show.
October 21, 2018
Insignificant little Miss Birch has been found dead. Her body was stuffed away out of sight, but there wasn't a chance she wouldn't be searched for and found, because so many people in her tiny community relied on her help. Inspector Thanet is sorry for the woman, whose miserable life was followed by such a miserable death. Then the secrets start to come out. Which of her neighbors could not bear to have his or her secret exposed?
Nettleton seems to be a typical self-enclosed village, but Tanet's investigation makes it memorable. Every secret has to be dug out to see if it relates to the murder. That makes most of the characters memorable too. SIX FEET UNDER is psychologically rounded, with some of the secrets relevant to Thanet's own life. A satisfying classic-style mystery.
Read 2 times
Nettleton seems to be a typical self-enclosed village, but Tanet's investigation makes it memorable. Every secret has to be dug out to see if it relates to the murder. That makes most of the characters memorable too. SIX FEET UNDER is psychologically rounded, with some of the secrets relevant to Thanet's own life. A satisfying classic-style mystery.
Read 2 times
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews