Charters and Caldecott

by Stella Bingham

When the body of an unknown young woman is found in Caldicott's apartment, he and his old school friend, Charters, decide to investigate, and discover connections with a fellow club member and his career in espionage

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Humor

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a case where the tv series definitely better than the book (which I believe is a novelization of the tv series, but the delightful thing about the book is that as I read it, the scenes unspool in my mind. Since the BBC has not seen fit to make a dvd or streaming version of this available yet, reading the book fills a necessary gap. But I have hopes for BBC America.

[Susan Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very humorous mystery. Charter and Caldicott are the cricket-mad old asses from Alfred Hitchcock's movie 'The Lady Vanishes'. They have gotten mixed up in a mystery caused by their old friend Jock Beavers. His daughter has come to see them and been killed in Caldicott's apartment. Then they stumble across another body. Inspector Snow is becoming more suspicious by the minute as they continue to stumble across bodies and bumble their way through the case - all the time worried about cricket matches and scores.

[John Peel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charters and Caldicott - the cricket-obsessed characters from the film "The Lady Vanishes" (1939) and now retired, older, but certainly not wiser. When a dead girl turns up in Caldicott's flat, she's just the first of a trail of dead people the pair stumble across as they attempt to solve the mystery. They're aided by old friend Margaret Mottram and trailed by the fastidious Inspector Snow as they jolt from one problem to another.

The mystery is a bit too convoluted, but the dialogue and characters really sparkle in this fun read.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining nostalgia fest (1980s) featuring the cricket-loving pair originally featured in Hitchcock's 'The Lady Vanishes' on the trail of a code set by a recently deceased schoolmate, Jock Beevers. Silly, implausible but old-fashioned fun.

[Victoria & David Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

As opposed to: it was very bad. I'm sure that the the film was fun: you can see the cinematic bones beneath the novelization. However, I abandoned it half way through (which I seldom if ever do) and
left it out in the neighborhood library box. (anonymously)

[Blasr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found on a bookshelf while looking for something else. Fun, light read.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second read. This is still entertaining.

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful tongue in cheek mystery with two totally English characters.

[Laura Verret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charters and Caldicott, that inimitable, cricket-loving duo, star in their first novelized appearance!

The Story.

It’s a strict routine, don’t you know, this dining out at the club. On the first Friday of every month, they can be found there discussing important topics – cricket, cricket, and, well, cricket. Nothing else really stands out as important - except that the club now serves only two veal cutlets for the price which formerly purchased three.

A disagreement arises, understandably on the subject of batting averages. Charters and Caldicott agree that the only way to settle the dispute is to check with the 1979 Wisden, so off they tumble to Caldicott’s flat. But when they arrive, they discover not only the batting average, but also a body stretched out on the floor. Presumably the police will want to know…

The girl is identified as Jenny Beevers, daughter of their late friend, Jock Beevers, neither of whom they’ve seen in years. But then, they get a call from another girl, saying that she’s the real Jenny Beevers, the other one is an imposter, and she needs their help because she thinks her father, Jock, was murdered. As loyal (and curious) friends of the family, Charters and Caldicott are only too happy to help…

But from thence, the muddle only gets muddlier. What was Jock Beevers doing in Hong Kong before he died? What’s the connection with the soda company 'Norton and West'? And why are Charters and Caldicott the ones who keep stumbling across bodies???

Discussion.

I must say, I loved Charters and Caldicott. They’re wonderfully and old-fashionedly British in their mannerisms, habits, stodginess, and naiveté. The way they interact together is so cute – they waver between good-natured chumminess and petulant crossness.

Conclusion. Excellent – very, very fun.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two retired English gentlemen meet periodically, particularly to watch cricket, but one day, when they stop by at Caldicott's apartment, they find what seems to be the dead body of a recently deceased old friend's daughter. But then they learn that the daughter is still alive. A lot of people seem to be after something that their old friend left--but each person is after something different.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suppose that Bertie Wooster and the most asinine of his friends, Barmy Fotheringay-Phipps, have just retired from Civil Service, and decide to investigate a murder. That's exactly what this book is like. I loved it. I was very disappointed to find that although this has been made into a BBC miniseries, my library does not have it available, nor could I find it on Amazon.

[Scott Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little romp through a silly English caper. The eponymous characters' devotion to cricket is similar to mine toward baseball. If you were looking for a painless way to introduce an American reader to lots of British slang, this would be an option.

[Cece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would be more fun as a drama on PBS, but consistent in its characterizations, period detail and settings.