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The Colour of Murder
John Wilkins was a gentle, mild-mannered man who lived a simple, predictable life. So when he met a beautiful, irresistible girl his world was turned upside down. Looking at his wife, and thinking of the girl, everything turned red before his eyes – the colour of murder. Later, his mind a blank, his only defence was that he loved his wife far too much to hurt her…
254 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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566 people want to read
About the author
Julian Symons
257 books67 followersJulian Gustave Symons is primarily remembered as a master of the art of crime writing. However, in his eighty-two years he produced an enormously varied body of work. Social and military history, biography and criticism were all subjects he touched upon with remarkable success, and he held a distinguished reputation in each field.
His novels were consistently highly individual and expertly crafted, raising him above other crime writers of his day. It is for this that he was awarded various prizes, and, in 1982, named as Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America - an honour accorded to only three other English writers before him: Graham Greene, Eric Ambler and Daphne Du Maurier. He succeeded Agatha Christie as the president of Britain's Detection Club, a position he held from 1976 to 1985, and in 1990 he was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writer.
Symons held a number of positions prior to becoming a full-time writer including secretary to an engineering company and advertising copywriter and executive. It was after the end of World War II that he became a free-lance writer and book reviewer and from 1946 to 1956 he wrote a weekly column entitled "Life, People - and Books" for the Manchester Evening News. During the 1950s he was also a regular contributor to Tribune, a left-wing weekly, serving as its literary editor.
He founded and edited 'Twentieth Century Verse', an important little magazine that flourished from 1937 to 1939 and he introduced many young English poets to the public. He has also published two volumes of his own poetry entitled 'Confusions about X', 1939, and 'The Second Man', 1944.
He wrote hie first detective novel, 'The Immaterial Murder Case', long before it was first published in 1945 and this was followed in 1947 by a rare volume entitled 'A Man Called Jones' that features for the first time Inspector Bland, who also appeared in Bland Beginning.
These novles were followed by a whole host of detective novels and he has also written many short stories that were regularly published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. In additin there are two British paperback collections of his short stories, Murder! Murder! and Francis Quarles Investigates, which were published in 1961 and 1965 resepctively.
His novels were consistently highly individual and expertly crafted, raising him above other crime writers of his day. It is for this that he was awarded various prizes, and, in 1982, named as Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America - an honour accorded to only three other English writers before him: Graham Greene, Eric Ambler and Daphne Du Maurier. He succeeded Agatha Christie as the president of Britain's Detection Club, a position he held from 1976 to 1985, and in 1990 he was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the British Crime Writer.
Symons held a number of positions prior to becoming a full-time writer including secretary to an engineering company and advertising copywriter and executive. It was after the end of World War II that he became a free-lance writer and book reviewer and from 1946 to 1956 he wrote a weekly column entitled "Life, People - and Books" for the Manchester Evening News. During the 1950s he was also a regular contributor to Tribune, a left-wing weekly, serving as its literary editor.
He founded and edited 'Twentieth Century Verse', an important little magazine that flourished from 1937 to 1939 and he introduced many young English poets to the public. He has also published two volumes of his own poetry entitled 'Confusions about X', 1939, and 'The Second Man', 1944.
He wrote hie first detective novel, 'The Immaterial Murder Case', long before it was first published in 1945 and this was followed in 1947 by a rare volume entitled 'A Man Called Jones' that features for the first time Inspector Bland, who also appeared in Bland Beginning.
These novles were followed by a whole host of detective novels and he has also written many short stories that were regularly published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. In additin there are two British paperback collections of his short stories, Murder! Murder! and Francis Quarles Investigates, which were published in 1961 and 1965 resepctively.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
July 21, 2019
Another classic crime story by Julian Symons turned out to be an entertaining and engaging read for me. The Colour of Murder, written in 1957, tells a story of a most ordinary unhappily married man whose fantasies about new future with a young librarian girl lead him close to the noose. The novel is divided into two Parts. Part One is the first-person narration by John Wilkins, while Part Two is the trial itself. It was an interesting idea on the part of Julian Symons to postpone revealing the actual murder for almost half of the novel, although we know there was a murder, as it allowed him to tell us what John Wilkins was like, and most importantly, why his marriage was an unhappy one, which made him dive into the world of fantasies. While reading, I felt sorry for John and his wife, however, they are not so-called likeable characters. There is a lot of focus on psychological development of the two main characters, disillusionment with their marriage and hatred they develop for each other, which made this novel engaging for me though sad at the same time. THE COLOUR OF MURDER has a twist at the very end I did not expect, All in all, another good read for me, and I look forward to reading more novels by Symons as he wrote quite a few of them.
*Many thanks to Poison Press and Netgalley for providing me with arc in exchange for my honest review.*
*Many thanks to Poison Press and Netgalley for providing me with arc in exchange for my honest review.*
November 20, 2021
I read this because Patricia Highsmith told me to.
Well, she didn't tell ME, specifically, that's impossible, she's been (sob) gone for 26 years now. But she does suggest in her delightful writing manual that Julian Symons is well worth studying for anyone who is interested in suspense fiction. He's the only writer she refers to in such a way, so how could I ignore this singular vote of confidence?
Julian Symons was a big deal in his day, a super prolific writer and critic, and winner of many awards. It's odd how relatively forgotten he is now, a gloomy reminder of how few writers hold real staying power, how few of them survive the abrasive passage of time.
The Colour of Murder was published in 1957, and winner of the Gold Dagger Award. It was unique at the time for its structure: the first half is a man talking to his psychiatrist, the second half is courtroom drama.
Immediately I was drawn into the story with Symons' very easy style. He makes it seem like he jotted it all down with a smile on his face on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. It didn't take long for me to see why Patricia Highsmith admired his writing. The protagonist, John Wilkins, is a creep, and his psychology is rather fascinating. Women don't like him because he "tries too hard". He loathes his wife. He suffers from blackouts. He's rather too close with his mother.
One day, the creep meets a lovely librarian. He is taken with her. And the story goes from there....
My overall impression is that Symons is well worth reading. His work seems lighter than Pat's by a fair bit, though. While she goes down into Dostoevskian depths, where things get swirly and murky, Symons' novel is more of an entertainment. That's not a criticism, necessarily. Because this novel IS entertaining, and surprising, and ultimately satisfying - sort of like Richard Hull's The Murder of My Aunt, another somewhat forgotten delight. Yes, Symons is worth a look, for sure.
But he's no Pat. Sigh. No one is.
Well, she didn't tell ME, specifically, that's impossible, she's been (sob) gone for 26 years now. But she does suggest in her delightful writing manual that Julian Symons is well worth studying for anyone who is interested in suspense fiction. He's the only writer she refers to in such a way, so how could I ignore this singular vote of confidence?
Julian Symons was a big deal in his day, a super prolific writer and critic, and winner of many awards. It's odd how relatively forgotten he is now, a gloomy reminder of how few writers hold real staying power, how few of them survive the abrasive passage of time.
The Colour of Murder was published in 1957, and winner of the Gold Dagger Award. It was unique at the time for its structure: the first half is a man talking to his psychiatrist, the second half is courtroom drama.
Immediately I was drawn into the story with Symons' very easy style. He makes it seem like he jotted it all down with a smile on his face on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. It didn't take long for me to see why Patricia Highsmith admired his writing. The protagonist, John Wilkins, is a creep, and his psychology is rather fascinating. Women don't like him because he "tries too hard". He loathes his wife. He suffers from blackouts. He's rather too close with his mother.
One day, the creep meets a lovely librarian. He is taken with her. And the story goes from there....
My overall impression is that Symons is well worth reading. His work seems lighter than Pat's by a fair bit, though. While she goes down into Dostoevskian depths, where things get swirly and murky, Symons' novel is more of an entertainment. That's not a criticism, necessarily. Because this novel IS entertaining, and surprising, and ultimately satisfying - sort of like Richard Hull's The Murder of My Aunt, another somewhat forgotten delight. Yes, Symons is worth a look, for sure.
But he's no Pat. Sigh. No one is.
April 13, 2023
One of my favorite golden age mysteries. Light, humorous interesting characters, exactly what I look for and love in this sub-genre! If you like murder mysteries by Dorothy Sayers, Martin Edwards, Nicholas Blake, Edmund Crispin, you will probably enjoy this fairly short, excellent character driven golden age classic, 4.5stars
January 4, 2019
Marry in haste...
When John Wilkins realises married life with his wife May isn’t living up to his expectations, he begins to fantasise about another young woman he’s met, his local librarian, Sheila. The first half of the book is taken up with John telling his story to a psychiatrist. In the second half, we are shown a murder trial. We, like the jury, have to decide whether the evidence against John stacks up, or have the defence put up strong enough counter arguments? The book doesn’t reveal who the victim is till quite late on, so I won’t either.
I do feel modern crime fiction suffers terribly from our increasingly lax laws and social order! This plot works because John is trapped in his marriage, at a time when divorce could only be obtained by mutual consent or by proving the other party at fault. May might be a dull wife, but she’s a perfect one, and since she declares she loves John, she’s not willing to countenance the idea of divorce. Sheila, on the other hand, might be a dreadful flirt but, in line with the times, this doesn’t mean she’s sexually promiscuous, to John’s great disappointment.
John is a deeply unlikeable character – narcissistic and selfish, spoiled by his doting mother, but also insecure, suspecting the motives of those around him. He’s convinced, for example, that it’s not him May loves, as much as the respectable house he provides for her. He could be right about that – she’s an aspiring social climber, though her ambitions are for John as much as herself. There’s no doubt he’s abusive towards her, emotionally and occasionally physically. And though we are hearing the story from John’s perspective, it’s clear that there are times when she’s rather scared of him.
John is a troubled man, who has blackouts whenever he drinks. It’s left rather ambiguous as to whether this is because he drinks to excess or whether it’s some kind of unfortunate reaction, meaning that it’s difficult to decide whether he deserves any sympathy for it. But there are periods, sometimes lengthy, when he can’t remember what he did or where he went, and as his emotional state grows more fragile, these episodes are becoming more frequent. So when he declares he can’t remember what happened on the night of the murder, there’s a good chance he’s being truthful. It’s up to the detective hired by his loving mother to try to find out what he was doing over the relevant time.
Despite the unlikeableness of the main character, I enjoyed this one, for lots of different reasons. Symons does an excellent job of maintaining John’s voice in the first section, as he recounts his life experiences. Although his fantasies can be dark, he’s quite self-aware, and so there’s some self-deprecating and observational humour along the way. The trial section is done well, feeling quite authentic without becoming bogged down in too much detail. And I also liked the light the book casts on the society of the time. First published in 1957, it’s later than true Golden Age, and feels very much on the cusp of the change to the “modern” world of the ‘60s and beyond. Partly this is because of the social questions over divorce, at that time coming under pressure for change, and partly it’s because of the introduction of psychiatry into the story, and the examination of John’s culpability if he’s proven guilty. It also shows the worlds of work and marriage, and the beginnings of the more aspirational, socially mobile society of the second half of the century. All of this is done lightly, though, so that it doesn’t drag the story-telling down.
In the end, the way the plot played out didn’t have the impact on me that I felt was intended, though to be fair, that could well be that what was original back then feels a little too familiar now – often a problem with reading early novels that have influenced later writers. But I happily recommend it as an intelligent, enjoyable and well written psychological thriller, that has stood up very well to the test of time. My first introduction to Julian Symons, and I’m looking forward to getting to know him better.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
When John Wilkins realises married life with his wife May isn’t living up to his expectations, he begins to fantasise about another young woman he’s met, his local librarian, Sheila. The first half of the book is taken up with John telling his story to a psychiatrist. In the second half, we are shown a murder trial. We, like the jury, have to decide whether the evidence against John stacks up, or have the defence put up strong enough counter arguments? The book doesn’t reveal who the victim is till quite late on, so I won’t either.
I do feel modern crime fiction suffers terribly from our increasingly lax laws and social order! This plot works because John is trapped in his marriage, at a time when divorce could only be obtained by mutual consent or by proving the other party at fault. May might be a dull wife, but she’s a perfect one, and since she declares she loves John, she’s not willing to countenance the idea of divorce. Sheila, on the other hand, might be a dreadful flirt but, in line with the times, this doesn’t mean she’s sexually promiscuous, to John’s great disappointment.
John is a deeply unlikeable character – narcissistic and selfish, spoiled by his doting mother, but also insecure, suspecting the motives of those around him. He’s convinced, for example, that it’s not him May loves, as much as the respectable house he provides for her. He could be right about that – she’s an aspiring social climber, though her ambitions are for John as much as herself. There’s no doubt he’s abusive towards her, emotionally and occasionally physically. And though we are hearing the story from John’s perspective, it’s clear that there are times when she’s rather scared of him.
John is a troubled man, who has blackouts whenever he drinks. It’s left rather ambiguous as to whether this is because he drinks to excess or whether it’s some kind of unfortunate reaction, meaning that it’s difficult to decide whether he deserves any sympathy for it. But there are periods, sometimes lengthy, when he can’t remember what he did or where he went, and as his emotional state grows more fragile, these episodes are becoming more frequent. So when he declares he can’t remember what happened on the night of the murder, there’s a good chance he’s being truthful. It’s up to the detective hired by his loving mother to try to find out what he was doing over the relevant time.
Despite the unlikeableness of the main character, I enjoyed this one, for lots of different reasons. Symons does an excellent job of maintaining John’s voice in the first section, as he recounts his life experiences. Although his fantasies can be dark, he’s quite self-aware, and so there’s some self-deprecating and observational humour along the way. The trial section is done well, feeling quite authentic without becoming bogged down in too much detail. And I also liked the light the book casts on the society of the time. First published in 1957, it’s later than true Golden Age, and feels very much on the cusp of the change to the “modern” world of the ‘60s and beyond. Partly this is because of the social questions over divorce, at that time coming under pressure for change, and partly it’s because of the introduction of psychiatry into the story, and the examination of John’s culpability if he’s proven guilty. It also shows the worlds of work and marriage, and the beginnings of the more aspirational, socially mobile society of the second half of the century. All of this is done lightly, though, so that it doesn’t drag the story-telling down.
In the end, the way the plot played out didn’t have the impact on me that I felt was intended, though to be fair, that could well be that what was original back then feels a little too familiar now – often a problem with reading early novels that have influenced later writers. But I happily recommend it as an intelligent, enjoyable and well written psychological thriller, that has stood up very well to the test of time. My first introduction to Julian Symons, and I’m looking forward to getting to know him better.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
May 10, 2018
A man becomes frustrated with his wife and starts to think about leaving her or possibly even murdering her. Then the murder happens, and he's blamed. But is he legally guilty? He keeps having blackouts, and remembers nothing of what happened...
This is split into two sections: Before and After. I *hated* Before. Not badly written; it's just that the guy's a scumbag. Convincingly so. After was much more interesting, a courtroom drama. In the balance, I have to say I liked it, but not enough to make me race out and pick up another book by the author.
This is split into two sections: Before and After. I *hated* Before. Not badly written; it's just that the guy's a scumbag. Convincingly so. After was much more interesting, a courtroom drama. In the balance, I have to say I liked it, but not enough to make me race out and pick up another book by the author.
February 12, 2019
Imagine reading a mystery novel where you are not quite sure who has been murdered until halfway through the book, or even if, in fact, a murder had been committed, or is just he imagining of one of the character's minds.
It has been done, but Julian Symons did it so skillfully in the classic murder mystery "The Colour of Murder" you find your brain tangled up in knots.
You are sure at the beginning the sad sack who starts the narration bumps off one particular person, only to get twisted around by the fact that he suffers alcoholic blackouts, til you start wondering if, maybe...
Well, let's just say Symons knew what he was doing. He created some pathetic creatures in this story. At one point, I found myself wishing several of them would murder each other.
All in all, a good, classic mid-century British mystery.
It has been done, but Julian Symons did it so skillfully in the classic murder mystery "The Colour of Murder" you find your brain tangled up in knots.
You are sure at the beginning the sad sack who starts the narration bumps off one particular person, only to get twisted around by the fact that he suffers alcoholic blackouts, til you start wondering if, maybe...
Well, let's just say Symons knew what he was doing. He created some pathetic creatures in this story. At one point, I found myself wishing several of them would murder each other.
All in all, a good, classic mid-century British mystery.
June 16, 2019
This was a very quick read - I think it took me about 2 hours from start to finish.
The format is interesting. The first 50% or so of the book is a first-person narration by the suspect to a psychologist. There is a lot of psychology to unpack in this section, with a main character who develops a deep hatred of his wife, and who becomes infatuated with a young woman working in the local library. He is not a likeable character, with significant delusions about his own desirability coupled with a strange self-loathing. The classic "nice guy" who really isn't all that nice. He also claims to be having "black-outs" prior to the beginning of the book and there is never really explanation of this phenomenon.
The second half deals with the actual murder trial because he is accused of committing a violent murder. I'm not going to say who the victim is, because that's not revealed until midway through the book and it's a bit of a plot point. I feel like the book started to collapse a bit toward the end, and then there are some unsatisfying epilogues that are sort of intended to answer the fundamental question of "did he do it?"
It's interesting that I picked this up right now the heels of My Cousin Rachel, which ends is a similarly opaque fashion. This book is no where near the quality of du Maurier, however. I initially rated it 4, but upon further reflection, I'm calling it a 3. I did like it, and it's an engaging read, but it's a bit thin and a contemporary writer would've made much more of the psychology. I can imagine Ruth Rendell taking the premise and really digging into it, resulting in both a more modern and a more interesting book.
It does feel a bit prescient of that type of book, which is interesting and I think that Symons should get some credit for writing a book that is quite different from the average Golden Age Mystery whodunnit.
The format is interesting. The first 50% or so of the book is a first-person narration by the suspect to a psychologist. There is a lot of psychology to unpack in this section, with a main character who develops a deep hatred of his wife, and who becomes infatuated with a young woman working in the local library. He is not a likeable character, with significant delusions about his own desirability coupled with a strange self-loathing. The classic "nice guy" who really isn't all that nice. He also claims to be having "black-outs" prior to the beginning of the book and there is never really explanation of this phenomenon.
The second half deals with the actual murder trial because he is accused of committing a violent murder. I'm not going to say who the victim is, because that's not revealed until midway through the book and it's a bit of a plot point. I feel like the book started to collapse a bit toward the end, and then there are some unsatisfying epilogues that are sort of intended to answer the fundamental question of "did he do it?"
It's interesting that I picked this up right now the heels of My Cousin Rachel, which ends is a similarly opaque fashion. This book is no where near the quality of du Maurier, however. I initially rated it 4, but upon further reflection, I'm calling it a 3. I did like it, and it's an engaging read, but it's a bit thin and a contemporary writer would've made much more of the psychology. I can imagine Ruth Rendell taking the premise and really digging into it, resulting in both a more modern and a more interesting book.
It does feel a bit prescient of that type of book, which is interesting and I think that Symons should get some credit for writing a book that is quite different from the average Golden Age Mystery whodunnit.
January 21, 2025
The Colour of Murder was my first time reading Julian Symons. Although Symons wrote this book in 1957, the book feels fresher than that. The Colour of Murder is a story that can be divided in three parts: part 1 reads like a psychological thriller in which John Wilkins is narrating his story to his psychiatrist. It's clear that a murder has been committed and probably by Wilkins himself, but he has no memory of having done so.
The second part is a court room drama where Wilkins is on trial for murder and then there's the epilogue which comes with its own revelations. Is Wilkins guilty or not is the question that stands before the reader throughout the novel and is an important plot point of the novel. It's also interesting that we know who was actually murdered only in part two of the novel. The book never drags, never feels repetitive and manages to keep the reader interested in not only knowing whether or not Wilkins is guilty of the crime but also of his fate hanging in balance.
Recommended
The second part is a court room drama where Wilkins is on trial for murder and then there's the epilogue which comes with its own revelations. Is Wilkins guilty or not is the question that stands before the reader throughout the novel and is an important plot point of the novel. It's also interesting that we know who was actually murdered only in part two of the novel. The book never drags, never feels repetitive and manages to keep the reader interested in not only knowing whether or not Wilkins is guilty of the crime but also of his fate hanging in balance.
Recommended
February 14, 2019
THE COLOUR OF MURDER
is the first book by
Julian Symons
that I've read and I really enjoyed it. Though it is naturally a book of its time, I found it endearing and charming. The characters were fantastic and the book, for me, is reminiscent of a Patricia Highsmith or a Ruth Rendell mystery.
I thought that the story was captivating and engaging and extremely well structured, both leading up to the murder, as told by the accused, as he relates his account of events to a psychologist and in court, with the cases for the defence and prosecution. I loved that the style of writing was slightly different from the usual types of murder mysteries, although there was still a whodunit theme, as well as a look at the nature of justice. It held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Julian Symons brought everything to a conclusion was just fabulous. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
I thought that the story was captivating and engaging and extremely well structured, both leading up to the murder, as told by the accused, as he relates his account of events to a psychologist and in court, with the cases for the defence and prosecution. I loved that the style of writing was slightly different from the usual types of murder mysteries, although there was still a whodunit theme, as well as a look at the nature of justice. It held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Julian Symons brought everything to a conclusion was just fabulous. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
November 2, 2019
One of the best of the British Library Crime Classics I’ve read so far. Extremely well written and a great plot. Plus a nice little twist at the end. Couldn’t put it down!
April 15, 2017
A quiet reserved man meets a librarian and become infatuated with her and suddenly sees his own life, his wife, as colorless and unlikeable.
From that very slow, almost unlikeable beginning, Julian Symons slowly builds to a dramatic conclusion, one that kept me up late to finish. Because at the beginning of this book, I had no sympathy for this reserved man who fantasized and suffered blackouts. Equally, I didn't like the wife either and could see that there was no real basis for the two to be married to each other.
Slowly, however, the story got more interesting as "John's" career moves ahead and he continues to fantasize about his "relationship" with the librarian, even though she has spurned him, even traveling with his wife to Brighton, a supposed second honeymoon, to be close to her.
The incidents that then occur are what really drive this mystery and set the real tone for the book. Was he sane or crazy? Did he remember what happened? And the biggest issue of all, what really did happen? This doesn't finish neatly and for that, it is more dramatic and more real than many mysteries.
From that very slow, almost unlikeable beginning, Julian Symons slowly builds to a dramatic conclusion, one that kept me up late to finish. Because at the beginning of this book, I had no sympathy for this reserved man who fantasized and suffered blackouts. Equally, I didn't like the wife either and could see that there was no real basis for the two to be married to each other.
Slowly, however, the story got more interesting as "John's" career moves ahead and he continues to fantasize about his "relationship" with the librarian, even though she has spurned him, even traveling with his wife to Brighton, a supposed second honeymoon, to be close to her.
The incidents that then occur are what really drive this mystery and set the real tone for the book. Was he sane or crazy? Did he remember what happened? And the biggest issue of all, what really did happen? This doesn't finish neatly and for that, it is more dramatic and more real than many mysteries.
May 18, 2019
I received this book via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I really liked this book. I loved that it was in two parts. The first part was in a narrative form from the POV of the MC John Wilkins. He was telling his story to a doctor, and we catch glimpses of his life up to the point of the murder. The second half of the story deals with the trial and attempts to either discredit or promote the prosecution's position on who did the deed. Really good story telling.
May 13, 2023
Ausführliche Rezension folgt.
March 5, 2019
“The Colour of Murder” is a crime story set in England in the 50’s. John Wilkins is living a rather drab life with a dead-end job handling complaints made to a large department store, a wife May who isn’t living up to his expectations and it seems their main social life is Wednesday night dinners with his mother and Uncle Dan playing cards and sometimes meeting with friends of May. He has experienced black outs when he drinks too much. John is attracted to a beautiful young girl Sheila who he met at the local library. He starts to fantasize about what life could be with her. He hears of Sheila making plans with her father for a trip to Brighton, so he decides to go with his wife too. When he gets there he hears she has become engaged to someone else. He goes on a binger and has a major blackout. That’s when we hear Sheila was found dead on the beach. John is accused. Did John do it? There is a courtroom trial and a surprising ending.
May 21, 2015
I've read lots of Julian Symons and like his work . . . in fact, his book "Mortal Consequences," about the evolution of detective/ crime/mystery writing, got me interested in the genre during the 1970s.
This book, written in 1957, about 1/3 of the way into his crime-writing career, is typical of much of his work and is definitely a keeper. The plot involves a man disenchanted with his wife who is accused and convicted of murdering a woman he had a crush on.
Symons, a Brit, has a great style and can flash some humor.
This book, written in 1957, about 1/3 of the way into his crime-writing career, is typical of much of his work and is definitely a keeper. The plot involves a man disenchanted with his wife who is accused and convicted of murdering a woman he had a crush on.
Symons, a Brit, has a great style and can flash some humor.
January 14, 2019
Unfortunately for John Wilkins he meets a young girl who he is attracted to after he is married, unhappily married. But what can he do about his situation. While suffering from one of his blackouts has he committed murder. This first part of the story his Wilkins version of events while the second part is the trial.
An interesting and well-written mystery (originally written in 1957).
A NetGalley Book
An interesting and well-written mystery (originally written in 1957).
A NetGalley Book
September 11, 2021
The two parts of this book make for an interesting read, I cannot believe that it was written way back in the 1950's. Part psychological thriller, part courtroom thriller, all British.
October 29, 2019
Not my cuppa. Bored from beginning to end. Very good narration, though.
September 13, 2023
This is an absolutely fascinating tale about a man with active delusions who is ultimately put on trial for murder. The title refers to a witness's description of the killer's laugh as animalistic, with "the colour of murder" to it. An interesting and rather apt description, I think.
The book is split into two parts: the first is a long transcript of a series of psychological interviews with the man ultimately accused of murder. It doesn't take a psychiatrist to read between the lines and realize that there's something seriously off about this guy's worldview. He's at the very least self-absorbed and paranoid; the shrink in the book says he has an inferiority complex. Either way, he also suffers from total blackout attacks, during which he does things but has no memory of them. He gives examples in these interviews of this, so it is quite the real phenomenon.
We don't know who he's accused of murdering into part two. We switch from a first person unreliable narrator to omniscient third party POV, and move quite swiftly from the discovery of the body through the entirety of the trial. We touch on everyone involved: the accused's family, the victim's family, the defense team, even random sidebars at times. No one in this group is particularly likeable, but no one is so repulsive as to ruin the suspense. I skimmed some of the courtroom scenes (courtroom drama is not really my thing), but it was a real page turner. With a defendant this off-kilter, barristers intent on making their witnesses sound idiotic, and a surprise witness called at the eleventh hour, who's to say what a jury will ultimately decide?
There is an epilogue, and we see the fallout from each of the main characters. The last chapter is perhaps the most interesting.
I really enjoyed this. Symons lives up to the top billing afforded him by the current students of Golden Age detective fiction. This is very lean, yet witty and interesting, and the story structure actually worked. I'd love to read more of his fiction, and hopefully I can find some easily within our library system!
The book is split into two parts: the first is a long transcript of a series of psychological interviews with the man ultimately accused of murder. It doesn't take a psychiatrist to read between the lines and realize that there's something seriously off about this guy's worldview. He's at the very least self-absorbed and paranoid; the shrink in the book says he has an inferiority complex. Either way, he also suffers from total blackout attacks, during which he does things but has no memory of them. He gives examples in these interviews of this, so it is quite the real phenomenon.
We don't know who he's accused of murdering into part two. We switch from a first person unreliable narrator to omniscient third party POV, and move quite swiftly from the discovery of the body through the entirety of the trial. We touch on everyone involved: the accused's family, the victim's family, the defense team, even random sidebars at times. No one in this group is particularly likeable, but no one is so repulsive as to ruin the suspense. I skimmed some of the courtroom scenes (courtroom drama is not really my thing), but it was a real page turner. With a defendant this off-kilter, barristers intent on making their witnesses sound idiotic, and a surprise witness called at the eleventh hour, who's to say what a jury will ultimately decide?
There is an epilogue, and we see the fallout from each of the main characters. The last chapter is perhaps the most interesting.
I really enjoyed this. Symons lives up to the top billing afforded him by the current students of Golden Age detective fiction. This is very lean, yet witty and interesting, and the story structure actually worked. I'd love to read more of his fiction, and hopefully I can find some easily within our library system!
January 27, 2019
John Wilkins is an unappealing person and his narrative is the majority of the story in Julian Symons innovative mystery The Colour of Murder. The novel has three parts, John Wilkins’ narrative to his psychiatrist who is doing an assessment on behalf of his lawyers takes up Part One. His personality comes through powerfully, which is too bad for him because he is unlikable. Part Two includes conversations between his lawyers, family, supporters, detractors, and trial proceedings including testimony and jury instructions through the verdict. The last part is an epilogue catching you up on reactions and what happened next. It’s an intriguing and unusual format in its formality.
John Wilkins was an unhappy man in an unhappy marriage who became infatuated with a local librarian who happened to be pleasant to him. He constructed a fantasy romance built on a few smiles, politeness, and a single theater date. He was a complete stalker and everything women hate but was he a murderer? Even he wasn’t sure. He was a blackout drunk or maybe, who knows, maybe there is some psychological explanation such a disassociative disorder.
The story focuses mainly on whether Wilkins is guilty, not on whether there were persons known or unknown who could have committed murder. I won’t say who is murdered, because that revelation comes quite far into the story. There are plenty of people whom you can see as potential victims since Wilkins resents people and always sees himself as a victim, one of the reasons he is so irritating.
I had altogether too much of John Wilkins and could understand the desire to convict him. Symons makes us understand exactly how unlikable and hard to believe he is. The Colour of Murder succeeds in demonstrating the fallibility of a trial, how personal biases creep in, how the manipulations by lawyers and their appeals to social biases work, less to seek the truth, and more to get a win. The trial is fascinating and I would have enjoyed the book so much more if there were more trial and less John Wilkins. Poor John Wilkins, will he be judged on the facts or his personal appeal? It’s a good question, not just in this case, but in real life.
The Colour of Murder will be released on February 5th. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.
The Colour of Murder at Poisoned Pen Press
Julian Symons at Wikipedia
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
John Wilkins was an unhappy man in an unhappy marriage who became infatuated with a local librarian who happened to be pleasant to him. He constructed a fantasy romance built on a few smiles, politeness, and a single theater date. He was a complete stalker and everything women hate but was he a murderer? Even he wasn’t sure. He was a blackout drunk or maybe, who knows, maybe there is some psychological explanation such a disassociative disorder.
The story focuses mainly on whether Wilkins is guilty, not on whether there were persons known or unknown who could have committed murder. I won’t say who is murdered, because that revelation comes quite far into the story. There are plenty of people whom you can see as potential victims since Wilkins resents people and always sees himself as a victim, one of the reasons he is so irritating.
I had altogether too much of John Wilkins and could understand the desire to convict him. Symons makes us understand exactly how unlikable and hard to believe he is. The Colour of Murder succeeds in demonstrating the fallibility of a trial, how personal biases creep in, how the manipulations by lawyers and their appeals to social biases work, less to seek the truth, and more to get a win. The trial is fascinating and I would have enjoyed the book so much more if there were more trial and less John Wilkins. Poor John Wilkins, will he be judged on the facts or his personal appeal? It’s a good question, not just in this case, but in real life.
The Colour of Murder will be released on February 5th. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.
The Colour of Murder at Poisoned Pen Press
Julian Symons at Wikipedia
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpre...
February 26, 2022
The British Library Crime re-releases are quite easy to spot in the book shop. They often feature twee, old fashioned postcard imagery that take the would-be-buyer back to a time of Edwardian railway holidays, tea and cake and pork-pie hats on the beach. It's therefore tempting to dismiss them as old fashioned, cosy, safe reads.
In the case of The Colour Of Murder you'd be 100% wrong.
Told in an interesting and I imagine for its time, unique first person then third person structure. The Colour of Murder retraces the account of Mr. Wilkins, a young suburban unhappily married man who mets a beautiful librarian and embarks on a dangerous fantasy. A murder occurs, but the killer and victim are initially obscured and then the narrative switches to the subsequent trial. The book touches on themes such as sexual repression, desire, greed and mental illness.
The first half is brilliant as Wilkins obsession grows his state of mind slowly disintegrates. The second half set predominantly in the courtroom, whilst not quite as captivating, maintains a thick tension with some neat twists and turns. The end is ambiguous and a touch nihilistic.
The Colour Of Murder was well received on it's publication and won a prodigious award in 1957. It's author Julian Symons was a highly influential crime novelist of the mid 20th century and well respected critic too. Unfortunately, he is practically unknown these days. A shame as on this evidence and his excellent short story in The Christmas Card Crime (another British Library release), he is well worth reading all these years on.
In the case of The Colour Of Murder you'd be 100% wrong.
Told in an interesting and I imagine for its time, unique first person then third person structure. The Colour of Murder retraces the account of Mr. Wilkins, a young suburban unhappily married man who mets a beautiful librarian and embarks on a dangerous fantasy. A murder occurs, but the killer and victim are initially obscured and then the narrative switches to the subsequent trial. The book touches on themes such as sexual repression, desire, greed and mental illness.
The first half is brilliant as Wilkins obsession grows his state of mind slowly disintegrates. The second half set predominantly in the courtroom, whilst not quite as captivating, maintains a thick tension with some neat twists and turns. The end is ambiguous and a touch nihilistic.
The Colour Of Murder was well received on it's publication and won a prodigious award in 1957. It's author Julian Symons was a highly influential crime novelist of the mid 20th century and well respected critic too. Unfortunately, he is practically unknown these days. A shame as on this evidence and his excellent short story in The Christmas Card Crime (another British Library release), he is well worth reading all these years on.
February 12, 2019
"The Colour of Murder" is divided into two parts- the first half is the recounting of events by the suspect, John Wilkins, to his psychiatrist prior to the death of his love interest; the second half is basically the court drama of Wilkins' case on murdering the girl. A fine and interesting story with an unique plot. Since no black-and-white "solution" to the crime is given by the author, readers form their own judgement and opinions based on John Wilkin's narration together with the arguments from both the defense and the prosecutor. Whether or not readers agree with the final verdict, no one will ever learn the truth of the case. Just like in real world, nobody can ever guarantee the verdicts are always the the true representations. The ambiguous ending, somewhat a slight dismay, flourishes "The Colour of Murder" with the mysterious charm. A great and enjoyable mystery work through and through. Instead of following the whodunit format, the "The Colour of Murder" provides readers a different flavor of how versatile the genre could be. Lovers of old school mysteries should find this a refreshing read.
September 17, 2022
It all begins with an innocent visit to the library, but John Wilkins soon finds himself caught up in a murder trial. The book is in three parts - a statement by John to a psychiatrist, giving the facts of the case from his perspective, a selection of courtroom scenes, and an epilogue. In terms of plot, Symons successfully leaves you guessing who the victim is (until the fairly late revelation), and what the verdict will be. But the overall feel is very reminiscent of Malice Aforethought (even though theirs is not an inverted mystery), and Anthony Berkeley definitely did it better.
July 28, 2019
3 1/2 stars. Well-written and considered innovative for its time, but today it seems a bit dated with its psychological judgments, etc. Today, much more would be made of his black outs and it seems obvious to look at other possible suspects (even if it sometimes only happens in mystery fiction). But it is enjoyable.
December 1, 2019
This tale of a somewhat mousy, unremarkable man on trial for the murder of a young woman is unrelentingly gloomy. The accused is not an altogether likable sort, but the reader roots for him nonetheless--he's led such an ordinary life, with mostly dreary people, that you feel he deserves a break. The ending, while not a surprise, plays up the inevitable fallibility of the criminal justice system. For a novel written 60 years ago, it is still relevant and timely.
August 24, 2025
Found this in the British Library shop and was surprised I hadn't seen it anywhere before so snapped it up - reminds me of Excellent Intentions and Before The Fact. It's a slow burn psychological insight for the first half and then a courtroom drama for the second and I really enjoyed reading this.
More of these for the Crime Classics series please and less Lorac 🙏
More of these for the Crime Classics series please and less Lorac 🙏
March 10, 2020
DAME AGATHA CHRISTIE AND HER PEERS
BOOK 57 - 1957- This won, from the Crime Writer's Association, the best crime novel of the year in 1957. At that time it was called the Crossed Red Herring prize which is now known as the CWA Gold Dagger. (From the introduction, by Martin Edward, in the British Library Crime Classics series.)
CAST - 2 stars: John Wilkins is unhappy in his marriage to May Colton, although she swears she will never let him go, no matter what. John meets a lovely young lady, Sheila, at a library and falls fast for her. But Sheila seems to spend an inordinate amount of time with Bill Lonergan and Leslie Jackson. The cast is fine, but it takes 120 pages (of 262 in my edition from the library) before anything really big happens to kick the story in gear.). Even though John does slap May on page 12. I do like a cast portrayed nicely, but these 121 pages were a slog for me.
ATMOSPHERE - 2 stars: Very little descriptions of places. There is "They had eaten a fish tea [new to me] at Sam Isaac's, gone to see an ice show and then gone on to a dance." What kind of ice show? At the dance, was their a band? What kind of dance, and who danced with who? There is a court/trial, but I couldn't picture it. Anyone know if ginger is truly good for digestion?
CRIME- 2 stars: a body is found on the beach on page 121. And we don't know the identity of the person until page 145 and by now we are over halfway through the book.
INVESTIGATION: 1 star: The author takes us right to the trial of the accused. There is not a word about looking at various suspects, which is odd, and you'll realize why at the end of the book. The trial itself functions as an investigation, but for goodness sakes, the case isn't airtight, so why not look at other candidates? At the end of the trial, the judge instructs to jury, and actually says, "It is my duty to tell you that in this case there can be no question of any other verdicts that that of willful murder." Since when to British or English courts, for that matter, tell the jury how to vote? Odd, I didn't believe it.
RESOLUTION: 2 stars. There is a resolution of sorts, but not much of one.
SUMMARY: 1.8 stars. It took me a week to read this and the only reason I kept going was because of the aforementioned CWA Gold Dagger. This one is rather on the snoozefest side. It's not bad, just slow and unexciting. I prefer some thrills and chills.
BOOK 57 - 1957- This won, from the Crime Writer's Association, the best crime novel of the year in 1957. At that time it was called the Crossed Red Herring prize which is now known as the CWA Gold Dagger. (From the introduction, by Martin Edward, in the British Library Crime Classics series.)
CAST - 2 stars: John Wilkins is unhappy in his marriage to May Colton, although she swears she will never let him go, no matter what. John meets a lovely young lady, Sheila, at a library and falls fast for her. But Sheila seems to spend an inordinate amount of time with Bill Lonergan and Leslie Jackson. The cast is fine, but it takes 120 pages (of 262 in my edition from the library) before anything really big happens to kick the story in gear.). Even though John does slap May on page 12. I do like a cast portrayed nicely, but these 121 pages were a slog for me.
ATMOSPHERE - 2 stars: Very little descriptions of places. There is "They had eaten a fish tea [new to me] at Sam Isaac's, gone to see an ice show and then gone on to a dance." What kind of ice show? At the dance, was their a band? What kind of dance, and who danced with who? There is a court/trial, but I couldn't picture it. Anyone know if ginger is truly good for digestion?
CRIME- 2 stars: a body is found on the beach on page 121. And we don't know the identity of the person until page 145 and by now we are over halfway through the book.
INVESTIGATION: 1 star: The author takes us right to the trial of the accused. There is not a word about looking at various suspects, which is odd, and you'll realize why at the end of the book. The trial itself functions as an investigation, but for goodness sakes, the case isn't airtight, so why not look at other candidates? At the end of the trial, the judge instructs to jury, and actually says, "It is my duty to tell you that in this case there can be no question of any other verdicts that that of willful murder." Since when to British or English courts, for that matter, tell the jury how to vote? Odd, I didn't believe it.
RESOLUTION: 2 stars. There is a resolution of sorts, but not much of one.
SUMMARY: 1.8 stars. It took me a week to read this and the only reason I kept going was because of the aforementioned CWA Gold Dagger. This one is rather on the snoozefest side. It's not bad, just slow and unexciting. I prefer some thrills and chills.
November 11, 2025
Very enjoyable and clever story. Very good and easy to read narrative that flows along very easily and keeps you interested
September 8, 2024
Normally, I don't like psychological thrillers, but this one isn't bad. It reminds me of The Diary of a Nobody, by George and Weedon Grossmith, if Mr. Pooter had been a creep. Although, that assessment may not be entirely fair to
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