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Pollard & Toye #10
Suddenly While Gardening
Pollard, on holiday, investigates the discovery of a thoroughly modern skeleton in a Bronze-Age grave. - The Mystery Lover's Companion, Art Bourgeau
143 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 4, 2023
Detective Chief Inspector Pollard is in Holston visiting his aunt when he decides to walk the nearby Possel Way, an historic trail that crosses a seaside moor (twenty-seven miles long; I got dizzy just contemplating doing that). Along the route he encounters a group of hikers hovering around a kistvaen (a stone coffin); there's a skeleton inside, and the group is wondering if it is an archaeological find. One look tells Pollard it isn't - because the skeleton's only about a year old. Pollard and his partner Toye are assigned the case. The clues are sparse, the villagers recalcitrant and the summer heat is oppressive. Will they solve it?
This is fine police procedural mystery, which benefits greatly from a map of Cattesmoor provided by the author (always a nice aid for the reader). The characters are distinctive, the setting neatly detailed and the clues are fairly placed. The mystery is a good one, and solving it takes both the sleuths and the reader in some unexpected directions. Lemarchand's writing style is easy yet intelligent.
Entertaining and memorable.
This is fine police procedural mystery, which benefits greatly from a map of Cattesmoor provided by the author (always a nice aid for the reader). The characters are distinctive, the setting neatly detailed and the clues are fairly placed. The mystery is a good one, and solving it takes both the sleuths and the reader in some unexpected directions. Lemarchand's writing style is easy yet intelligent.
Entertaining and memorable.
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August 24, 2012i love this writer. another classic british puzzle, this time weaving together some very pleasing character drawing with good sense of an ancient british site with standing stones, etc.
favorite quote, describing a circle of stones dubbed "the Wanton Wenches" by local folklore:
one character says: Heathenish.
The police detective responds: "It's saying something that seemed important at the time."
nice way of putting our response to things like this that are ancient and that we cannot possibly interpret.
favorite quote, describing a circle of stones dubbed "the Wanton Wenches" by local folklore:
one character says: Heathenish.
The police detective responds: "It's saying something that seemed important at the time."
nice way of putting our response to things like this that are ancient and that we cannot possibly interpret.
May 3, 2018
Not my usual style of mystery....written in the 70s...it definitely was written in the 70s...the story branched out quite a bit from the original crime...didn't seem to be going anywhere...until the last twenty pages of this 150 page book....and the last four pages brought an unexpected twist to end it quite nicely....Its a short book...light mystery reading...not too bad
February 23, 2022
A skeleton is discovered in an ancient Celtic site at a small village. How and why is it there? When it is found to be a recent skeleton, the questions of who is it and who did it come into play.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Pollard of New Scotland yard is given the case. Recently home from a vacation in the area, he is once again there.
Getting solid clues and straight answers isn’t easy, as the site is adjacent to property owned by a man who insists on being left alone. He is uncooperative and evasive. The police and locals think the skeleton is a prank by students.
The site is a section of vacant land with an historical background. The historical society has fought to keep it open to the public, while the neighbouring property owner makes it difficult for them.
As Pollard investigates, he has to navigate the conflict between the two parties and also get straight answers. He has the impression that people aren’t willing to tell all that they know. Is this a singular murder or are there more in the offing.
Written in the classic British style, it is an enjoyable read.
Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Pollard of New Scotland yard is given the case. Recently home from a vacation in the area, he is once again there.
Getting solid clues and straight answers isn’t easy, as the site is adjacent to property owned by a man who insists on being left alone. He is uncooperative and evasive. The police and locals think the skeleton is a prank by students.
The site is a section of vacant land with an historical background. The historical society has fought to keep it open to the public, while the neighbouring property owner makes it difficult for them.
As Pollard investigates, he has to navigate the conflict between the two parties and also get straight answers. He has the impression that people aren’t willing to tell all that they know. Is this a singular murder or are there more in the offing.
Written in the classic British style, it is an enjoyable read.
January 7, 2021
Excellent
The newly promoted Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Pollard can’t even go on holiday without being dragged into a mysterious death. On holiday with his wife Jane and the twins at his Aunt Isabel’s Tom Pollard is persuaded to go on a new walkers path called the Possel Way. During his walk he comes across a group of walkers discussing a skeleton they’ve just come across in a kitvaen, he passes the discovery on to the local police force thinking no more of it but on his return to Scotland Yard he is surprised to learn that he has been requested to lead the investigation into the death.
The newly promoted Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Pollard can’t even go on holiday without being dragged into a mysterious death. On holiday with his wife Jane and the twins at his Aunt Isabel’s Tom Pollard is persuaded to go on a new walkers path called the Possel Way. During his walk he comes across a group of walkers discussing a skeleton they’ve just come across in a kitvaen, he passes the discovery on to the local police force thinking no more of it but on his return to Scotland Yard he is surprised to learn that he has been requested to lead the investigation into the death.
June 28, 2019
This was a quick read but definitely not one I'd read again. Such an English mystery - the whole thing revolves around a quarrel over a footpath. Not something we have in the US. Then I was struck by how dated it was and the subtext that is going on to tell you hidden things about the characters. Like the girl working on the shop had shoulder length blonde hair. Why is the length significant? And some house that had - wait for it - wall-to-wall carpeting AND a colour TV! I also have my doubts that
November 19, 2019
Terrific!
Another great addition to this series. This is a really tangled situation---who is the skeleton found along the Possel Way, was he murdered , who buried him prior to displaying his body, was it an accident, who is involved in all these situations. Chief Superintendent Pollard and Inspector Toye are called, as Scotland Yard investigators, to find answers to everything. Very wild, intricate investigation!
Another great addition to this series. This is a really tangled situation---who is the skeleton found along the Possel Way, was he murdered , who buried him prior to displaying his body, was it an accident, who is involved in all these situations. Chief Superintendent Pollard and Inspector Toye are called, as Scotland Yard investigators, to find answers to everything. Very wild, intricate investigation!
June 8, 2022
Three and a half stars: A well-written, easy to take British mystery that provides a few pleasant hours of diversion. The detective is intelligent and the list of suspects well delineated and easy to keep track of. The background of the newly restored moor walking trail was interesting, and the accompanying map of the terrain helpful to visualize the area being written about.
September 19, 2019
Like all in this series. Interesting characters and good plots
August 14, 2024
1976. Pollard and his family are staying with his aunt at Cattesmoor. He decides to walk the Possel Way when he comes across hikers who have discovered parts of a skeleton in a kirtvaen. Soon he and Toye are investigating the death.
An entertaining mystery
An entertaining mystery
April 10, 2022
Well, maybe 4.5. An extremely good story even if the perpetrator was quickly identifiable. It wasn't the book I thought it was, one that I had read years ago but this was highly enjoyable.
Murder, accident, manslaughter? Two deaths and nearly a third. A bit of archaeology. The group of boys who started the story were excellent value.
Murder, accident, manslaughter? Two deaths and nearly a third. A bit of archaeology. The group of boys who started the story were excellent value.
May 16, 2013
An easy comfortable read. Nothing special but quite good. As usual Lemarchand plays fair with the reader. All the clues are there.
April 13, 2024
Nice investigatory turn by Pollard & Toye, begun by happenstance, ended in success. Good writing, pretty good characterization.
March 31, 2011
Just about good enough to read more. Sister will like them
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews