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Superintendent William Meredith #2
The Sussex Downs Murder
"Already it looked as if the police were up against a carefully planned and cleverly executed murder, and, what was more, a murder without a corpse!" Two brothers, John and William Rother, live together at Chalklands Farm in the beautiful Sussex Downs. Their peaceful rural life is shattered when John Rother disappears and his abandoned car is found. Has he been kidnapped? Or is his disappearance more sinister - connected, perhaps, to his growing rather too friendly with his brother's wife? Superintendent Meredith is called to investigate - and begins to suspect the worst when human bones are discovered on Chalklands farmland. His patient, careful detective method begins slowly to untangle the clues as suspicion shifts from one character to the next.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 1936
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About the author
John Bude
55 books79 followersJohn Bude was a pseudonym used by Ernest Carpenter Elmore who was a British born writer.
He was born in 1901 and, as a boarder, he attended Mill Hill School, leaving in 1919 and moving on to Cheltenham where he attended a secretarial college and where he learned to type. After that he spent several years as games master at St Christopher School in Letchworth where he also led the school's dramatic activities.
This keen interest in the theatre led him to join the Lena Ashwell Players as stage manager and he took their productions around the country. He also acted in plays produced at the Everyman Theatre in Hampstead, where he lived for a time. He honed his writing skills, whenever he had a moment to spare, in the various dressing rooms that he found himself in.
He eventually returned to Maidstone, the town of his birth, and during the Second World War he ran his local Home Guard unit as he had been deemed unfit to serve in the forces.
He later lived in Loose, Kent, and after that near Rye, East Sussex, and enjoyed golf and painting but never learned to drive although that did not stop him apparently offering advice to his wife when she was driving! He had met his wife, Betty, when producing plays back in Maidstone and they married in 1933.
After becoming a full-time writer, he wrote some 30 crime fiction novels, many featuring his two main series characters Superintendent Meredith and Inspector Sherwood. He began with 'The Cornish Coast Murder' in 1935 and his final two crime novels, 'A Twist of the Rope' and 'The Night the Fog Came Down' were published posthumously in 1958.
He was a founder member of the Norfolk-based Crime Writers Association (CWA) in 1953 and was a co-organiser of the Crime Book Exhibition that was one of the CWA's early publicity initiatives. He was a popular and hard-working member of the CWA's committee from its inception through to May 1957.
Under his own name he also wrote a number of fantasy novels, the most well-known of which is 'The Lumpton Gobbelings' (1954). In addition he wrote a children's book, 'The Snuffly Snorty Dog' (1946).
He was admitted to hospital in Hastings on 6 November 1957, having just delivered his what turned out to be his final manuscript to his publisher, for a routine operation but he died two days later.
Fellow British crime writer Martin Edwards comments, "Bude writes both readably and entertainingly. His work may not have been stunning enough to belong with the greats, but there is a smoothness and accomplishment about even his first mystery, 'The Cornish Coast Murder', which you don't find in many début mysteries."
Interestingly he was the dedicatee of 'The Case of the Running Mouse' (1944) by his friend Christopher Bush. The dedication stated, 'May his stature, and his circulation, increase.'
NB: He was not born on 1 January but the system does not allow a date of birth without a month and date so it defaults to 1 January.
He was born in 1901 and, as a boarder, he attended Mill Hill School, leaving in 1919 and moving on to Cheltenham where he attended a secretarial college and where he learned to type. After that he spent several years as games master at St Christopher School in Letchworth where he also led the school's dramatic activities.
This keen interest in the theatre led him to join the Lena Ashwell Players as stage manager and he took their productions around the country. He also acted in plays produced at the Everyman Theatre in Hampstead, where he lived for a time. He honed his writing skills, whenever he had a moment to spare, in the various dressing rooms that he found himself in.
He eventually returned to Maidstone, the town of his birth, and during the Second World War he ran his local Home Guard unit as he had been deemed unfit to serve in the forces.
He later lived in Loose, Kent, and after that near Rye, East Sussex, and enjoyed golf and painting but never learned to drive although that did not stop him apparently offering advice to his wife when she was driving! He had met his wife, Betty, when producing plays back in Maidstone and they married in 1933.
After becoming a full-time writer, he wrote some 30 crime fiction novels, many featuring his two main series characters Superintendent Meredith and Inspector Sherwood. He began with 'The Cornish Coast Murder' in 1935 and his final two crime novels, 'A Twist of the Rope' and 'The Night the Fog Came Down' were published posthumously in 1958.
He was a founder member of the Norfolk-based Crime Writers Association (CWA) in 1953 and was a co-organiser of the Crime Book Exhibition that was one of the CWA's early publicity initiatives. He was a popular and hard-working member of the CWA's committee from its inception through to May 1957.
Under his own name he also wrote a number of fantasy novels, the most well-known of which is 'The Lumpton Gobbelings' (1954). In addition he wrote a children's book, 'The Snuffly Snorty Dog' (1946).
He was admitted to hospital in Hastings on 6 November 1957, having just delivered his what turned out to be his final manuscript to his publisher, for a routine operation but he died two days later.
Fellow British crime writer Martin Edwards comments, "Bude writes both readably and entertainingly. His work may not have been stunning enough to belong with the greats, but there is a smoothness and accomplishment about even his first mystery, 'The Cornish Coast Murder', which you don't find in many début mysteries."
Interestingly he was the dedicatee of 'The Case of the Running Mouse' (1944) by his friend Christopher Bush. The dedication stated, 'May his stature, and his circulation, increase.'
NB: He was not born on 1 January but the system does not allow a date of birth without a month and date so it defaults to 1 January.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
November 28, 2021
The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude is a 2015 Poison Pen publication. (Originally published in 1936)
This Golden Age mystery was saved from obscurity with the help of the British Crime Library and is now available via Poisoned Pen Press in digital format.
Any avid, contemporary, mystery reader will have absolutely no trouble at all figuring out, well in advance, 'whodunit', and maybe a whole lot of the ‘how’ part too.
While that would ordinarily bug me to no end, it wouldn't be fair to judge this novel by our wizened and jaded modern day standards.
I think it is obvious the author put some serious thought into the plot, with some truly novel details, but, still, I’m not even sure the more innocent 1936 audiences would have been entirely baffled by this plot.
Nevertheless, I did enjoy seeing how Meredith pieced all the bits and pieces of the puzzle together to finally solve the crime he investigated for months.
This is my first ‘Meredith’ mystery, and while it certainly didn’t blow me away, I did enjoy reading an old Golden Age mystery by an author I was not familiar with.
Meredith has some nice dialogue and observations in the story- and takes a few jabs at the detectives featured in popular novels of the day-
“But when it comes to a proper detective yarn give me something that’s possible, plausible, and not crammed with a lot of nice little coincidences and ‘flashes of intuition’. Things don’t work that way in real life. We don’t work that way. At least, sir, that’s how it seems to me anyway.”
Oh snap! I do detect a bit of snark there!
Of course, this is a quick, gentle, clean mystery, I can’t think of anything I found offensive, though the story is very much a product of its time.
I found the book mildly entertaining, with most of the novelty coming from its rescue from obscurity. I’m so happy to see these older detective and mystery novels reaching new audiences, though, and even if some of the material isn’t nearly as challenging to readers as it was when first published, they are still fun to read!!
I will definitely look for more “Meredith” mysteries in the future!
3.5 stars
This Golden Age mystery was saved from obscurity with the help of the British Crime Library and is now available via Poisoned Pen Press in digital format.
Any avid, contemporary, mystery reader will have absolutely no trouble at all figuring out, well in advance, 'whodunit', and maybe a whole lot of the ‘how’ part too.
While that would ordinarily bug me to no end, it wouldn't be fair to judge this novel by our wizened and jaded modern day standards.
I think it is obvious the author put some serious thought into the plot, with some truly novel details, but, still, I’m not even sure the more innocent 1936 audiences would have been entirely baffled by this plot.
Nevertheless, I did enjoy seeing how Meredith pieced all the bits and pieces of the puzzle together to finally solve the crime he investigated for months.
This is my first ‘Meredith’ mystery, and while it certainly didn’t blow me away, I did enjoy reading an old Golden Age mystery by an author I was not familiar with.
Meredith has some nice dialogue and observations in the story- and takes a few jabs at the detectives featured in popular novels of the day-
“But when it comes to a proper detective yarn give me something that’s possible, plausible, and not crammed with a lot of nice little coincidences and ‘flashes of intuition’. Things don’t work that way in real life. We don’t work that way. At least, sir, that’s how it seems to me anyway.”
Oh snap! I do detect a bit of snark there!
Of course, this is a quick, gentle, clean mystery, I can’t think of anything I found offensive, though the story is very much a product of its time.
I found the book mildly entertaining, with most of the novelty coming from its rescue from obscurity. I’m so happy to see these older detective and mystery novels reaching new audiences, though, and even if some of the material isn’t nearly as challenging to readers as it was when first published, they are still fun to read!!
I will definitely look for more “Meredith” mysteries in the future!
3.5 stars
November 10, 2020
Three stars because I figured out who did it early on and didn't find the How-dunnit to be as compelling as I'd hoped. I did like the characterizations very much and enjoyed getting to know Meredith a bit better. Major Forest along with Mrs. Meredith and Meredith's son, were good additions to the story. The son had interesting perspectives that added to his father's investigation. The strongest disappointment and complaint I had came at the very end with Meredith pretty much shrugging off one of the parties of the murder plot absconding and saying they were simply misguided.
This is the third Superintendent Meredith book I've read and while it's my least favourite, I'm glad I've read it. This, along with The Cheltenham Square Murder and Death on the Riviera are included in the British Library Crime Classics reissues and there are two more Meredith books I still need to read. I recommend this but I'd say read another before this one.
This is the third Superintendent Meredith book I've read and while it's my least favourite, I'm glad I've read it. This, along with The Cheltenham Square Murder and Death on the Riviera are included in the British Library Crime Classics reissues and there are two more Meredith books I still need to read. I recommend this but I'd say read another before this one.
February 19, 2015
John Bude’s William Meredith returns in The Sussex Downs Murders. Having been promoted to superintendent on the final page of the debut novel, The Lake District Murder, Meredith tackles a tougher murder than the last.
Brothers John and William Rother mark the third generation at the Sussex farm known as the Chalklands. John Rother, the elder and more grating of the pair, heads off for a short vacation, leaving his younger brother William and William’s young bride behind; less than 16 hours later, John’s cap and abandoned car, both bashed and blood strewn, are discovered amongst some gorse bushes. The police presume foul play, but why attack John? And why did John drive 30 miles (discovered by the amount of gasoline used) to end up four-and-a-half miles from the Chalklands — albeit in the opposite direction of his destination? And, most importantly, where’s the body?
As much as I enjoyed the quaint The Lake District Murder, in some ways, I liked the sequel more. Author John Bude hooks the reader from the first chapter with this tale of two ill-suited brothers. Did I suspect the eventual denouement early on? Sure, I did — almost immediate. I won’t lie: that did detract from my enjoyment of the novel and cost it one star; after all, if I suspected what was going on in Chapter 1, why did it take Superintendent Meredith until well into Chapter 17 to figure it out? Still, as with the TV show Colombo, how Superintendent solves the crime is as important as the crime itself. Unlike so many detective novel protagonists, Meredith heads down plenty of dead-ends — just as must be the case in real life; still, he tenacious and hard-working. Meredith’s humanly flawed, too, right down to his grumpy disposition when things are going badly and his yearning for his wife’s good cooking. Therefore, the book — despite Meredith’s annoying lack of imagination — still merits four stars.
And John Bude gives one of the best recipes for a good mystery, out of the mouth of Superintendent Meredith:
I couldn’t improve on Bude’s formula.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I received this ebook free from NetGalley, Poison Pen Press, and British Library Publishing in return for an honest review.
Brothers John and William Rother mark the third generation at the Sussex farm known as the Chalklands. John Rother, the elder and more grating of the pair, heads off for a short vacation, leaving his younger brother William and William’s young bride behind; less than 16 hours later, John’s cap and abandoned car, both bashed and blood strewn, are discovered amongst some gorse bushes. The police presume foul play, but why attack John? And why did John drive 30 miles (discovered by the amount of gasoline used) to end up four-and-a-half miles from the Chalklands — albeit in the opposite direction of his destination? And, most importantly, where’s the body?
As much as I enjoyed the quaint The Lake District Murder, in some ways, I liked the sequel more. Author John Bude hooks the reader from the first chapter with this tale of two ill-suited brothers. Did I suspect the eventual denouement early on? Sure, I did — almost immediate. I won’t lie: that did detract from my enjoyment of the novel and cost it one star; after all, if I suspected what was going on in Chapter 1, why did it take Superintendent Meredith until well into Chapter 17 to figure it out? Still, as with the TV show Colombo, how Superintendent solves the crime is as important as the crime itself. Unlike so many detective novel protagonists, Meredith heads down plenty of dead-ends — just as must be the case in real life; still, he tenacious and hard-working. Meredith’s humanly flawed, too, right down to his grumpy disposition when things are going badly and his yearning for his wife’s good cooking. Therefore, the book — despite Meredith’s annoying lack of imagination — still merits four stars.
And John Bude gives one of the best recipes for a good mystery, out of the mouth of Superintendent Meredith:
As for the crime itself, choose something neat but not gaudy. The gaudy type of murder is more easily found out. The neat, premeditated crime is by far the most difficult to solve….
But when it comes to a proper detective yarn give me something that’s possible, plausible, and not crammed with a lot of nice little coincidences and ‘flashes of intuition’. Things don’t work that way in real life. We don’t work that way. At least, sir, that’s how it seems to me anyway.
I couldn’t improve on Bude’s formula.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I received this ebook free from NetGalley, Poison Pen Press, and British Library Publishing in return for an honest review.
November 7, 2025
John Rother's car is found abandoned under a tree on a side road. The windshield is smashed as is the dashboard. A bloody hat is found alongside. John is nowhere to be found and there is no body. Soon, however, bones begin appearing in the lime coming out of the kiln. The inquest determines John Rother has been murdered by person or persons unknown. John is a bachelor and his brother William is his heir. It is the time honored question: who benefits?
As Golden Age mystery writers go, John Bude is relatively unknown. I know him only because a few of his titles were available through my local Friends of the Library book sales which I happily picked up a few years back. This book had a receipt from the Friends of the Library of Pima County (Arizona) and I'm very glad it is being passed around. I have others, and I'll assume they came from the same local reader. Yay for her and for me!
I think the writing style is a cut above others of the era. The setting is given to us quite clearly and I appreciated that. Superintendent Meredith is nearly fully-fleshed and I assume we'll know him better as the series continues. The plot is good enough. I am not a good guesser at these and in fact usually just read and let the mystery be revealed to me on the pages. In this one, I did make an early guess which turned out to be correct, but I was happy to keep reading to find out if Meredith and the facts would corroborate my theory.
I'm coloring in a 4th star, though it probably just barely reaches that threshold. I admit that might be because I was so relieved not to be reading Salman Rushdie.
As Golden Age mystery writers go, John Bude is relatively unknown. I know him only because a few of his titles were available through my local Friends of the Library book sales which I happily picked up a few years back. This book had a receipt from the Friends of the Library of Pima County (Arizona) and I'm very glad it is being passed around. I have others, and I'll assume they came from the same local reader. Yay for her and for me!
I think the writing style is a cut above others of the era. The setting is given to us quite clearly and I appreciated that. Superintendent Meredith is nearly fully-fleshed and I assume we'll know him better as the series continues. The plot is good enough. I am not a good guesser at these and in fact usually just read and let the mystery be revealed to me on the pages. In this one, I did make an early guess which turned out to be correct, but I was happy to keep reading to find out if Meredith and the facts would corroborate my theory.
I'm coloring in a 4th star, though it probably just barely reaches that threshold. I admit that might be because I was so relieved not to be reading Salman Rushdie.
February 27, 2016
John Rother, his younger brother William, and William's wife Janet live at Chalklands, a farm house on the Sussex Downs. The family's fortunes have waned over the years. Originally, the Rothers owned Dyke House and were buried in a vault at Washington Church. However, now they live at Chalklands and are interred in the churchyard like everyone else. They make their living farming and producing lime in the three lime kilns behind the farm house.
Relations between the two brothers are not always harmonious for they are very different men:
One day John leaves home one day for a trip to Harlech in Wales. The following day, his car and tweed cap are found abandoned - and covered with blood. There is no sign of John Rother anywhere. It is discovered that while the car is found just 4 1/2 miles from Chalklands (in the opposite direction of his destination), it has actually been driven about 30 miles. Then a male femur is discovered in a load of lime from the Chalklands lime kilns. Other bones are soon located and the assembled skeleton (what there is left of it) bears a noted resemblance to John Rother.
William Rother quickly becomes the leading suspect in his brother's murder. He had the most to gain - Chalklands, the lime kilns, and, most importantly, his wife Janet. There are well-supported rumors that Janet and John were having an affair. Even William admits the two were close.
It is up to Superintendent Meredith is called in to investigate. Careful, methodical, and patient, he conducts a detailed investigation, which includes interviewing everyone who had anything to do with the Rothers. There is an interesting take on 1930s forensics. Meredith even analyzes typing styles. Meredith forms more than theory of the crime and actually considers more than one suspect. His superior, Major Forest, is both sounding board and adviser. Meredith's work is painstaking and some people might consider it to be slow. He is not perfect and does make mistakes. He has to toss out more than one theory because he realizes that he is wrong. However, he does not give up until he solves the case.
My favorite part of the book is when Meredith is speaking with the mystery writer Barnet. Meredith has very decided views on the subjects of mysteries:
Reminds me of some TV shows nowadays.
This was an enjoyable read from an author I had never heard of until my brother loaned me this book. Meredith is a likable, very human detective who learns from his mistakes and never gives up. The background is well drawn and interesting. I had my suspicions about who did it, but did not suspect the whole truth. The very short epilogue is quite amusing. This is a good, entertaining mystery and I would be interested in reading more by this author. It's always nice to discover a new author.
Relations between the two brothers are not always harmonious for they are very different men:
"John was bluff, rubicund, a stocky, rather loud-voiced, hail-fellow-well-met type of man; William slim, tall, and sensitive. John was practical, William imaginative. John was content to farm as his father had farmed and his grandfather before him; William, the younger brother and partner, was a theorist who believed in experiment."
One day John leaves home one day for a trip to Harlech in Wales. The following day, his car and tweed cap are found abandoned - and covered with blood. There is no sign of John Rother anywhere. It is discovered that while the car is found just 4 1/2 miles from Chalklands (in the opposite direction of his destination), it has actually been driven about 30 miles. Then a male femur is discovered in a load of lime from the Chalklands lime kilns. Other bones are soon located and the assembled skeleton (what there is left of it) bears a noted resemblance to John Rother.
William Rother quickly becomes the leading suspect in his brother's murder. He had the most to gain - Chalklands, the lime kilns, and, most importantly, his wife Janet. There are well-supported rumors that Janet and John were having an affair. Even William admits the two were close.
It is up to Superintendent Meredith is called in to investigate. Careful, methodical, and patient, he conducts a detailed investigation, which includes interviewing everyone who had anything to do with the Rothers. There is an interesting take on 1930s forensics. Meredith even analyzes typing styles. Meredith forms more than theory of the crime and actually considers more than one suspect. His superior, Major Forest, is both sounding board and adviser. Meredith's work is painstaking and some people might consider it to be slow. He is not perfect and does make mistakes. He has to toss out more than one theory because he realizes that he is wrong. However, he does not give up until he solves the case.
My favorite part of the book is when Meredith is speaking with the mystery writer Barnet. Meredith has very decided views on the subjects of mysteries:
"As for the crime itself, choose something neat but not gaudy. The gaudy type of murder is more easily found out. The neat, premeditated crime is by far the most difficult to solve and will provide your readers with a load of neat detection."
************************************
But when it comes to a proper detective yarn give me something that's possible, plausible, and not crammed with a lot of nice little coincidences and 'flashes of intuition.' Things don't work that way in real life."
Reminds me of some TV shows nowadays.
This was an enjoyable read from an author I had never heard of until my brother loaned me this book. Meredith is a likable, very human detective who learns from his mistakes and never gives up. The background is well drawn and interesting. I had my suspicions about who did it, but did not suspect the whole truth. The very short epilogue is quite amusing. This is a good, entertaining mystery and I would be interested in reading more by this author. It's always nice to discover a new author.
December 26, 2019
2.5 stars. A classic detective novel circa 1936. There were some parts that moved too slowly and I think the story got more convoluted than was necessary. The last interrogation was a little too pat. But overall a nice read. I liked the MC he was dogged or as his boss said "To my mind you can simply tackle a difficult investigation in one way. Worry it like a terrier worries a rat." And that he does!
November 1, 2019
Having been distinctly underwhelmed by the first Meredith mystery, I started this one with a little trepidation. Having finished it, I felt it was a little better than, “The Lake District Murder,” but it hasn’t really enticed me to want to read more by John Bude.
The story involves two brothers, John and William Rother, who live at Chalklands Farm. William is married to Janet and there are rumours that her, and John, are closer than they should be. When John heads off for a trip and vanishes; leaving his bloody car by the side of the road, Meredith – now promoted – is called in to investigate.
Investigate he does. Like the first book, this is, again, a painstaking attempt to build up the case. Interviews, following clues and visiting experts, Meredith tries to unravel what happened. The crime becomes more confusing, with bones discovered and a further murder suggested. However, this is not an exciting crime novel, but a dry, often tedious, attempt to show the thorough nature of police work. I somehow feel that Bude is not likely to become one of my favourite authors.
The story involves two brothers, John and William Rother, who live at Chalklands Farm. William is married to Janet and there are rumours that her, and John, are closer than they should be. When John heads off for a trip and vanishes; leaving his bloody car by the side of the road, Meredith – now promoted – is called in to investigate.
Investigate he does. Like the first book, this is, again, a painstaking attempt to build up the case. Interviews, following clues and visiting experts, Meredith tries to unravel what happened. The crime becomes more confusing, with bones discovered and a further murder suggested. However, this is not an exciting crime novel, but a dry, often tedious, attempt to show the thorough nature of police work. I somehow feel that Bude is not likely to become one of my favourite authors.
March 24, 2015
This novel was one of those relaxing reading experiences which I most often get when I can pick up one of the books I refer to as a classic. The landscape around the Sussex village of Washington becomes an integrated part of the entire story, not just a place where a body was found. John Bude created the character of Superintendent Meredith to be a man who was so entirely human and normal that readers can relate to him immediately. The people of the village of Washington and other small villages close by were entirely believable. This mystery is complicated and unusual. I really enjoyed the fact that the author had his detective work the case out loud while discussing it with others so that I, as the reader, understood where he was headed in his thinking and why. When he had to give up on a line of enquiry I fully agreed with that decision. Lovely, just lovely for readers who like to be a part of the solving of the mystery. And then there are the humorous aspects that fit into this novel as if they were happening in an everyday conversation. Meredith's conversation with the garage owner was especially good for a chuckle.
Trying to figure out what had happened to John Rother involved untangling a snarl of times, places, what witnesses actually saw, and who to believe. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this down-to-earth policeman and his superior officer discuss their way through all the twists and turns to reach the correct solution. Many thanks to British Library Crime Classics for making these older novels available again. They are a pleasure for those of us who get very tired of the more modern mystery novels which seem to often place too much emphasis on the gore and leave out the finesse and the intellect.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.
Trying to figure out what had happened to John Rother involved untangling a snarl of times, places, what witnesses actually saw, and who to believe. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this down-to-earth policeman and his superior officer discuss their way through all the twists and turns to reach the correct solution. Many thanks to British Library Crime Classics for making these older novels available again. They are a pleasure for those of us who get very tired of the more modern mystery novels which seem to often place too much emphasis on the gore and leave out the finesse and the intellect.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.
October 12, 2023
3.5 stars - very enjoyable narrator made this golden age mystery an enjoyable read (listen). I liked my first outing with Bude’s Inspector Meredith; like other police inspectors from the period, he’s diligent, smart and determined. He’s also got a dry sense of humor and a keen understanding of human nature, I look forward to reading more of his adventures.
In this case, a man has left home in his car and disappeared on the Downs; the scene at the car, despite lacking a body, causes police to fear the worst. Soon physical clues turn up that appear to indicate there has been foul play, and the body gruesomely disposed of - family members are suspected, then a cloaked stranger. Another murder, disguised as suicide, turns the case upside down.
As I listened to the diligent Meredith grind through the evidence, checking leads and alibis and hashing out the case with his superior officer, I couldn’t help suspecting all was not as it appeared - I wasn’t sure of all the details, but I had a feeling I knew who the killer was. I’m not usually right about these things, but I think this very clever, convoluted classic plot twist has been copied, and that’s why I had an inkling of what really happened!
Turns out I was right, but Bude was fiendishly clever in coming up with this satisfying puzzle, a classic example of golden age police procedural detective work. I enjoyed it, and like Meredith for his human touch and low-key nature.
In this case, a man has left home in his car and disappeared on the Downs; the scene at the car, despite lacking a body, causes police to fear the worst. Soon physical clues turn up that appear to indicate there has been foul play, and the body gruesomely disposed of - family members are suspected, then a cloaked stranger. Another murder, disguised as suicide, turns the case upside down.
As I listened to the diligent Meredith grind through the evidence, checking leads and alibis and hashing out the case with his superior officer, I couldn’t help suspecting all was not as it appeared - I wasn’t sure of all the details, but I had a feeling I knew who the killer was. I’m not usually right about these things, but I think this very clever, convoluted classic plot twist has been copied, and that’s why I had an inkling of what really happened!
Turns out I was right, but Bude was fiendishly clever in coming up with this satisfying puzzle, a classic example of golden age police procedural detective work. I enjoyed it, and like Meredith for his human touch and low-key nature.
March 20, 2015
I enjoyed this classic British mystery, even though I had an inkling of the crime's solution for most of the book. There were some interesting twists and turns, and I appreciated the thorough exploration of every line of inquiry. I was a bit disappointed with the treatment of female characters, though I imagine much of that can be chalked up to the time period in which it was written. Still, it's surprising for a main character's spouse to go unnamed for the duration of a novel, especially when his son is referred to by name on several occasions.
If you enjoy classic British mysteries, you'll most likely enjoy this one, too.
Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.
If you enjoy classic British mysteries, you'll most likely enjoy this one, too.
Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.
June 15, 2025
Dieser Krimi sollte eigentlich meine neue Lektüre beim Busfahren werden, weil ich im Gegensatz zu dem Game of Thrones Buch ein kleines Buch für die Tasche brauchte. Der Krimi hat mich aber atmosphärisch so gefesselt, dass ich ihn zuhause direkt zu Ende gelesen habe.
Bereits das dritte Buch welches ich von John Bude gelesen habe. In ähnlichem Schreibstil und atmosphärischen Feingefühl liest es sich wie ein Christie Krimi und trifft damit genau meinen Geschmack. Der in allen Büchern ermitteltende Inspector Merideth ist durchaus sympathisch und wie ein gebannter Beobachter, folgt man seinen Gedankengängen.
Für mich ein seltenes Erlebnis bei einem Krimi: mir war sehr früh klar wer den Mord begangen hat. Das hat mich durchaus aber nicht gestört, sondern hat das Mitraten unter all den Indizien nur spannender gemacht, in der Hoffnung mit meiner Vermutung richtig zu liegen.
Seichte Krimi-Unterhaltung für einen bewölkten Sonntag.
Bereits das dritte Buch welches ich von John Bude gelesen habe. In ähnlichem Schreibstil und atmosphärischen Feingefühl liest es sich wie ein Christie Krimi und trifft damit genau meinen Geschmack. Der in allen Büchern ermitteltende Inspector Merideth ist durchaus sympathisch und wie ein gebannter Beobachter, folgt man seinen Gedankengängen.
Für mich ein seltenes Erlebnis bei einem Krimi: mir war sehr früh klar wer den Mord begangen hat. Das hat mich durchaus aber nicht gestört, sondern hat das Mitraten unter all den Indizien nur spannender gemacht, in der Hoffnung mit meiner Vermutung richtig zu liegen.
Seichte Krimi-Unterhaltung für einen bewölkten Sonntag.
May 26, 2021
Missing, presumed dead…
Brothers John and William Rothers share the family home and lime manufacturing business at Chalklands Farm in Sussex. William’s wife also lives there, which is unfortunate, or convenient, depending on your viewpoint, since she seems to be at least as close to John as she is to her husband. Then John decides to go on a short driving holiday, but he doesn’t get far – his car is found abandoned a few miles from home and there are signs of violence. No sign of John though, alive or dead. Inspector Meredith has recently been transferred to the area and is put in charge of the case. First he’ll have to determine if John has been kidnapped or murdered before he can hope to discover whodunit…
I’ve loved a couple of John Bude’s books and been pretty unimpressed by a couple more, so wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. And it fell in the middle for me – reasonably enjoyable but not nearly as entertaining as he can be. I’m coming to the conclusion it’s the Inspector Meredith books that don’t work too well for me. Not that I don’t like the Inspector – as a character he’s fine and in this one there’s some entertaining stuff between him and his teenage son which gives him a more rounded feel than in some of the other books. It’s more the investigative technique that puts me off, very painstaking and slow, with lots of examining and re-examining clues as each fresh piece of information comes to light. I’m aware I’ve said similar things about a few of the Golden Age police procedurals, especially the Inspector French novels of Freeman Wills Crofts, so I was interested to learn from Martin Edwards’ The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books that Meredith is indeed modelled on French. However Edwards says that Meredith “possesses a sharper sense of humour” and an “innate humanity”, with both of which I agree. This kind of detailed procedural is clearly a specific style of mystery story popular at the time, and Bude certainly does it better than most.
He’s also very good at settings and here he brings the area of the Sussex Downs to life, with the sparsely populated rural district playing a major role in the solving of the mystery. First published in 1936, there was still little enough traffic on the roads for people to notice and recognise passing vehicles, and even remember them some days later. Local gossip plays its part too, with there being few enough people around for everyone to have a fair idea of what everyone else might be up to, or at least to think they do.
The solution seems a bit obvious from fairly early on, unfortunately, but the meat of the story is really in how Meredith goes about his investigation. As he struggles to find proof of a murder having been done much less to prove who may have done it, we see his frustration and the pressure he is put under by his superiors. But Meredith is a patient man, willing to admit when a theory isn’t working out and to go back to the beginning to formulate a new one.
Overall, then, enjoyable enough to while away a few hours but not a top rank mystery novel, which has been pretty much my reaction to all of the Inspector Meredith novels I’ve read so far. I think in future I’ll try to stick to Bude’s standalones where, in my limited experience of him, he seems to show much more inventiveness and humour, and achieves a better pace. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.
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Brothers John and William Rothers share the family home and lime manufacturing business at Chalklands Farm in Sussex. William’s wife also lives there, which is unfortunate, or convenient, depending on your viewpoint, since she seems to be at least as close to John as she is to her husband. Then John decides to go on a short driving holiday, but he doesn’t get far – his car is found abandoned a few miles from home and there are signs of violence. No sign of John though, alive or dead. Inspector Meredith has recently been transferred to the area and is put in charge of the case. First he’ll have to determine if John has been kidnapped or murdered before he can hope to discover whodunit…
I’ve loved a couple of John Bude’s books and been pretty unimpressed by a couple more, so wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. And it fell in the middle for me – reasonably enjoyable but not nearly as entertaining as he can be. I’m coming to the conclusion it’s the Inspector Meredith books that don’t work too well for me. Not that I don’t like the Inspector – as a character he’s fine and in this one there’s some entertaining stuff between him and his teenage son which gives him a more rounded feel than in some of the other books. It’s more the investigative technique that puts me off, very painstaking and slow, with lots of examining and re-examining clues as each fresh piece of information comes to light. I’m aware I’ve said similar things about a few of the Golden Age police procedurals, especially the Inspector French novels of Freeman Wills Crofts, so I was interested to learn from Martin Edwards’ The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books that Meredith is indeed modelled on French. However Edwards says that Meredith “possesses a sharper sense of humour” and an “innate humanity”, with both of which I agree. This kind of detailed procedural is clearly a specific style of mystery story popular at the time, and Bude certainly does it better than most.
He’s also very good at settings and here he brings the area of the Sussex Downs to life, with the sparsely populated rural district playing a major role in the solving of the mystery. First published in 1936, there was still little enough traffic on the roads for people to notice and recognise passing vehicles, and even remember them some days later. Local gossip plays its part too, with there being few enough people around for everyone to have a fair idea of what everyone else might be up to, or at least to think they do.
The solution seems a bit obvious from fairly early on, unfortunately, but the meat of the story is really in how Meredith goes about his investigation. As he struggles to find proof of a murder having been done much less to prove who may have done it, we see his frustration and the pressure he is put under by his superiors. But Meredith is a patient man, willing to admit when a theory isn’t working out and to go back to the beginning to formulate a new one.
Overall, then, enjoyable enough to while away a few hours but not a top rank mystery novel, which has been pretty much my reaction to all of the Inspector Meredith novels I’ve read so far. I think in future I’ll try to stick to Bude’s standalones where, in my limited experience of him, he seems to show much more inventiveness and humour, and achieves a better pace. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
February 24, 2025
Superintendent Meredith investigates a mysterious affair set in Sussex in which two brothers get involved in intrigue that ends with death on the Sussex Downs.
John and William Rother live together at Chalkdown Farm along with William's wife Janet. Their peaceful life is shattered when John disappears and his car is discovered abandoned on the Downs with blood on the seats and also on his nearby thrown-aside flat cap. Superintendent Meredith, who had, shortly before the disappearance, been transferred from the north to Sussex, is called in and the investigation begins.
There are not many characters in the story but all of them come under suspicion, particularly when human bones are discovered on Chalklands' farmland. This brings the investigation nearer to home with William being the chief suspect and Janet a close second, although none of the other characters can be ruled out.
But then William is found dead in a lime pit; was it an accident or was he killed? That is what Superintendent Meredith has to find out and his enquiries lead him all over the Sussex Downs where various incidental people are interrogated and all of them add a little to the story of the brothers.
Meredith carefully assesses the evidence but seems to be getting nowhere when suddenly, in the middle of the night, he has an inspirational moment and realises what has happened. And in true Agatha Christie fashion he spends the penultimate chapter of the book unveiling the devilishly ingenious plot to budding author Aldous Barnet, who in turn, in the final chapter, begins a novel based on the events!
A true golden age classic crime tale (originally published 1936), complete with the obligatory map of the area, makes for enjoyable reading.
23 February 2025
Having picked this up and read it again while at my daughter's house, I didn't realise I had already read it and perhaps that was not surprising because it made very little impression on me. Indeed, Martin Edwards, who gives us such splendid introductions to this British Library Crime Classics series with background to the so-called Golden Age of Crime fiction, plus biographical detail of the relevant author and a brief synopsis of the relevant novel, introduced a phrase into this introduction that came back to haunt me as I re-read 'Sussex Downs'. He referred to the '"humdrum" category to which so many Golden Age mysteries have been consigned'. Unfortunately I found that 'Sussex Downs' to which he gave plenty of plaudits, fell into this humdrum category.
When I initially read it, I must have been in the mood for this type of mystery but this time I found it flat, too repetitive as it droned on and on with very little action taking place and seemed almost lifeless. As such my interest waned as I continued until close to the end, I gave up. It was a pity that "humdrum" had been introduced into the introduction and also that I had to confine ;'Sussex Downs' to that category.
It is amazing how my views changed over 10 years because if I was to mark the read this time round, it would, sadly, be a one-star read.
John and William Rother live together at Chalkdown Farm along with William's wife Janet. Their peaceful life is shattered when John disappears and his car is discovered abandoned on the Downs with blood on the seats and also on his nearby thrown-aside flat cap. Superintendent Meredith, who had, shortly before the disappearance, been transferred from the north to Sussex, is called in and the investigation begins.
There are not many characters in the story but all of them come under suspicion, particularly when human bones are discovered on Chalklands' farmland. This brings the investigation nearer to home with William being the chief suspect and Janet a close second, although none of the other characters can be ruled out.
But then William is found dead in a lime pit; was it an accident or was he killed? That is what Superintendent Meredith has to find out and his enquiries lead him all over the Sussex Downs where various incidental people are interrogated and all of them add a little to the story of the brothers.
Meredith carefully assesses the evidence but seems to be getting nowhere when suddenly, in the middle of the night, he has an inspirational moment and realises what has happened. And in true Agatha Christie fashion he spends the penultimate chapter of the book unveiling the devilishly ingenious plot to budding author Aldous Barnet, who in turn, in the final chapter, begins a novel based on the events!
A true golden age classic crime tale (originally published 1936), complete with the obligatory map of the area, makes for enjoyable reading.
23 February 2025
Having picked this up and read it again while at my daughter's house, I didn't realise I had already read it and perhaps that was not surprising because it made very little impression on me. Indeed, Martin Edwards, who gives us such splendid introductions to this British Library Crime Classics series with background to the so-called Golden Age of Crime fiction, plus biographical detail of the relevant author and a brief synopsis of the relevant novel, introduced a phrase into this introduction that came back to haunt me as I re-read 'Sussex Downs'. He referred to the '"humdrum" category to which so many Golden Age mysteries have been consigned'. Unfortunately I found that 'Sussex Downs' to which he gave plenty of plaudits, fell into this humdrum category.
When I initially read it, I must have been in the mood for this type of mystery but this time I found it flat, too repetitive as it droned on and on with very little action taking place and seemed almost lifeless. As such my interest waned as I continued until close to the end, I gave up. It was a pity that "humdrum" had been introduced into the introduction and also that I had to confine ;'Sussex Downs' to that category.
It is amazing how my views changed over 10 years because if I was to mark the read this time round, it would, sadly, be a one-star read.
September 20, 2017
A real delight from the golden age of crime fiction. First published in 1936 and republished in 2014 as a British Library Crime Classic. John Bude was the pseudonym of Ernest Gilmore (1901-1957) who was a co-founder of the Crime Writers' Association. The wonderful art deco cover was enough to make me pick the book up in Waterstones.
The setting is pretty much my own locale - the Sussex Downs, featuring Bramber, Steyning, Washington, Findon, Cissbury Ring, Chanctonbury Ring and the police headquarters in Lewes.
A classic detective novel featuring Superintendent Meredith and his sidekick Hawkins, who use old-fashioned police work bereft of computers, tablets and mobile 'phones to investigate the disappearance of John Rother, a local farmer and owner of lime kilns (you might have to Google that!). His abandoned car is found and first thoughts are that he might have been kidnapped. But then human bones are found on Chalklands farmland where his brother William and wife also live. Is John's disappearance more sinister? Is it connected perhaps to his growing rather too friendly with his brother's wife? Meredith is a patient, careful detective and his methodical approach starts to disentangle the clues as suspicion shifts from one character to the next. He still finds time to enjoy his afternoon high tea though!
If you like Agatha Christie you will enjoy this elaborately constructed puzzle. It tested my wits and, no, I didn't guess the outcome!
The setting is pretty much my own locale - the Sussex Downs, featuring Bramber, Steyning, Washington, Findon, Cissbury Ring, Chanctonbury Ring and the police headquarters in Lewes.
A classic detective novel featuring Superintendent Meredith and his sidekick Hawkins, who use old-fashioned police work bereft of computers, tablets and mobile 'phones to investigate the disappearance of John Rother, a local farmer and owner of lime kilns (you might have to Google that!). His abandoned car is found and first thoughts are that he might have been kidnapped. But then human bones are found on Chalklands farmland where his brother William and wife also live. Is John's disappearance more sinister? Is it connected perhaps to his growing rather too friendly with his brother's wife? Meredith is a patient, careful detective and his methodical approach starts to disentangle the clues as suspicion shifts from one character to the next. He still finds time to enjoy his afternoon high tea though!
If you like Agatha Christie you will enjoy this elaborately constructed puzzle. It tested my wits and, no, I didn't guess the outcome!
March 28, 2016
This is a classic English detective story (first published in 1930) which will appeal to those who enjoy methodically spotting and solving clues, whilst avoiding red herrings. It’s also a book to be enjoyed for its setting in the Sussex Downs of Southern England; where the action takes place roughly between Amberley, Steyning, Storrington, Shoreham, Angmering and Littlehampton. The description of place, vitally important to true countrymen is handled confidently and convincingly.
Not all changes with the passage of time; deliveries made from Fortnum & Mason continue into our day. The mere thought, in 2016, of light occasional road traffic is a yearningly liberating dream. Drinkers have their own tankards kept behind the bar of the local pub. A Coroner’s inquest is held in the kitchen of a farmhouse (as they often were back then); all so very, very nostalgic and very different to scene and procedure today, in 2016. The initial absence of a body, deceased, impedes but does not prevent a police investigation; the mystery merely widens and deepens when bones eventually do come to light. Descriptive language paints scenes, dialogue dresses actions, investigations are conducted in good heart and with much thought. Read, perhaps with pen and paper to hand, it IS possible, but not guaranteed, to successfully avoid the herring catch and satisfyingly solve the murder.
Not all changes with the passage of time; deliveries made from Fortnum & Mason continue into our day. The mere thought, in 2016, of light occasional road traffic is a yearningly liberating dream. Drinkers have their own tankards kept behind the bar of the local pub. A Coroner’s inquest is held in the kitchen of a farmhouse (as they often were back then); all so very, very nostalgic and very different to scene and procedure today, in 2016. The initial absence of a body, deceased, impedes but does not prevent a police investigation; the mystery merely widens and deepens when bones eventually do come to light. Descriptive language paints scenes, dialogue dresses actions, investigations are conducted in good heart and with much thought. Read, perhaps with pen and paper to hand, it IS possible, but not guaranteed, to successfully avoid the herring catch and satisfyingly solve the murder.
February 6, 2017
A fairly typical classical British mystery novel meaning the characters are a bit stereotypical, the dialogue a bit Pollyannish and there will be a puzzle and that puzzle will be complex. But, it's a good puzzle and a fast and enjoyable read. So, find yourself a comfortable chair and relax and let yourself drift back to a simpler time and hopefully you will be able to enjoy the couple of hours you get to spend there.
November 19, 2021
Auch wenn ich schon im ersten Kapitel die Lösung des Falls richtig vermutet habe, hatte ich viel Lesefreude an dem Buch. Ein klassischer Kriminalroman, gut konstruiert, einige interessante Wendungen, sehr stimmungsvolle Beschreibungen von Gegend und Personen und eine angenehme Prise Humor.
June 19, 2020
The Sussex Downs Murder is the third book I've read by John Bude from the British Library Crime Classics series, featuring the same detective as the previous two. Meredith is a policeman, and much of the story involves careful police work: cross-checking, putting a man on this and a man on that, and slowly amassing more evidence -- so much that at first it's hard to sort out what's relevant and what isn't, and which of the herrings are a suspiciously ruddy colour.
Bude's writing is like that: methodical, thorough, a little slow, but ultimately assembling a pretty fascinating picture, with some nice set-pieces along the way. I don't visualise things easily, but Bude brought to life the chalky cliff and the grassy downs of the setting, as his characters walk through them -- a sketch, perhaps, but one that suggests just enough to contextualise what the artist wants to show.
I'll admit that I find John Bude's plots a trifle obvious, though Martin Edwards' introductions don't always help with that. He dropped a clue that raised my eyebrow right at the start, so I figured out where we were going. Still, I didn't know quite how we'd get there, and with Golden Age crime fiction that's usually the main thing.
In all, it's a solid story, I didn't spot any major holes, and it has its moments for characterisation, setting and humour. Not perhaps the best of the series, but an enjoyable specimen of the species.
Bude's writing is like that: methodical, thorough, a little slow, but ultimately assembling a pretty fascinating picture, with some nice set-pieces along the way. I don't visualise things easily, but Bude brought to life the chalky cliff and the grassy downs of the setting, as his characters walk through them -- a sketch, perhaps, but one that suggests just enough to contextualise what the artist wants to show.
I'll admit that I find John Bude's plots a trifle obvious, though Martin Edwards' introductions don't always help with that. He dropped a clue that raised my eyebrow right at the start, so I figured out where we were going. Still, I didn't know quite how we'd get there, and with Golden Age crime fiction that's usually the main thing.
In all, it's a solid story, I didn't spot any major holes, and it has its moments for characterisation, setting and humour. Not perhaps the best of the series, but an enjoyable specimen of the species.
March 18, 2024
An early police procedural.
This was another well constructed murder mystery with a Inspector Meredith detective. I did find the plot a little dry at times with rather too much technical information but it held my attention throughout and I am sure I will read more in the series. I did guess the ultimate result fairly early on in the book but enjoyed seeing if my theory was correct.
This was another well constructed murder mystery with a Inspector Meredith detective. I did find the plot a little dry at times with rather too much technical information but it held my attention throughout and I am sure I will read more in the series. I did guess the ultimate result fairly early on in the book but enjoyed seeing if my theory was correct.
May 1, 2024
A very clever plot that is continuously baffling a very persistent policeman. Superintendent Meredith never leaves a clue without following it up, eventually the clues join up the dots and fill in the criminal picture.
January 17, 2020
Not a bad mystery featuring Superintendent Meredith, but I figured out the solution half-way through. One thing I like about the mysteries of the 30s and 40s is that the bosses of the detectives aren't all curmudgeons like many of the modern ones are. They seem to back up their detectives, instead of being jealous of them.
September 6, 2017
The best yet of the Inspector Meredith mysteries, though I have to confess that this is only the third one for me. A complex puzzle, which starts as a simple case of a missing man, turns into suspected murder, and grows more and more convoluted with every page. John Rother and his brother William are the joint owners of Chalkland’s Farm and flourishing lime industry. Distinct both in looks and nature, the brothers are always at loggerheads, the latest bone of contention being William’s pretty young wife, who is obviously attracted to her brother in law. When John leaves on a three week vacation, his car is discovered up a lonely lane leading to the Downs. With a shattered windshield, bloodstained seat, and bloody cap lying outside the car, the obvious conclusion is murder, yet no body is found. Soon, however, labourers working with lime from the Chalkland’s kilns find human bones in the mix, and Inspector Meredith has the proof that John Rother is dead, his body dismembered and disposed of in the fiery hot furnace below the farm. As for motive, William will inherit all John’s property, and also win back the affection of his straying wife. But more twists lie ahead. When Meredith is ready to arrest William, his body is discovered at the foot of the chalk cliff-an apparent suicide. But is it suicide or murder once again? Meredith painstakingly follows every possible clue-most leading to dead ends. In his own words, “Half the work of a detective is not to find out what is but what isn’t!” He scoffs at the intuitive detectives of popular fiction and relies on solid police work, though he does have his own moments of brilliance. Rushing around the countryside following even the tiniest clue, undaunted by the lack of faith on the part of his boss, Chief Constable Major Forest, who wants to call in Scotland Yard, Meredith is like a dog with a bone. He just won’t give it up! Slowly and painstakingly, he unravels the case to a totally unexpected end. A great read for all lovers of detective fiction.
February 22, 2015
This is a re-launch of a book originally published in the 1930s. Right from the introduction I was drawn into this book. It is a real whodunnit, set within a very real geographical setting. I like the fact that there is a map to help put the places into context.
The questions come thick and fast. Why has John Rother disappeared? Why has his car used so much petrol? How did the bones get in to the lime bags? Very soon Inspector Meredith seems to think that William Rother may be involved. Certainly this is where the early 'evidence' seems to point.
There are sections written in the local rural dialect, these can be hard to read at first. However they add to the sense of reality and also contain a lot of humour in places.
It is refreshing to read a murder mystery which is based in an era before modern forensic methods such as the use of DNA. There are plenty of subtle twists in the Meredith is thinking regarding who is guilty. Soon the 'Cloaked man' enters the equation, perpetrator or accomplice? As does Janet, wife of William.
Then the mystery of the type-written letter and confession. The conclusion is well worth waiting for. There are more twists and turns than one finds in Hampton Court maze. This is a beautifully crafted crime mystery.
I received this book via NetGalley and Poison Pen Press and offer this review as a thank you. I will certainly make time to read other John Bude novels in the future.
The questions come thick and fast. Why has John Rother disappeared? Why has his car used so much petrol? How did the bones get in to the lime bags? Very soon Inspector Meredith seems to think that William Rother may be involved. Certainly this is where the early 'evidence' seems to point.
There are sections written in the local rural dialect, these can be hard to read at first. However they add to the sense of reality and also contain a lot of humour in places.
It is refreshing to read a murder mystery which is based in an era before modern forensic methods such as the use of DNA. There are plenty of subtle twists in the Meredith is thinking regarding who is guilty. Soon the 'Cloaked man' enters the equation, perpetrator or accomplice? As does Janet, wife of William.
Then the mystery of the type-written letter and confession. The conclusion is well worth waiting for. There are more twists and turns than one finds in Hampton Court maze. This is a beautifully crafted crime mystery.
I received this book via NetGalley and Poison Pen Press and offer this review as a thank you. I will certainly make time to read other John Bude novels in the future.
August 24, 2015
Part of a series of mysteries written in the golden age of British crime fiction. The book centers around a pair of brothers. It appears they are involved in a love triangle with John having an affair with William's wife. When John turns up dead William is the logical suspect. However, shortly thereafter William also turns up dead of an apparent suicide. This unleashes a series of twists and turns that lead to a very satisfying conclusion. Detective Meredith must unravel layer after layer which he does in a methodical way. Old style who dunnit (perhaps a bit slow for some) but I liked it.
April 7, 2015
Although the story does dance around on one spot this seems justifiable in the way the crimes (and clues) unfold. This is probably a better image of real police investigation that a linear plot.
The stereotyping of one character (sign of the times?) became rather irritating, the son is utterly unbelievable, and don't let's mention the local accents...! These things really spoilt this book for me. And I'm not a fan of the detailed explanation at the end of detective stories, I always feel they make us readers look a bit foolish, but I know they are part of the style in those days.
The stereotyping of one character (sign of the times?) became rather irritating, the son is utterly unbelievable, and don't let's mention the local accents...! These things really spoilt this book for me. And I'm not a fan of the detailed explanation at the end of detective stories, I always feel they make us readers look a bit foolish, but I know they are part of the style in those days.
May 5, 2015
Set in Sussex Downs in the 1930 and being released as a Classic British mystery. Fragments of human bones begain appearing in lime deposits. As the police investigates the story keeps changing holding the reader's attention. I found it hard to put down even though I was sure I knew the answer.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Poisoned Pen Press through Netgalley for an honest review. I would to thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Poisoned Pen Press through Netgalley for an honest review. I would to thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions are my own.
September 11, 2024
This is one of the British Library Crime Classics series originally published in 1936. It must be read in this context. There was no DNA testing, and mobile telephones and GPS were unknown. The police service had few resources such as any crime scene technicians and much was left to the intuition of the detectives. Superintendent Meridith seems a slow and ponderous character who is keen to get home to his high tea and not start investigating what seem like obvious lines of inquiry, such as what the victim of the first offence got up to in his free time before the murder. Just straightforward things that appear obvious to readers of more modern whodunit. Nevertheless, I find these types of older books enjoyable for their simplicity.
Quick easy reading, especially as this area of the Sussex Downs, now protected in the South Downs National Park, is close to home. Good enough for 3 stars.
Quick easy reading, especially as this area of the Sussex Downs, now protected in the South Downs National Park, is close to home. Good enough for 3 stars.
June 22, 2022
Shortly after John Rother goes to leave on vacation, his car if found in a strange location there is blood on the scene... soon after other events come to light and murder is declared! And you're off...
My first read of John Bude and while written in 1936 it felt as fresh as it was written today. The descriptions and portrayal of the various characters where quite humorous. The murder investigated was very interesting and while I figured out a hitch earlier on it did not diminish the story nor watching to see if proof could be found. Even one of the elements of John's murder had an interesting twist involving “evidence” at the end. If the day to day talk of various mechanical means weren’t talked about one could almost confuse it for a contemporary story.
Inspector Meredith is an enjoyable man to follow in his investigations. He isn’t perfect or sees deeper into man’s inner works – but he is persistent and able to accept that his interpretations were wrong when new evidence refutes it. It is in going to listen to each bit of information that comes to him that leads him to the answer. There is even a “mystery” author in the book who was a friend of one of the men murdered; and Meredith gives him a talking to about how to write better mystery stories (like the one we’re reading.) Overall would love to find more books by this author. (Just found I have another one yes.)
My first read of John Bude and while written in 1936 it felt as fresh as it was written today. The descriptions and portrayal of the various characters where quite humorous. The murder investigated was very interesting and while I figured out a hitch earlier on it did not diminish the story nor watching to see if proof could be found. Even one of the elements of John's murder had an interesting twist involving “evidence” at the end. If the day to day talk of various mechanical means weren’t talked about one could almost confuse it for a contemporary story.
Inspector Meredith is an enjoyable man to follow in his investigations. He isn’t perfect or sees deeper into man’s inner works – but he is persistent and able to accept that his interpretations were wrong when new evidence refutes it. It is in going to listen to each bit of information that comes to him that leads him to the answer. There is even a “mystery” author in the book who was a friend of one of the men murdered; and Meredith gives him a talking to about how to write better mystery stories (like the one we’re reading.) Overall would love to find more books by this author. (Just found I have another one yes.)
June 7, 2023
I liked this a bit better than The Lake District Murder, more on a par with his first book, The Cornish Coast Murder. The suspects are more finely drawn and the clues and the crime aren't as complicated; it's more like an Agatha Christie and less like a complex puzzle, with perhaps a bit more character and emotional heft than the previous book. There's a puzzle, to be sure, but we see more of Meredith's personal life and interactions with his colleagues, and I felt like I had more invested in solving this one. As always, he's very skilled at depicting the setting - although nothing can match the wild, rainy, windswept Cornish coast in the first book.
July 8, 2023
Based on a real murder, this plot is more cunning than a weasel with twists and turns, and an interesting detective. The woman in the case is personality free - a bit more character would have benefitted the book no end. Everything is wrapped up very quickly and neatly at the end, just a little bit too quickly to be truly satisfying, but an entertaining read. The location and semi-industrial use of the landscape gives a window on a lost world.
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