The Case of Naomi Clynes

Inspector Richardson #3

by Basil Thomson

"The late Miss Clynes, sir? How dreadful. It must have been very sudden." "It was."Naomi Clynes was found dead, her head in the gas-oven. She left a suicide note, but Richardson, newly promoted to the rank of Inspector in the C.I.D., soon has cause to think this is a case of murder. With scarcely a clue beyond a postmark and a postage stamp, treasured by the deceased, he succeeds in bringing home the crime to a person whom no one would have suspected.The Case of Naomi Clynes was originally published in 1934. This new edition, the first in many decades, features an introduction by crime novelist Martin Edwards, author of acclaimed genre history The Golden Age of Murder."Sir Basil Thomson is a past-master in the mysteries of Scotland Yard, and this novel is a highly capable piece of work…A brisk story, skilfully told." Times Literary Supplement"A first-class thriller. Written with lively vigour and a realism that can only come from an author who knows his subject, it can be wholeheartedly recommended as the best detective story of the week." Sunday Referee

Genres: Mystery, British Literature, Fiction, Crime, Classics, Mystery Thriller

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1934

About the author

Sir Basil Home Thomson, KCB (21 April 1861 – 26 March 1939) was a British intelligence officer, police officer, prison governor, colonial administrator, and writer.

abridged from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Zain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Yes! “The Golden Age!”

For the third book in this series, Inspector Richardson has received another promotion. And just in time to take on another case.

Naomi Clynes is a private woman who is determined to be a writer of mystery-thrillers, but she never suspects that she will be playing her own part in a real-life mystery.

When she is discovered murdered by her char-woman, no one can understand who would want to kill her.

Basil Thomson brings us another episode of his hard-working and brilliant detective, Inspector Richardson, who l have just noticed is a strong anti-Semite. And not just him. Everyone in the story is. And these are the good guys.

And then there is a multi-millionaire American character, who talks about how God’s country is being overrun by immigrants from Ireland, Italy, Germany and a few other European countries. And how they are the only ones committing crime in America.

Can’t wait for the return to the good old days.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Obviously very dated writing style but a good and unusual plot.

Just re-read after a few years and enjoyed it again.

[Thắng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Among the detective stories I have been asked to evaluate, this is the most easy to read. The author did not use old and odd phrases, obstruct words, which were common for this category of the Golden Age. Instead, I can easily flow through the pages since there was little, even no obstacle at all to track out the details and follow the main plot.
The case, on the other hand, was easy to solve. I can tell exactly who the culprit was (and even how he met his well deserve punishment). Most of my other guesses were proved to be true, as in the results that were retrieved by the way the inspector conducted his investigation.
It was hard for me to find out the standout point of this case when compared with the others that I have read. The case was common, had a low number of suspects, and was not hard at all to guess the culprit, the motive, and most of the related details. It was even an unfinish, incompleted feeling for me that the conclusion did not mention at all what have become of the couple that was thought to be the main suspect in the first place. I am curious about the fate, even though I know that perhaps their life just continued to be the way it was. It was a little disappointment, since I know the author was a member of the official force and served for a long time, therefore he had access to a good deal of materials to construct a good and complex case.

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A private woman is found dead in her home above a shop. The incident seems to be a suicide — the woman was found with her head in her oven and the gas on — but Inspector Richardson of Scotland Yard has some suspicions, including a suicide note inexpertly typed when the woman was an experienced typist and budding author. But who would want to kill the woman?

As he investigates, Richardson is ever more convinced that it is a case of murder and yet, who would wish to kill the woman? With few clues, the detective dives deeper to find the cause of her death and just who murdered her.

Basil Thomson has continued to showcase the intelligence and quick-thinking of his main character in the third of Richardson series originally published in 1934. The story is quite intricate, leading police across England and even into France before all becomes clear. In addition, the characters are a lot of fun and the writing is very good. All in all, a good, quick read.

[Vani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the fact that it was published in 1934, the book feels surprisingly fresh and modern in its approach towards crime solving. A likable protagonist, Inspector Richardson is thorough in his investigation and dedicated to his job. The story's pacing is quick and not a scene or conversation is unnecessary or wasted on matters not related to the investigation or people indirectly involved in the story. With all the hallmark features of a classic whodunnit, The Case of Naomi Clynes can be summarised as a tightly-plotted tale that moves quickly, leaves no stones unturned, and arrives at its conclusion with all the loose ends tied up nicely.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richardson solves another quite complex case. A woman is killed in her apartment. She worked for a Jewish aide group. Her fiance was killed in WW I. The case is complicated and requires Richardson to go to France and gather information from Germany as well. There is a great deal more to this case than originally expected, but he follows the clues until the end.

Given that the books were written in the 1930s, a comment by someone just returning from Germany to England about all the people who were cheering their new leader by 'pointing at the sky' did amuse me. However, several unpleasant comments are made about Jews in the book which made me cringe. Just so you know...

[Bicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery slightly spoilt by the fact that the fast rising Inspector Richardson brings in his friend and his uncle (literally) to help solve the crime. What is interesting is the extreme level of evidentiary burden the Director of Public Prosecution is shown as requiring to bring a case to trial. Basil Thomson was, among other things, a high ranking police officer and he must have experienced this. This novel, first published in 1934, has a plot unimaginable in 2019 and by that I am not making a reference to any obvious ism. Probably, Basil Thomson’s best novel.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3

A solid entry in this series. A very good procedural story that clearly showed police work being a team effort.
Unusually it features a diversion to France for the final third of the novel.
As other reviewers have said the ending is quite sudden and it is I think it shows the interests of the author - investigation very detailed, prosecution no interest at call.
Despite the ending would recommend highly.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This kept me interested through the whole book and I agree that the author really seems to know his stuff when it comes to the workings of Scotland Yard. However, I just had to knock it down 1 star for how yucky the obvious antisemitism made me feel. Also anti-immigrant. After reading it I was surprised Martin Edwards didn't mention it in the introduction. I don't remember this being an issue in the two previous titles I read.

[Heatherinblack · Rating 3 out of 5]

not so fast...

The crime resolution, the catching the bad guy, was abrupt and sudden and then the book ended. There was SO much sleuthing! To then have the reveal be the second to last page, was disappointing. As though the author ran out of ideas or sleuthed himself into a corner. Still like the main character.

[Miss J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad....

Not bad read. I really liked the way the story moved along at a good speed and had you thinking that you knew who the murder was....until.....well let's just say 'well i never!'.

Was slightly disappointed at how right at the end felt rushed, but still bought the next book because I do like a good bit of classic crime!

[P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent read from Thomson. The plot is very well set up, so you don't begin to get suspicious until you need to. Richardson is a first rate investigator, there are no rabbits-out-of-hats, just clever sleuthing.

[Leila Mota · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could repeat everything I wrote about the first two books that follow the (now) inspector Malcolm Richardson of Scotland Yard. It's an interesting character, an intriguing plot, and a good writer. This combination is set to catch any reader that likes detective stories.

[Cybercrone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book with no e-book listed, though it's what I read.

WARNING!
Quite a lot of casual racism, bigotry and prejudice as was common at the time it was written.

Other than that, a good story. Sound plot, good characters, police methodology in both England and France well laid out.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy these books written in the early 1900's.

[Verity W · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in this series and I went straight on to it from book 2. I like the mystery - and the solution was one I really didn't see coming. I'm looking forward to book 4.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this police procedural. This series is about working through the crimes, which I have really been enjoying. The author knows his topic, since he worked in this field.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Turns out I don't like police procedurals even when they were written in the 1930s. I enjoyed the mystery, but there's just so much faffing around when explaining the procedure.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Good Story,
I do enjoy "Golden Age" murder mysteries. I have been a fan of Agatha Christie since my teens, so I was delighted to discover E. R. Punshon and Basil Thomon on Amazon Kindle. Thomson, of course, had actual experience of working at Scotland Yard to draw on.and his 'Inspector Richardson' novels are studies in police procedurals. Thomson is a natural writer and it shows in this book, which flows effortlessly and reads easily without any jarring to interrupt the reading pleasure. In this book, we have a seemingly motiveless murder, but suspicion is soon focused on one man, but as with every murder mystery, we need to have more than just one suspect. After painstaking work finding clues and tracking down every lead, Richardson follows one of his famous "hunches" and turns up an astonishing aspect to the case. With his quirky characterisations, for example, the very rich American and his Canadian nephew, Thomson has written a story that has both humour and pathos. The ending is rather melodramatic in part but I recommend this book to all those who enjoy good, clean, "old-school" murder mysteries.
Warning: in the first couple of chapters there are some casual anti-Semitic comments that may upset some readers, but they are very few, and while distasteful to us today, it actually reflects the world view of the time.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The steady improvement in narration of police procedure continues in this, the third in the series. The deduction process is driving the narrative with support from the emerging science of evidence gathering. The excitement and engagement of our key detectives as technologies and forensic science begin to merge with carefully designed police and legal procedures engages the reader (this one, at least!). This is heightened in this volume by the introduction of a US benefactor who continuously contrasts practices in the US and UK.

The puzzle at the heart of the crime had enough complexity and twists to keep me interested. The ending however, was a bit neat, tidy and convenient.

It is interesting to contrast the tight and legally-oriented police procedures of the time with the lax and risky adoption and custody processes on display.

I will finish reading this series. It is adding considerably to my interest in the emergence of the genre of detective fiction.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

"On this postage-stamp may hang the solution of this murder. After all, smaller things than this have brought men to the gallows." Again, attention to detail and careful amassing of evidence prove to be Richardson's strengths.

Two years on from the previous case and Richardson is now an Inspector.

This has an interesting plot developing from the finding of a young woman ostensibly dead from gas poisoning.

Readers need to be aware that anti-Semitism and racial stereotyping of Jewish people are present in the first few chapters of the book.

3.5 stars.

[C3wach · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Inspector Richardson series is pleasant to read and absorbing enough to keep my interest. I always get interested in the characters and want to see what happened. There's little about their personal lives though, so it's not one where the characters become dear. Mostly it's the events and plodding through the leg work.

[Estott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third in the Inspector Richardson series & this is a noticeable step forward. The author pulls a good twist or two and Richardson himself gains a little more character as an individual, though not much.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again an interesting mystery, with a sudden but well-considered change of direction.. and the dialogue is most spiffy as always

[Melissainau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much a novel of its time, this has an interesting story obscured by some odd racial stereotyping, reflecting the attitudes of the 1930s. It makes for slightly uncomfortable reading now.

[gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good ! ! Couldnt put it down ! !!

I really like Richardson , and all the others too. This is quite a bit better than the first. Book.

[Andrea]

Intriguing story in its solution. These are very much focused on finding sufficient evidence for a proper trial.

Content warning: Semitic stereotypes.