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Chief Inspector Littlejohn #49
The Night They Killed Joss Varran
“One of the subtlest and wittiest practitioners of the simon-pure British detective story” New York Times
On the Night that Joss Varran was expected home after a visit to Wormwood Scrubs, his body was found in a ditch right opposite the cottage where he lived with his sister in the silent marshes in the north of the Isle of Man. Chief Superintendent Littlejohn, of Scotland Yard, soon becomes involved in the case as a result of Varran’s recent imprisonment in a London jail.
Joss Varran had been a sailor on a container ship between Ramsey and Preston and somewhere in his voyages had been caught up in events which had made him a hunted man, not so much by the police as by his partners in crime. From all appearances, he had endeavoured to shake them off by getting himself imprisoned!
His efforts, however, were in vain and his murder presents a confusing case in the Manx curraghs for Inspector Knell, of the Manx police, and his friends Littlejohn and the Venerable Caesar Kinrade, Archdeacon of Man.
On the Night that Joss Varran was expected home after a visit to Wormwood Scrubs, his body was found in a ditch right opposite the cottage where he lived with his sister in the silent marshes in the north of the Isle of Man. Chief Superintendent Littlejohn, of Scotland Yard, soon becomes involved in the case as a result of Varran’s recent imprisonment in a London jail.
Joss Varran had been a sailor on a container ship between Ramsey and Preston and somewhere in his voyages had been caught up in events which had made him a hunted man, not so much by the police as by his partners in crime. From all appearances, he had endeavoured to shake them off by getting himself imprisoned!
His efforts, however, were in vain and his murder presents a confusing case in the Manx curraghs for Inspector Knell, of the Manx police, and his friends Littlejohn and the Venerable Caesar Kinrade, Archdeacon of Man.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 1971
123 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
George Bellairs
73 books100 followersAKA Hilary Landon
George Bellairs is the nom de plume of Harold Blundell, a crime writer and bank manager born in Heywood, near Rochdale, Lancashire, who settled in the Isle of Man on retirement. He wrote more than 50 books, most featuring the series' detective Inspector Littlejohn. He also wrote four novels under the alternative pseudonym Hilary Landon.
George Bellairs is the nom de plume of Harold Blundell, a crime writer and bank manager born in Heywood, near Rochdale, Lancashire, who settled in the Isle of Man on retirement. He wrote more than 50 books, most featuring the series' detective Inspector Littlejohn. He also wrote four novels under the alternative pseudonym Hilary Landon.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 30, 2020
Set on the Isle of Man in 1970 Joss was not a nice person in fact he was lady's man who runs marriages so when turns up murdered no one has good word for him.
In last 50ys parts of the Isle of Man haven't changed use still have the Irish influence with the names, old broken crofts and beautiful hills.
Littlejohn here is not perhaps as interesting as in his other books, but this much later book. This not copy I read this Large Print library book, mine was new copy.
In last 50ys parts of the Isle of Man haven't changed use still have the Irish influence with the names, old broken crofts and beautiful hills.
Littlejohn here is not perhaps as interesting as in his other books, but this much later book. This not copy I read this Large Print library book, mine was new copy.
January 28, 2020
The eponymous Joss was the ne’er-do-well second-youngest child of a poor family that immigrated from County Cork to the Isle of Man. A deckhand on a container vessel plying between Ramsey, Isle of Man, and Preston in Lancashire, Joss spends a year in an English jail, but is killed the very night he’s released and returns to his sister’s isolated cottage. Why bother killing Joss Varran?
Chief Inspector Thomas Littlejohn and his trusty Sergeant Robert Cromwell investigate family, neighbors and acquaintances of the dishonest Joss on their way to figuring out why Joss Varran had to die. A pleasant read for anyone seeking a cozy mystery.
Chief Inspector Thomas Littlejohn and his trusty Sergeant Robert Cromwell investigate family, neighbors and acquaintances of the dishonest Joss on their way to figuring out why Joss Varran had to die. A pleasant read for anyone seeking a cozy mystery.
May 24, 2018
This is one of Bellairs "Littlejohn" novels set in another great Manx Isle location. As I'm reading in the order that Bellairs wrote these books, I find they just get better and better. Sadly there are not many more and most of them not in my budget, so unless I can find them in the library, this may very well be my last one.
Well, it's a good one to go out on and I can highly recommend it to those Golden Era mystery readers around.
Well, it's a good one to go out on and I can highly recommend it to those Golden Era mystery readers around.
August 12, 2018
A fairly straightforward later Bellairs, set mainly in the curraghs of the Isle of Man, and the last of the series to be set there. Archdeacon Kinrade, Inspector Knell and Superintendent Littlejohn are all here, but no Cromwell or Mrs. Littlejohn.
The murder of Joss Varran has its roots in past crime, as is often the case in this series. The writing is quite simple and clear, the plot less convoluted than in some works, and there is little of the descriptive colour and caricature which are a distinguishing feature of many of the earlier books. It was interesting enough, but not outstanding.
3.5 stars.
The murder of Joss Varran has its roots in past crime, as is often the case in this series. The writing is quite simple and clear, the plot less convoluted than in some works, and there is little of the descriptive colour and caricature which are a distinguishing feature of many of the earlier books. It was interesting enough, but not outstanding.
3.5 stars.
July 9, 2020
Such a talent and so why is he not more in demand, George Bellairs and another of his page turning, twists littered and humorous books from the Littlejohn series. The only thing missing from the book is Cromwell, but Inspector Kneel and the Arch Deacon are both active along with some great characters that will make you laugh and whinge.
This helping of Littlejohn is served the recently released from jail (gaol) Joss Varran but he is dead in the first few pages so we have to settle for the crazy family left behind and some equally entertaining neighbours but don't worry they will make up for Joss the Lady Killer, well probably the wrong term on this occasion. A Handy brother inlaw and a watch tower but no JW's that I'm aware of will keep you gripped to the end in this gentle stroll in to the past of the English Bobby or is that the IOM Bobby and the man from the Yard. If that's your kind of book then you are in for a real treat.
This helping of Littlejohn is served the recently released from jail (gaol) Joss Varran but he is dead in the first few pages so we have to settle for the crazy family left behind and some equally entertaining neighbours but don't worry they will make up for Joss the Lady Killer, well probably the wrong term on this occasion. A Handy brother inlaw and a watch tower but no JW's that I'm aware of will keep you gripped to the end in this gentle stroll in to the past of the English Bobby or is that the IOM Bobby and the man from the Yard. If that's your kind of book then you are in for a real treat.
May 6, 2018
I've been reading all of these books with Inspector Littlejohn in them. I've enjoyed each one as much as the last. There isn't a bad one in the lot of them. I usually always figure out who the murderer is long before the end. Not so with these books. I'm always surprised at who they really are. But truthfully, I did figure out a few. Gosh tho there's at least 53 books with Littlejohn as the main character so I've learned how he finds his killers!! I'm sure if this is the type of book you read you'll love each of them. One thing that's a bit irritating is I can't read all the books there are! I've been trying to find the ones I haven't read. It doesn't look good, I may try the library for them. I'm checking out good reads first, & it looks like I might have found a few. Hope you enjoy these books as much as I have. This is the last book in the kindle stores, & I'm not giving up on the hunt for more.
-----Yours truly, Gail Gassen
-----Yours truly, Gail Gassen
October 27, 2025
Littlejohn helps solve another murder on the Isle of Man.
No one knows much about the Varrans, but everyone agrees they're strange folks. Years ago, Joss Varran's parents showed up and "sqatted" in a derelict house in the harsh, marshy section of the north island known as the Curraghs. The owners tried to remove them, but they had two small children and another on the way. They were allowed to stay, paying a small rent, and Josh Varran eventually bought the place.
He lives there with his older sister Isabelle. He drinks and chases women full-time, but works on a cargo ship when he must. While ashore in London, he got into a fight which resulted in him being sent to prison for a year. Now Isabelle is waiting for his return, but (no surprise) he's late. She figures he's stopping at every pub he passes, but goes out to the road to look for him.
She sees his dead body lying in the ditch and runs to the nearest farmhouse. Relations between the Varrans and the Candells have not been pleasant. The Candells are willing to forget the past (i. e. losing their property to the Varrans) but Josh and Isabelle aren't sociable people. He's despised as a lay-about and she's considered "wanting."
Still, the Candells take her in and get the police. Local CID Inspector Knell asks Scotland Yard for information about Josh Varran's movements in London and Chief Superintendent Littlejohn brings the file over. Naturally, he's happy to stay and advise. His old friend the Venerable Archdeacon Caesar Kinrade is thrilled to be involved in the investigation. The gentle, kindly old man likes nothing better than a good murder investigtion
Mrs Candell worries one of her sons will be blamed for the death. He recently had a fight with Josh Varran over Varran's treatment of his sister Beulah. Beulah isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but she's a looker with a lush body and cuts quite a figure in the fancy clothes her doting grandfather buys for her. Varran gave her a tumble and then dumped her. She's over him, but her brother was resentful. To Mrs Candell it's absurd to suspect her son of murder, but she knows a murder investigation makes a wide sweep.
A visit to Josh Varran's shipmates yields little information beyond their suspicion that he was TRYING to get arrested. Sounds crazy, but if someone is after you, prison might be the safest place. When he's released he comes back to the Island, although he dislikes his sister's company. Beulah Candell's nosy old grandfather claims someone was digging in the marshland behind the house on the night of Josh's murder. Did he come home to hide something?
The investigation into how Josh spent his time before he went to prison leads the police to an old manor house rented by a retired "colonel" (almost certainly a fake) and his young, good-looking, well-bred wife-mistress-daughter-niece (take your pick.) Their handyman has been inside for burglary and is known as a reasonably proficient safe cracker. They claim to know nothing about Josh Varran, but Littlejohn and Knell suspect they're lying.
Once they've identified the colonel and his female companion, it's just a matter of figuring out what they stole and how Varran was involved. Did Josh Varran (greedy and with little common sense) try to keep more than his share of the loot? There may be honor among some thieves, but this bunch will slit each other's throats for tuppence.
Bellairs' love of the Isle of Man makes this a special book. The remote areas are still primitive and life is rooted in the past. The tradition of burying valuables in the marshes lives on. The families have intermarried and trust few outsiders.
It's not an easy place to conduct a murder investigation and the Archdeacon Kinrade's help is invaluable. He's known and trusted and can even get past the defenses of shy Isabelle Varran. It's easy to see why most people don't see Josh Varran's death as a great loss. Isabelle knows Josh cares only about himself, but as the oldest child her sense of responsibility is ingrained.
Happily, his death is a positive for her, enabling her to spend her money on herself and her house and be a more sociable person. It's great joy to see this woman who has endured so much trouble finally coming into her own.
Sadly, this is the last Bellairs mystery I'll be reading. Two more are available in Kindle, but over-priced. Bellairs' first two mysteries and a dozen written in the 1970's and 1980's are not on Kindle. I feel lucky to have lived long enough to enjoy the benefits of e-publishing, which made many of Bellairs' books available to me.
I'm going on to other Golden Age mystery writers, but I doubt I'll find one I like more than this author. His use of setting is unmatched and the characters he created are fascinating and varied. I hope more old mystery lovers find out about him. He was too good to be forgotten.
No one knows much about the Varrans, but everyone agrees they're strange folks. Years ago, Joss Varran's parents showed up and "sqatted" in a derelict house in the harsh, marshy section of the north island known as the Curraghs. The owners tried to remove them, but they had two small children and another on the way. They were allowed to stay, paying a small rent, and Josh Varran eventually bought the place.
He lives there with his older sister Isabelle. He drinks and chases women full-time, but works on a cargo ship when he must. While ashore in London, he got into a fight which resulted in him being sent to prison for a year. Now Isabelle is waiting for his return, but (no surprise) he's late. She figures he's stopping at every pub he passes, but goes out to the road to look for him.
She sees his dead body lying in the ditch and runs to the nearest farmhouse. Relations between the Varrans and the Candells have not been pleasant. The Candells are willing to forget the past (i. e. losing their property to the Varrans) but Josh and Isabelle aren't sociable people. He's despised as a lay-about and she's considered "wanting."
Still, the Candells take her in and get the police. Local CID Inspector Knell asks Scotland Yard for information about Josh Varran's movements in London and Chief Superintendent Littlejohn brings the file over. Naturally, he's happy to stay and advise. His old friend the Venerable Archdeacon Caesar Kinrade is thrilled to be involved in the investigation. The gentle, kindly old man likes nothing better than a good murder investigtion
Mrs Candell worries one of her sons will be blamed for the death. He recently had a fight with Josh Varran over Varran's treatment of his sister Beulah. Beulah isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but she's a looker with a lush body and cuts quite a figure in the fancy clothes her doting grandfather buys for her. Varran gave her a tumble and then dumped her. She's over him, but her brother was resentful. To Mrs Candell it's absurd to suspect her son of murder, but she knows a murder investigation makes a wide sweep.
A visit to Josh Varran's shipmates yields little information beyond their suspicion that he was TRYING to get arrested. Sounds crazy, but if someone is after you, prison might be the safest place. When he's released he comes back to the Island, although he dislikes his sister's company. Beulah Candell's nosy old grandfather claims someone was digging in the marshland behind the house on the night of Josh's murder. Did he come home to hide something?
The investigation into how Josh spent his time before he went to prison leads the police to an old manor house rented by a retired "colonel" (almost certainly a fake) and his young, good-looking, well-bred wife-mistress-daughter-niece (take your pick.) Their handyman has been inside for burglary and is known as a reasonably proficient safe cracker. They claim to know nothing about Josh Varran, but Littlejohn and Knell suspect they're lying.
Once they've identified the colonel and his female companion, it's just a matter of figuring out what they stole and how Varran was involved. Did Josh Varran (greedy and with little common sense) try to keep more than his share of the loot? There may be honor among some thieves, but this bunch will slit each other's throats for tuppence.
Bellairs' love of the Isle of Man makes this a special book. The remote areas are still primitive and life is rooted in the past. The tradition of burying valuables in the marshes lives on. The families have intermarried and trust few outsiders.
It's not an easy place to conduct a murder investigation and the Archdeacon Kinrade's help is invaluable. He's known and trusted and can even get past the defenses of shy Isabelle Varran. It's easy to see why most people don't see Josh Varran's death as a great loss. Isabelle knows Josh cares only about himself, but as the oldest child her sense of responsibility is ingrained.
Happily, his death is a positive for her, enabling her to spend her money on herself and her house and be a more sociable person. It's great joy to see this woman who has endured so much trouble finally coming into her own.
Sadly, this is the last Bellairs mystery I'll be reading. Two more are available in Kindle, but over-priced. Bellairs' first two mysteries and a dozen written in the 1970's and 1980's are not on Kindle. I feel lucky to have lived long enough to enjoy the benefits of e-publishing, which made many of Bellairs' books available to me.
I'm going on to other Golden Age mystery writers, but I doubt I'll find one I like more than this author. His use of setting is unmatched and the characters he created are fascinating and varied. I hope more old mystery lovers find out about him. He was too good to be forgotten.
Read
March 11, 2020This is my second Inspector Littlejohn mystery this year. Sometimes I gobble up a certain author like candy, and since my mother gave me several George Bellairs, it was his turn.
This mystery takes place on the Isle of Man, which I erroneously called the Isle of White in a different review. I'll go back and change that. The usual cast of characters are there - Venerable Caesar Kinrade, Archdeacon of Man, Inspector Knell of the Manx police, and Kinrade's protective housekeeper, Maggie Keggin. It felt like visiting with family.
This mystery had some good twists and plenty of suspects. I love the atmosphere and the way the locals slip into Manx, the local dialect. The Isle of Man is a laid-back place that moves at its own pace, and I find myself slowing down and relaxing when I enjoy this series.
One note about the Littlejohn series: They tend to end abruptly, so don't be surprised to find you're on the last page. :)
This mystery takes place on the Isle of Man, which I erroneously called the Isle of White in a different review. I'll go back and change that. The usual cast of characters are there - Venerable Caesar Kinrade, Archdeacon of Man, Inspector Knell of the Manx police, and Kinrade's protective housekeeper, Maggie Keggin. It felt like visiting with family.
This mystery had some good twists and plenty of suspects. I love the atmosphere and the way the locals slip into Manx, the local dialect. The Isle of Man is a laid-back place that moves at its own pace, and I find myself slowing down and relaxing when I enjoy this series.
One note about the Littlejohn series: They tend to end abruptly, so don't be surprised to find you're on the last page. :)
December 9, 2018
Another Great By George Bellairs
This is another great British crime and mystery by George Bellairs which I enjoyed greatly. As many the story unfolds on the Isle of Man and involves many of the innocent long lived residents as well as guilty. I am not sure where this book falls in his long line of writing about Inspector Littlejohn and his career. You will know the basic crime at the beginning but who were all the players and why is what you keeps you reading. No spoilers. I hope you will like another one of Bellairs books as I have.
This is another great British crime and mystery by George Bellairs which I enjoyed greatly. As many the story unfolds on the Isle of Man and involves many of the innocent long lived residents as well as guilty. I am not sure where this book falls in his long line of writing about Inspector Littlejohn and his career. You will know the basic crime at the beginning but who were all the players and why is what you keeps you reading. No spoilers. I hope you will like another one of Bellairs books as I have.
April 15, 2020
Not One of Bellairs Best Efforts
I have read quite a few of George Bellaires mysteries and liked them all--except this one. The setting is the Isle of Man and that's good. But the book reads as if an outline was written for the plot and then the details filled in without much imagination. That makes for tedious reading and I almost gave up halfway through the book, but I preserved. I can't say that I'd recommend this book. If I hadn't read other excellent books by Bellaires, I won t read another.
I have read quite a few of George Bellaires mysteries and liked them all--except this one. The setting is the Isle of Man and that's good. But the book reads as if an outline was written for the plot and then the details filled in without much imagination. That makes for tedious reading and I almost gave up halfway through the book, but I preserved. I can't say that I'd recommend this book. If I hadn't read other excellent books by Bellaires, I won t read another.
May 13, 2019
Excellent
Another excellent book by George Bellairs, this novel is about the murder of Joss Varran who had been recently released from prison in London and in his return to the Isle of Man was murdered. Chief Inspector Littlejohn is in the Isle of Man and assists with the case and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Another excellent book by George Bellairs, this novel is about the murder of Joss Varran who had been recently released from prison in London and in his return to the Isle of Man was murdered. Chief Inspector Littlejohn is in the Isle of Man and assists with the case and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
March 19, 2020
The night they killed joss varran
This is an engaging mystery. There are delightful local features about the land and the bogs on Man. The characters are frequently a bit strange and their descriptions are often harsh and cruel. The motives and deeds do have a rather basic humanity about them. The people who killed joss varran did it for standard motives.
This is an engaging mystery. There are delightful local features about the land and the bogs on Man. The characters are frequently a bit strange and their descriptions are often harsh and cruel. The motives and deeds do have a rather basic humanity about them. The people who killed joss varran did it for standard motives.
June 27, 2020
A good one
In an excellent series. I enjoy these. Not for you of you want suspense, fights, violence etc. Fine if you like a quiet friendly murder and some ‘clever?’ solving of it. This is what I like. Nice people, you’d like to meet them and chat, talk about the Isle of Man or France....
In an excellent series. I enjoy these. Not for you of you want suspense, fights, violence etc. Fine if you like a quiet friendly murder and some ‘clever?’ solving of it. This is what I like. Nice people, you’d like to meet them and chat, talk about the Isle of Man or France....
December 26, 2018
Kindle Unlimited | Repeated things too often
April 26, 2020
Solid Bellairs
Back on the Isle of Man Bellairs spends a lot of time on local color which makes for a pleasant read.
Back on the Isle of Man Bellairs spends a lot of time on local color which makes for a pleasant read.
August 1, 2020
I didn't like this as much as the previous Isle of Man stories, but it's not bad. It's also much later in the series which maybe makes a difference.
March 2, 2022
Very good.
March 7, 2018
Three and a half stars.
Another story set in The Isle of Man with all the usual cohorts. While an easy and entertaining read it lacked the touches of wit that I really enjoyed in his earlier books. As always there is plenty of accurate topographical detail about the island and atmospheric descriptions of the locations and characters.
Not bad but nothing special.
Another story set in The Isle of Man with all the usual cohorts. While an easy and entertaining read it lacked the touches of wit that I really enjoyed in his earlier books. As always there is plenty of accurate topographical detail about the island and atmospheric descriptions of the locations and characters.
Not bad but nothing special.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews