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Mr. Bowling Buys a Newspaper
In Raymond Chandler’s favourite novel, Mr Bowling buys the newspapers only to find out what the latest is on the murders he's just committed…
Mr Bowling is getting away with murder. On each occasion he buys a newspaper to see whether anyone suspects him. But there is a war on, and the clues he leaves are going unnoticed. Which is a shame, because Mr Bowling is not a conventional serial killer: he wants to get caught so that his torment can end. How many more newspapers must he buy before the police finally catch up with him?
Donald Henderson was an actor and playwright who had also written novels as D. H. Landels, but with little success. While working for the BBC in London during the Second World War, his fortunes finally changed with Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper, a darkly satirical portrayal of a murderer that was to be promoted enthusiastically by Raymond Chandler as his favourite detective novel. But even the author of The Big Sleep could not save it from oblivion: it has remained out of print for more than 60 years.
This Detective Club classic is introduced by award-winning novelist Martin Edwards, author of The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books, who reveals new information about Henderson’s often troubled life and writing career.
Mr Bowling is getting away with murder. On each occasion he buys a newspaper to see whether anyone suspects him. But there is a war on, and the clues he leaves are going unnoticed. Which is a shame, because Mr Bowling is not a conventional serial killer: he wants to get caught so that his torment can end. How many more newspapers must he buy before the police finally catch up with him?
Donald Henderson was an actor and playwright who had also written novels as D. H. Landels, but with little success. While working for the BBC in London during the Second World War, his fortunes finally changed with Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper, a darkly satirical portrayal of a murderer that was to be promoted enthusiastically by Raymond Chandler as his favourite detective novel. But even the author of The Big Sleep could not save it from oblivion: it has remained out of print for more than 60 years.
This Detective Club classic is introduced by award-winning novelist Martin Edwards, author of The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books, who reveals new information about Henderson’s often troubled life and writing career.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1943
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
September 7, 2018
This wartime mystery is an extremely unusual read. Mr Bowling is bored of the war, bored of life and he was extremely bored of his wife, before he took the opportunity of killing her during an Air Raid. Having benefited from his wife’s death, he seems unable to stop killing people (men only, he has decided that killing women is not really acceptable). Those that annoy, or infuriate, him, find themselves in sudden danger, while the opportunity to kill them seemingly happens without much difficulty. The title of the book concerns Mr Bowling’s procuring newspapers, searching the pages desperately looking for his exploits to appear in print and expecting arrest at any moment, but finding that he seems to be getting away with murder…
Unlike many of the Golden Age mysteries of this period, this is a much darker crime novel, with a compelling anti-hero. There is much about Mr Bowling’s background, at school and in his marriage, which suggests motives for his later actions. However, the real joy of this book is the dry, dark humour and the constant infuriation of the main character. Mr Bowling’s sudden realisation that he is going to kill someone, and his almost desperate desire to be caught, contrasts with the bizarre happenings, which mean that he seems destined never to be suspected. However, of course, there is a twist to the tale and, suddenly, Mr Bowling is not nearly so keen to be caught as he was previously.
This is a deliciously dark read. Mr Bowling is endlessly questioning his life and musing on how dreary everything is. He rushes from one place to another, always restless and frantic, while you cannot help but sympathise at his annoyance with the characters he comes across. The bore who wants to endlessly discuss the war on the stairs of his boarding house, the young woman who won’t take no for an answer, the acquaintance who insists he come to stay for a weekend in the country. Mr Bowling both wants to be left alone and yet to join in with the gaiety of London life and, like others, not to be alone.
Author Donald Henderson had no real success until the sensation of, "Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper" brought him success and led to the re-issue of “A Voice Like Velvet,” also set in wartime London. This novel reminded me a little of Patrick Hamilton and it saddened me that the author died in 1947, only leaving such a small body of successful work, when he was, obviously, so talented. I look forward to reading his second novel and am so pleased these books have been re-issued after such a long time out of print. Hopefully, some more of his, lesser known work, might yet appear, if "Mr Bowling," regains the success it deserves to be.
Unlike many of the Golden Age mysteries of this period, this is a much darker crime novel, with a compelling anti-hero. There is much about Mr Bowling’s background, at school and in his marriage, which suggests motives for his later actions. However, the real joy of this book is the dry, dark humour and the constant infuriation of the main character. Mr Bowling’s sudden realisation that he is going to kill someone, and his almost desperate desire to be caught, contrasts with the bizarre happenings, which mean that he seems destined never to be suspected. However, of course, there is a twist to the tale and, suddenly, Mr Bowling is not nearly so keen to be caught as he was previously.
This is a deliciously dark read. Mr Bowling is endlessly questioning his life and musing on how dreary everything is. He rushes from one place to another, always restless and frantic, while you cannot help but sympathise at his annoyance with the characters he comes across. The bore who wants to endlessly discuss the war on the stairs of his boarding house, the young woman who won’t take no for an answer, the acquaintance who insists he come to stay for a weekend in the country. Mr Bowling both wants to be left alone and yet to join in with the gaiety of London life and, like others, not to be alone.
Author Donald Henderson had no real success until the sensation of, "Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper" brought him success and led to the re-issue of “A Voice Like Velvet,” also set in wartime London. This novel reminded me a little of Patrick Hamilton and it saddened me that the author died in 1947, only leaving such a small body of successful work, when he was, obviously, so talented. I look forward to reading his second novel and am so pleased these books have been re-issued after such a long time out of print. Hopefully, some more of his, lesser known work, might yet appear, if "Mr Bowling," regains the success it deserves to be.
May 23, 2020
Mr. Bowling Buys a Newspaper (1943) by Donald Henderson is a very unusual crime book.
It's set in London during WW2 and whilst it is a crime novel it's one which doesn't follow any kind of predictable template. Indeed, despite featuring several murders it's almost the inverse of a murder mystery. The reader knows who the murderer is and that he wants to get caught, at least for the majority of the book.
I was very impressed by this novel, it's compulsively readable, wryly and darkly humorous, whilst also, in some sections, quite horrific.
There are some parallels with Patrick Hamilton's Hangover Square which is, as you probably know, a very good thing. An emphasis on psychology also reminded me of Patricia Highsmith - another good thing.
It's heady and compelling, and I recommend it
4/5
It's set in London during WW2 and whilst it is a crime novel it's one which doesn't follow any kind of predictable template. Indeed, despite featuring several murders it's almost the inverse of a murder mystery. The reader knows who the murderer is and that he wants to get caught, at least for the majority of the book.
I was very impressed by this novel, it's compulsively readable, wryly and darkly humorous, whilst also, in some sections, quite horrific.
There are some parallels with Patrick Hamilton's Hangover Square which is, as you probably know, a very good thing. An emphasis on psychology also reminded me of Patricia Highsmith - another good thing.
It's heady and compelling, and I recommend it
4/5
May 22, 2020
This wartime book could hardly be further away from the typical Golden Age mystery. Instead of a country house, here we're amid cramped flats in London just after the Blitz, in an era of rationing and privations.
It's also an inverted mystery, where events are seen through the eyes of the murderer, Mr Bowling. He has become a serial killer almost by accident, after taking the opportunity to murder his wife when his home was bombed. He now wants to get caught, and studies the newspapers each day in hopes of finding that the police are after him.
I thought it was well-written and the wartime flavour feels authentic, but it is slow-moving and repetitive, and it gets a bit wearing to see things through the eyes of the unpleasant Mr Bowling. I also didn't find the black humour very funny - I'm quite surprised that Raymond Chandler liked it so much, since the book doesn't come anywhere near his brilliance.
One minor gripe - the Kindle edition which I read, published by Black Heath, constantly misspells "barmy" as "balmy". Editing to say that I have since also come across this in several other books, so have now simmered down about it!
It's also an inverted mystery, where events are seen through the eyes of the murderer, Mr Bowling. He has become a serial killer almost by accident, after taking the opportunity to murder his wife when his home was bombed. He now wants to get caught, and studies the newspapers each day in hopes of finding that the police are after him.
I thought it was well-written and the wartime flavour feels authentic, but it is slow-moving and repetitive, and it gets a bit wearing to see things through the eyes of the unpleasant Mr Bowling. I also didn't find the black humour very funny - I'm quite surprised that Raymond Chandler liked it so much, since the book doesn't come anywhere near his brilliance.
One minor gripe - the Kindle edition which I read, published by Black Heath, constantly misspells "barmy" as "balmy". Editing to say that I have since also come across this in several other books, so have now simmered down about it!
December 25, 2019
What an odd book! Normally such poor grammar would annoy me so much I wouldn’t continue to read but I love dark humour and was too intrigued to stop reading what was, allegedly, Raymond Chandler’s favourite book.
Mr Bowling, public school educated, is a failure at life and thoroughly fed up. He discovers that it’s really very easy to commit murder and proceeds to do it several times. He desperately wants to be caught and hopes to be hanged but he finds it’s easier to commit murder than to be caught. The book is full of interesting and amusing characters and is often very funny. The ending is strange and, while not unsatisfactory, left me wanting more.
A perfect, easy read for the Christmas holidays.
Mr Bowling, public school educated, is a failure at life and thoroughly fed up. He discovers that it’s really very easy to commit murder and proceeds to do it several times. He desperately wants to be caught and hopes to be hanged but he finds it’s easier to commit murder than to be caught. The book is full of interesting and amusing characters and is often very funny. The ending is strange and, while not unsatisfactory, left me wanting more.
A perfect, easy read for the Christmas holidays.
July 8, 2021
What an unusual crime novel. If you want to classify it, I suppose you’d say it’s noir and an “inverted mystery,” one in which you know whodunnit from the start. It’s no spoiler to say the culprit is Mr. Bowling, who describes himself as not good-looking and not popular. We start right out with his saying that he took the opportunity to kill his wife during a Blitz raid that hit their home, but he’ll never kill another woman. So Mr. Bowling does have scruples of a sort, but he doesn’t hesitate to kill quite a few men.
What motivates Mr. Bowling? His musings to himself give some clues, but it doesn’t seem as if he’s being honest with himself. Just as I never really bought his repeated statements that he wanted to be caught and hanged, just as long as the trial could at least be interesting. He is sincerely astonished that he gets away with murder after murder, and the author is clever in his explanations of how circumstances turn suspicion away from Mr. Bowling. There is such a peculiar but compelling atmosphere to the book, and even moments of dark humor.
I won’t spoil the ending, but I’m not sure I could even if I wanted to. I’m not sure that all is what it appears to be on the surface in the final pages. I think I may have to re-read certain parts to see if there is more than meets the eye.
If you like noir and gritty crime fiction of the 1940s, give this one a try.
What motivates Mr. Bowling? His musings to himself give some clues, but it doesn’t seem as if he’s being honest with himself. Just as I never really bought his repeated statements that he wanted to be caught and hanged, just as long as the trial could at least be interesting. He is sincerely astonished that he gets away with murder after murder, and the author is clever in his explanations of how circumstances turn suspicion away from Mr. Bowling. There is such a peculiar but compelling atmosphere to the book, and even moments of dark humor.
I won’t spoil the ending, but I’m not sure I could even if I wanted to. I’m not sure that all is what it appears to be on the surface in the final pages. I think I may have to re-read certain parts to see if there is more than meets the eye.
If you like noir and gritty crime fiction of the 1940s, give this one a try.
September 5, 2018
Interesting noir crime novel.
September 23, 2023
Swing, Bowling, Swing!
The reason Mr Bowling is keen to buy a newspaper is to see if the murder he has just committed has been reported yet and if the police are on his track. It’s not the first murder he’s done – that was his wife, but he’s decided that he doesn’t like murdering women so will stick to men in future. Mr Bowling is a disappointed man, born and educated as a gentleman but without the money needed to sustain that class. So he’s had a succession of humdrum jobs and a marriage that lacked passion from the very beginning. Now he’s rather tired of life but wants the bit of fame he feels is his due, so what better way than to commit a murder or two, get caught, have a sensational trial and then be hanged? Killing two birds with one stone, you might say. The problem is that circumstances – is it God intervening, perhaps? – keep arising that make his murders appear like accidental deaths…
I loved Henderson’s other crime novel, A Voice Like Velvet , which also starred a criminal as the protagonist. However, in that one the criminal, Ernest Bisham, was a cat-burglar who stole from rich people for the thrill. No one was really hurt by his crimes – they could all afford the financial loss and he ensured he never took anything with sentimental value. Bisham was a likeable chap and I was easily able to get on his side despite his criminality. Unfortunately I did not feel the same about Bill Bowling. Clearly somewhere pretty far along the insanity spectrum, he picks his victims randomly and while none of them were particularly good people, I couldn’t convince myself that they should have been treated as disposable in this way. The light fun of A Voice Like Velvet has turned into deep black comedy in this one, but so dark that I could rarely find the humour in it.
There’s no mystery as such, and the plot is driven only by the question of whether Bowling will eventually be caught. Primarily it’s a character study of him – a tongue-in-cheek one, with Henderson mocking the British class structure and our deference to “gentlemen”. Those aspects work well, although Bowling is so far off the scale of normality that the portrait slips into cartoon eventually. First published in 1943, it is set in wartime London, complete with bombings and blackout, and again this is well portrayed. But Henderson doesn’t buy into the usual “plucky Londoner” theme – his London is populated by lonely, often unpleasant, people living empty lives. The black humour element stops it from being a bleak picture, but nor is it warm and appealing.
Bowling’s fundamental unlikeability means there’s no real tension – I didn’t much care if he hanged or not. In fact, given a choice, I’d have been happy enough to see him swing. He had no redeeming features that made me hope that a way would be found for him to have a happy ending. (Again, this was a major contrast to my feelings about Bisham, the cat-burglar, whom I hoped very much would give up his wicked ways and enjoy the rest of his life as a respectable citizen.) Despite the fact that it’s not a very long book I found it began to drag as he continued to murder people and somehow each time get away with it. However, the writing is good and I appreciated what Henderson was doing even if I didn’t find it very enjoyable.
At least, that was how I was feeling until it reached the ending, which has to be one of the clumsiest, most unconvincing endings I’ve ever come across. No spoilers, obviously, but I really couldn’t work out what Henderson was trying to do – did he think the ending was funny? If so, I missed the joke. Or did he think the reader would find it satisfying in some way? Not this reader. Despite the unlikeliness of the plot, up to that stage it had felt as if it was based in realism, but the ending takes it into the realms of the ridiculous. After a journey that I had found somewhat tedious, the last couple of chapters turned my general apathy into active annoyance. Apparently this was one of Raymond Chandler’s favourite books, but I’m baffled as to why. On the whole, I found it rather sordid and dispiriting, and ultimately disappointing.
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The reason Mr Bowling is keen to buy a newspaper is to see if the murder he has just committed has been reported yet and if the police are on his track. It’s not the first murder he’s done – that was his wife, but he’s decided that he doesn’t like murdering women so will stick to men in future. Mr Bowling is a disappointed man, born and educated as a gentleman but without the money needed to sustain that class. So he’s had a succession of humdrum jobs and a marriage that lacked passion from the very beginning. Now he’s rather tired of life but wants the bit of fame he feels is his due, so what better way than to commit a murder or two, get caught, have a sensational trial and then be hanged? Killing two birds with one stone, you might say. The problem is that circumstances – is it God intervening, perhaps? – keep arising that make his murders appear like accidental deaths…
I loved Henderson’s other crime novel, A Voice Like Velvet , which also starred a criminal as the protagonist. However, in that one the criminal, Ernest Bisham, was a cat-burglar who stole from rich people for the thrill. No one was really hurt by his crimes – they could all afford the financial loss and he ensured he never took anything with sentimental value. Bisham was a likeable chap and I was easily able to get on his side despite his criminality. Unfortunately I did not feel the same about Bill Bowling. Clearly somewhere pretty far along the insanity spectrum, he picks his victims randomly and while none of them were particularly good people, I couldn’t convince myself that they should have been treated as disposable in this way. The light fun of A Voice Like Velvet has turned into deep black comedy in this one, but so dark that I could rarely find the humour in it.
There’s no mystery as such, and the plot is driven only by the question of whether Bowling will eventually be caught. Primarily it’s a character study of him – a tongue-in-cheek one, with Henderson mocking the British class structure and our deference to “gentlemen”. Those aspects work well, although Bowling is so far off the scale of normality that the portrait slips into cartoon eventually. First published in 1943, it is set in wartime London, complete with bombings and blackout, and again this is well portrayed. But Henderson doesn’t buy into the usual “plucky Londoner” theme – his London is populated by lonely, often unpleasant, people living empty lives. The black humour element stops it from being a bleak picture, but nor is it warm and appealing.
Bowling’s fundamental unlikeability means there’s no real tension – I didn’t much care if he hanged or not. In fact, given a choice, I’d have been happy enough to see him swing. He had no redeeming features that made me hope that a way would be found for him to have a happy ending. (Again, this was a major contrast to my feelings about Bisham, the cat-burglar, whom I hoped very much would give up his wicked ways and enjoy the rest of his life as a respectable citizen.) Despite the fact that it’s not a very long book I found it began to drag as he continued to murder people and somehow each time get away with it. However, the writing is good and I appreciated what Henderson was doing even if I didn’t find it very enjoyable.
At least, that was how I was feeling until it reached the ending, which has to be one of the clumsiest, most unconvincing endings I’ve ever come across. No spoilers, obviously, but I really couldn’t work out what Henderson was trying to do – did he think the ending was funny? If so, I missed the joke. Or did he think the reader would find it satisfying in some way? Not this reader. Despite the unlikeliness of the plot, up to that stage it had felt as if it was based in realism, but the ending takes it into the realms of the ridiculous. After a journey that I had found somewhat tedious, the last couple of chapters turned my general apathy into active annoyance. Apparently this was one of Raymond Chandler’s favourite books, but I’m baffled as to why. On the whole, I found it rather sordid and dispiriting, and ultimately disappointing.
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June 27, 2021
I really don't know how to rate this, but it seems that I can't post this review without a rating so I've given it a 3 although I'm really veering between 1 and 5.
It's a very odd book indeed. Andy Miller on the brilliant Backlisted podcast raved about it and it sounded unusual so I gave it a try. I expected a much more conventional crime novel but it's difficult to describe. It's set during the second world war but the action seems curiously detached from events, apart from occasional references to the blitz and blackouts. Mr Bowling is clearly deranged but I found the story of his activities quite compelling and wanted to know what would happen next. The writing style is strange but oddly appropriate. The unlikely ending seemed all of a piece with the bizarre account which preceded it. And some of it is very funny. But I was quite relieved to escape from the weirdness.
It's a very odd book indeed. Andy Miller on the brilliant Backlisted podcast raved about it and it sounded unusual so I gave it a try. I expected a much more conventional crime novel but it's difficult to describe. It's set during the second world war but the action seems curiously detached from events, apart from occasional references to the blitz and blackouts. Mr Bowling is clearly deranged but I found the story of his activities quite compelling and wanted to know what would happen next. The writing style is strange but oddly appropriate. The unlikely ending seemed all of a piece with the bizarre account which preceded it. And some of it is very funny. But I was quite relieved to escape from the weirdness.
April 7, 2022
What an odd, fascinating book. I have never read anything like it. It feels like a mix of Notes from Underground, Crime and Punishment, American Psycho, and noir.
Its changes in perspective can be dizzying, sometimes occurring within the same paragraph. There are things casually mentioned, then casually mentioned again 60 pages later which completely changes your understanding of a character, that I feel like I need to re-read it to fully understand what Henderson has done. It is not a surprise that, according to the blurb on the cover, Raymond Chandler read it over half a dozen times.
Its changes in perspective can be dizzying, sometimes occurring within the same paragraph. There are things casually mentioned, then casually mentioned again 60 pages later which completely changes your understanding of a character, that I feel like I need to re-read it to fully understand what Henderson has done. It is not a surprise that, according to the blurb on the cover, Raymond Chandler read it over half a dozen times.
abandoned
October 13, 2020Abandoned @ 17 %.
I just found Mr Bowling's ramblings to be too tedious to continue.
I just found Mr Bowling's ramblings to be too tedious to continue.
February 17, 2018
This is a fascinating and compelling study of a serial killer set mainly in wartime London. It is compulsively readable, dryly and wryly humorous and horrifying at the same time.
The writer catapults the reader into the mind of William Bowling, who, having smothered his wife and profited from it both financially and emotionally, embarks upon a murderous career whilst enjoying a life of leisure and fun.He considers blackmail and homosexuality to be worse than murder.
Donald Henderson wrote only two crime novels before dying, relatively young, in 1947. Apparently he had worked in a stockbrokers, and had done some acting, before joining the BBC.
This fine psychological study, which has overtones of Highsmith's later works, is currently available at a bargain price.
Highly recommended.
The writer catapults the reader into the mind of William Bowling, who, having smothered his wife and profited from it both financially and emotionally, embarks upon a murderous career whilst enjoying a life of leisure and fun.He considers blackmail and homosexuality to be worse than murder.
Donald Henderson wrote only two crime novels before dying, relatively young, in 1947. Apparently he had worked in a stockbrokers, and had done some acting, before joining the BBC.
This fine psychological study, which has overtones of Highsmith's later works, is currently available at a bargain price.
Highly recommended.
May 8, 2020
With this being published by the Collins Crime Club and praised by Raymond Chandler I was expecting some kind of British Chandler equivalent. I was expecting to meet a killer and the policemen hunting him but this felt like it had more in common with Patrick Hamilton's Hangover Square than anything else.
It is a darkly comic thriller that follows the, possibly insane, killer and his thought processes as he kills his way around the blackout.
Highly recommended.
It is a darkly comic thriller that follows the, possibly insane, killer and his thought processes as he kills his way around the blackout.
Highly recommended.
May 29, 2019
Raymond Chandler let me down on this one.
October 14, 2022
William Bowling is a thoroughly unpleasant customer. He is an insurance agent living with his wife in London during the Blitz. After one air raid he and his wife, Ivy, find themselves partly buried under masonry. Ivy won’t stop screaming. As Mr Bowling frees himself he silences his wife permanently. Thanks to the life-assurance pay off he is able to give up work, but killing has become an addiction, and anyone who crosses his path is likely to go the same way.
Unlike other murderers, but like many hooked to a habit, and only too aware of his addiction, he is desperate to get caught - until, that is, he meets the woman of his dreams, and suddenly has something to live for, and so is desperate not to get caught. But, in an outstanding scene, he has a problem, a body in his own flat he needs to get rid of.
Published in 1943, this was highly thought of at the time, not least by Raymond Chandler and George Orwell, the latter at the time, a BBC producer. It’s easy to see why. Murder, stirred in with black humour, so the blend is just perfect, is something many have tried to imitate, but few with such entertaining results. Very much ahead of its time, it also has a really good twist in its last pages.
Here’s a clip..
and,
Unlike other murderers, but like many hooked to a habit, and only too aware of his addiction, he is desperate to get caught - until, that is, he meets the woman of his dreams, and suddenly has something to live for, and so is desperate not to get caught. But, in an outstanding scene, he has a problem, a body in his own flat he needs to get rid of.
Published in 1943, this was highly thought of at the time, not least by Raymond Chandler and George Orwell, the latter at the time, a BBC producer. It’s easy to see why. Murder, stirred in with black humour, so the blend is just perfect, is something many have tried to imitate, but few with such entertaining results. Very much ahead of its time, it also has a really good twist in its last pages.
Here’s a clip..
First he must spend a few very gloomy minutes washing up the blood, it was on Mr Farthing’s ugly mouth and had dried all over his broad nose, and it was on his hands, backs and fronts. Mr Bowling went and got his flannel and some hot water and a basin and some soap. He returned with it to the bathroom. When he had completed this singularly unpleasant task to his satisfaction, and brushed Mr Farthing’s clammy hair, he proceeded to pare Mr Farthing’s nails. They were sure to be full of bits of his murderer’s skin, or clothes, and would betray him under the microscope. Mr Farthing’s frightened eyes were wide open the whole time, watching him, and looking as if it was rather painful, having your nails carefully pared after you were dead. When he had finished, Mr Bowling shoved Mr Farthing’s dead head to and fro, rather fascinated by his broken neck, you could get it back an incredibly long way.
Then he lugged Mr Farthing up and sat him into the low chair in the bedroom, by the dressing table. He wanted to test his weight, and to see how he sagged. He sagged very badly when he tried to hold him upright, his toes hanging down, and his great head flopping forward. Mr Bowling got his own brown felt hat and shoved it on Mr Farthing’s head. It was a little too big, and Mr Farthing looked extremely grotesque in the deep chair there, with his knees all cock-eyed, and his shoulders sagging forward, and the brown hat bent in prayer. Mr Bowling looked at his watch again and hurried out.
and,
On an impulse he opened the front door and peeped out. There was nobody about, ‘No’, he thought, ‘but the moment I ruddy we’ll start my act, the bally passage will be alive with people!’.
February 18, 2025
Mr Bowling is an educated man down on his luck and leading a humdrum existence enlivened only by the murders he commits. Most of the characters are truly dreadful and it's hard to feel sorry about their deaths. Mr Bowling himself is no better, but I still warmed to him in a guilty kind of way. I found this quirky wartime book very funny.
June 10, 2025
Está muy bien escrito y la historia no es la habitual en una novela negra, pero a mí no me ha terminado de convencer.
November 30, 2019
The premise of Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper sounded like a great one and I was really looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately, the characters and the style of writing turned out to be really annoying and there was nothing enjoyable or intriguing about the story. I made it about 75 pages before I finally gave in and tossed it in the donation pile. I'm a little leary of reading the other book I have by this author. His writing may just not be for me.
November 29, 2018
I enjoyed this, though the tone was markedly different from most other GA books. I was disappointed by the ending, would have much preferred Mr Bowling to get his comeuppance.
Mr Bowling reminded me of Bruce from Filth. Thoroughly dislikable, self important, without morals, and actually quite entertaining to read!
Mr Bowling reminded me of Bruce from Filth. Thoroughly dislikable, self important, without morals, and actually quite entertaining to read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2021
Would recommend to anyone who likes very slow burn books, I’ve definitely read far worse.
It has its moments of suspense and they are very nicely written, but there is A LOT of filler and moments where more could have been greater detail where we are left guessing.
It reads like you are meant to know who the secondary characters are when they are just being introduced.
The book also presents many characters who have no necessity being there, or have every necessity but we have no idea who they are to the lead, and both add to much of the confusion. Also, the lead cannot get his own motives straight (does he want to be caught or not) and it’s rather frustrating to read.
Additionally (and this is the book falling victim to being written in the 1940s) many of the characters — particularly the women — are described more like cars than like people, and that gets quite repetitive.
I wouldn’t really describe it as exciting, but it was gripping, and I did find myself desperately wanting to know the ending.
3/5 stars for the concept and some of the actual suspense writing.
I would recommend it, but it’s nothing mind blowing.
It has its moments of suspense and they are very nicely written, but there is A LOT of filler and moments where more could have been greater detail where we are left guessing.
It reads like you are meant to know who the secondary characters are when they are just being introduced.
The book also presents many characters who have no necessity being there, or have every necessity but we have no idea who they are to the lead, and both add to much of the confusion. Also, the lead cannot get his own motives straight (does he want to be caught or not) and it’s rather frustrating to read.
Additionally (and this is the book falling victim to being written in the 1940s) many of the characters — particularly the women — are described more like cars than like people, and that gets quite repetitive.
I wouldn’t really describe it as exciting, but it was gripping, and I did find myself desperately wanting to know the ending.
3/5 stars for the concept and some of the actual suspense writing.
I would recommend it, but it’s nothing mind blowing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2022
Amazed at how good this was, having never heard of Donald Henderson in my life. I kept being reminded of Patrick Hamilton and Patricia Highsmith, both favorite writers of mine.
Mr Bowling is a cold-blooded killer who wants to be caught...the author does a fantastic job of balancing the murderer's inner spiritual struggles with the uncomfortable humor of the situations that he creates for himself. I found myself laughing at the most inappropriate moments! It is a very serious book with serious themes, written in a jocose manner, making the reader uneasy, which is why I am reminded of both Hamilton and Highsmith.
"'It's stopped raining,' Mr Bowling said, wondering what time to murder his host. Perhaps tomorrow morning. Or tomorrow evening, just before leaving. In that shed. Oh, some idea would turn up."
"'Phew, I'm bally hot, what? If I have to do any more of these murders--which God forbid--I think I shall just wear a singlet and flannels. Shorts would really be best,' he thought, soaping his immense biceps."
Mr Bowling is a cold-blooded killer who wants to be caught...the author does a fantastic job of balancing the murderer's inner spiritual struggles with the uncomfortable humor of the situations that he creates for himself. I found myself laughing at the most inappropriate moments! It is a very serious book with serious themes, written in a jocose manner, making the reader uneasy, which is why I am reminded of both Hamilton and Highsmith.
"'It's stopped raining,' Mr Bowling said, wondering what time to murder his host. Perhaps tomorrow morning. Or tomorrow evening, just before leaving. In that shed. Oh, some idea would turn up."
"'Phew, I'm bally hot, what? If I have to do any more of these murders--which God forbid--I think I shall just wear a singlet and flannels. Shorts would really be best,' he thought, soaping his immense biceps."
June 9, 2021
Another strange forgotten novel recommended on the excellent books podcast Backlisted. Also, Donald Henderson was Raymond Chandler’s favourite crime writer so that was another reason to want to read it. And it is as odd as its title (it’s amazing that anyone would publish a crime novel with such a title).
The setting, West London during the blitz, is evocatively portrayed. There’s no mystery here - we know from the start that Mr Bowling is a murderer. It’s more about who he murders and why. The reasons are mostly trivial and ultimately he wants to be caught. There’s a cast of eccentric characters and a lot of dry dark humour. The other strange thing is that there are a number of examples of poor, ungrammatical writing, although I soon saw them as part of the novel’s charm.
The setting, West London during the blitz, is evocatively portrayed. There’s no mystery here - we know from the start that Mr Bowling is a murderer. It’s more about who he murders and why. The reasons are mostly trivial and ultimately he wants to be caught. There’s a cast of eccentric characters and a lot of dry dark humour. The other strange thing is that there are a number of examples of poor, ungrammatical writing, although I soon saw them as part of the novel’s charm.
December 11, 2019
A clever story from a different era. With exquisite writing, you're whisked inside Mr Bowling's mind as he ponders his lapse in character and the inevitable consequences. Fate has a different path in store for the worried man, a path he'd rather not tread, but tread it he does.
For a book which at once seems wordy yet sparse, you're served delicious characters, barely formed but solidly understood. Whether they live or die, leads you onwards at a cracking pace.
Class struggles, civility, the English stiff upper lip is in full view. Bowler hats and Belgium maids. What more could you want in a crime noir novel?
Well worth a second read.
For a book which at once seems wordy yet sparse, you're served delicious characters, barely formed but solidly understood. Whether they live or die, leads you onwards at a cracking pace.
Class struggles, civility, the English stiff upper lip is in full view. Bowler hats and Belgium maids. What more could you want in a crime noir novel?
Well worth a second read.
November 9, 2022
3.5 stars.
Enjoyable tale set in Blitz ravaged London.
William Bowling is a man in his 30's with an outwardly pleasant and happy personality, but internally he is an unstable, unhappy, pessimistic man who also happens to be a serial killer.
He selects his victims, kills, has the uncanny ability to never get caught. But he wants to be caught.
Life as he sees it doesn't have a lot to offer and he is willing to leave this earth.
What quicker way to go than death by hanging? And one easy way to get hung is for being guilty of multiple murders. But the police don't show any signs of closing in on Mr. Bowling.
He buys the newspapers but can't find any signs of his crimes getting huge reportage, his chances of being linked to numerous deaths seems very far away. He's frustrated.
An unusual crime story, this is also an entertaining portrayal of life in wartime London.
It was probably a bit of an eye-opener when it was first published.
One thing I noticed was the use of question marks at the end of some sentences which were not really questions. Did the publishers not know the difference between question marks and exclamation marks, which I felt at times should have been there?
I also noticed twice the word 'balmy' used when I felt it should have been 'barmy' (?)
Quibbles aside, this is an enjoyable book. I may may not have been as 'bowled-over' by it as Raymond Chandler was, but I still enjoyed it. A fast-moving, vintage crime tale.
Enjoyable tale set in Blitz ravaged London.
William Bowling is a man in his 30's with an outwardly pleasant and happy personality, but internally he is an unstable, unhappy, pessimistic man who also happens to be a serial killer.
He selects his victims, kills, has the uncanny ability to never get caught. But he wants to be caught.
Life as he sees it doesn't have a lot to offer and he is willing to leave this earth.
What quicker way to go than death by hanging? And one easy way to get hung is for being guilty of multiple murders. But the police don't show any signs of closing in on Mr. Bowling.
He buys the newspapers but can't find any signs of his crimes getting huge reportage, his chances of being linked to numerous deaths seems very far away. He's frustrated.
An unusual crime story, this is also an entertaining portrayal of life in wartime London.
It was probably a bit of an eye-opener when it was first published.
One thing I noticed was the use of question marks at the end of some sentences which were not really questions. Did the publishers not know the difference between question marks and exclamation marks, which I felt at times should have been there?
I also noticed twice the word 'balmy' used when I felt it should have been 'barmy' (?)
Quibbles aside, this is an enjoyable book. I may may not have been as 'bowled-over' by it as Raymond Chandler was, but I still enjoyed it. A fast-moving, vintage crime tale.
March 2, 2025
‘Mr Bowling buys a newspaper’ - I bought this book because the title intrigued me, and because a school friend of mine had the surname Bowling. It was published in 1943 (and it shows) and is set in wartime London.
Mr Bowling buys a newspaper whenever he commits murder which, not to give much away, happens more than once.
It’s written as a psychological thriller and it works very well. It is very dated but well worth reading.
Mr Bowling buys a newspaper whenever he commits murder which, not to give much away, happens more than once.
It’s written as a psychological thriller and it works very well. It is very dated but well worth reading.
January 8, 2024
My brother passed this one on to me and given I had just read Denise Mina’s Phillip Marlowe story it seemed appropriate to read a book so praised by Raymond Chandler. It is an odd one with a story in the Patricia Highsmith style of plot. For the premise a 3 might have been apt but the writing was pretty rotten!!! Henderson certainly captured London during the Second World War and it had a certain dark, musty charm. However Bowling isn’t a particularly convincing creation being part nutcase and part a magnet to all sorts of women.And the religious element seems to emerge from nowhere to be a significant feature. Ending is unbelievable and can only be explained by the interpretation that Miss Mason is as nutty as Bowling!! Odd story. Chandler had his daft moments and believing that this was worth reading six times falls into the daft category. Fortunately his writing does not appear to have been influenced by Henderson’s!!!
September 27, 2018
Ewwwww. A nasty little man turns serial killer in wartime London in an attempt to commit suicide by judicial process.
December 29, 2021
As Mr Bowling's murders escape police detection, he begins to wonder why God seems to be rejecting his advances. As he commits more murders he buys swathes of daily newspapers to see if anybody has picked up on his activities. The problem is that his murders seem to be covered over by "natural" events, like the Blitz of London, a heart attack, a fall down the stairs, and a catastrophic fire. Nobody asks the questions that Mr Bowling thinks should be asked. He is sure he has left evidence that a discerning detective should "see", or even be alerted by the fact that his name keeps turning up in connection with dead people.
Mr Bowling has no real motives for most of his murders apart from the fact that his victims are essentially boring people, or that they don't particularly like him. Originally Mr Bowling was working for an insurance company and he benefited from a policy that he had taken out on his wife. He had thought about making himself the beneficiary of policies taken out by some of his clients but then that seemed a little greedy.
It is unusual to read a murder mystery from the point of view of the murderer, and I thought at times they pontificated a little too much. In the end Mr Bowling seems to have found the woman of his dreams, but has he? For he has told her everything about his murderous activities. Does she believe him, or is she blinded with love?
Mr Bowling has no real motives for most of his murders apart from the fact that his victims are essentially boring people, or that they don't particularly like him. Originally Mr Bowling was working for an insurance company and he benefited from a policy that he had taken out on his wife. He had thought about making himself the beneficiary of policies taken out by some of his clients but then that seemed a little greedy.
It is unusual to read a murder mystery from the point of view of the murderer, and I thought at times they pontificated a little too much. In the end Mr Bowling seems to have found the woman of his dreams, but has he? For he has told her everything about his murderous activities. Does she believe him, or is she blinded with love?
January 4, 2025
4.5 stars rounded down.
This was an interesting read, not really what I was expecting (I really should have read the blurb before starting!). I don't think I liked it as much as Raymond Chandler did - in fact I don't think it is possible to like it as much as Raymond Chandler did - but given the era in which it was set I got along remarkably well with it.
Mr Bowling as a character is one who's hard to like because of what he is described as doing, but at the same time he has an oddly charming manner that makes me want to know what's going on in his head - and Henderson does a remarkably good job of offering an insight into the character's thoughts. He seems to have .
It's a wartime story, and where he never really looks back from that point onwards. I don't usually enjoy anti-hero stories, but this one's quirky character worked well.
This was an interesting read, not really what I was expecting (I really should have read the blurb before starting!). I don't think I liked it as much as Raymond Chandler did - in fact I don't think it is possible to like it as much as Raymond Chandler did - but given the era in which it was set I got along remarkably well with it.
Mr Bowling as a character is one who's hard to like because of what he is described as doing, but at the same time he has an oddly charming manner that makes me want to know what's going on in his head - and Henderson does a remarkably good job of offering an insight into the character's thoughts. He seems to have .
It's a wartime story, and where he never really looks back from that point onwards. I don't usually enjoy anti-hero stories, but this one's quirky character worked well.
September 23, 2018
This is a dark and unusual mystery, set in WWII London. Mr Bowling has killed his wife during an air raid, taking advantage of the chaos to permanently end their unsatisfactory marriage. Now a kind of existential rage is driving him to kill others (only men, as he has decided he cannot kill women) and every day he scans the paper to see if his crimes have been discovered. Somehow, though, the forces of the law seem to be overlooking his actions.
Very unlike the more genteel mysteries associated with the period, this is radical in its portrayal of Bowling's psychological state and the reasons for it, its frank (for the time) discussion of sex and its elements of dark comedy. It is often very funny, both in descriptions of the characters involved and in the farcical situations that Bowling ends up in.
The main disappointment for me was the denouement- although I enjoyed the plot as the narrative moved from one murder to another, the final resolution was rather rushed and unconvincing, and left me with a general impression of pointlessness. A shame really as this was an interesting and different take on a murder mystery to that point.
Very unlike the more genteel mysteries associated with the period, this is radical in its portrayal of Bowling's psychological state and the reasons for it, its frank (for the time) discussion of sex and its elements of dark comedy. It is often very funny, both in descriptions of the characters involved and in the farcical situations that Bowling ends up in.
The main disappointment for me was the denouement- although I enjoyed the plot as the narrative moved from one murder to another, the final resolution was rather rushed and unconvincing, and left me with a general impression of pointlessness. A shame really as this was an interesting and different take on a murder mystery to that point.
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