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Francis McNab #3
Death Comes to Perigord
Having temporarily taken over Dr. Wright's practice on the island of Guernsey, Dr. Dunn has in mind a few months of peace and relaxation, punctuated with light and undemanding medical duties away from the hustle and bustle of mainland life. But this is not to be. A routine call on a patient with heart trouble leads to a hunt for a man suspected of homicidal mania – and when a dead body is discovered in suspicious circumstances, Dunn finds himself in a pitched battle with authorities who seem determined to deny foul play when the medical evidence points to the contrary.
Luckily for Dunn, his friend Francis McNab, the celebrated detective, is on hand to provide a second opinion…
Originally published in 1931, this is a vintage murder mystery from the golden age of crime fiction.
Luckily for Dunn, his friend Francis McNab, the celebrated detective, is on hand to provide a second opinion…
Originally published in 1931, this is a vintage murder mystery from the golden age of crime fiction.
292 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1931
About the author
John Ferguson
82 books6 followersMore than one author on Goodreads is named John Ferguson.
John Ferguson (1871-1952) was a Scottish clergyman, playwright, and mystery writer.
John Ferguson was born at Callander, Perthshire, but has made his home in many sharply contrasted places, from the misty isle of Skye to the sunlit island of Guernsey. And though now a resident in the New Forest near Lymington he lived for six years in the grim Dunimarle Castle in Fife, where Macduff's wife and child were murdered by Macbeth. As a dramatist Mr Ferguson is probably best known for his now famous play Campbell of Kilmohr, which at its first Royalty Theatre production was hailed by the dramatic critic of the Glasgow Herald as 'a new and significant type of Scottish drama'. Of John Ferguson's work one critic has said, 'As no two of his stories are in any sense repetitious, it is probably his practice of setting each tale against the background in which he writes that gives this variety in characterization and action to each of his works.' His books have been translated into many foreign languages, the latest of which is Turkish. In his story of the history and development of the detective story, Masters of Mystery, Douglas Thomson writes, 'Mr Ferguson is one of the most delightful stylists in this genre'.
John Ferguson (1871-1952) was a Scottish clergyman, playwright, and mystery writer.
John Ferguson was born at Callander, Perthshire, but has made his home in many sharply contrasted places, from the misty isle of Skye to the sunlit island of Guernsey. And though now a resident in the New Forest near Lymington he lived for six years in the grim Dunimarle Castle in Fife, where Macduff's wife and child were murdered by Macbeth. As a dramatist Mr Ferguson is probably best known for his now famous play Campbell of Kilmohr, which at its first Royalty Theatre production was hailed by the dramatic critic of the Glasgow Herald as 'a new and significant type of Scottish drama'. Of John Ferguson's work one critic has said, 'As no two of his stories are in any sense repetitious, it is probably his practice of setting each tale against the background in which he writes that gives this variety in characterization and action to each of his works.' His books have been translated into many foreign languages, the latest of which is Turkish. In his story of the history and development of the detective story, Masters of Mystery, Douglas Thomson writes, 'Mr Ferguson is one of the most delightful stylists in this genre'.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 11, 2023
Dating from 1931, this was one of five novels featuring the Scottish private detective and newspaper columnist, Francis McNab. Here he is called in fairly late on to a curious case on the island of Guernsey by a friend, Dr Dunn.
A rather eccentric and disliked wealthy local who, among other things, is a moneylender, has disappeared, with some claiming suicide, some murder, while Dunn thinks he is simply in hiding.
The setting and the plethora of "characters" lend interest to what, for me, was an occasionally-dull,and,at times, over-prolonged tale. It is fairly obvious who the villains are and what the "trick" is, while the thrillerish elements did not keep me much entertained.
However, it is good to see Ferguson's novels back in print- three different titles by three publishers in the space of a few weeks- presumably because 70 years have elapsed since the author died.
Despite my strictures, this is certainly worth reading at the price and very much more worthwhile than many modern "takes" on GAD fiction.
3.5 stars.
A rather eccentric and disliked wealthy local who, among other things, is a moneylender, has disappeared, with some claiming suicide, some murder, while Dunn thinks he is simply in hiding.
The setting and the plethora of "characters" lend interest to what, for me, was an occasionally-dull,and,at times, over-prolonged tale. It is fairly obvious who the villains are and what the "trick" is, while the thrillerish elements did not keep me much entertained.
However, it is good to see Ferguson's novels back in print- three different titles by three publishers in the space of a few weeks- presumably because 70 years have elapsed since the author died.
Despite my strictures, this is certainly worth reading at the price and very much more worthwhile than many modern "takes" on GAD fiction.
3.5 stars.
October 19, 2020
John Ferguson's Death Comes to Perigord is set on the Channel Islands, with their odd mix of English and French customs. Dr Dunn, a Scottish physician, serves as a locum tenens for the absent Dr Wright. He is called to the estate of Perigord to see a patient named Hilaire de Quettville, who rudely tells him in French to go away. But then de Quettville disappears and several days later is found drowned under unusual circumstances.
There are a lot of facts about the disappearance and the effect on the inheritance hopes of relatives and numerous godchildren that have to be taken into account. The investigation becomes so hot and heavy that Dunn calls in his investigator friend McNab who assists him and the local constabulary.
This is a well-crafted book that has to be read with more careful attention than most American whodunits which tend to be less detailed in their trail of clues.
There are a lot of facts about the disappearance and the effect on the inheritance hopes of relatives and numerous godchildren that have to be taken into account. The investigation becomes so hot and heavy that Dunn calls in his investigator friend McNab who assists him and the local constabulary.
This is a well-crafted book that has to be read with more careful attention than most American whodunits which tend to be less detailed in their trail of clues.
April 10, 2026
A very nice little puzzle from 1931 set on the island of Guernsey where Dr Dunn, our narrator, is locuming while a single-handed GP has a holiday. His work seems to consist of gentle daily rounds rather than holding surgery. On the first night he is asked to visit elderly Mr de Quettville at his rambling house, Perigord. de Quettville is a money-lender who has taken to his bed. Dr Dunn finds him scathing and uncooperative but seemingly fit. There’s been a bizarre incident in which a ship’s figurehead representing Neptune has been hoisted onto the gateway at Perigord and dressed in a shirt and beard with three gilt balls pierced by the sea God’s trident. The idea was obviously to belittle de Quettville who subsequently goes missing, Dr Dunn being the last person to see him alive. There are islanders who would not be upset by his death and these include his clients as well as his unpleasant brother in law who has a wine bar that Dunn decides to investigate.
He brings the cerebral Scottish private detective, McNab, over from London and when a man’s body is found in the sea they become uncomfortably aware that the simple verdict of accidental drowning cannot be true.
Dr Dunn suffers much professional discomfort over his handling of his brief examination of de Quettville. Surely the man was mad — senile at least and therefore lacked capacity when writing his will. Was he suicidal - or murderous?
He brings the cerebral Scottish private detective, McNab, over from London and when a man’s body is found in the sea they become uncomfortably aware that the simple verdict of accidental drowning cannot be true.
Dr Dunn suffers much professional discomfort over his handling of his brief examination of de Quettville. Surely the man was mad — senile at least and therefore lacked capacity when writing his will. Was he suicidal - or murderous?
February 6, 2024
No, this 1930's novel isn't set in the Perigord region of France, it's actually the much more exotic locale of the British Channel Islands. Dr. Dunn, a Scottish physician covering for the local doctor, is called in by the local lawyer to see a patient named Hilaire de Quettville, an older gentleman who has been acting quite strangely and refuses to get out of bed. There's not much that Dr. Dunn can say about this patient, other than he is physically fine, but then the patient disappears and the mental state of the missing man is called into question - is he harmful to himself or to those who have ridiculed him? The search is on for the missing man, and when things seem to be getting out of hand Dr. Dunn calls his private investigator friend to come and help with the mystery.
This is very much a novel of its time, very slow to develop and not much action, but a lot of exposition. I hate to admit that I was hoping for the body to be found much earlier then it was, the mystery wasn't all that difficult to figure out, and the location wasn't used to its best effect. There are better mysteries out there from this time period.
This is very much a novel of its time, very slow to develop and not much action, but a lot of exposition. I hate to admit that I was hoping for the body to be found much earlier then it was, the mystery wasn't all that difficult to figure out, and the location wasn't used to its best effect. There are better mysteries out there from this time period.
February 23, 2022
Completely satisfying mystery, set on Guernsey.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews