Petrella at Q

Patrick Petrella

by Michael Gilbert

Patrick Petrella's father was Spanish (so was Patrick's temperament) and his mother was English, but he studied at the American University in Beirut. And on his 21st birthday Patrick joined the Metropolitan Police in London, as a constable, where he rose in the ranks to become Detective Chief Inspector of the South London Division.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories

222 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1977

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Born in Lincolnshire in 1912, Michael Francis Gilbert was educated in Sussex before entering the University of London where he gained an LLB with honours in 1937. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America - an achievement many thought long overdue. He won the Life Achievement Anthony Award at the 1990 Boucheron in London, and in 1980 he was knighted as a Commander in the Order of the British Empire. Gilbert made his debut in 1947 with Close Quarters, and since then has become recognized as one of our most versatile British mystery writers.

He was the father of Harriett Gilbert.

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book by Michael Gilbert that I've attempted. It was excellent. The basic premise is that the book follows Detective Chief Inspector Patrick Petrella, of London's Patton Street Police Station over the course of a year. It is a collection of short stories, each a different case, but, at the same time, some that follow one on the other. There are some mundane cases and as you get into the stories, some that create a great deal of tension. The last couple of stories, especially, where Petrella and his team are involved with the local heavy - hitter underworld, had me on the edge of my seat. I quite enjoyed the investigation process, how Petrella and his inspectors follow leads and sort through issues, reminded me of the process that Law & Order followed as the police investigate the particular crimes. I also liked the personalities of the various team members and the bursts of inspiration that come from Petrella. He knows his area and the people there and uses his smarts in sorting through the chaff to come up with solutions. Excellent, perfect little book. It turns out that Gilbert also wrote 4 other books featuring Petrella. I will have to check them out.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite collection of Gilbert stories. He’s a great writer, but these stories are a bit bland. Petrella is kind of nebulous, and his occasional “Spanish temperament” a little annoying.

[Kathryn Baron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer:
The Elusive Baby ***
The Bantling Street Fire ***
The Death of Mrs. Key ***½
Why Tarry the Wheels of His Chariot ***½
Autumn:
Rough Justice ****
Counterpart ***
"To the Editor, Dear Sir--" ****
A thoroughly Nice Boy **
Winter:
The Cleaners ***
Part I: Inquest on the Death of Bernie Nicolls
Part II: A Lively Night at Basildon Mansions
Part III: The Peripatetic Birds
Part IV: St. Valentine’s Day
Spring:
Captain Crabtree ***
The Last Tenant ***
Mutiny at Patton Street ****

[Iona Sharma]

A collection of twelve short stories about Detective Inspector Petrella, one of Gilbert's detectives, which together make up a year in the life. I liked the earlier, simpler ones better, but I enjoyed them all - even the novella, which might strike you and me as kind of pedestrian but for the contemporary reader might have been more exciting given it covers the new and exciting and much-in-need-of-explanation crime of money laundering. It's a real shame it's out of print.

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

+

[Sarah Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t love the short story format but I do love this author!

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pithy.

[Jeff Hobbs]

Read so far:

Summer:
The Elusive Baby--
The Banting Street Fire--
The Death of Mrs. Key--
*Why Tarry the Wheels of his Chariot?--
Autumn:
Rough Justice--
Counterplot--3
*"To the Editor, Dear Sir-"--
A Thoroughly Nice Boy--
Winter:
The Cleaners
Part I: Inquest on the Death of Bernie Nicholls--
Part II: A Lively Night at Basildon Mansions--
Part III: The Peripatetic Birds--
Part IV: St. Valentine's Day--
Spring:
Captain Crabtree--
The Last Tenant--
Mutiny at Patton Street--
***
Decoy--

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories that are very enjoyable, although there is some similarity between the stories and this slightly reduced their uniqueness. Michael Gilbert was a very fine and enjoyable writer.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3 1/2, really) Not quite as good as the first two I read because it was a series of short stories rather than one, but still a very enjoyable read.