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Chief Inspector Littlejohn #26
Death Treads Softly
A week after Finlo Crennell, ex-harbourmaster of Castletown, is reported missing, he is found wandering the streets of London.
Suffering from memory loss, he has no recollection of where he has been or how he came to be in London. He is escorted back to the Island by Chief Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard. Less than twenty-four hours later, Crennell is found brutally murdered with a bullet hole though his head.
Littlejohn assumes the case, but soon has a second murder investigation on his hands. A bankrupt farmer, Charlie Cribbin, has been murdered in a desolate house on the moors, once again with a single bullet to the head..
How are the two men connected? And what happened to Crennell during the week he was missing? Littlejohn must connect the dots if he has any hope of tracking down the killer before he strikes again…
Suffering from memory loss, he has no recollection of where he has been or how he came to be in London. He is escorted back to the Island by Chief Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard. Less than twenty-four hours later, Crennell is found brutally murdered with a bullet hole though his head.
Littlejohn assumes the case, but soon has a second murder investigation on his hands. A bankrupt farmer, Charlie Cribbin, has been murdered in a desolate house on the moors, once again with a single bullet to the head..
How are the two men connected? And what happened to Crennell during the week he was missing? Littlejohn must connect the dots if he has any hope of tracking down the killer before he strikes again…
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1956
128 people are currently reading
73 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 18, 2017
Another entertaining read set on Isle of Man with Scotland Yard's Littlejohn working with the local man Knell as they methodically investigate the lives of several connected families to uncover the reasons for the murder of two men. Long held secrets lead to attempted murder of Littlejohn as he closes in.
Characters are unique and mostly comical leading to many chuckles, but I equally appreciate his descriptions of landscape. Reading Bellairs is good medicine.
Characters are unique and mostly comical leading to many chuckles, but I equally appreciate his descriptions of landscape. Reading Bellairs is good medicine.
March 7, 2022
Chief Inspector Littlejohn escorts Finlo Crennell, the ex-harbormaster of Castletown, back to his home on the Isle of Man. Crennell went missing a week ago while on his nightly constitutional along the harbor. His friends all thought he'd slipped and fallen in--and been dragged out to sea. But he shows up in London with an empty memory and a constant smile on his face. He doesn't speak and shows no real interest in his hometown or anyone who is there to greet him when he arrives--not even his housekeeper (and distant cousin) whom he has known all his life. But he does have some sense of his surroundings--heading straight for where his pipe is kept and sitting in his favorite chair to have a smoke.
The doctor declares him physically sound and makes plans to have him taken to hospital the next day to see what can be done about the memory. Littlejohn, duty dispensed, plans to spend the night with his old friend Reverend Kinrade, the Archdeacon of the Isle of Man, and then return to London in the morning. But neither the doctor nor Littlejohn will see their plans fulfilled.
Later that evening, Mrs. Cottier (the housekeeper), thinking that Crennell is settled nicely, goes out to get him some beer for his usual last drink of the evening. While she's gone, habit takes over for the ex-harbormaster and he once again sets off for a evening's stroll to his favorite pub (with, I'm sure, the aim of following it with a walk back along the harbor). It's the last stroll he'll ever take. He's found outside the pub--shot in the head. Littlejohn is asked to stay on and help Inspector Knell with the investigation and the two men immediately revise their views of Crennell's earlier "accident." Someone wanted the man out of the way and wasn't taking any chances this second time. Who would want to kill this inoffensive, generous man--everyone they interview speaks well of him. And then Crennell's son-in-law is killed in exactly the same manner, though found in an abandoned farmhouse. What do the ex-harbormaster and a bankrupt farmer have in common that could result in murder?
Each Littlejohn mystery I read seems better than the last. Bellairs is rapidly moving up the list of favorite Golden Age authors. Which is very pleasing because there are so many of the Littlejohn series available through various reprint means. This is apparently Littlejohn's second (maybe third?) visit to the Isle of Man--but it is the first that I've read. Bellairs does an excellent job acquainting us with the locale and the general environs. He also gives us an interesting cast of characters from Littlejohn's friends Knell and Kinrade to the family and friends of Crennell. They are a quirky lot who all seem to keep something back from the police. It is very intriguing to watch Littlejohn get round their reticence and dig deep into the secrets behind the murders.
This outing was, I think, Bellairs's most fairly clued and neatly plotted that I've yet read. He manages to keep suspicion spread about for quite some time despite a small cast of suspects. I did spot the villain of the piece, but I didn't pick up a couple of clues that would have told me the real motive. A clever classic police procedural.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
The doctor declares him physically sound and makes plans to have him taken to hospital the next day to see what can be done about the memory. Littlejohn, duty dispensed, plans to spend the night with his old friend Reverend Kinrade, the Archdeacon of the Isle of Man, and then return to London in the morning. But neither the doctor nor Littlejohn will see their plans fulfilled.
Later that evening, Mrs. Cottier (the housekeeper), thinking that Crennell is settled nicely, goes out to get him some beer for his usual last drink of the evening. While she's gone, habit takes over for the ex-harbormaster and he once again sets off for a evening's stroll to his favorite pub (with, I'm sure, the aim of following it with a walk back along the harbor). It's the last stroll he'll ever take. He's found outside the pub--shot in the head. Littlejohn is asked to stay on and help Inspector Knell with the investigation and the two men immediately revise their views of Crennell's earlier "accident." Someone wanted the man out of the way and wasn't taking any chances this second time. Who would want to kill this inoffensive, generous man--everyone they interview speaks well of him. And then Crennell's son-in-law is killed in exactly the same manner, though found in an abandoned farmhouse. What do the ex-harbormaster and a bankrupt farmer have in common that could result in murder?
Each Littlejohn mystery I read seems better than the last. Bellairs is rapidly moving up the list of favorite Golden Age authors. Which is very pleasing because there are so many of the Littlejohn series available through various reprint means. This is apparently Littlejohn's second (maybe third?) visit to the Isle of Man--but it is the first that I've read. Bellairs does an excellent job acquainting us with the locale and the general environs. He also gives us an interesting cast of characters from Littlejohn's friends Knell and Kinrade to the family and friends of Crennell. They are a quirky lot who all seem to keep something back from the police. It is very intriguing to watch Littlejohn get round their reticence and dig deep into the secrets behind the murders.
This outing was, I think, Bellairs's most fairly clued and neatly plotted that I've yet read. He manages to keep suspicion spread about for quite some time despite a small cast of suspects. I did spot the villain of the piece, but I didn't pick up a couple of clues that would have told me the real motive. A clever classic police procedural.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
November 30, 2019
George Bellairs’ mystery series featuring Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Thomas Littlejohn never disappoint. Whether you’re a longtime fan or the series or a newbie, you can read these books pretty much in any order. This was one of the best I’ve read yet.
In the 26th entry in the series, retired harbormaster Finlo Crennell disappears from Castletown, Isle of Man, only to reappear in London — but without his memory. Still, someone couldn’t take a chance because, no sooner had the hapless Crennell returned to town, someone shot him in the head! Littlejohn is reunited with the admiring Detective Inspector Knell (whom I first met in Corpse at the Carnival, which was written later), so I didn’t really miss Littlejohn’s usual sidekick, the lugubrious Sergeant Robert Cromwell. Littlejohn and Knell are flummoxed at who would want to kill this universally loved, generous old man. The novel reveals surprise after surprise, and I couldn’t put it down. I bet other readers won’t be able to, either.
Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this book for free.
In the 26th entry in the series, retired harbormaster Finlo Crennell disappears from Castletown, Isle of Man, only to reappear in London — but without his memory. Still, someone couldn’t take a chance because, no sooner had the hapless Crennell returned to town, someone shot him in the head! Littlejohn is reunited with the admiring Detective Inspector Knell (whom I first met in Corpse at the Carnival, which was written later), so I didn’t really miss Littlejohn’s usual sidekick, the lugubrious Sergeant Robert Cromwell. Littlejohn and Knell are flummoxed at who would want to kill this universally loved, generous old man. The novel reveals surprise after surprise, and I couldn’t put it down. I bet other readers won’t be able to, either.
Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read this book for free.
October 29, 2022
My origins review of years ago, as below, still stands.
Littlejohn is back in The Isle Of Man again for this one. Decent plot, good detection, plenty of clues for the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed it but then I'm a Bellairs fan.
Littlejohn is back in The Isle Of Man again for this one. Decent plot, good detection, plenty of clues for the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed it but then I'm a Bellairs fan.
December 5, 2017
The murder of Finlo Crennell, retired harbourmaster of Castletown, Isle of Man, occupies Tom Littlejohn, assisted by Inspector Knell and Archdeacon Kinrade, in this interesting case. Littlejohn’s own life comes under threat in a story which also includes a further murder, blackmail, illegitimacy, diamonds, and secrets dating back twenty-five years.
Again the Manx people, landscape and way of life are integral to the plot and, again, Littlejohn’s modus operandi is of importance:-
“… he bothered little about fingerprints, clues, alibis and scientific tricks. His line of attack was a patient, careful building-up of background and atmosphere, piece by piece like a jigsaw, until the last bit slipped into place and the case was done.” (Kindle Locations 525-527)
Sometimes this means that the plot moves slowly, but this reflects the reality of much police work and the pace of life on the Isle of Man at that time. The advantage is that, like Littlejohn, the reader gets to know the people involved, especially since Bellairs’ pen portraits are so sharp.
This was a most enjoyable read, although one observation,about a third of the way through, possibly gives a hint to the identity of the murderer.
Again the Manx people, landscape and way of life are integral to the plot and, again, Littlejohn’s modus operandi is of importance:-
“… he bothered little about fingerprints, clues, alibis and scientific tricks. His line of attack was a patient, careful building-up of background and atmosphere, piece by piece like a jigsaw, until the last bit slipped into place and the case was done.” (Kindle Locations 525-527)
Sometimes this means that the plot moves slowly, but this reflects the reality of much police work and the pace of life on the Isle of Man at that time. The advantage is that, like Littlejohn, the reader gets to know the people involved, especially since Bellairs’ pen portraits are so sharp.
This was a most enjoyable read, although one observation,about a third of the way through, possibly gives a hint to the identity of the murderer.
June 8, 2017
Another great page turner from George Bellairs from the Littlejohn series of books, full of twists and turns and his humour for extra enjoyment. The story starts with a decent chap found roaming around London with no memory of who he is, Scotland Yard are on the case and it turns out he is from the Isle of Man. the upshot being that Littlejohn is sent to take him home which is where the story begins. Unfortunately the decent chap is not having a great time as he gets shot the day he returns so with Littlejohn being there he is soon in charge with his friend Knell his number 2 giving Cromwell a rest and of course his very good friend Archdeacon Kinrade is where he stays whilst on the Island. I can't recommend this Littlejohn series of books enough each is different and full of surprise and i haven't yet found a dude just good page turning books, i have enjoyed this one so very much and hope you do to.
June 8, 2025
Inspector Littlejohn is back on the Isle of Man, but this time it's official.
Finlo Crennell is one of the most popular men in Castletown. For many years, he was the harbourmaster of the port and appreciated as much for his pleasant personality as for his capabilities. Now he's retired, widowed, and lives with a housekeeper. Like most retired men, he's still interested in his former profession. He spends his days at the harbour, seeing what ships are coming and going. At night he meets with old friends at a local pub for cards and a few drinks.
When he goes missing, the town is in shock. What could have happened to an elderly man who stuck to his daily routine? A week later, he's found in London. A Dutch ship has picked him up in the water, unconscious, but alive. Instead of returning to Castletown, the ship went on to its next stop (London) and left the old man there. He's OK, but he's lost his memory.
He has no identification papers, but responds when Inspector Littlejohn speaks to him in Manx. With that information, Scotland Yard is able to tie him to a missing persons report from Castletown. Littlejohn is assigned to take the old man home. It's hoped that the sight of familiar places and people will restore his memory. Maybe it would have if someone hadn't shot him to death first.
Local Inspector Knell is a great admirer of Thomas Littlejohn and he begs Scotland Yard to let the Chief Inspector stay to lead the investigation into the murder. Everyone's agreeable and Littlejohn looks forward to spending time with his old friend Caesar Kinrade, Archdeacon of the Isle of Man.
The Archdeacon knows the history of everyone on the island, so he's a great source of information. He attests to Finlo Crennell's popularity and decency. Crennell only blotted his copybook on one occasion. At a drunken party, he impregnated his wife's younger sister Mary. His wife was unable to have children and she agreed to raise the child when Mary left the island. Even the conservative islanders think it was a good solution and admired the love that Finlo lavished on his daughter Nancy.
Nancy is married to a man whose unproductive farm has left them deeply in debt. She has three small children and would prefer to move to a location with better farm land, but her husband is stubborn. He asks his father-in-law for a loan and is promised the money.
When Littlejohn and the Archdeacon go to tell Nancy about her father's death, she's distressed that her husband has failed to come home overnight. A search finds his body. Like Finlo Crennell, Charlie Cribbin has been shot in the head.
The trail leads to the Dutch ship that picked up Finlo Crennell. It's important to find out what happened to his wallet. He'd drawn his life savings from the Castletown bank, but it's missing. The captain of the ship is dead, too, but his First Mate claims that he kept the money to return to Crennell but forgot to give it to him. No one believes that story, but the money is back. If Finlo Crennell drew it out of the bank to give to his son-in-law, who was Charlie Cribbin meeting when he was murdered?
Nancy Crennell Cribbin's mother Mary is back in town. She has a confession to make to her daughter. She also has a new husband, a shifty character who's determined to go through Finlo Crennell's papers. Meanwhile the Dutch ship is back in town and several people are interested in meeting with the former First Mate (now Captain) of that ship. Obviously, someone believes that not all of Finlo Crennell's possessions were returned.
A wealthy ship builder is raising hell because no one's been arrested for Finlo's death. It looks like Littlejohn and Knell are getting "warm" when someone takes a shot at Littlejohn.
The solution to all the crimes lies in an old deception. The people involved thought they were safe, but old sins really do cast long shadows. There's always the danger that someone will learn the secret and try to use it against you. How many people are you willing to kill to cover up past misdeeds?
Surprisingly, Sargeant Cromwell doesn't join Littlejohn in this book, but Inspector Knell is a fine substitute. He's a shrewd copper and with the Archdeacon's local knowledge, Littlejohn finally has all the pieces to the puzzle. I've liked all the books in this series so far, but I especially love the ones set on the Isle of Man.
Finlo Crennell is one of the most popular men in Castletown. For many years, he was the harbourmaster of the port and appreciated as much for his pleasant personality as for his capabilities. Now he's retired, widowed, and lives with a housekeeper. Like most retired men, he's still interested in his former profession. He spends his days at the harbour, seeing what ships are coming and going. At night he meets with old friends at a local pub for cards and a few drinks.
When he goes missing, the town is in shock. What could have happened to an elderly man who stuck to his daily routine? A week later, he's found in London. A Dutch ship has picked him up in the water, unconscious, but alive. Instead of returning to Castletown, the ship went on to its next stop (London) and left the old man there. He's OK, but he's lost his memory.
He has no identification papers, but responds when Inspector Littlejohn speaks to him in Manx. With that information, Scotland Yard is able to tie him to a missing persons report from Castletown. Littlejohn is assigned to take the old man home. It's hoped that the sight of familiar places and people will restore his memory. Maybe it would have if someone hadn't shot him to death first.
Local Inspector Knell is a great admirer of Thomas Littlejohn and he begs Scotland Yard to let the Chief Inspector stay to lead the investigation into the murder. Everyone's agreeable and Littlejohn looks forward to spending time with his old friend Caesar Kinrade, Archdeacon of the Isle of Man.
The Archdeacon knows the history of everyone on the island, so he's a great source of information. He attests to Finlo Crennell's popularity and decency. Crennell only blotted his copybook on one occasion. At a drunken party, he impregnated his wife's younger sister Mary. His wife was unable to have children and she agreed to raise the child when Mary left the island. Even the conservative islanders think it was a good solution and admired the love that Finlo lavished on his daughter Nancy.
Nancy is married to a man whose unproductive farm has left them deeply in debt. She has three small children and would prefer to move to a location with better farm land, but her husband is stubborn. He asks his father-in-law for a loan and is promised the money.
When Littlejohn and the Archdeacon go to tell Nancy about her father's death, she's distressed that her husband has failed to come home overnight. A search finds his body. Like Finlo Crennell, Charlie Cribbin has been shot in the head.
The trail leads to the Dutch ship that picked up Finlo Crennell. It's important to find out what happened to his wallet. He'd drawn his life savings from the Castletown bank, but it's missing. The captain of the ship is dead, too, but his First Mate claims that he kept the money to return to Crennell but forgot to give it to him. No one believes that story, but the money is back. If Finlo Crennell drew it out of the bank to give to his son-in-law, who was Charlie Cribbin meeting when he was murdered?
Nancy Crennell Cribbin's mother Mary is back in town. She has a confession to make to her daughter. She also has a new husband, a shifty character who's determined to go through Finlo Crennell's papers. Meanwhile the Dutch ship is back in town and several people are interested in meeting with the former First Mate (now Captain) of that ship. Obviously, someone believes that not all of Finlo Crennell's possessions were returned.
A wealthy ship builder is raising hell because no one's been arrested for Finlo's death. It looks like Littlejohn and Knell are getting "warm" when someone takes a shot at Littlejohn.
The solution to all the crimes lies in an old deception. The people involved thought they were safe, but old sins really do cast long shadows. There's always the danger that someone will learn the secret and try to use it against you. How many people are you willing to kill to cover up past misdeeds?
Surprisingly, Sargeant Cromwell doesn't join Littlejohn in this book, but Inspector Knell is a fine substitute. He's a shrewd copper and with the Archdeacon's local knowledge, Littlejohn finally has all the pieces to the puzzle. I've liked all the books in this series so far, but I especially love the ones set on the Isle of Man.
November 24, 2019
Excellent
Another case for Chief Inspector Littlejohn from the pen of George Bellairs. A man was found in London, he'd had a bump to the head and had no recollection at all. He was speaking in such a strange way that Littlejohn was called to see if he recognised the accent and where the individual was from. As soon as Littlejohn heard the man utter a few words he instantly recognised that the individual came from the Isle of Man. Littlejohn was given the task of escorting the man across the water and then returning on the next ferry or plane. With his task completed Littlejohn retired to Grenaby, the home of his friend the parson Kinrade and no longer had he retired to bed than he was called to say that the man he'd returned home had been shot and killed. Littlejohn is requested to stay and help solve the crime into why he went missing in the first place and who would want to kill him.
Another case for Chief Inspector Littlejohn from the pen of George Bellairs. A man was found in London, he'd had a bump to the head and had no recollection at all. He was speaking in such a strange way that Littlejohn was called to see if he recognised the accent and where the individual was from. As soon as Littlejohn heard the man utter a few words he instantly recognised that the individual came from the Isle of Man. Littlejohn was given the task of escorting the man across the water and then returning on the next ferry or plane. With his task completed Littlejohn retired to Grenaby, the home of his friend the parson Kinrade and no longer had he retired to bed than he was called to say that the man he'd returned home had been shot and killed. Littlejohn is requested to stay and help solve the crime into why he went missing in the first place and who would want to kill him.
February 23, 2025
It's an excellent whodunnit in the unique Bellairs style of police procedural. Chief Inspector Littlejohn returns to the Isle of Man to accompany a missing former Manx harbourmaster who has lost his memory and turned up in London. Shortly after his return, the harbourmaster is killed. Littlejohn undertakes an investigation which reveals a complex story of past misdeeds and coverups. He is assisted by the local Detective Inspector who does much of the necessary legwork. Another murder is committed and even Littlejohn has a close call when he comes under rifle fire. He follows his usual intuitive approach to solve the mystery in a satisfactory conclusion. There's a twisty finale that requires close attention by a reader to follow the trail that leads to the murderer.
Bellairs' atmospheric portrayal of the geography and people of the Isle of Man are outstanding.
All in all, it's a pleasant read.
Bellairs' atmospheric portrayal of the geography and people of the Isle of Man are outstanding.
All in all, it's a pleasant read.
June 6, 2022
Another wonderful Littlejohn mystery set on the Isle of Man. Littlejohn escorts a Manxman back to the island, after he is found with no memory wandering the streets of London. Finlo Crennell is a retired harbor master who was hit over the head, picked up by a Dutch ship, and left the ship when it docked in London. Within 24 hours of his returning home he is murdered, and several days later his son-in-law is as well. The murders are connected to a rich man causing a pregnancy years before and how the legacy of that act affects the grownup child, as well as her children, and the man's family. Well done with a good twist at the end.
January 20, 2022
I love the books of George Bellairs and his detective, Littlejohn. This is another book set on the Isle of Man, and it is, I think, one of his best. The characters, including Inspector Knell and the Rev Kincade ( who are present in a number of the books) are wrought finely, but without reams of description and the victims and suspects similarly so. Bellairs has a very specific style - including exclamation marks (which I usually detest) and short, stark sentences. But some magic happens in his pages and he needs much greater recognition.
September 26, 2019
I do like George Bellairs’ writing. He tells a good story, evoking landscape and creating credible characters whose flaws don’t always lead to crime. He understands a lot about human nature, and the pressure to keep secrets, maintain status and respectability in a small community. The detail and empathy he displays is more in keeping with crime writers of a later generation.
I’m so pleased his books are being republished - and that I have quite a few to go.
I’m so pleased his books are being republished - and that I have quite a few to go.
October 20, 2021
Another Great Littlejohn Mystery
George Bellair has done another masterful work with Littlejohn. Each of his books is very well written, has a great tight plot, and keeps his characters true to themselves. You can't do wrong by selecting one of his mysteries to spend time with. This one is set on the Isle of Man. I think these are the best because Bellair also loved the Isle of Man. Just pure pleasure
George Bellair has done another masterful work with Littlejohn. Each of his books is very well written, has a great tight plot, and keeps his characters true to themselves. You can't do wrong by selecting one of his mysteries to spend time with. This one is set on the Isle of Man. I think these are the best because Bellair also loved the Isle of Man. Just pure pleasure
March 20, 2023
Two murders and a very intricate, multi- generational family drama set against the pastoral , quiet life of the Isle of Man. Bellairs is a very good, lesser known classic (middle 20th century) English mystery writer. He’s very good at atmospheric scene setting, especially rainy days.There are a lot of fat or flabby people in his books and he uses a lot of exclamation marks, which is rare among authors.
July 10, 2020
Another good one in this series.
No violence, no suspense, the police officers get along together, a very nice world to visit. I like the Isle of Mann ones and the ones in France. This one I had two suspects I’d have been satisfied to see guilty. I guessed the central point at once. But that did not spoil the story line. Enjoy, I did.
No violence, no suspense, the police officers get along together, a very nice world to visit. I like the Isle of Mann ones and the ones in France. This one I had two suspects I’d have been satisfied to see guilty. I guessed the central point at once. But that did not spoil the story line. Enjoy, I did.
November 23, 2020
Death Follows Life Actions
Another interesting mystery set in the Isle of Man which it is clear the author dearly loved in real life. As the inspector unravels what happened to an amnesiac attacked and later killed on the island, we see what made the location so precious to that author.
Another interesting mystery set in the Isle of Man which it is clear the author dearly loved in real life. As the inspector unravels what happened to an amnesiac attacked and later killed on the island, we see what made the location so precious to that author.
March 7, 2018
Dead Treads is well plotted, perhaps over plotted, with an ending that isn't altogether a surprise. Decent characters, lots [and lots] of Isle of Mann descriptive filler. A good read.
January 2, 2019
Another good mystery with plenty of suspects. This one was a little less obvious about who it was than some of his books with a twist at the end.
January 15, 2019
Death at reads Softly
As always a great book. I always enjoy the books on the Isle of Mann and the ArchDeacon. They seem like what true friends are beside solving crimes.
As always a great book. I always enjoy the books on the Isle of Mann and the ArchDeacon. They seem like what true friends are beside solving crimes.
March 12, 2019
Kindle Unlimited | Lack of suspense | The resolution here was very obvious very early, so I spent nearly the entire book waiting for the normally astute Littlejohn to figure it out.
October 29, 2019
Classic Littlejohn story, v enjoyable
Great story, Littlejohn is well formed by this point and the book is scattered with favourite characters and the easy humour of Bellair.
Great story, Littlejohn is well formed by this point and the book is scattered with favourite characters and the easy humour of Bellair.
July 31, 2021
It's a very "fair" mystery: all the clues are presented to you as the detective observes them, but it's up to you to put the pieces together.
November 9, 2021
Excellent as ever!
Read
December 22, 2023Did not finish. Although I love most of this series, the isle of Mann books are not my favourites. I might come back to it later if I have nothing else
November 4, 2025
Littlejohn returns a missing man to the Isle of Man. When the man was killed that night, Littlejohn stays to find the killer.
Great classic mystery.
Great classic mystery.
October 1, 2021
Another Isle of Man mystery for Littlejohn. This time he returns to the Island with a retired harbourmaster who was found wandering in London with memory loss. After he is returned home, he is shot dead and Littlejohn finds himself investigating old secrets as he tries to work out who the killer is.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews