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Patrick Petrella
The Young Petrella
The early career of Detective Sergeant Patrick Petrella is recounted as his sluething mettle is tested by a host of baffling mysteries in 1960s London
- GenresMysteryShort Stories
222 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1988
About the author
Michael Gilbert
134 books92 followersLibrarian 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 28, 2021
I've read a number of Michael Gilbert's books, and it seems he is incapable of writing a bad one. The stories contained in Young Petrella are all excellent. Clever plots, an elegant, economical, and witty prose style, and briefly sketched but nonetheless telling character descriptions all contribute to a very entertaining whole. I will definitely be checking out Gilbert's other books featuring Petrella.
March 19, 2020
An absolutely fabulous short story collection containing 16 stories about Petrella . Since all of them are about his adventures as Scotland yard constable and sergeant , the stories form a nice narrative sequence . Same characters appearing now and again makes it read like a novel at times.
The stories are simply brilliant. Most of them contain that sting in the tale that makes short stories great .The atmosphere and period and it's people are masterfully described in Gilbert's wonderfully lucid and entertaining prose style. A few of the stories from here were published in the BLCC anthologies by Martin Edwards as well.
This will stand a re read very well...Because I would just love to be transported to the time and place where Petrella roams even if I know where it's going to end up.
Highly recommended..Absolute keeper.
The stories are simply brilliant. Most of them contain that sting in the tale that makes short stories great .The atmosphere and period and it's people are masterfully described in Gilbert's wonderfully lucid and entertaining prose style. A few of the stories from here were published in the BLCC anthologies by Martin Edwards as well.
This will stand a re read very well...Because I would just love to be transported to the time and place where Petrella roams even if I know where it's going to end up.
Highly recommended..Absolute keeper.
October 16, 2018
I really like Michael Gilbert. He writes very well, and I found myself looking forward to reading this in any spare moment, even though I don't much like reading on my phone.
This is a series of short stories telling of incidents in Patrick Petrella's life, from when he was young and beginning to learn from his father what it was to be a policeman to years later when his father had long since retired and he finds himself in an adventure on his way to visit the old man.
The characters are well drawn and quite full of life. Even the criminals, for the most part, have some depth. It's only in the last story that they're no more than faceless, nameless terrorists. All the others show real people who are neither all good nor all bad.
This is a series of short stories telling of incidents in Patrick Petrella's life, from when he was young and beginning to learn from his father what it was to be a policeman to years later when his father had long since retired and he finds himself in an adventure on his way to visit the old man.
The characters are well drawn and quite full of life. Even the criminals, for the most part, have some depth. It's only in the last story that they're no more than faceless, nameless terrorists. All the others show real people who are neither all good nor all bad.
September 6, 2024
Prologue
The Conspirators ***
Detective Constable
Who Has Seen the Wind? ***
The Prophet and the Bird ***
Nothing Ever Happens on Highside **
Cash in Hand ***
Source Seven ***
The Night the Cat Stayed Out ***
Detective Sargent
Breach of the Peace ***
Voyage into Illusion **
The Oyster Catcher ***
Dangerous Structure ***
Death Watch **
Lost Leader **
The Coulman Handicap ***
The Sark Lane Mission ****
Paris in Summer ***½
Both Petrella collections have tragic stories about a group of boys who are working on goals outside the law - and when it goes horribly wrong, the remaining child prefers death. It's not a generally common theme. I wonder if Michael Gilbert's personal experiences played any part in the inspiration?
The Conspirators ***
Detective Constable
Who Has Seen the Wind? ***
The Prophet and the Bird ***
Nothing Ever Happens on Highside **
Cash in Hand ***
Source Seven ***
The Night the Cat Stayed Out ***
Detective Sargent
Breach of the Peace ***
Voyage into Illusion **
The Oyster Catcher ***
Dangerous Structure ***
Death Watch **
Lost Leader **
The Coulman Handicap ***
The Sark Lane Mission ****
Paris in Summer ***½
Both Petrella collections have tragic stories about a group of boys who are working on goals outside the law - and when it goes horribly wrong, the remaining child prefers death. It's not a generally common theme. I wonder if Michael Gilbert's personal experiences played any part in the inspiration?
December 17, 2022
Stories with a slightly old-style flavor, but well and compactly crafted. Michael Gilbert has flair.
July 19, 2023
I've liked everything I've read by this author. I like Petrella as a main character and wish the author had written more books with him as the lead character.
Want to Read
April 1, 2025Read so far:
The conspirators--
Who has seen the wind?--
The prophet and the bird (aka Informer X)--
Nothing ever happens on Highside--
Cash in hand--
Source seven--
The night the cat stayed out--
Breach of the peace--
Voyage into illusion--
The oyster catcher (aka Second skin)--3
Dangerous structure--
Death watch--
*Lost leader (aka The merry band)--
The Coulman handicap--2
*The Sark Lane mission (aka The double take)--
Paris in summer--
***
A case for gourmets (aka Mr. Duckworth's night out, It pays to advertise)--2
The happy brotherhood--3
The conspirators--
Who has seen the wind?--
The prophet and the bird (aka Informer X)--
Nothing ever happens on Highside--
Cash in hand--
Source seven--
The night the cat stayed out--
Breach of the peace--
Voyage into illusion--
The oyster catcher (aka Second skin)--3
Dangerous structure--
Death watch--
*Lost leader (aka The merry band)--
The Coulman handicap--2
*The Sark Lane mission (aka The double take)--
Paris in summer--
***
A case for gourmets (aka Mr. Duckworth's night out, It pays to advertise)--2
The happy brotherhood--3
February 24, 2011
A series of short stories about Petralla entering the police force and growing toward the rank of inspector. Petrella is smart, and through his sharp eyes we see the world of thieves and victims. Really wonderful writing grounded in reality.
March 27, 2013
Very nice collection of short stories about Petrella as a young police officer. Most of the stories concern no murder at all. Stories about this character often do not. An enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews