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Chief Inspector Littlejohn #31
Bones in the Wilderness
The case of a missing antiques dealer brings Scotland Yard to France .
When Samuel Cheever, a shady dealer, goes to France to buy antiques and never returns, people begin to ask questions, and Superintendent Littlejohn is sent to uncover the mystery. Then, when Cheever’s bones are discovered in the wilderness of the Camargue, Littlejohn finds himself having to navigate the company of the French police.
While working the case, Littlejohn and his partner, Sergeant Cromwell, throw themselves into la vie française with gusto: the sunshine, the food and, of course, the wine. But Cheever’s trail leads to many strange places, and even stranger people, from travelers to bullfighters to cowboys—and when one of the cowboys turns up dead and Cheever’s possessions are found in his home, the investigation takes a dark turn . . .
When Samuel Cheever, a shady dealer, goes to France to buy antiques and never returns, people begin to ask questions, and Superintendent Littlejohn is sent to uncover the mystery. Then, when Cheever’s bones are discovered in the wilderness of the Camargue, Littlejohn finds himself having to navigate the company of the French police.
While working the case, Littlejohn and his partner, Sergeant Cromwell, throw themselves into la vie française with gusto: the sunshine, the food and, of course, the wine. But Cheever’s trail leads to many strange places, and even stranger people, from travelers to bullfighters to cowboys—and when one of the cowboys turns up dead and Cheever’s possessions are found in his home, the investigation takes a dark turn . . .
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1959
About the author
George Bellairs
80 books104 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 30, 2021
This a bus man's holiday in the 1950s in France for Inspector Littlejohn its the joy of the country side and the food of France in the hot sun with taste of wine and brandy while chasing all time a murder.
March 4, 2017
Combination of interesting murders to puzzle out and a travelogue through Camargue region of France as well as French Riviera delights - unsure which element wins. I go back to Inspector Littlejohn and his comrade Cromwell when I need to pick up a book I know will entertain. The plaintive, "What's happened to Mr. Cheever?" brings out this famous duo when remains of a body are reported in Camargue with only a set of teeth leading to identification. At every juncture the English are told lies as Cromwell repeatedly brings out his treasure purchased from Mrs. Cheever, a miniature of a woman from a wealthy family who had eloped against her family's wishes. As Littlejohn observes, "A strange thing that Cheever should buy it and fetch up here, get himself drowned, and that the picture should be brought back, after all this time, to you and the nearest relatives to the lady in the picture."
While being shown around by French police, Littlejohn and Cromwell learn much about the bulls of the region, bull fighting, horses of the region as well as birds. Being led to spot where Cheever's body had been found, "the trip was made in jeeps, of which there seemed to be as many as there were horses on the ranch." The finder of the body, a traditional cowboy of the region, is interviewed somewhat harshly by the French police, and later adds to the body count. Littlejohn discovers Cheever's wallet and money in the dead cowboy's cabin that "seemed, somehow, to bring the ghost of Cheever into the picture again."
There are many colorfully described shared meals and drinks with the French police in Cannes, Nice, Arles, etc. and yet the investigation progresses despite these delightful distractions. There are several solutions requiring closure, some more dramatic than others. The final leg reunites the French police with Littlejohn and Cromwell, and is literally a "leg" as they climb the slopes where the sheep are driven to feed every year to confront their suspect. Having achieved the climb they sighed and took in the sights. "From thence spread the vast panorama of pastures rising to the snowline, dotted with boulders, and covered with the animals... To the left, in the far distance, the Mont Blanc range, with Mont Blanc towering above the rest."
While being shown around by French police, Littlejohn and Cromwell learn much about the bulls of the region, bull fighting, horses of the region as well as birds. Being led to spot where Cheever's body had been found, "the trip was made in jeeps, of which there seemed to be as many as there were horses on the ranch." The finder of the body, a traditional cowboy of the region, is interviewed somewhat harshly by the French police, and later adds to the body count. Littlejohn discovers Cheever's wallet and money in the dead cowboy's cabin that "seemed, somehow, to bring the ghost of Cheever into the picture again."
There are many colorfully described shared meals and drinks with the French police in Cannes, Nice, Arles, etc. and yet the investigation progresses despite these delightful distractions. There are several solutions requiring closure, some more dramatic than others. The final leg reunites the French police with Littlejohn and Cromwell, and is literally a "leg" as they climb the slopes where the sheep are driven to feed every year to confront their suspect. Having achieved the climb they sighed and took in the sights. "From thence spread the vast panorama of pastures rising to the snowline, dotted with boulders, and covered with the animals... To the left, in the far distance, the Mont Blanc range, with Mont Blanc towering above the rest."
June 24, 2017
“What’s happened to Mr. Cheever?” is the cry on the lips of everyone- except Mrs. Cheever. Philandering Samuel Cheever, “antiques dealer”, has disappeared on a trip to France and it is up to Littlejohn and Cromwell to carry out the investigation into what turns out to be murder when Cheever’s body is found in the wilderness of the Camargue.
The Inspector and his Sergeant follow Samuel’s route south to the Riviera. With them is a mysterious miniature Cromwell bought from Mrs. Cheever and which Samuel had been excited about.
They receive help from the French police concerning l’affaire Cheever while enjoying the marvellously described scenery of the South of France and many great examples of French cuisine.They encounter the Berluc-Vidal family, owners of a vast estate: one of their workers is also murdered and his cabin ransacked.
In Cannes they visit an odd antique shop (complete with a mischievous monkey) where the miniature was bought and find out about a document concerning the history, elopement and death of the woman in the picture.
At this point Cromwell decides “The whole things a mess…” but dogged detection wins out in the end and there is a dramatic conclusion in High Provence.
This is not my favourite in the series but the convoluted sub plots and wonderful descriptive passages evoking French scenery, food and hospitality make for very good reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ipso Books for the review copy.
The Inspector and his Sergeant follow Samuel’s route south to the Riviera. With them is a mysterious miniature Cromwell bought from Mrs. Cheever and which Samuel had been excited about.
They receive help from the French police concerning l’affaire Cheever while enjoying the marvellously described scenery of the South of France and many great examples of French cuisine.They encounter the Berluc-Vidal family, owners of a vast estate: one of their workers is also murdered and his cabin ransacked.
In Cannes they visit an odd antique shop (complete with a mischievous monkey) where the miniature was bought and find out about a document concerning the history, elopement and death of the woman in the picture.
At this point Cromwell decides “The whole things a mess…” but dogged detection wins out in the end and there is a dramatic conclusion in High Provence.
This is not my favourite in the series but the convoluted sub plots and wonderful descriptive passages evoking French scenery, food and hospitality make for very good reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ipso Books for the review copy.
July 19, 2025
What happened to Cheever?
The Englishman who wrote mysteries as George Bellairs was a Francophile. I’m not. I read one book set in France (“Death in Room Five”) and didn’t like it much. Started reading another one (“Death in High Provence”), couldn’t get interested, and dropped it. Yet I read this one with pleasure.
I think it’s because Superintendent Littlejohn is in France officially and has Sergeant Cromwell with him. Letty Littlejohn is a pearl of a wife and worth more than those Biblical rubies, but murders should be investigated by police officers. The affectionate relationship between Littlejohn and Cromwell is one of the most important features of this series and I enjoy books more if they’re working together and the author is contrasting their personalities and viewpoints.
The odd thing is that anyone CARES what happened to Cheever. He’s a shoddy little twister who’s served time for receiving stolen goods. He and his wife run a shabby “antique” store for suckers. But it’s election year and one energetic member of Parliament wants to show how much he cares about his constituents. So he’s asking questions in Parliament, implying that Scotland Yard is falling down on the job.
Cheever’s body has been found in a lake in the Camargue, an isolated, swampy region in the south of France, used mainly for raising sheep. Immersed in water for several weeks, the body is identified by his false teeth. Mrs Cheever makes no attempt to pose as a grieving widow. She just wants proof he’s gone so she can settle the estate.
She claims he went to the area seeking information about a miniature. He bought miniatures cheaply in France and then resold them for large profits to American collectors. This collector wanted the history of the miniature. At least, that was Cheever’s story. Cromwell is charmed by the miniature and buys it,
Littlejohn and Cromwell find a family with whom Cheever has been friends since WWII. He’s fathered a child with the daughter of the family and claims he’s getting a divorce to marry her. Likely, isn’t it?
The largest landowners in the area say the miniature is a family heirloom of an ancestress and they want it back. Then one of the herders who may have information is killed. Someone's hiding something, but what?
As always, the biggest problem in the investigation is that everyone is lying. Most of the lies have nothing to do with the murder, but all must be sorted through to find the one that does. It’s time consuming, but just part of police work.
The French police roll out the red carpet for Superintendent Littlejohn, as they always do. He’s appalled at their rough treatment of suspects. They think he’s too soft to get confessions, but there’s mutual respect. Cromwell picks up some French and enjoys the look into a life very different from the one he lives in England.
It’s a good mystery, even if it is set in France. Eventually, the murderer is caught, with the assistance of a bad-tempered billy goat, and the MP must find something else to show how hard he’s working for his constituents. Police work is hard and sometimes dangerous, but it’s a walk in the park compared to politics.
The Englishman who wrote mysteries as George Bellairs was a Francophile. I’m not. I read one book set in France (“Death in Room Five”) and didn’t like it much. Started reading another one (“Death in High Provence”), couldn’t get interested, and dropped it. Yet I read this one with pleasure.
I think it’s because Superintendent Littlejohn is in France officially and has Sergeant Cromwell with him. Letty Littlejohn is a pearl of a wife and worth more than those Biblical rubies, but murders should be investigated by police officers. The affectionate relationship between Littlejohn and Cromwell is one of the most important features of this series and I enjoy books more if they’re working together and the author is contrasting their personalities and viewpoints.
The odd thing is that anyone CARES what happened to Cheever. He’s a shoddy little twister who’s served time for receiving stolen goods. He and his wife run a shabby “antique” store for suckers. But it’s election year and one energetic member of Parliament wants to show how much he cares about his constituents. So he’s asking questions in Parliament, implying that Scotland Yard is falling down on the job.
Cheever’s body has been found in a lake in the Camargue, an isolated, swampy region in the south of France, used mainly for raising sheep. Immersed in water for several weeks, the body is identified by his false teeth. Mrs Cheever makes no attempt to pose as a grieving widow. She just wants proof he’s gone so she can settle the estate.
She claims he went to the area seeking information about a miniature. He bought miniatures cheaply in France and then resold them for large profits to American collectors. This collector wanted the history of the miniature. At least, that was Cheever’s story. Cromwell is charmed by the miniature and buys it,
Littlejohn and Cromwell find a family with whom Cheever has been friends since WWII. He’s fathered a child with the daughter of the family and claims he’s getting a divorce to marry her. Likely, isn’t it?
The largest landowners in the area say the miniature is a family heirloom of an ancestress and they want it back. Then one of the herders who may have information is killed. Someone's hiding something, but what?
As always, the biggest problem in the investigation is that everyone is lying. Most of the lies have nothing to do with the murder, but all must be sorted through to find the one that does. It’s time consuming, but just part of police work.
The French police roll out the red carpet for Superintendent Littlejohn, as they always do. He’s appalled at their rough treatment of suspects. They think he’s too soft to get confessions, but there’s mutual respect. Cromwell picks up some French and enjoys the look into a life very different from the one he lives in England.
It’s a good mystery, even if it is set in France. Eventually, the murderer is caught, with the assistance of a bad-tempered billy goat, and the MP must find something else to show how hard he’s working for his constituents. Police work is hard and sometimes dangerous, but it’s a walk in the park compared to politics.
June 11, 2017
4 stars
Superintendent Littlejohn and Sergeant Cromwell have another adventure in this novel. A man who calls himself an antique dealer, but is really a person of questionable character who deals in shady goods and likes to “put it about” as they say goes missing in France, Littlejohn and Cromwell are sent to follow his footsteps.
Samuel Cheever’s remains are found and when the body’s false teeth are identified by the local Francaster dentist, his Samuel’s wife does not seem to be overly grieving. She sells Cromwell a “minnachure” painting of a woman from 1860. (Mrs. Cheever’s language is a hoot.) Cromwell is entranced by the miniature.
Arriving in France, they meet cowboys, gypsies, dwarves, monkeys and bullfighters. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. This book offers a brief travelogue of the countryside of France. Its beautiful countryside, culture and colorful inhabitants are beautifully drawn. Littlejohn thinks that it’s almost like being on holiday.
When one of the cowboys gets murdered, items belonging to Cheevers are discovered in his home. It seems he must have looted the body before he reported the death to the police. Suddenly, the locals don’t want the English policemen around anymore. Littlejohn and Cromwell are glad to leave and continue following in Cheevers’ footsteps and leave the investigation of the cowboy to the French police.
Following clues and interviewing reluctant witnesses involved in the case, they finally arrive at the truth of Samuel Cheevers’ murder.
This book is very well written and plotted, as are all of George Bellaire’s novels. It builds the suspense slowly. Littlejohn and Cromwell make a great team. They get along so well and their personalities seem to complement each other beautifully. This is a very nice little cozy mystery.
I want to thank Netgalley and Ipso Books for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book to read.
Superintendent Littlejohn and Sergeant Cromwell have another adventure in this novel. A man who calls himself an antique dealer, but is really a person of questionable character who deals in shady goods and likes to “put it about” as they say goes missing in France, Littlejohn and Cromwell are sent to follow his footsteps.
Samuel Cheever’s remains are found and when the body’s false teeth are identified by the local Francaster dentist, his Samuel’s wife does not seem to be overly grieving. She sells Cromwell a “minnachure” painting of a woman from 1860. (Mrs. Cheever’s language is a hoot.) Cromwell is entranced by the miniature.
Arriving in France, they meet cowboys, gypsies, dwarves, monkeys and bullfighters. Everyone is very friendly and helpful. This book offers a brief travelogue of the countryside of France. Its beautiful countryside, culture and colorful inhabitants are beautifully drawn. Littlejohn thinks that it’s almost like being on holiday.
When one of the cowboys gets murdered, items belonging to Cheevers are discovered in his home. It seems he must have looted the body before he reported the death to the police. Suddenly, the locals don’t want the English policemen around anymore. Littlejohn and Cromwell are glad to leave and continue following in Cheevers’ footsteps and leave the investigation of the cowboy to the French police.
Following clues and interviewing reluctant witnesses involved in the case, they finally arrive at the truth of Samuel Cheevers’ murder.
This book is very well written and plotted, as are all of George Bellaire’s novels. It builds the suspense slowly. Littlejohn and Cromwell make a great team. They get along so well and their personalities seem to complement each other beautifully. This is a very nice little cozy mystery.
I want to thank Netgalley and Ipso Books for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book to read.
February 6, 2026
I always enjoy Bellair’s Inspector Littlejohn books, I liked this but it wasn’t a favourite.
Sammy Cheever, an antique dealer of shady repute, has gone missing. A body is eventually turns up, badly decomposed in the mud by a lake in the Carmargue area of France.
Littlejohn and Cromwell go over in a more unofficial capacity to try to find out what happened.
This tale takes the pair all round the area in trains, taxis and cars. Lots of descriptions of the land, the customs, the scenery. Lots about what they eat and drink and all the while getting nowhere fast due a lot to reticent locals, who either won’t speak or just plain lie about everything. Only by tracing Cheever’s footsteps and where he journeyed to do they begin to see the light.
Bellairs was fond of France and you can tell the deep impression it made on him here. Apart from the police and a helpful doctor there isn’t anyone likeable in the story (which isn’t that unusual).
Sammy Cheever, an antique dealer of shady repute, has gone missing. A body is eventually turns up, badly decomposed in the mud by a lake in the Carmargue area of France.
Littlejohn and Cromwell go over in a more unofficial capacity to try to find out what happened.
This tale takes the pair all round the area in trains, taxis and cars. Lots of descriptions of the land, the customs, the scenery. Lots about what they eat and drink and all the while getting nowhere fast due a lot to reticent locals, who either won’t speak or just plain lie about everything. Only by tracing Cheever’s footsteps and where he journeyed to do they begin to see the light.
Bellairs was fond of France and you can tell the deep impression it made on him here. Apart from the police and a helpful doctor there isn’t anyone likeable in the story (which isn’t that unusual).
July 30, 2017
Thanks to this ARC from netgalley, I was introduced to George Bellairs. I'd read of him, but Bones in the Wilderness was my first foray into his books. I was charmed by the time and the place -- England and France in the mid-20th century. (The book was first published in 1959). Bellairs wrote very lovingly of France, regions both obscure and celebrated. But this was more than a literary time capsule, and confirmed that a good story is timeless. What was unexpected for me was the amount of humor laced into the suspense and skillful travelogue. I will seek out more of Detectives Littlejohn and Cromwell.
October 13, 2021
Another excellent Littlejohn mystery. A British antique dealer, Samuel Cheever, has gone missing. He left his store and his wife for a trip to France where he hopes to find some good deals, including more miniatures like the one he bought last year. His body is later found in the swampy Camargue wilderness in the Rhone delta. Littlejohn and Cromwell are pressured by the MP from Cheever’s district to bring his murderer to justice. What they find are drug dealers, adultery, and a proud tradition of guardians (French cowboys). Bellairs has a real talent for describing landscapes, as well as the meals that Littlejohn and Cromwell eat. You feel like you’re there!
September 15, 2017
A rare miss in this series - Littlejohn and Cromwell, for me, sauntering around the Med and encountering all sorts of French stereotypes was a bridge too far. This read more like a reverse-engineered vacation (for Mr. Bellairs) than a novel; the writing sprung to life when describing food, which is great for a travelogue, but tends to show that shabbiness of the rest of the rooms in this context.. The mystery remained uninteresting and the shady antiques world even more so. A pass.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2019
I love the way Bellairs wrote. He captures beautifully the landscapes and people which really add to his detective stories. This book once again sees Littlejohn in the South of France with some characters we know from previous stories. Littlejohn and Cromwell have a tough case to crack, finding the murderer of Cheever but they get their in the end. I've got to give Bellairs extra credit for his mention of my own home town.
December 2, 2019
What wonderful descriptions of southern France, of the Camargue and of the way of life lived there for centuries. The description of meals was obviously a source of great pleasure to the author and is so to the reader too. I love Bellairs and here his writing is as good as ever. It really does conjure images before the eyes. The star is dropped simply because the story seems to come second to the scenery on occasion but it’s a delight nonetheless.
May 19, 2017
Mr. Cheever, a shady antiques dealer, goes to buy antiques in France and never comes back. When bones are found in the wilderness in France, Inspector Littlejohn and Sergeant Cromwell are sent to investigate. They enter into another culture and work with famous French policemen find out what happened to Cheever.
Well-written. Interesting story and also interesting look at French cultures.
Well-written. Interesting story and also interesting look at French cultures.
January 31, 2018
A good read. Bones is a rumble through the south of France of nearly 70 years ago, so has that way-back machine feel. Littlejohn and his sergeant Cromwell are in search of a killer, and although they are totally on the wrong track for 90% of the book they get their man, sort of, but it's the looking, not the finding, that's the real story.
April 27, 2018
"Bones in the Wilderness" is Bellairs at his best. It's got everything you want it a great mystery: a good plot, great settings, and a credible ending. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is that, as good as Mr. Bellairs writing is, it doesn't quite make it to 21st century standards. I love those old writers from the Golden Age of Mystery but they did lack the polish of today's writers.
November 29, 2018
Early Bird Book Deal | Dull, mostly a travelogue | I suspect that Bellairs took a trip to the continent and wanted to write about France, so upon his return he came up with a pointless little half-mystery that could be the outer shell of his enthusiasm for the country. If I read the words "holiday feeling" one more time...
November 3, 2019
3 1/2 stars. It is a decent mystery. Though it seems to share equal time with France as subject matter of the book. The writer's love of France is obvious is glorious described food and wine. He also introduces the people, custom and region of France that is not as well known as Provenance, Paris, Brittany, etc. Fun book to read.
November 14, 2019
Excellent
Another case for Littlejohn and Cromwell, this time a second hand dealer Samuel Cheever from Francaster has gone to France to deal in antiquities and not returned, his local MP has made the call in parliament 'where is Cheever' and Scotland Yard are called to go to France to investigate his disappearance and subsequent death.
Another case for Littlejohn and Cromwell, this time a second hand dealer Samuel Cheever from Francaster has gone to France to deal in antiquities and not returned, his local MP has made the call in parliament 'where is Cheever' and Scotland Yard are called to go to France to investigate his disappearance and subsequent death.
March 22, 2024
A rare "did not finish" Bellairs novel. The ones where Detective Littlejohn goes to either France or the Isle of Man are really hit or miss - the author loved both places and tended to turn some of these into travelogs rather than mysteries as he's done with this one. I made it the over 1/3 through and had had enough. Detection was minimal.
April 19, 2018
A trip around France
Another great book with Inspector Littlejohn, chasing all over France trying to gather information about a very decomposed body that was found in the wilds of France.
Another great book with Inspector Littlejohn, chasing all over France trying to gather information about a very decomposed body that was found in the wilds of France.
March 2, 2019
Not my favourite Littlejohn novel. Too much dependence on descriptions of the scenery and the meals. And the booze, of course - god, they can put it away. And never a hangover.
I'll try another book or two but I'm getting a bit tired.
I'll try another book or two but I'm getting a bit tired.
August 9, 2024
Bellairs cannily used his favorite vacation spots (especially the Isle of Man) as venues for his many Littlejohn mysteries. This one in the south of France is much too much of a travelogue. Also, I’m willing to suspend disbelief but it’s not likely that Scotland Yard would send two senior officers abroad to deal with the disappearance of a two bit crook….
June 20, 2018
Almost more important than the mystery are the internal musings and observations of Cromwell. Bellairs also does a fabulous job with atmosphere, scenery, and human psychology.
December 10, 2021
Excellent!
April 25, 2023
3.5*
I am adding an extra half star for the wonderful setting in France :)
I am adding an extra half star for the wonderful setting in France :)
August 19, 2020
Slightly indifferent entry in this series. I’ve read a lot of these now and this is probably my my least favourite so far, but I can’t put my finger on why I didn’t like it. Just didn’t grab me.
August 10, 2020
A pair of Scotland Year detectives (Superintendent Littlejohn and Sergeant Cromwell) is sent to the south of France to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a shady English antiques dealer, Creever. When a pile of human remains found in a lake in the Camargue is identified as Creever it becomes a murder mystery for the detectives to solve with the support of Littlejohn's French police contacts.
Littlejohn and Cromwell have a grand time under the auspices of various French police agencies who go out of their way to accommodate their investigation. The British policemen travel extensively throughout Provence and the Rhone Valley, visiting Arles, Cannes and several other towns. It's a wonderful tour of the area and they sample fine hotels, food and wines native to the area. Along the way in the course of their investigation, they meet some bizarre characters, for example Madame Labourel with her pet monkey (who plays a pivotal role in the mystery). Even the French policemen are quirky. Eventually Littlejohn works out the identity of the killer and there's a chase in the mountains to capture him. A billy goat intervenes to bring the story to a dramatic conclusion.
This book was written in 1959 and is the 31st in the Littlejohn series. It can however be read as a standalone. It is not dated, except that today there would be cellphones and other modern modes of communication.
It's a twisty whodunit set against the backdrop of the French countryside (which is as much as characters as the humans). "Bones in the Wilderness" is an enjoyable and entertaining read. A short story appended to the eBook version fell short of the target for me, I guess I missed the point of it!
Littlejohn and Cromwell have a grand time under the auspices of various French police agencies who go out of their way to accommodate their investigation. The British policemen travel extensively throughout Provence and the Rhone Valley, visiting Arles, Cannes and several other towns. It's a wonderful tour of the area and they sample fine hotels, food and wines native to the area. Along the way in the course of their investigation, they meet some bizarre characters, for example Madame Labourel with her pet monkey (who plays a pivotal role in the mystery). Even the French policemen are quirky. Eventually Littlejohn works out the identity of the killer and there's a chase in the mountains to capture him. A billy goat intervenes to bring the story to a dramatic conclusion.
This book was written in 1959 and is the 31st in the Littlejohn series. It can however be read as a standalone. It is not dated, except that today there would be cellphones and other modern modes of communication.
It's a twisty whodunit set against the backdrop of the French countryside (which is as much as characters as the humans). "Bones in the Wilderness" is an enjoyable and entertaining read. A short story appended to the eBook version fell short of the target for me, I guess I missed the point of it!
June 18, 2026
This began brightly amid the amusingly dreary setting and characters of the English town of Francaster.
Unfortunately, in France we laboured under what became interminable descriptions of landscapes; there was very little in the way of the amusing characters I'd hoped to meet.
"Forlorn" seemed to be Bellairs' favourite word in the early part of Littlejohn's investigations in France. And his compulsion to write a word in French followed by its English translation became tedious. Okay, it proves he'd done his research into Provencal bull-fighting, for example, but it also interferes with the flow of the story.
There was too little story and too much description of the environment, which for me fell increasingly flat. Not one of Littlejohn's better investigations.
Unfortunately, in France we laboured under what became interminable descriptions of landscapes; there was very little in the way of the amusing characters I'd hoped to meet.
"Forlorn" seemed to be Bellairs' favourite word in the early part of Littlejohn's investigations in France. And his compulsion to write a word in French followed by its English translation became tedious. Okay, it proves he'd done his research into Provencal bull-fighting, for example, but it also interferes with the flow of the story.
There was too little story and too much description of the environment, which for me fell increasingly flat. Not one of Littlejohn's better investigations.
January 8, 2013
Having just re-read this after about 15 years, I found it just as enjoyable as before. A rather unlikely romp by two Scotland Yard oficers, around France investigating the mysterious death of an English
antique dealer. Helped by all the local police, they eventually sort it all out. Just as much a travel guide
as a mystery story but nonetheless enjoyable for that.
Recommended.
antique dealer. Helped by all the local police, they eventually sort it all out. Just as much a travel guide
as a mystery story but nonetheless enjoyable for that.
Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews