Unbecoming habits

Simon Bognor #1

by Tim Heald

When Brother Luke is found lying face-down among the potatoes, with deep magenta marks around his neck which match the pattern of the crucifix chain he always wore, it’s up to Simon Bognor, special investigator for the Board of Trade, to find out what happened. Can the soft, rumpled, desk-bound Bognor succeed where his tough, experienced predecessor failed rather spectacularly?

Genres: Mystery

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Tim Heald (b. 1944) is a journalist and author of mysteries. Born in Dorchester, England, he studied modern history at Oxford before becoming a reporter and columnist for the Sunday Times. He began writing novels in the early 1970s, starting with Unbecoming Habits (1973), which introduced Simon Bognor, a defiantly lazy investigator for the British Board of Trade. Heald followed Bognor through nine more novels, including Murder at Moose Jaw (1981) and Business Unusual (1989) before taking a two-decade break from the series, which returned in 2011 with Death in the Opening Chapter.

Reviews

[Angie Boyter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before Brother Luke was found in the vegetable garden strangled by his own crucifix chain, the biggest challenge for Beaubridge Friary was producing its signature honey for the next Expo-Brit trade fair. Unfortunately, “Brother Luke” was really an undercover agent sent into the friary to investigate a suspicion that it was sending more than honey overseas and that someone was also funneling sensitive information to Communist countries during the fairs. Enter Board of Trade agent Simon Bognor, who is sent to Beaubridge to look into Brother Luke’s death. Bognor has mixed emotions about the assignment. It will be his first field work. On the other hand, it will interfere with his plans for lunch at his club. Before his work is completed, however, Bognor encounters more unpleasantness, including lumpy porridge, bad pub sandwiches, and, oh, yes, another murder and an assault on Bognor himself.
Unbecoming Habits, the first of the Simon Bognor series, was originally published in 1973 and has a lovely period flavor read today. In addition to the Cold War atmosphere, the vestiges of old-school British manner are nicely personified in several wealthy and/or titled minor characters. The writing has the classic wit that endears the British whodunit to so many readers, such as when Father Xavier says, “ I regard hypocrisy as my greatest personal attribute.” The picture of life at the friary is enjoyable, with nice touches such as Father Anselm’s regret at sanctioning the reading of P. G. Wodehouse aloud during meals.
This is not a character-driven book, like many modern British series. I did not get a strong sense of Bognor as a person, but that may have been the point; he does not lack intelligence, but a lack of initiative is definitely one of his more prominent traits.
This is a light enjoyable read that will transport you back to a time that is rapidly being called “history”.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get to a higher rating than other readers because i read several later Bognor outings before i found this initial one, and struck me as considerably better than the episodes which follow. That's unusual; usually an author gets stronger as a series progresses, but that is not the case here.

Heald becomes more formulaic in this series, and this first time out version avoids all that. There is no femme fatale, no endless comments about Bogner's ineptitude, almost no trouble with his supervisor, Parkinson, and only a brief inclusion of his relationship with Monica two-thirds of the way through the story. But the line "extremely dead" appears for the first time here and in most books which follow.

Meanwhile, there are four-letter words (which do not appear after this one, though I have not read all of the series), and some very funny moments.

Sure, the plot is dated. The Cold War is long past, so an espionage caper set in that affair borders on quaint. But the brothers in the monastic order are pretty distinct from each other and generally amusingly eccentric. All in all, kind of a fun read, though not one to crow about, I guess.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and one-half Stars edging to four

Several things stand out - The book was written some 45 years old, when the Cold War and espionage were real. British mysteries still had the air of what later was called a "cozy," where violence took place, but was subdued or underplayed. Surely, it was not the gruesome and embellished gore of recent Nordic Noire to which we have become inured.

Hardly outstanding by 21st century standards, but still an entertaining read with moments of unexpected humor.

[Belinda Avdek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The different characters made the story so interesting. Each had his or her quirk of a personality. The story was interesting too. Highly recommended the Simon Bognor series. I will read the next one for sure.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written c. 1973. It hinges a whodunit plot on Cold War spying. It is competently written but hardly compelling. Also it was fairly obvious who the villain was if not the entire plot by the 40% point.

I've read worse, but I've also read better.

[Janet Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy a mystery now and then especially after reading heavier non-fiction or fiction. After The Sixteenth Rail, I needed to cleanse the palate, so to speak. I found the main character, Simon Bogner, somewhat endearing. The author describes his speech, appearance, and personality through his thoughts, dialogue, and actions. What the story lacked in originality was balanced by the sedcondary characters and their individual problems which were somewhat unusual for a group of Anglican friars. I don't think I'll be reading any more books in this series, but I did enjoy the book.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was between a 3 and a 4 for me. I gave it a 3 as a mystery and a 4 for the main character. He was smart but sometimes clueless. He definitely wasn't a Bond and more likeable for it. Some others have commented that it moved too slowly for them, but the sometimes slow pace gave it more a reality check.

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This ARC was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

This book was about murders in a monastery, a cover-up, and priest shenanigans. It was interesting, but I found it a little dry.

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated now, and full of upper class, Oxford, public school overtones. A murder story with a Cold War twist, it is slow moving but quite quaint in it's own way

[Michael Brunson · Rating 2 out of 5]

That was tedious.

I am one of those not to give up on a book once I have started. The most gracious thing I can say of this is that it is finally finished. You might like it, but, not my cup of tea.