Paul Temple and the Kelby Affair

Paul Temple #10

by Francis Durbridge

Detective and mystery stories. Radio's smoothest sleuth and his glamorous wife solve a case of international mystery. From 1938 to 1969 crime novelist and detective, Paul Temple and his Fleet Street journalist wife, Steve solved case after case in one of BBC radio's most popular serials. They inhabit a sophisticated, well-dressed world of chilled cocktails and fast cars, where the women are chic and the men still wear cravats; and, where Sir Graham Forbes of Scotland Yard always needs Paul's help with a tricky case. international mystery. From 1938 to 1969 crime novelist and detective, Paul Temple and his Fleet Street journalist wife, Steve solved case after case in one of BBC radio's most popular serials. They inhabit a sophisticated, well-dressed world of chilled cocktails and fast cars, where the women are chic and the men still wear cravats; and, where Sir Graham Forbes of Scotland Yard always needs Paul's help with a tricky case.

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Classics

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Francis Henry Durbridge was an English playwright and author born in Hull. In 1938, he created the character Paul Temple for the BBC radio serial Send for Paul Temple.

A crime novelist and detective, the gentlemanly Temple solved numerous crimes with the help of Steve Trent, a Fleet Street journalist who later became his wife. The character proved enormously popular and appeared in 16 radio serials and later spawned a 64-part big-budget television series (1969-71) and radio productions, as well as a number of comic strips, four feature films and various foreign radio productions.

Francis Durbridge also had a successful career as a writer for the stage and screen. His most successful play, Suddenly at Home, ran in London’s West End for over a year.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy the Paul Temple mysteries.

[Lynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The weakest of the Temples to date in that Durbridge seems to be struggling to adapt to Swinging London and the attitudes expressed now read as extremely dated. Steve is very much a peripheral and empty figure; rather than a hard boiled news reporter, she seems to have been transformed into some sort of record sleeve designer whose main thought is staying slim and beautiful. Her one moment of sleuthing is ridiculous in that she decides upon a spot of breaking and entering whilst retaining an armful of jangling bangles and reeking of a distinctive perfume that is swiftly spotted.
The plot itself is nebulous although several bodies appear before the denouement and again it is Durbridge attempting to introduce sex into his story in order to keep up with contemporary attitudes. Part of Temple's charm is that he belongs firmly in the post-war era of deference and the gentleman sleuth, not a world of egg shaped Swedish chairs and mini-skirts, a world in which, in spite of Durbridge's efforts, the perennially youthful Paul struggles to fit.
In spite of this being little more than 140 pages, it was a struggle to read within a week; a huge contrast with the earlier, lengthier novels which are easily finished within a day or so. Overall, this was an immense disappointment.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3

a short fast moving novel that felt very typical of the PT series as a whole.
the plot starts with a potentially embarrassing diary being considered for publication, the disappearance of the titular character and the introduction of PT.
The book then follows his investigations and the subsequent murders (not a plot spoiler as the PT novels always have a number of murders occurring) up to his final solution.
The novel has dated in a few places which i did find surprising as it is a 1970 published book, but felt older to me.
I'm not sure if the solution was really logical based off of the clues that we see PT collect as the finale happens quite suddenly after a couple of more murders, and not just a guess by PT (and the police) due to the number of possible suspects left alive .
The PT radio serials always worked very well, even if the author recycles plot points and situations across the years - original listeners would never have noticed I think.
The PT books go from very good to okay at times and I think this title was only okay for me.
Nothing fancy or that memorable to be honest, a good read to pass the time but not one I will ever re-read.
Still a recommendation though.

[Chris Thornton · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Paul Temple adventures are always a delightful escape from the real world, allowing the listener to retreat into a cosy world of cocktails, where murder is an entertaining puzzle to be solved.

This entry is no exception, although as the author attempts to reflect some of the changes to society since he originally created the series, some of the safety and innocence is lost this time around.

The diary around which the plot revolves hits at sexual activity that would have previously been deemed taboo for the series - presumably inspired by the Profumo Affair in this decade.

Paul’s wife Steve frustratingly has less agency in this story than in previous adventures, but thankfully isn’t sidelined completely.

One for fans only - not a story to hook new readers (or listeners) but another jolly outing with a slightly edgier feel.

[Sue Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fun listen, Paul is not too patriarchal and Steve pushes against the limits of their age.
Paul's publisher has taken a scandalous manuscript diary to a scholar (Alfred Kelby) who has immediately disappeared along with the manuscript. Did they disappear together and are either of them still in existence.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scandalous diary and a series of murders occur.

The story, characters and pace were all good, but the writing and some of the attitudes expressed felt dated.

Overall rating 3.5.

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Durbridge novel and I enjoyed it although it was a bit of a blood bath - not in terms of gore but in terms of the number of the cast list who didn’t make it to the end.

[Booksnpieces · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best Paul Temple I've listened too but would do to pass the time on a long journey.

[Muphyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another Paul Temple case - about a missing diary and, of course, a murder.

I normally love the Paul Temple mysteries but this was a struggle to get through - perhaps because I usually listen to the BBC full dramatisations and this one is simply narrated.

For starters, there were too many characters who I just couldn't distinguish, and I had to replay sections again and again to get some idea of who was being followed, threatened, and murdered. His wife Steve also voiced some strange feminist thoughts about still being able to support herself. That never seemed to have worried her before though. Maybe because it was set in the 1970s and life was changing. Somehow, it just didn't seem like a true Paul Temple mystery.

I think I just found it all a bit strange and confusing, and unlike the other cases, I doubt I would listen to this one again.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...

[Henni · Rating 2 out of 5]

hvis det ikke lige var fordi, en af Francis Durbridges andre bøger et baggrund for min absolut yndlingsradioteater, havde jeg ikke læst denne krimi færdig - den er ikke ret god. Men hovedpersonen er den samme, så for hyggens skyld måtte jeg vide slutningen.
Men kender du ikke til Gregory-mysteriet - så vælg noget andet.

[Deana Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Not the best Paul Temple mystery I've read but would pass the time on a long train journey.
A bit depressing and a little tawdry. And Steve needs to stop Paul buying her outfits. A red lace trouser suit? For the love of Lagerfeld, what is she? A porn star?

[Reetta Saine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great British "back to the basics" - mystery!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A diary containing lots of scandalous material is stolen, and everybody who's read it seems to die in unusual cirmcumstances. A decent audio for the car.

[Susan Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Paul Temple and Steve stories! This was good.

[Jackie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave this book two opportunities. I'm sorry but life's too precious. Too short. Couldn't do it in the end. Ho-hum. Yawn.