The man in the mews : a novel,

by Joy Packer

G-572/50 [Originally]

Genres: Gothic

Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Joy Petersen was born and educated in Cape Town, graduating as a journalist from the University of Cape Town. She worked initially as a free-lance journalist, in 1931 becoming a reporter for London's Daily Express. After this she spent time on radio in Hong Kong as well as a stint writing for British publications in the Balkans. World War II saw her as a broadcaster to South Africa for the BBC, then later working in the Ministry of Information in Egypt, as at Allied Headquarters in Italy. Her travelling was tied up with her marriage to a British admiral, Sir Herbert Packer. When her husband was knighted in the 1950 Honours list Mrs. Joy Packer automatically became known as "Lady Packer", a courtesy title.

Her first works of note were three volumes of memoirs published from 1945 to 1953 dealing with her travels throughout the world during the period before, during and just after World War II with her husband. Places visited included Britain, the Mediterranean, the Balkans and China. In the early 1950s she went on a substantial tour of Africa, which is included in her later published final three volumes of memoirs.

In the 1950s, she also began publishing novels, starting with Valley of the Vines in 1955, which sold more than 600 000 copies in English, and was translated into at least nine European languages. Although her novels principal themes were romantic, several sources state them as also important for their sociopolitical commentary of South Africa at the time. Her second novel, Nor the Moon by Night was made into a British film of the same name. In America, it was released as Elephant Gun.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must have read this book many years ago. When I started reading it this time I was a bit put out with Joy Packer's dialogue, saying things like, "I'll do that thing" a number of times. I persevered with it and eventually found the plot quite compelling and entertaining although I don't think she was a particularly good writer. Still, I have a few of her novels in my collection so I will go through them gradually when I have some spare time.

[Seabear · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good afternoon read but not my favourite of the Packer novels. Not set on the rolling velds on Constantia Valley for a change, this novel shifts to London but with South African immigrants. A little creepy in parts, a little darker than other Packer novels, I found myself missing references to golden vinyards, the vibrancy of the Cape 'coloureds' and the lives of the South African people in the mid century setting.

[Paul Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book written by a South African author is set in the UK and South Africa. The writing is descriptive and I enjoyed researching the places mentioned in the book on Google maps. More than that I was glad I read through to the end. Although the end seemed rushed it was well worth it and all the loose ends are tied up.