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Testkill
Cricket Thriller - a tale of murder and suspense.
188 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 10, 2018
The cricketing great Ted Dexter wrote this mystery, about a murder happening during a test match between England and Australia at Lord's. That is its only claim to fame - the story is extremely pedestrian. Sportsmen should stick to what they are good at.
March 24, 2026
As a detective story it’s dire. A vast cast of characters, poorly fleshed out. Sketchy motives that are picked up and dropped at whim, and the actual motive and the killer are shoehorned in at the very end - I suspect because Dexter (or more likely his co-writer) realised they hadn’t actually worked out whodunnit - or howdunnit - or whydunnit.
That said, the actual bits about cricket (and the socialising, the drinking, the parties and the hangers on) are very vivid and surprisingly well-written…not least because Dexter was clearly writing these bits from experience.
As a detective story it’s dire, as a gentle reminiscence on test cricket in the 60s/70s it’s slightly more passable.
Dexter and his co-writer teamed up for a golf detective story, which was even worse.
If you want a good cricket detective story, then Mike Marquese’s ‘Slow Turn’ is what you should read. Test Kill is worth picking up for 50p as an idle curiosity. Nothing more.
That said, the actual bits about cricket (and the socialising, the drinking, the parties and the hangers on) are very vivid and surprisingly well-written…not least because Dexter was clearly writing these bits from experience.
As a detective story it’s dire, as a gentle reminiscence on test cricket in the 60s/70s it’s slightly more passable.
Dexter and his co-writer teamed up for a golf detective story, which was even worse.
If you want a good cricket detective story, then Mike Marquese’s ‘Slow Turn’ is what you should read. Test Kill is worth picking up for 50p as an idle curiosity. Nothing more.
September 8, 2021
I was prompted to read this novel following reports of the recent death of Ted Dexter, one of the great post-war English batsmen, and a powerful force in the game of cricket. A natural athlete, he was also a notable tennis player, and was reckoned to be within a whisker of securing his Blue at Cambridge for both rugby and tennis. I remember enjoying his contributions to the coverage of Test matches during the 1970s and 1980s, not least for the frequent distant stare that settled on his features in the afternoon, following what had presumably been a liquid lunch.
Alcohol seems to be almost as prominent a feature of this novel, set during the Lords Test in the middle of the Ashes series, as cricket. Scarcely more than a few minutes elapse without one character or another reaching for a drink.
Overall, this book was disappointing. While the depictions of the cricket match against which the story is set are glorious, and resonant with Dexter’s expert insight, the story and the characters are woefully inadequate.
Alcohol seems to be almost as prominent a feature of this novel, set during the Lords Test in the middle of the Ashes series, as cricket. Scarcely more than a few minutes elapse without one character or another reaching for a drink.
Overall, this book was disappointing. While the depictions of the cricket match against which the story is set are glorious, and resonant with Dexter’s expert insight, the story and the characters are woefully inadequate.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews