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Carolus Deene #20
Death On Allhallowe'en
Carolus Deene is summoned to a small Kentish village where the presence of a possible coven of witches lends an eerie aura to the presumed "accidental" death of a young local boy a year ago on Hallowe'en. Before his work is completed, Carolus Deene has the answers to this and two other deaths.
178 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 6, 2019
"Carolus Deene, the history schoolmaster and amateur detective with his own inimitable style of solving mysteries involving violent death, is summoned to a small Kentish village by an old friend. In this, the presence of a possible coven of witches lends an eerie aura to the presumed 'accidental' death of a young local boy a year ago on Hallowe'en. This October, Deene tries -- in vain -- to ascertain who among the odd villagers of Clibburn (from the Old High German for 'cloven' according to Carolus) will be the next victim. Despite a trick to have him elsewhere, he is present when a popular local figure is shot dead on the stroke of midnight, and before his work is completed Carolus Deene has the answers to two other deaths.
"While he is not sure how seriously to treat the local witchcraft stories, he does perceive how an event in the past can have provided a blackmailer with a rare opportunity for profit -- at which point Deene's own life is in vert real danger."
~~back cover
Mysteries involving witchcraft just aren't my cuppa, so decided to give this one a miss.
"While he is not sure how seriously to treat the local witchcraft stories, he does perceive how an event in the past can have provided a blackmailer with a rare opportunity for profit -- at which point Deene's own life is in vert real danger."
~~back cover
Mysteries involving witchcraft just aren't my cuppa, so decided to give this one a miss.
October 30, 2024
Carolus Deene is a college professor who does a little sleuthing on the side. His friend, Father John Stainer, tells him he thinks something nasty is going on in his little village of Clibburn near Kent. A year ago, a small boy died from pneumonia, but John thinks there's more too it. Now, coming again on All Hallowe'en, he's afraid more will happen and wants Carolus to look into it.
Of course he agrees, and heads to Clibburn to stay with John. When he meets a man named Connor, he seems shaken because he thinks someone has taken a shot at him. Carolus presses him (gently) for more information, but Connor refuses. It is then that he has a true mystery on his hands. He's determined to figure out what it is that Connor is hiding, and if it is connected in any way to the death of young Cyril a year ago.
What Carolus finds is that someone wants him out of the village, and soon. He's not easily intimidated, and he knows he may very well put himself in danger; but he proceeds with his investigation, sharing what he finds with the local police. It's interesting what you can discover when you ask people the right questions, isn't it?...
This is the first book that I have read by Leo Bruce, but it is certainly not going to be the last. I found this mystery so well done, in fact, that I did not know the murderer until nearly the very end, later than Mr. Deene did, himself. It was a delight to read, especially since it coincided with the Halloween time as well. (I do love to 'read the season', as it were).
Watching Carolus look for answers among the village people was definitely worth it alone. Some of them were first and foremost nasty humans that one would not want to spend time with; but there were others that were just those who wanted to live their lives. Yet all of them were connected in some way or another, even if it were only vicariously.
When the truth comes out, it is definitely a terrible sight. Even Carolus was disgusted by what he found. But human nature is uncontrollable, and things will occur even if we don't like them. Evil exists. Murder does happen, and it is never pleasant.
The book was a very good read, and the clues not so easy to find. But all in all, it made me respect Mr. Bruce and want to look for others he has written. Highly recommended.
Of course he agrees, and heads to Clibburn to stay with John. When he meets a man named Connor, he seems shaken because he thinks someone has taken a shot at him. Carolus presses him (gently) for more information, but Connor refuses. It is then that he has a true mystery on his hands. He's determined to figure out what it is that Connor is hiding, and if it is connected in any way to the death of young Cyril a year ago.
What Carolus finds is that someone wants him out of the village, and soon. He's not easily intimidated, and he knows he may very well put himself in danger; but he proceeds with his investigation, sharing what he finds with the local police. It's interesting what you can discover when you ask people the right questions, isn't it?...
This is the first book that I have read by Leo Bruce, but it is certainly not going to be the last. I found this mystery so well done, in fact, that I did not know the murderer until nearly the very end, later than Mr. Deene did, himself. It was a delight to read, especially since it coincided with the Halloween time as well. (I do love to 'read the season', as it were).
Watching Carolus look for answers among the village people was definitely worth it alone. Some of them were first and foremost nasty humans that one would not want to spend time with; but there were others that were just those who wanted to live their lives. Yet all of them were connected in some way or another, even if it were only vicariously.
When the truth comes out, it is definitely a terrible sight. Even Carolus was disgusted by what he found. But human nature is uncontrollable, and things will occur even if we don't like them. Evil exists. Murder does happen, and it is never pleasant.
The book was a very good read, and the clues not so easy to find. But all in all, it made me respect Mr. Bruce and want to look for others he has written. Highly recommended.
October 20, 2023
I chose to read this because it is about the only Halloween themed crime novel I own. Originally published in 1970, amateur detective Carolus Deene must be one of the last incarnations of the 'gentleman' detective , with his patronising attitude to the police (which proves to be ill-founded)and a large private income. The book passed the time and the solution to the mystery was fairly ingenious but the characters are mostly very unpleasant and the whole thing has an air of nastiness.
October 17, 2019
I thought it would be fun to read a mystery with a hallowe'en setting. I didn't find it as creepy as I had hoped, but it was a quick and easy read and I enjoyed it. I like Leo Bruce's stories but prefer the Sergeant Beef ones to the Carolus Deene ones.
November 20, 2019
Carolus is brilliant as ever, but I couldn't bring myself to like any of the other characters.
October 30, 2014
He could believe that people led stealthy lives, obeying strange impulses and beliefs. Though mystery could belong as much to brightly lighted streets and conventional citizens, there was something in an atmosphere like this, the chilly river mist and the desolate landscape. (p. 19)
Carolus Deene, that intrepid amateur detective who uses the same techniques to unravel mysteries as he uses to unravel history for the schoolboys at Queen's School, Newminster, is invited to investigate the odd "goings on" at a small Kentish village. If it weren't for his long-standing friendship with John Stainer, the rector of Clibburn, he would never credit the tales of eerie atmosphere, local witchcraft, and undefinable evil. But when Stainer says, "I'll tell you candidly--I'm frightened" he believes him. And he understands when Stainer goes on to say
Listen Carolus, I'm not a fool, and I'm not superstitious. Obviously I don't believe in black magic or witchcraft or anything of the sort. That's to say I don't believe in what they represent. But I do believe that there are people who practise the rites, and I think such people are dangerous.
Carolus also takes seriously the death of a small boy who may have seen or actually been forced to participate in one of these rites. So, he agrees to come and put his amateur detective talents to work on discovering the true source of evil in Clibburn.
His task isn't an easy one. Stainer has lived in Clibburn for three years and still hasn't truly been accepted as the new rector. The residents, as often seems to be the case--especially in fiction, don't take well to "foreigners" and Carolus finds it difficult to get the villagers to give him much in the way of information. Fortunately, he's adept at reading between the lines and often what they aren't telling him is just as instructive as what they do.
He know he's getting close when the local "witch" tries to scare him off and then someone arranges for a telegram regarding the hospitalization of Mrs. Stick, his long-time housekeeper, to be delivered in a further effort to get him out of the way. Despite the trick, he manages to be present when a local figure is shot to death in a room full of people on the stroke of midnight. Once Carolus discovers how and by whom, he has the answers to both the boy's death and that of another, yet unsuspected, murder.
While I always enjoy Leo Bruce's detective fiction, Death on Allhawe'en (1970) is to be noted for its difference from the majority of the Carolus Deene books. It removes Carolus from the influence of both his domestic couple and the headmaster of Queen's School--each of whom constantly cast a disapproving eye on his detective antics while secretly loving every minute of the delicious tale when Carolus holds forth in the wrap-up scenes. We are also spared the frequently annoying presence of his schoolboy tag-along. What we get is straight Carolus on the track of village nastiness.
Bruce effectively describes the claustrophobic atmosphere of a village that keeps itself too much to itself while appearing to take local traditions and witchcraft much too seriously. Full marks for the mise-en-scène. Two things keep this mystery from being a full-fledged four-star read for me: 1. Lack of fair play. Carolus gives a fair impression of Holmes in the final scenes. He discovers vital evidence in a bank strong box, but keeps the clues close to his chest. There isn't any real way for the reader to guess what he's found and be able to fully understand the mystery. 2. The death of the young boy. While what really happened to the boy is not fully described (thankfully), I still get very squeamish when young children are involved. But that's a personal qualm--not necessarily a fault in the story-telling. ★★★ and a half stars.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Carolus Deene, that intrepid amateur detective who uses the same techniques to unravel mysteries as he uses to unravel history for the schoolboys at Queen's School, Newminster, is invited to investigate the odd "goings on" at a small Kentish village. If it weren't for his long-standing friendship with John Stainer, the rector of Clibburn, he would never credit the tales of eerie atmosphere, local witchcraft, and undefinable evil. But when Stainer says, "I'll tell you candidly--I'm frightened" he believes him. And he understands when Stainer goes on to say
Listen Carolus, I'm not a fool, and I'm not superstitious. Obviously I don't believe in black magic or witchcraft or anything of the sort. That's to say I don't believe in what they represent. But I do believe that there are people who practise the rites, and I think such people are dangerous.
Carolus also takes seriously the death of a small boy who may have seen or actually been forced to participate in one of these rites. So, he agrees to come and put his amateur detective talents to work on discovering the true source of evil in Clibburn.
His task isn't an easy one. Stainer has lived in Clibburn for three years and still hasn't truly been accepted as the new rector. The residents, as often seems to be the case--especially in fiction, don't take well to "foreigners" and Carolus finds it difficult to get the villagers to give him much in the way of information. Fortunately, he's adept at reading between the lines and often what they aren't telling him is just as instructive as what they do.
He know he's getting close when the local "witch" tries to scare him off and then someone arranges for a telegram regarding the hospitalization of Mrs. Stick, his long-time housekeeper, to be delivered in a further effort to get him out of the way. Despite the trick, he manages to be present when a local figure is shot to death in a room full of people on the stroke of midnight. Once Carolus discovers how and by whom, he has the answers to both the boy's death and that of another, yet unsuspected, murder.
While I always enjoy Leo Bruce's detective fiction, Death on Allhawe'en (1970) is to be noted for its difference from the majority of the Carolus Deene books. It removes Carolus from the influence of both his domestic couple and the headmaster of Queen's School--each of whom constantly cast a disapproving eye on his detective antics while secretly loving every minute of the delicious tale when Carolus holds forth in the wrap-up scenes. We are also spared the frequently annoying presence of his schoolboy tag-along. What we get is straight Carolus on the track of village nastiness.
Bruce effectively describes the claustrophobic atmosphere of a village that keeps itself too much to itself while appearing to take local traditions and witchcraft much too seriously. Full marks for the mise-en-scène. Two things keep this mystery from being a full-fledged four-star read for me: 1. Lack of fair play. Carolus gives a fair impression of Holmes in the final scenes. He discovers vital evidence in a bank strong box, but keeps the clues close to his chest. There isn't any real way for the reader to guess what he's found and be able to fully understand the mystery. 2. The death of the young boy. While what really happened to the boy is not fully described (thankfully), I still get very squeamish when young children are involved. But that's a personal qualm--not necessarily a fault in the story-telling. ★★★ and a half stars.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
October 31, 2016
First book I've read by this author, enjoyed it and picked it out to read right around Allhallowe'en as well. Nice length, 178 pages, and was a tight story where you had to keep events all in your mind and also watch the players in the game as well.
Deene is invited by a rector of a small parish to help see if he can find out the ominous feeling that he has been experiencing since the death of a young boy. From there, Deene finds the town (true to his friend's description) is filled with elements of witchcraft, black magic and people who have lived there so long that the outside world is truly a world away.
Almost immediately, Deene experiences various people who are being menaced as are menacing. And true to form, there is a murder here that Deene actually witnesses. But there is more to this story that goes much farther back in time... Bit by bit, Deene pokes about and through observation and interviews discovers enough to start piecing together the path of evil.
I have a few other books in this series and will be looking forward to reading these as well. They all seem to be about this length. This is a fair play mystery! So, if you are keen to try to beat Deene (or match) his explanation at the end, go for it.
Deene is invited by a rector of a small parish to help see if he can find out the ominous feeling that he has been experiencing since the death of a young boy. From there, Deene finds the town (true to his friend's description) is filled with elements of witchcraft, black magic and people who have lived there so long that the outside world is truly a world away.
Almost immediately, Deene experiences various people who are being menaced as are menacing. And true to form, there is a murder here that Deene actually witnesses. But there is more to this story that goes much farther back in time... Bit by bit, Deene pokes about and through observation and interviews discovers enough to start piecing together the path of evil.
I have a few other books in this series and will be looking forward to reading these as well. They all seem to be about this length. This is a fair play mystery! So, if you are keen to try to beat Deene (or match) his explanation at the end, go for it.
November 9, 2015
3.5 stars. I very much enjoy the mysteries starring Carolus Deene, schoolmaster and amateur detective, this one being set in a small village in Kent on Hallowe'en. A rector and old friend calls Deene in to solve an old case involving what appears to be Black Magic. I loved the writing and the setting and brevity with which this tale is told. The crimes are intriguing and it's not only a whodunnit but a howdunnit, so it kept my interest to the end. However it didn't play fair with the reader from whom clues were kept and the method of murder seemed a little farfetched. I wish Goodreads would allow half stars.
October 29, 2013
Bruce's effort here is unrealistic and not worth the time..
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews