The Daughters of Cain

Inspector Morse #11

by Colin Dexter

It was only the second time Inspector Morse had ever taken over a murder enquiry after the preliminary--invariably dramatic--discovery and sweep of the crime scene. Secretly pleased to have missed the blood and gore, Morse and the faithful Lewis go about finding the killer who stabbed Dr. Felix McClure, late of Wolsey College. In another part of Oxford, three women--a housecleaner, a schoolteacher, and a prostitute--are playing out a drama that has long been unfolding. It will take much brain work, many pints, and not a little anguish before Morse sees the startling connections between McClure's death and the daughters of Cain. . . .

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Detective, British Literature, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 1994

About the author

Norman Colin Dexter was an English crime writer, known for his Inspector Morse novels.

He started writing mysteries in 1972 during a family holiday: "We were in a little guest house halfway between Caernarfon and Pwllheli. It was a Saturday and it was raining - it's not unknown for it to rain in North Wales. The children were moaning ... I was sitting at the kitchen table with nothing else to do, and I wrote the first few paragraphs of a potential detective novel." Last Bus to Woodstock was published in 1975 and introduced the world to the character of Inspector Morse, the irascible detective whose penchants for cryptic crosswords, English literature, cask ale and Wagner reflect Dexter's own enthusiasms. Dexter's plots are notable for his use of false leads and other red herrings.

The success of the 33 episodes of the TV series Inspector Morse, produced between 1987 and 2001, brought further acclaim for Dexter. In the manner of Alfred Hitchcock, he also makes a cameo appearance in almost all episodes. More recently, his character from the Morse series, the stalwart Sgt (now Inspector) Lewis features in 12 episodes of the new ITV series Lewis. As with Morse, Dexter makes a cameo appearance in several episodes. Dexter suggested the English poet A. E. Housman as his "great life" on the BBC Radio 4 programme of that name in May 2008. Dexter and Housman were both classicists who found a popular audience for another genre of writing.

Dexter has been the recipient of several Crime Writers' Association awards: two Silver Daggers for Service of All the Dead in 1979 and The Dead of Jericho in 1981; two Gold Daggers for The Wench is Dead in 1989 and The Way Through the Woods in 1992; and a Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement in 1997. In 1996 Dexter received a Macavity Award for his short story Evans Tries an O-Level. In 1980, he was elected a member of the by-invitation-only Detection Club.

In 2000, Dexter was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to literature.

From Wikipedia

Series:
* Inspector Morse

Awards:
Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger
◊ 1979: Service of all the Dead
◊ 1981: The Dead of Jericho
Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger
◊ 1989: The Wench is Dead
◊ 1992: The Way Through the Woods

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a strong sense of melancholy in this addition to Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse series, set amongst the dreaming spires of Oxford. I listened to this on audio, almost 9 and half hours long, and ably narrated by the wonderful Samuel West. There is a sense that the end is not going to be long coming as Morse talks of retirement and as he is forced to face the consequences of his unhealthy lifestyle of poor diet, drink and smoking, it is not pretty, landing him in hospital, and still he struggles to rein in his vices. He and Sergeant Lewis find themselves taking over a murder investigation after the body has been discovered in a North Oxford flat and the forensic examination of the crime scene has taken place.

The victim is Dr Felix McClure, previously of Wolsey College, Morse is not unhappy to have missed the sight of the blood drenched stabbed body, and it is not long before he has a prime suspect, the utterly unsympathetic and despicable Edward Brooks, and when he disappears, with Morse certain he has been murdered, it is hard to escape the feeling that the man deserved everything he got. The complex case inquiries bring him into contact with the eponymous Daughters of Cain, cleaner Brenda Brooks, wife of Edward, schoolteacher Julia Smith with her close relationship to one of her pupils, Kevin Costyn, and a young prostitute, Brenda's daughter. It won't be entirely a surprise for fans of the series that the prostitute falls for Morse, who ends up buying her gold locket necklace as he becomes closer to her.

All the women are united in their deep and bitter hatred of Brooks. One of the reasons I loved this is for the nostalgia, Dexter provides an accurate depiction of the Oxford location at the time, but much has changed since then, such as the Temple Cowley Pool is now long gone, and the city bus stop for the Cowley buses has changed. If you only know Morse through the TV series, then I strongly urge you to try the books, they are a very different kettle of fish. This is a particularly engaging and entertaining crime read with a complicated and twisted narrative with an increasingly frail Morse. I can definitely recommend the audio.

[Bionic Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

With The Daughters of Cain, Colin Dexter has created a different mood and a different style for this eleventh "Inspector Morse" novel from 1994. It is approaching the end of the series, two before the end to be exact, which it presages at various points. We are told that,

"Morse himself was now within a couple of years of his retirement."

It is actually full of omens, and has a gloomy feel overall. Colin Dexter is as erudite as ever, and each chapter begins in his chosen fashion with a quotation from a wide range of sources, mostly from the classics or Latin. Each quotation has been chosen to suit the contents of the following chapter, some more obviously than others. During the narrative too, there is a cascade of cultural references. At one point a chapter is headed with a Shakespearean quote from "Henry IV Part II",

"The gaudy blabbing and remorseful day
Is crept into the bosom of the sea."

"The Remorseful Day", of course, was used by Colin Dexter as the title for the final Inspector Morse novel.

One difference immediately apparent to a regular reader of the series, is that Morse and Lewis are present for almost the entire novel, rather than entering the action halfway through. In addition, Morse himself reveals a more vulnerable side. It is very unusual in these novels to read a sentence which says,

"Morse suddenly felt very moved; very lost, very helpless, very upset."

Some readers may welcome this, thinking that, at last we are finally getting to know the protagonist. For those who like the current taste for becoming immersed in the back story of their favourite detectives, this may prove fascinating. It is certainly a change from the hints and teasing snippets about Morse's life, which we have had so far. We already know he is very intelligent, and relishes classical music, drinking, smoking, and women - and not necessarily in that order. We know of his other interests: English literature, History, the Classics, Opera, and of course, crosswords. Yet we have only had hints about his past and his childhood; about the events which have formed his attitudes and made him the man he is. Here we learn,

""I've always been frightened of the dark myself", admitted Morse".

In an earlier novel we had a detailed account of an earlier failed love affair, one which damaged and hurt him badly. Yet some of the basic information is intriguingly missing. We still do not know Morse's first name, even by the end of this eleventh novel, although we have now been given the initial letter - "E". And,

"Morse knew all about being teased because of a name - in his own case a Christian name."

It is difficult now to recollect at the time, what a great secret was made in the series about Morse's first name. In the light of the television adaptations - and now even the prequels - his Christian name is well-known. Yet at the time of publishing even this late novel, the readers were still kept in suspense. Would Colin Dexter ever actually reveal Morse's first name? The author kept it under his hat.

There is also a shift - some might call it a development - in the relationship between the two main characters. Part of their appeal has always been their contrast. The intellectual maverick Morse, is partnered with the dedicated, dutiful, hard-working sidekick Lewis. Until now, there has always been a hint of adulation in Lewis's attitude towards Morse. Yes, he has shown shock at Morse's coarseness in previous novels, but still the reader has felt overall that he has a sense of pride on being relied on by such an inspired Chief Inspector. Here though, we see through Lewis's eyes,

"the supercilious, almost arrogant, cast of the harsh blue eyes, and the complacent-looking smile about the lips. It was the sort of conceit which Lewis found the least endearing quality of his chief; worse even than his meanness with money and his almost total lack of gratitude. And suddenly he felt a shudder of distaste." And,

"Morse was perfectly happy to take full credit for the bons mots of others."

But later we see the full value of their friendship, when Morse says,

"You just asked me if I'll miss things and I shan't, no. Only one thing, I suppose. I shall miss you, old friend, that's all."

The second change with this novel, and it is a big one, is that it is far more of a police procedural than a mystery. There is no real mystery about who the murderer is - it is not a "whodunnit" in any sense, because Morse atypically sticks to his first correct thought, and it is merely a question of why and how, and finding the evidence to support it.

Specifically then, the body of Dr. Felix McClure, an Ancient History don of Wolsey College, Oxford has been found in his flat. It is a brutal murder, and Morse is extremely averse to viewing the body, which has a single stab to the stomach with a broad knife. Morse's regular squeamishness is compounded by the fact that he is not in good health. There is a lot of detail about Morse's health in this novel. He describes it himself thus,

"My liver and kidneys are disintegrating, my blood pressure isn't quite off the top of the scale, I'm nursing another stomach ulcer... I'm on the verge of diabetes [due to] my occasional intake of alcohol... and my cholesterol's dangerously high."

We learn of Morse's subsequent visits to the hospital, and half-hearted attempts to cut back on the smoking and boozing, which he knows full well might be shortening his life. He sways to and fro with his resolve,

"For three whole days now he had not smoked a single cigarette, and had arrived at that crucial point where his self-mastery had already been demonstrated." If you know Morse's character, you can probably write the next bit yourself.

At one point Lewis expostulates in exasperation, "If you're determined to dig yourself an early grave..." to which Morse breaks off from his tetchiness and irritability to reply quietly, "I don't want to die, not just yet." There are quite a lot of instances in this novel where Morse says something "quietly". The sense he has of possible impending doom is very noticeable, despite his attempts to shrug it off with comments such as,

"A small celebratory libation that, Lewis - in gratitude to whatever gods there be that temporarily I have survived the perils and dangers of this mortal life."

One of the suspects connected with the case, Edward Brooks, himself disappears following a museum theft. We follow the back story relating to him and his wife, Brenda, who works as a cleaner for Julia Smith, a teacher. Edward Brooks had worked as a scout on one particular staircase where Felix McClure had rooms, and we follow the stories behind the students and ex-students who lived there, one of whom had formerly committed suicide by jumping from a window.

All these facts are known very early on in the novel, but of course a novel by Colin Dexter would not be complete without a prostitute or two. The female characters are all described in terms of their attractiveness to Morse, or vice-versa, his to them. And as usual at this point, the author and Morse seems to fuse into one persona. It seems uncanny that such an irascible, curmudgeonly character, who has all the physical attributes of a heavy smoker and drinker, is still apparently extremely desirable to almost every woman he meets... Morse appears to embody every male's fantasy. Indeed women quite regularly fall at his feet.

The readers have become used to Morse's habit of becoming romantically or even carnally involved with at least one of the females in the case he is investigating, but in The Daughters of Cain he does actually fall in love. Towards the end, the description of this is quite sensitive. Morse even receives a letter containing a declaration of love, which only increases his despair and feelings of emotional impotence. The author has made a fair attempt with this novel, both to show Morse's sadness at his loneliness; his growing awareness that he is mortal, and his despair and utter desolation at the knowledge that he will never achieve the sort of contentment that Lewis has with his wife and home. We are used to Morse being abrupt and pedantic. His scholar's brain cannot deal with the overwhelming feelings he is having, to which he is not accustomed. It seems so extremely poignant, that in the end the only way he can cope, is to put himself in familiar territory, by saying to Lewis,

"I shall have to tell her that "rang" is the more correct form of the past tense of the verb "to ring" when used transitively."

As for the mystery element, there are fewer characters than usual to obscure the plot. However as with all Dexter's novels, the clues come and go in a flash and can easily be missed if not read carefully, and with insight. It is gritty, with drugs, incest and bribery all playing a part. There is a secondary murder, which is dealt with more thoroughly than the first, and to which the title holds the clue. This too is a new twist for Colin Dexter, because with this second murder the reader not only has the knowledge of who did it, described in a very detailed way, but is rooting for the killer to get away with it, because the "victim" is such an evil character. This part of the plot is quite gripping, revolving around three women who are connected to each other through their loathing of one man.

For Morse aficionados there are plenty of instances to show Dexter's masterful prose. These novels never have been standard detective novels. Some readers take exception to the character being prone to throwing in erudite or even esoteric little asides, finding it extremely irritating and more a reflection of Colin Dexter's self-absorbed style, than of the character of Morse. They may take exception to Dexter's reference to the fact that Lewis's wife continually speaks in anapaestic pentameters, and anapaestic hexameters, even though ostensibly it is Morse who is noticing this. It has to be said that the erudition, so often deliciously witty in these novels, does seem a little forced in this one. Here's an example,

"He regularly inserted it, in its present-participial form, into any lengthy-ish word which seemed to invite some internal profanation. Such a process is known, in the Homeric epics, as "tmesis"."

This description comes a few pages before an ex-pupil, Kevin Costyn's internal dialogue about "suffering under a misappre****inghension." Does it increase the humour? Perhaps it does. Then how about this,

"the cerebral equivalent of such a process... the mental gymnastics involved in the solving of a cryptic crossword clue... those virtually inexplicable convolutions of the mind, when the answers to a whole series of cryptic clues - and those not of the cruciverbalist but of the criminological variety - combined to cast some completely new illumination on the scene?... the main constituents which had led to a conclusion... the fortuitous collocation of several memories had suddenly come together in his mind and coalesced... the constituents were there, waiting for a catalyst."

Witty alliteration? Or perhaps a little too verbose even for Morse, and ever-so-slightly clumsy?

Or is it "pretentiously polysyllabic"? (It takes one to know one, Mr Dexter.)

In conclusion then, this is not a stand-alone novel, and certainly not a "way in" to the series. The story line is interesting, and there is a certain amount of suspense with some good twists near the end of the novel. There are several subplots - and one loose end that the author intentionally leaves out from the summing-up, or leaves to our imagination - as often with these novels. He leaves the reader wondering. The settings he uses within Oxford are authentic, as is the University daily life and traditions. Overall though, it is not as fiendishly complex as previous Morse novels. And does his romance come to anything? Well that would be telling.

It would be as well to be conversant with the main characters of Morse and Lewis first. If you already a pushover for the irascible rogue Morse, with his,

"not uncommon, strangely distanced, almost mystical look in the gentian-blue eyes"

then you will probably enjoy this novel. But Morse's health seems to cast a shadow over everything, and his demise is telegraphed to the extent of distracting the reader from the main story. Such strong foreshadowing, feels almost as if Dexter wanted to make absolutely sure that nobody came back, to say they want more Morse novels. And it does have the effect of making this reader wonder what the final two will be like.

[James Thane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chief Inspector Morse's eleventh outing finds the brilliant, if unconventional, detective ailing, out of shape, and thinking about retirement and his own mortality. He'd be in a lot better health at this point if he'd only give up cigarettes and cut back on the amount of alcohol that he consumes. But of course, that's a lot easier said than done, and any long-time reader of this series knows that it's not going to happen.

As the book opens, Morse inherits a murder investigation from a colleague who claims that he needs to attend to his sickly wife. Morse assumes that the colleague is simply trying to duck out of a complicated case that he's been unable to solve, but he's happy to assume the responsibility nonetheless.

The victim was a retired academic named Felix McClure. By all accounts, McClure was reasonably well liked and no one would have had a motive to stab him to death. Morse and his sidekick, Sergeant Lewis, begin their inquiries at the college from which the victim had recently retired. There they discover that some untoward activities had been taking place at the college and that, in fact, there might have been someone, or perhaps several someones, who wanted the good professor dead.

The case is further complicated when another murder occurs, and mixed up in all of this are three women, two of whom Morse will find very attractive. As is always the case in a novel by Colin Dexter, it's a complex puzzle and the reader can only be thankful that someone with the ability of Chief Inspector Morse is around to put all the pieces into place. Another good entry in a very engaging series.

[Bruce Beckham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here’s a paradox (a Colin Dexter kind of word): while I enjoyed each occasion that I picked up this novel, I didn’t think it was so good, as a whole.

Naturally, the Morse-Lewis exchanges were like eavesdropping upon two old friends, at once amusing and exasperating – but of course interpretation of their dialogue is so heavily informed by familiarity with the on-screen characters.

Indeed, the explanation for my discontent lies, I suspect, in the timing – The Daughters of Cain was published 7 years after the TV series began. And, actually, I feel Colin Dexter has rather written a screenplay – there are seventy chapters, for heaven’s sake, most of them just a couple of pages long.

The ensuing disjointedness is amplified by the epigraphs that introduce each chapter – apposite and informative though they are – it is like reading a book that is continually interrupted by commercial breaks; not really like a book at all.

And then in literary contrast (to the epigraphs), the author – mirror, mirror on the wall, perhaps the most erudite of them all – sinks out of his depth when descending to describe the lower classes: the mores, vernacular and accents are most unconvincing, know what I mean, Guv?

The plot is peculiar – remarkably linear – with the chief suspects spotlighted at an early stage, and the denouement merely an exposition of how the crime was (implausibly, I felt) constructed.

There is a further paradox in the telling of the tale – the omniscient narrator jumps from head to head, sometimes within the same scene – a rather lazy device, I always believe – inexplicably revealing some thoughts and withholding others.

And finally, there is one totally improbable (and apparently gratuitous) romantic liaison; the less said about which, the better.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dexter’s Chief Inspector Morse has appeared in a fine TV series which we were watching in an Islington row house next to the below-ground level kitchen, when the kitchen popped from an overheated pan. No, it turned out to be smash-and-grab, since we’d foolishly left the shutters open, my wife’s purse visible on the table with keys to the Aston Martin parked on the front garden. Except there were no keys, still in the study on the first floor (US, 2nd), since I was too worried to drive it, drove their English Ford Escort instead.
Morse on TV was not aging as he is in this book, putting his trousers on while sitting, reluctant to drive after a couple brews, planning in fact his retirement, though he continues drinking a few pints before going home for Glenfiddich; Morse clims, “I am the only man in Oxford who gets more sober the more he drinks”(241). Colin Dexter in this novel may also be different—can’t find the four others I read on my shelf to compare. (This I bought used for £1 in the 90's.)
This novel repeatedly notes what is NOT said or done: “what was Ellie Smith trying to tell him…or what she was trying not to tell him”(283); Morse’s boss Strange, “How’re things going, Morse?” “Progressing, sir,” Strange looked at him sourly, “You mean they’re not progressing?” (293); “Her thoughts concentrated on what she could have told him, or rather on what she could never have told him”(381); “but the thought was not translated into words”(52).

Dexter describes the narrator, himself, as a chronicler; and indeed, he refers to months, days and times often, and often to begin a chapter. But Dexter also writes with, forgive me, dexter-ity. Say, his metaphors, “the concertina’d Escort” or “had taken some of the cream from Lewis’s eclair”(273), and also his latinate words to suggest Morse’s Oxford education: dactylloscopy (fingerprint-study) , dolichocephalic (long-faced).
Much connects with my personal life, visiting Oxford over the years—my bio of Giordano Bruno in the university library, shelved in a tunnel to Radcliffe Camera—and since my sister-in-law’s finishing a Ph.D. there. She first told us the local name of Tolkien and CS Lewis’s pub, The Bird and Baby, where he drinks Burton’s Ale (188). The avenue “of St Giles forks into the Woodstock Road to the left and the Banbury Road to the right (up which our usual B&B can be found) (111). But even the mention of Father Brown, which we now watch weekly on TV, where Chesterton said the best place to conceal a corpse, a battlefield (356).
The murders in this book are victim and murderer; but is it still murder when you kill the murderer? Three women align to oppose the abuser of two of them, but almost everyone the Chief Inspector interviews lies, copiously. In one early case, Morse summarizes Mrs Wynne-Wilson, “She’s a Walter Mitty sort of woman. She lives in a world of fantasy. She tells herself so many times—tells others so many times— that she thinks they’re true. And for her they are true”(39). Residents of the U.S. in 2020 boast a president very like this Mrs.

BTW, each of the 71 chapters has a fine epigraph, ranging from local notebooks to Catullus in Latin (whom I have translated), Dickens, the Bible and Housman: "And like a skylit water stood/ The bluebells in the azure wood."(Ch.9, p44)

[Deity World · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an interesting and long complex case for Morse can’t believe we are nearly at the end of the franchise

[Matīss Mintāls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Šī manā lasāmo grāmatu plauktā bija nepilnus 20 gadus, un šogad to beidzot izlasīju tādēļ, ka bija iespēja piedalīties vienas goodreads grupas "putekļus krājošo sējumu plaukta" izaicinājumā, kurā tad nu piespiedu brīvprātīgā kārtā varēju izvēlēties tās grāmatas, ko jau sen esmu vēlējies izlasīt, bet ir pietrūcis vajadzīgās disciplīnas. Savā ziņā arī kā atdots parāds Inspektoram Mōrsam, kura seriālu biju iecienījis, kad to kaut kad deviņdesmitajos rādīja viens no Latvijas televīzijas kanāliem.
Man kaut kā atmiņā viņš bija palicis kā melanholisks intelektuālis, un dzīves jēgu meklējošam pusaudzim jau īpaši daudz nevajag, lai tādus viedus autsaiderus iemīļotu.
Kā izrādījās, Mōrss nav nekāds dižais snobs, bet sava tiesa inteliģences šim vīrelim piemīt gan. Viņš nav nekāds superpolicists, kas visu laiku iet pa taisnu meklējumu ceļu, bet gan dažādu kaišu piemeklēts vīrs gados ar tieksmi iestiprināties lenča laikā ar pinti vai vairākām, dienas laikā vēl norunāt dažas tikšanās krogā pie pintes (jāpiemin, ka viņš nekad nepiedzeras, un kā pats saka - jo vairāk pintes, jo skaidrāka galva), viņam noziegumu atklāšana iet līku loču, bieži kļūdoties, grāmatas laikā viņam iepatīkas vairākas sievietes un viņš pēc viņām visām arī ilgojas. Tāds interesants onka. Mōrss kā tēls dzima laikā, kad skandināvu šokētgribošie autori vēl zem galda skraidīja, tad vēl laikam autoriem nebija tieksme savus varoņus izmeklētājus padarīt tik pārspīlēti slimus un dzīves/personīgo dēmōnu nomocītus, kā tas ir modē mūsdienās. Tāpēc man viņš patīk, jo viņa kaites ir mērenas, bet ne tik mērenas, lai būtu vienalga. Patīk labāk par to pašu Hariju Hōlu, jo nav tās sajūtas, ka ar mani kā lasītāju manipulē. Lasīšu vēl.
Izskatās, ka pašiem britiem arī inspektora Mōrsa universs patīk, jo, lai gan autors, pats Mōrss un vecā Mōrsa tēlotājs jau ir miruši, vēl labu laiku tika filmēts spinoff seriāls "Lewis" par Mōrsa kolēģi inspektoru Lūisu, kam grāmatā bija pārinieka seržanta loma, bet diezgan nozīmīga, man neradās tāda sajūta, ka viņš būtu Mōrsa ēnā. Un šobrīd, ja nemaldos, jau astoto gadu tiek uzņemts prīkvels "Endeavour", kas stāsta par Mōrsa agrākajiem darba gadiem.
Karoč, šis patiks tiem, kam patīk diezgan klasisks policijas krimiķis ar interesantiem tēliem un britu humors (nē, šis nav ne noir, ne hardboiled ar asajiem večiem, kas mētā FRĀZES pa labi, pa kreisi, te vairāk ir angļu absurdais humors, kas tik dabiski padodas Mōrsam).

[Brian Clegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a late period Morse from 1994, when the books had been strongly influenced by the TV series: Morse has a red Jaguar, is significantly older than Lewis (rather than the other way round) and is more like John Thaw. However, this doesn't mean the book doesn't have all the usual expectations of Colin Dexter's writing.

One thing that's interesting about this as a detective novel is that it's much more a 'how dunnit' than a 'who dunnit'. It is obvious who's behind the killings both to Morse and us from fairly early on. But getting any further is stymied by solid alibis and tortuous possibilities - all excellently handled.

Dexter's writing style can take a little while to get back into. He was always a wordy writer, and can intrude in the author's voice rather more than is common in a modern novel. One thing that particularly struck me was the time and effort he put into the quotes that start each chapter. These are not just random bits of filler - they contribute to the storyline, and are often fascinating in their own right.

There are arguably elements of sexism in the book that feel a little uncomfortable now. It's not so much the sexism of many TV detective shows, where the victim is far too often female, but rather the way every female character seems to fancy Morse, who seems to have few redeeming features in reality - and this even includes someone less then half his age falling in love with him. Perhaps even worse, Dexter can come across as distinctly condescending to his less educated characters.

However, most period murder mysteries have some issues. I love Margery Allingham, but her books certainly have an undeserved respect for, say old buffer Chief Constables with no brains. So I'm inclined to say that Dexter was of his period, and with that proviso, we can still say that this is a satisfying and intriguing mystery.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have seen almost all of the videos starring John Thaw and Kevin Whately, I've only read one book in the series, which was in Spanish for language practice a long time ago, quite a different experience.

The mystery angle itself was pretty good, although it missed the visuals of Oxford which are such a key part of the television series. Otherwise, I'm not going to spend any time going over the plotting, or characters, as we all know that Dexter was a very talented writer. I'll leave it that the book gives an extra dimension to Morse, as we get inside his head here. He's more of a softie than I recall from watching the stories (though it's been a while), but on the other hand, it was a bit unpleasant seeing him deliberately "use" Lewis, both financially, as well as dumping grunt work on the poor guy at times.

The audio narrator seems to have quite a divided reputation, with veteran listeners either loathing or loving him. I'm in the latter category, so would really have liked it had they gotten Davidson to do more unabridged titles here, rather than Whately's abridged versions instead.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morse is aging now and getting a little nudge to consider retirement. Still this and a hospital stay does not deter him from smoking, drinking and flirting. He especially likes to flirt with witnesses from his murder investigations. Where else is going to meet them?
This case involves an abused woman, her hooker daughter and her employer. I thought it was just an OK plot. You could see it coming from a mile off and there were no surprises. What always surprises me is the number of women who like Morse. In addition to the hooker and the employer there is the head of the museum where the murderer weapon was stolen and the medical examiner. I find this creepy as in the TV series she hooks up with Lewis.
This is one series where I think the TV shows are heads and shoulders better than the books. That rarely happens,

[Pam Baddeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of the TV series starring John Thaw I had hoped to enjoy this novel more than I did. I realised after buying it that it is late in the set of novels and therefore Morse is in decline, accelerating the process by being unable to give up smoking and drinking despite having to spend a few days in hospital due to an exacerbated chest infection. The plot is rather convoluted featuring two murders, one leading on from another, and with one of the victims being so unlikeable that you end up rooting for the murderers to get away with it.

Structurally the author's erudition is on display with apposite quotations heading up each of the chapters. I found the old style of narrative where there is an omniscient author who occasionally intrudes very obviously into the text, together with the constant head hopping whereby we are told what every character in a scene is thinking, rather off putting. Also Morse is made rather unlikeable himself in this novel with even Lewis looking askance at him at one point. Afterwards I viewed the TV adaptation and found it had been considerably streamlined and the whole subplot of Morse's ill health and decline towards a projected retirement in a couple of years omitted. Of course there are a lot more episodes than novels so the character could not be killed off so quickly on TV. On the whole though, some of the more questionable and unconvincing parts of the novel such as Morse's reciprocated and unrequited love with the prostitute daughter of one character were well advisedly excised from the TV version with no loss as far as I was concerned. All in all, I would rate this at 3 stars.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favourite of the Inspector Morse series

[Bettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read by................... Terrence Hardiman
Total Runtime.......... 9 hours 53 mins

Description: Inspector Morse is up against a baffling murder inherited from a colleague who left the bloodied trail cold and unsolved. Morse along with his faithful, long suffering Sergeant Lewis must pick up the tangled threads and make some sense out of the sensless. An Oxford Professor has been brutally stabbed to death and the trail leads to the brutal college handiman who may or may not have been dealing drugs. When the prime suspect vanishes, Morse is left to sort out an overabundance of suspects including the brutal handiman's wife, abused step-daughter prostitute and an Oxford School Teacher. Dexter's chapter openings of quotes and aphorisms add to the enjoyment as the reader tries to find the thread which leads to the next clue which wraps up the conclusion is a very fullfilling climax.

This is the one with the delightfully gross Ellie. Best line was about the anagram of 'courtesan' equating to 'a sore ....'

Loved this one.

4* Last Bus to Woodstock (Inspector Morse, #1)
3* Last Seen Wearing (Inspector Morse, #2)
3* The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn (Inspector Morse, #3)
3* Service of All the Dead (Inspector Morse, #4)
3* The Dead of Jericho (Inspector Morse, #5)
4* The Riddle of the Third Mile (Inspector Morse, #6)
3* The Secret of Annexe 3 (Inspector Morse #7)
3* The Wench Is Dead (Inspector Morse, #8)
3* The Jewel That Was Ours (Inspector Morse, #9)
3* The Way Through The Woods (Inspector Morse, #10)
4* The Daughters of Cain (Inspector Morse, #11)
3* Morse's Greatest Mystery and Other Stories

[Charlotte (Buried in Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was sorely confused for a large part of this book, because the first murder seemed to matter so little in the great scheme of things. And I must confess that I still don't completely understand why Felix McClure was killed, and what the incident on his old Stairwell had to do with things.

The main crux of the book revolves around 3 women, Brenda Brooks (cleaning lady and married to Edward Brooks, thoroughly unpleasant man and drug dealer), Julia Stevens (teacher and dying from a brain tumour) and Ellie Smith (daughter of Brenda and abused by Edward) and their role in the disappearance and murder of Edward Brooks. There are red herrings all over the place.

Morse seems completely confused by the whole scenario and the investigation stalls quite a few times. Once again More becomes the object of affection for a woman that he seems destined never to get close to.

There's a real feeling in this book that this is the start of the end for Morse, with talk about retirement, another trip to hospital, he's tired. You wonder how much longer he can go on, but of course you already know the answer, just 2 books left.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh these novels are ever so much better than the screen adaptations (with the obvious exception of the lack of John Thaw)! Loved the characters in this story, especially the lovelorn Morse and put-upon Lewis, but also Ellie Smith. Although I remembered much of the plot from the TV series, I was happily surprised by the differences, and several times I couldn't guess where the twists would lead. Loved the solution, even if it things weren't necessarily tidy. I only have one problem with this story: Morse learns Ellie Smith's original surname near the end of the book, but it never revealed to the readers. Why bring it up if it's not going to be revealed? Perhaps Dexter couldn't think of a name that would have made a name-change believable. Aside from that, great read and strongly recommend to Brit-Lit/Mystery fans.

[Jill H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morse and Lewis are in the midst of a murder at Oxford which eventually leads to yet another murder and the hunt is on. With Lewis doing the physical work and Morse cogitating, they narrow down the field of suspects pretty quickly but......how to prove it? The characters in this series entry are very well drawn and, as usual, Dexter's use of the language is impeccable. The reader gets a closer glimpse into the real Morse as he becomes emotionally entangled with one of the suspects and must make some difficult decisions. This is another excellent addition to the popular series; complex and irresistible.

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series in which Morse has been ill enough to have been in hospital. The years of heavy smoking and taking most of his calories in liquid form are catching up with him. The reader can sense Death off-stage, stalking several characters, which might seem obvious in a murder-crime series. But because we see mostly through Morse’s eyes, and Morse is squeamish about dead bodies, there is usually a distance between Death and the reader.

The crime solving in this book is also different from the normal Morse-Lewis tale. Rather than the wild and mostly incorrect speculations that often make up Morse’s early attempts at detecting, the murderer is fairly obvious; it’s just a matter of collecting the necessary evidence.

The characters in this one are particularly well drawn, with a genuine pathos. They are not merely in the story to advance the plot. While Morse is often attracted to various women in the stories, we believe he genuinely falls in love in this story. So while this may not be the best crime tale of this series, it is one of my favorites.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story. I enjoy how Dexter uses quotes at the beginning of the chapters that link into the story. A retired Don is found murdered in his flat. A suspect is quickly identified but the evidence is circumstantial and his wife gives him a strong alibi as on the day of the murder Brooks had a mild heart attack and was admitted to hospital.

The story revolves around Julia who is dying and her friendship with Brenda her cleaning lady and wife of Brooks who is an abuser and generally horrible human being. Linked in is Ellie their daughter a prostitute who her stepfather abused and the murdered man Felix was a client.

Morse links everything together including the theft of the knife from the Pitts Museum. He also has a health scare unsurprisingly with a diet of fags, beer and whiskey. Lewis is his steadfast self and does the grunt work.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

quickly read, a good enquiry of morse & lewis - we start to have a gut feeling that this is leading to the end of the series since morse is rather ill, and the doctors advise to change his habits of smoking, drinking and not eating properly -
i found the story a little too long before getting to the core of the inquest, but a good story as usual with colin dexter

[Dane Cobain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is yet another instalment in Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse series, and so to a certain extent, you know what to expect here. I’ve never watched the television adaptation of the series, and so I can’t tell you how close the TV series and the books are in style and substance, but I will say that I’ve had a lot of fun reading these.

Now, I’ve read the Morse books out of order, but I don’t think it’s necessarily important. Certainly, this book works well as a standalone, and it’s fascinating to see the subtle shifts in power when Morse, Lewis and Chief Superintendent Strange are all working together to solve a murder case.

Here, they’re looking into the discovery of a corpse in a flat in North Oxford, which was discovered with a knife through its stomach. Unfortunately, at least to begin with, the police have no leads, and don’t even know what the motive might have been.

Luckily, with Morse on the case, you know that we’re going to get to the truth eventually, even if he does change his mind along the way as new evidence comes to light. Morse is a classic example of the armchair detective, the sort of copper who solves crimes whilst drinking pints in the pub at lunchtime, and who simply needs to go over the case in their head until the truth dawns on them.

And of course, there are plenty of twists and turns along the way, which keep you – as the reader – guessing about what happened right up until the very end. There’s also the inevitable second death, which seems to be a staple in the Morse books – Dexter builds up your expectations and convinces you that one of the characters was the guilty party, and then they get killed and you have to restart your hypotheses. But it works, and it makes for a truly gripping read that’s a lot of fun, especially if you’re already a fan of detective novels.

So what are you waiting for? The Morse books are lots of fun, and while this one doesn’t rank above any of the others, it’s still a good place to start.

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspector Morse mystery No. 11 - features the brutal stabbing murder of an Oxford don thats sees Morse and Lewis thrust into what appears to be a straightforward case, where they know who the murderer is… but can't find any real proof. A great book, in that it is really about Morse looking at his mortality as he seriously begins to consider resigning from the police. 7 out of 12.

[Ruthiella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is possibly the most enjoyable Morse mystery I have read thus far, probably because it wasn’t super complicated; I could actually follow it.

In terms of development of the characters, it was interesting because this is the third to the last title in the series and there are intimations of Morse’s retiring or perhaps even expiring due to ill heath in the near future.

As a constant, Morse is his usual prickly, slightly icky self. I will never understand how women in the books are attracted to him, yet they always are. Lewis however is making strides in terms of becoming a detective (as we know he will due to the T.V. show).

[ana inés · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering how much of my life I've spent watching Inspector Morse on the TV, it's shocking that I'd never read any of the original novels before this year, but I'm glad to say I was not disappointed in the slightest. I wasn't surprised by this, because the show makes it easy to believe the source material is of high literary quality, but still, it was a thrill to realize that after enjoying this one, I have so many more Morse stories to look forward to.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title holds the clue(s), April 6, 2013


This review is from: The Daughters of Cain (Mass Market Paperback)
The author had started introducing the ongoing decline of Inspector Morse in the last book I read, "The Wench is Dead". The Inspector and hospitals are no longer strangers rather ambulance rides and hospitals are becoming ever more present in Morses' life. Needless to say Morses' drinking and smoking remain prevalent regardless of the consequences.

The Inspector once again chooses to be attracted to the most undesirable women. Is it that he empathizes with their circumstances or is he just hell bent on having a miserable social(?) life? Your guess is as good as mine.

After those few chosen words on Morse...now onto the story. The mystery focuses on 2 murders. The first being Dr. McClure a professor at Wolsey college in Oxford. Morse and Lewis are inevitably onto the suspected murderer which was not a difficult choice. Then that very same suspect is himself murdered. Three personalities dance around in Morses' head as he and Lewis try their darnedest to deduct motives for the 2ND murder.

Be careful not to glance over any pages in an Inspector Morse & Lewis book. "The Daughters of Cain" is no exception to that rule. Clues come and go in a flash and if not read slowly and with insight, you too may need to go back over what you've missed. The last several chapters seem to tie the ends together ...all for me except one.
Yes, there is one loose end that the author schemingly leaves out or leaves for our imagination. That thread may go one way or the other. You may come across the very thread I'm speaking of or you may have passed over it completely. But that thread is not explained clearly away.

Another must read for Inspector Morse & Lewis fans and anyone else just starting on Morse.

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Daughters of Cain is a Detective Morse mystery from Colin Dexter. We are getting close to the end of the series and there is a lot of foreshadowing of that here. Morse himself talks of his retirement and his health issues are definitely featured here. There are two murders here and Morse, with the help of Lewis, seeks to find the connection. Along the course of the investigation, Morse meets with three women, the titular Daughters of Cain.

In this outing, I found myself rooting for the killer(s), at least when it came to the second victim, by all accounts a reprehensible human being. Morse seems to have regrets himself at the resolution, yet another missed opportunity in a lifetime of romantic disappointment. Superbly written and executed mystery!

[Byju.V]

I was disappointed by this book. I think Colin Dexter did not do justice to himself here. He is famous for his Oxford stories, though there is nothing of that here, though it is an Oxford don who is the murder victim. Inspector Morse appears to be somewhat subdued and he even develops an affinity towards one of the suspects. But the story falls apart midway into the book. The focus shifts and the final denunciation lacks conviction. But I know this is not a pronouncement on Dexter. I do intend to read more of him, if only to discover the true Colin Dexter, who remains elusive in this book. It is almost as if he wrote this halfheartedly.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the type of book you read to figure out "whodunnit" - that is no real surprise; rather you keep reading to figure out why, how, and whether or not they get away with it. This is also one where you are rooting for the killer to get away with it, because the victim is that much of a monster.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspector Morse is on the case.

[Padmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indicazioni editoriali
Il professor Felix McClure, anziano professore universitario in pensione viene assassinato con un’unica violentissima pugnalata. La totale assenza di indizi non è un ostacolo per il bizzarro ispettore Morse che con il suo solito metodo inizia a congetturare astratte ipotesi una dopo l’altra finché, come sempre, non riuscirà a trovare la pista giusta.

Nella sua Oxford, l’ispettore capo Morse, con l’aiuto del sergente Lewis, viene incaricato di un caso il cui solo indizio è la totale assenza di indizi. Vittima di un assassinio commesso con un’unica violentissima pugnalata, il professor Felix McClure era un anziano, tranquillo signore, la cui esistenza era trascorsa tutta entro il cerchio rassicurante del college dove prima aveva studiato poi insegnato. La mancanza di tracce non è un ostacolo per il bizzarro, sconcertante Morse. Al contrario, lo stimola ad applicare il suo metodo favorito: congetturare astratte ipotesi, con un’intelligenza quasi provocatoria, che poi la verifica dei fatti smentirà una per una. «Quasi sempre Morse pigliava cantonate colossali e assurde all’inizio di ogni caso. Ma sembrava sempre in grado di concepire pensieri cui nessun altro era capace di arrivare». Intanto, grazie a questo l’indagine si è infiltrata in meandri che sarebbero rimasti invisibili senza quegli esercizi di immaginazione. Il vecchio suicidio incomprensibile di uno studente protetto da McClure; gli odi e i segreti familiari di un losco custode del college; gli amori mercenari del professore; la vita desolata di una insegnante generosa; un altro omicidio. Tante strade diverse da percorrere fino al loro ricongiungersi, che si inoltrano nel paesaggio della vita.

Morse è un personaggio che, romanzo dopo romanzo della serie, sembra di conoscere dal vivo, per quel suo essere contemporaneamente unico nella estrosità e umanissimo nelle fragilità (prima di tutto le occasioni tristemente perdute con le donne), per la sua ironia tagliente ma ingenua. Il suo segreto: cercare sempre di comprendere la tragicità esistenziale di cui parla ogni delitto.

[James Rivett · Rating 3 out of 5]

To start, I much preferred earlier books in the series (from the 1970s) than this 1994 entry in the Morse canon. It is undoubtedly a good, well crafted book with an intriguing plot and, as always, fully rounded interesting suspects and side characters. Oxford, typically of Dexter's writing, stands slightly aloof as its own character, rich in history, knowledge, beauty, darkness, deception, and half told truths proving to be not just a backdrop but the ultimate all seeing dumb witness and keeper of secrets. But something just felt off. It wasn't enough to spoil the story or tarnish the lustre of brass monument to policing that is Morse, but it was always there at the back of my mind. To be frank, it felt more like television Morse than the Morse of literature. I just wish I could put a finger on exactly what it was.
As with all the Morse novels, I love the quotations that start each chapter and being able to go off on a tangent and cross reference the text it comes from. So many have been stored at the back of my mind to be ready for the perfect time to roll them out as my only little insights on life.
I am still struggling to decide if I am shocked or amused at Lewis bowing to pressure and listening to classical music when Morse is not in the car. The dynamic between the two is always brilliantly written, and despite the frequent outbursts, the genuine affection and respect come through without needing to be overtly stated. The old curmudgeon Morse and his Golden Retriever Lewis are without doubt one of detective fiction's greatest double acts. Especially when aided by Mrs Lewis' fried egg and chips.