From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Cornish Coast Murder

John Bude,

Martin Edwards (Introduction)

Start date: March 1, 2021

Finish date: March 31, 2021

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of the poll for our March group read.
[close] Winner of the poll for our March group read.

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Group reads

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What Members Thought

Oct 03, 2015 Judy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: british-library-crime-classics

I've been meaning to read some of the British Library Crime Classics series. This 1930s book is the first one I've tried, and it was an enjoyable read, with an atmospheric Cornish setting. The mix of amateur and professional detectives also worked well. I didn't feel the mystery element was quite up there with the best of the genre, especially the ending, but I still enjoyed it - editing in 2021 to say I've just reread this, and really like Bude's writing style. ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Feb 27, 2021 Susan in NC rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars - my second Bude golden age murder mystery in as many months, read with the Reading the Detectives group, and I enjoyed them both. He builds challenging, knotty puzzles, populates them with relatable characters, and evokes his chosen setting well.

Here, a young lady returns to her Cornish coastal home after a walk on a stormy evening and finds her uncle shot dead. Bullet holes in the windows indicate there were three shots, and the curtains were open, which allowed the killer to see the ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 12, 2016 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016reviews, reviewcopy

First sentence: The Reverend Dodd, Vicar of St. Micahel's-on-the-Cliff, stood at the window of his comfortable bachelor study looking out into the night.

Premise/plot: This vintage mystery stars several amateur detectives (a vicar and a doctor) and several professional detectives (police inspectors). The novel was easy to follow, but, is proving hard to remember--in terms of character names. The murder happens early in the novel. A stormy night is JUST what this murderer has been waiting for. He- ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 27, 2018 Jan C rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018, mystery, gr-group-read

Interesting enough.

The local doctor and vicar meet weekly to open their crate of detective novels from the library. So they spend a good while lauding and trashing the authors contained therein. I found that enjoyable. When a call comes in for the doctor - a local magistrate, Tregarthan, has been shot. Dead. The lads think this is a stroke of luck - a murder right on their doorstep, so to speak. So they both go over. One to make sure he is dead and the other to say a few words over him. And may ...more

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