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A Question of Proof (Nigel Strangeways, #1)

Nicholas Blake

Start date: November 28, 2016

Discussion: Buddy reads

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What Members Thought

Mar 23, 2012 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is the first Nigel Strangeways mystery by the late English Poet Laureate Nicholas Blake (Cecil Day-Lewis). Set in a 1935 prep school, this is a very interesting read and very much a Golden Age mystery novel. When the Headmaster's obnoxious nephew is killed Nigel's friend, a teacher at the school who has been having an affair with the Head's wife, is suspected of the murder. He calls in his friend, Nigel Strangeways, a Private Inquiry Agent and nephew of the Assistant Commissioner.

Cecil Day- ...more

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Mar 26, 2011 Bev rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: academic-mystery, mystery

I decided to read the Blake book as my first entry into JNCL's Read Your Own Library Challenge. I'm in for the basic--Running Behind--level. Just committed to reading one book from my own library per month. I chose it because I was in the mood for a vintage mystery (written in 1935) and one that had an academic setting. I do love me a good academic mystery.

A Question of Proof is the first mystery in Blake's (aka Cecil Day-Lewis, England's Poet Laureate from 1968-72) series starring the charming I decided to read the Blake book as my first entry into JNCL's Read Your Own Library Challenge. I'm in for the basic--Running Behind--level. Just committed to reading one book from my own library per month. I chose it because I was in the mood for a vintage mystery (written in 1935) and one that had an academic setting. I do love me a good academic mystery.

A Question of Proof is the first mystery in Blake's (aka Cecil Day-Lewis, England's Poet Laureate from 1968-72) series starring the charming and erudite Nigel Strangeways. The story is set a Sudeley Hall, a typical boys' preparatory school with the typical mix of popular boys and miscreants; favorite schoolmasters and loathsome teachers. Strangeways is called in when one of the obnoxious boys--the headmaster's nephew no less--is found strangled in one of the haystacks near the school.

The police soon focus their suspicions on Strangeways' friend Michael Evans, a schoolmaster who happens to be in love with the headmaster's wife....and who coincidentally met his love earlier that day in that same haystack. It doesn't help that he managed to lose a silver pencil while wooing his fair lady. Fortunately, the circumstantial evidence isn't quite strong enough to warrant an arrest and Strangeways has a chance to use his charm and his wits to get to ferret out clues--mostly psychological. When the headmaster himself is stabbed and the police decide to arrest their favorite suspects (Evans and the wife), Strangeways puts together a reenactment of the crime and brings down the final curtain.

This was a very nicely done first mystery. The language is lovely--as you would expect from a future Poet Laureate--and the characters are finely drawn. The superintendent may be a bit of a stereotype as a thick-headed policeman, but I think Blake/Day-Lewis is spot-on with his portrayal of the boys at school. Strangeways is most charming, yet a bit odd as it seems vintage detectives should be. The story held my interest and kept me guessing. I thought about the actual criminal, but couldn't really come up with a motive. Three and a half stars. ...more

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Jan 02, 2019 Christine PNW rated it liked it · review of another edition

Available for free through KU.

I like Nigel Strangeways. This is my second of the series in a couple of weeks and I find Blake's writing to be very engaging - it is less wooden that many of the GA writers. The mysteries are complicated, but sensible. He's not so good as Christie or Sayers, but is very enjoyable nonetheless.

The third book in the Strangeways series is not available on KU, and the kindle book is an overpriced $8.89, so I'll be skipping it. The fourth book, The Beast Must Die, is fea ...more

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Dec 15, 2020 Jenn Estepp rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindling, sleuths-and-gumshoes, pandemic-and-aftermath

Probably closer to 2 1/2. It's rather fascinating to look through the reviews on here and see so much enthusiasm for it, relatively speaking. I don't think it's bad, per se, just a bit overwritten and I didn't get a very strong sense of our gentleman detective, beyond the fact that he really likes tea. Also, points off for so many characters that don't seem to distinguish themselves very much and a frankly pretty absurd resolution. But it's also the first in the series and the second is the one ...more

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Jun 17, 2019 Paperbackreader rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: all-collections, read-but-unowned, british, classic, mystery, detective, audiobook, nigel-strangeways

I enjoyed this mystery much better than I thought I would. Nicholas Blake’s writing is wryly humorous which does not let the book become mundane. I do hate the mushy romance in it, and I feel people being suspected of murder will not blurt out romantic dialogues as though they were automatons! But I am naturally repelled by any romance in my mystery, so this reflects my own pet peeve more than anything else.

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