From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Case of the Gilded Fly (Gervase Fen, #1)

Edmund Crispin

Start date: October 15, 2021

Finish date: November 6, 2021

Discussion: Buddy reads

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What Members Thought

Aug 13, 2012 Tracey rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery

I've been a Crispin fan, in a subliminal sort of way, for years. I read several – probably picked up at library sales – and quietly reveled in the sharp wit and erudition. And then kind of forgot about them; Crispin has been on my List for a long time, but I've never bestirred myself to finish my collection. So I was tickled when this first book in the series – which I'd never picked up before – became the book-of-the-month at the revived Goodreads English Mysteries Group.

It's been a long time ...more

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Aug 10, 2017 Jan C rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017, gr-group-read, mystery, england

For the most part I enjoyed this book. Not sure why I couldn't get into it the first time I picked this up. But the first few pages seemed to just drag. Not so this time.

It starts out on a train trip to Oxford. The author lets us know that Yseut is a thoroughly bad character by showing us the thoughts of the other passengers who are on the same journey. The cast of a new play is going to Oxford for an out of town production. Apparently Robert Warner hadn't done so well in his previous show. Nige ...more

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Sep 29, 2021 Susan in NC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, tbr-with-gr-groups

3 1/2-4 stars, this has been on my TBR list for years, so I’m glad I finally got to it, thanks to the reading the detectives group. I enjoyed this first outing with Gervase Fen, Oxford Professor of English and Crispin’s series detective. I did have a question at the end that I didn’t feel was fully explained, but it was minor, really, and I look forward to the next outing in this golden age series.

Fen is absent-minded at times, erudite, often rude, and easily bored. He’s also curious about every 3 1/2-4 stars, this has been on my TBR list for years, so I’m glad I finally got to it, thanks to the reading the detectives group. I enjoyed this first outing with Gervase Fen, Oxford Professor of English and Crispin’s series detective. I did have a question at the end that I didn’t feel was fully explained, but it was minor, really, and I look forward to the next outing in this golden age series.

Fen is absent-minded at times, erudite, often rude, and easily bored. He’s also curious about everything and everyone around him, and sometimes asks ridiculous questions, according to one of the suspects in this novel, a London theater producer.

This was a very cleverly done murder, made to look like suicide. At least the police are stumped and believe it must be suicide, as murder seems impossible. Fen is having none of it; as he has already earned a reputation as a brilliant amateur sleuth (no specifics given about past cases), he basically takes the lead investigating.

No spoilers, but the action centers around Yseut, an attractive, sexy, obnoxious actress who loves to ensnare men, and cause as much drama as she can. She is part of an Oxford repertory theater group, chosen by the successful London playwright and producer to stage his newest play. He is also one of Yseut’s former flames – and has brought his long-standing mistress, a successful London actress, down to Oxford to star in the new play. Fireworks and ugly scenes ensue, as there are other amorous complications among the cast members. Yseut manages to eventually alienate everyone she meets, so it’s no surprise when she is found shot; the “why” could be a number of reasons. The problems are figuring out the “how”, and narrowing down the “who”!

Fen shines at both - the police characters, except for a rather puritanical inspector, are rather nonentities. I liked Fen and his wife, Dolly, and his friend and former pupil, Nigel, now a journalist in London. I hope to see more of both of them in future mysteries. I also enjoyed Fen’s earnest concerns and contemplation of the morality of ruining another life (this is set in 1940 England, so the killer will hang if convicted), when the victim was a thoroughly nasty person, despised by everyone who knew her. His discussions with Dolly and Nigel about it were interesting.

I enjoyed this for the most part, felt it was explained fairly well in the end, only one small point seemed rather brushed aside, but as a debut it was interesting and entertaining. I look forward to future Fen mysteries.

...more

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Jun 24, 2018 Paperbackreader rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: all-collections, read-but-unowned, british, classic, mystery, detective, wwii, fay-pub-lib, gervase-fen

Why is The Case of the Gilded Fly considered to be a classic of the Golden Age detective genre? I disliked Crispin's story telling for various reasons. I am only mentioning the main reasons here.
Crispin seems intent on establishing how loathsome the victim is and how great the perpetrator is. I, for one, do not think that he creates characters which establishes those facts. The female characters either lack depth or are terribly stereotypical. One female character never actually gets a name bey ...more

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Mar 05, 2011 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: academic-mystery, british-mystery, vintage-mystery, mystery

Edmund Crispin is wonderful. He deserves to be better known than he is. Four and a half stars, actually.

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 07, 2022 Ruskoley rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery, book-1, 1940s

I have a feeling that this novel will divide contemporary readers. I can imagine how it would irritate and vex readers who are not as comfortable with madcap tongue-in-cheek satirical moments in their novels. It is also obvious that readers who are not very classically well-read (how’s your off-the-cuff Latin? your drop-of-a-dime Shakespeare? how familiar are you with the traditional Anglican Evensong?) will feel this novel is “obnoxious.” I had a blast with the novel – for the most part. I want ...more

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Sep 05, 2009 Jenn Estepp rated it it was ok

Shelves: sleuths-and-gumshoes, libraries-are-great

it was okay whilst reading, but i almost instantly forgot about it. i've read and loved other crispin/fen books, so props for this one to introducing the author and character, but not so noteworthy beyond that. ...more

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