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Tragedy at Law (Francis Pettigrew, #1)

Cyril Hare

Start date: April 1, 2022

Finish date: April 30, 2022

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What Members Thought

Mar 11, 2022 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this slow paced mystery, which, although it is described as the first Francis Pettigrew mystery, does not feature Pettigrew really investigating events until near the end of the book and also features Inspector Mallett, a man of appetite who is obviously concerned about what effect the war will have on his ability to eat a good lunch.

It is 1939 and Britain is experiencing the phoney war - there are blackouts and inconvenience, but rationing has not yet hit, despite Mallett's con I really enjoyed this slow paced mystery, which, although it is described as the first Francis Pettigrew mystery, does not feature Pettigrew really investigating events until near the end of the book and also features Inspector Mallett, a man of appetite who is obviously concerned about what effect the war will have on his ability to eat a good lunch.

It is 1939 and Britain is experiencing the phoney war - there are blackouts and inconvenience, but rationing has not yet hit, despite Mallett's concerns, and the blitz had not begun. Justice Barber, a High Court Judge, and his wife, Hilda, are travelling around the country for the azzizes - a court which sat in each country before, in 1972, civil jurisdiction was passed to the High Court and criminal jurisdiction to the Crown Court. Hare himself travelled in such a Court during the early days of the war, as a judge's marshall, the position he gives to a young man named Derek Marshal in the novel and he obviously has the detail correct, highlighting the pomposity and absurdity of the travelling Court, which makes this a historically socially interesting read.

While travelling on chilly trains to uncomfortable lodgings, it appears that all is not well. Barber receives threatening letters, which finally evolve into what appear to be threats on his life. The upset causes stress to Barber and he later has a car accident, during which a concert pianist is hit and his hand is injured. The threatened damages that could ensue from this accident worry both Barber and Hilda. Meanwhile, the threats against Barber continue and there are a number of possible suspects, including Pettigrew, a rather unsuccessful lawyer who had once hoped to marry Hilda, as well as a member of the azzizes who is sacked and others with grudges against him.

If you are looking for non-stop action, this is not the book for you. Personally, I found this a fascinating mystery, with excellent characters and a good setting. I found the gentle unravelling of events interesting and look forward to continuing the series. Apparently, this mystery has never been out of print and I can see why. A delight to read.

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Mar 08, 2022 Susan in NC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, tbr-with-gr-groups, kindle, det-club-2022

This is my third book by this author, and I want to read more. I enjoy his writing style and the way he draws his characters.

No spoilers, but there were a couple of very interesting characters that I found intriguing and appealing; one turned out to be the killer! The blurb is wrong, Francis Pettigrew is in this mystery, but he doesn’t do any investigating. Hare apparently wrote mysteries with Pettigrew, a fairly unsuccessful barrister and amateur investigator, and Inspector Mallett of Scotland This is my third book by this author, and I want to read more. I enjoy his writing style and the way he draws his characters.

No spoilers, but there were a couple of very interesting characters that I found intriguing and appealing; one turned out to be the killer! The blurb is wrong, Francis Pettigrew is in this mystery, but he doesn’t do any investigating. Hare apparently wrote mysteries with Pettigrew, a fairly unsuccessful barrister and amateur investigator, and Inspector Mallett of Scotland Yard. This one had both characters, but we aren’t really privy to Mallett’s investigation, until the summing up in the last chapter.

Another member of the Reading the Detectives group said this book worked more as a profile of life inside the British traveling circuit court system (for the judges, lawyers and officials, not the plaintiffs and defendants), and I’d agree that is fair. As Hare was a barrister by training, it makes sense, and the motive for the eventual murder, although it doesn’t occur until almost the end of the book, turns on an obscure point of law.

The book starts with Judge Barber (I’m American, forgive me for using the American terms I’m familiar with) starting on the autumn term of the Court of Assizes; it’s 1939, the war is just starting, but it’s before the London Blitz. Hare does a good job of setting time and place, referring to blackout conditions, mentioning entertaining guests in the judge’s household, and foreshadows both the rationing and bombing to come.

There are some threatening letters to the judge, a box of poisoned candies delivered - the judge dismisses these as vicious practical jokes, his younger (smarter, more driven and ambitious) wife thinks his life is in danger. Then driving home from dinner in the blackout, the judge knocks down and injures a man who just happens to be a concert pianist. The man’s hand is badly damaged, and the ongoing effort by the wife to shield her husband from scandal and the destruction of his career on the bench becomes a driver of the story.

Throughout these concurrent plot lines, the life of the traveling circuit continues from town to town, through good, bad, and awful lodgings, cases come and go, conflicts among the judge’s household and courtroom arise.

I found it all very interesting, and enjoyed Hare’s dry humor and beautiful writing. I listened to the audiobook mostly, narrated delightfully by Chris MacDonnell. I wasn’t exactly sure who the killer was, but suspected - I just wasn’t sure of the motive, but assumed it had something to do with money. I like Inspector Mallett, but don’t think Hare really “played fair” with the reader; when Mallett discussed the case with his superior, and admits he has a theory but can’t make sense of it, the AC asks what it is, Hare just writes “Mallett told him.” And the AC tells him it makes no sense - but the reader isn’t told, and can’t judge! I also liked Pettigrew, and would like to read more of him, also. ...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: british-mystery, vintage-mystery, mystery

Judge William Hereward Barber's tour of England's Southern Circuit begins as normally as possible in wartime--true there are no trumpets (as Judge Barber mentions many times), but there is still plenty of pop and circumstance and the scarlet and wig to wear. The court calendar is full of the usual cases ranging from civil complaints to criminal charges. It looks to be a normal run--and a normal run-in with his long-time rival Francis Pettigrew. Pettigrew and Barber were once rivals in love--with Judge William Hereward Barber's tour of England's Southern Circuit begins as normally as possible in wartime--true there are no trumpets (as Judge Barber mentions many times), but there is still plenty of pop and circumstance and the scarlet and wig to wear. The court calendar is full of the usual cases ranging from civil complaints to criminal charges. It looks to be a normal run--and a normal run-in with his long-time rival Francis Pettigrew. Pettigrew and Barber were once rivals in love--with Barber winning the hand of the lovely Hilda--and now Barber loves to use his position on the bench to put Pettigrew in his place as often as possible. And he settles in to enjoy another round.

But then the odd things start happening. Anonymous letters and poisoned chocolates. Midnight attacks on Barber's wife and a loose stair railing. An attempt to do the judge in with gas. A man that Barber sentenced rather severely in the past has recently been let out of prison and the Barbers wonder if perhaps Heppenstall is behind the ominous notes and life-threatening attempts. Added to the mix, the judge unadvisedly drives home one evening after consuming a bit too much brandy and manages to run down a famous pianist--who isn't shy about threatening to take the judge to court over the matter. Things begin to look rather bleak for the judge and his lady--at the very least financial ruin in a settlement and quite possibly the loss of his position on the bench if the case can't be settled out of court. Through all of the attacks and a final suicide attempt by the judge (who doesn't want to face public ruin), his wife Hilda manages to save him from the unknown assailant and himself. Until the judge's last court appearance when he is murdered on the court steps under the watchful eyes of his wife and the City Police. Inspector Mallett is presented with several suspects....including Pettigrew himself. But Pettigrew produces an obscure point of law that will direct the way to the solution.

Cyril Hare was the pseudonym for Alfred Gordon Clark, an English judge, who used his legal experiences to good effect in his crime fiction. When he was a young man, he served as a judge's marshall--an experience that gives breath and life to his descriptions of such a young man, Derek Marshall, who serves as marshall to Judge Barber. Tragedy at Law gives us a very detailed look at the legal life in Britain during World War II and manages to do so without boring the reader with the details. Hare's characters are interesting and fleshed out--with flaws and all--and Judge Barber soon becomes a man we love to hate--and yet we're still sorry when he's killed. There are plenty of subplots and red herrings in the path to keep the reader guessing. And even though this was a reread, I still wasn't sure of myself on who did it. Excellent reread--four stars.

This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks! ...more

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May 02, 2022 Carolien rated it liked it · review of another edition

Mr Justice Barber is on circuit court duty in the south of England and travelling from town to town to hear cases in the company of his wife and various functionaries. One evening he is involved in an accident which injures a musician and then a series of threats arrive. Francis Pettigrew is a lawyer representing various parties on the circuit and becomes involved in the case. A fascinating look at the English justice system until the system of assizes was phased out in the 1970s. Well-written, ...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Roger Pettit rated it really liked it

Cyril Hare practised as a barrister during the Second World War and later became a county court judge. He uses his expertise in the law and his inside knowledge of the workings of the English legal system to very good effect in "Tragedy at Law", a well-written and entertaining whodunit that is set in England in the early 1940s.

The story concerns what happens to the Honourable Sir William Hereward Barber, Justice of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, as he moves from one town Cyril Hare practised as a barrister during the Second World War and later became a county court judge. He uses his expertise in the law and his inside knowledge of the workings of the English legal system to very good effect in "Tragedy at Law", a well-written and entertaining whodunit that is set in England in the early 1940s.

The story concerns what happens to the Honourable Sir William Hereward Barber, Justice of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, as he moves from one town to another presiding over cases in the southern England circuit. Sir William is a bumptious character who adores the trappings of his office. Over the years, he has rubbed a number of people up the wrong way. Seemingly as a consequence of his less than endearing behaviour, he receives a series of anonymous threatening letters as well as a box of chocolates poisoned with carbide. He is also responsible for a car accident that maims a talented musician, and which could ruin him professionally and financially. His assertive wife takes charge of the situation and does everything possible to protect her husband's position. It would be unfair to say more than this about the plot.

"Tragedy at Law" provides a fascinating insight into the legal world of the time. It is also a very well plotted detective story that keeps the reader guessing until almost the very last of its 290 pages. The book demonstrates that Hare has a flair for characterisation and for humour. Indeed, given these characteristics, it reminds me a little of the Rumpole novels of John Mortimer (which were, of course, written much later). For example, one of the other main characters is a barrister and amateur detective named Francis Pettigrew (who apparently appears in some of Hare's other novels). Pettigrew, with his fondness for quoting Shakespeare in court and his slight air of dishevelment, is not unlike Horace Rumpole. He does not, however, have a wife called Hilda - but that is, in fact, the name of the Judge's wife!

Although his books have been praised by no less a crime writer than P.D. James, Cyril Hare is not, I think, well-known to most readers of detective fiction. On the evidence of this very readable and diverting novel, that is a great pity. I certainly intend to try some of his other work. "Tragedy at Law" is well worth reading. 8/10. ...more

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Oct 09, 2022 Jessica marked it as to-read

Shelves: fiction, detective, golden-age-mystery

One of P.D. James' favorite detective novels according to here. ...more

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Jul 12, 2020 Laura Anne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, british-isles, world-war-ii

3.5 stars Slow-paced but interesting story revolves around the British legal system of the 1930s/1940s; I enjoy Hare's authorial voice. ...more

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Feb 07, 2024 Sarah G rated it liked it

Enjoyable mystery story, most notable for the first appearance of Francis Pettigrew. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

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Sep 08, 2019 ShanDizzy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Not bad

This was a rather long and rambling murder mystery where the murder only occurred well over halfway through the story. It was interesting enough though to keep me reading until the end.

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