From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Death of an Airman (Inspector Bray, #2)

Christopher St. John Sprigg

Start date: May 1, 2022

Finish date: May 31, 2022

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of the poll for our May group read.
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What Members Thought

Apr 09, 2022 Susan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Published in 1935, this mystery was written by Christopher St. John Sprigg, whose short career was cut short by the Spanish Civil War. Although he had lost interest with mysteries at the time, he was young and idealistic, and might, had he survived, written more. As a fan of Golden Age mysteries, we are lucky that so many previously out of print mysteries are being republished and this is an interesting addition to the genre.

The Australian Bishop of Cootamundra, Edwin Marriott, arrives at Baston ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

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

4.5 stars for this entertaining, well-puzzled, briskly plotted, Golden Age British mystery. Lots of humor, interesting facts about flying, and a clever, twisty plot.

It all starts as a visiting Australian bishop comes to Baston aerodrome for lessons; his Australian territory is large, and although a plane is provided, the budget won’t stretch to a pilot. So, the bishop decides to use his leave back home to learn, so he can ferry himself about.

The humor kicks off right away as club secretary and 4.5 stars for this entertaining, well-puzzled, briskly plotted, Golden Age British mystery. Lots of humor, interesting facts about flying, and a clever, twisty plot.

It all starts as a visiting Australian bishop comes to Baston aerodrome for lessons; his Australian territory is large, and although a plane is provided, the budget won’t stretch to a pilot. So, the bishop decides to use his leave back home to learn, so he can ferry himself about.

The humor kicks off right away as club secretary and general factotum “Sally” Sackbut, a wonderfully efficient, practical, smart and funny woman, signs him up and introduces him to the local members. Sprigg handles this initial scene assuredly, with humor - so often the expository passages at the beginning of a mystery leave you feeling you need a theater program…

Not long after, the bishop and Sally witness an experienced pilot fail to pull out of a tailspin and crash. They rush with other club members to the scene, but it’s too late, the pilot is dead. This was one of the few bits I had a hard time with - the local doctor, also a club member, is out on a call, so rather than call police, they bring the body into the club, lay him out, and it’s hours before the doctor arrives to officially declare the pilot dead. Meanwhile, the bishop notices something odd about the body.

No more plot, don’t want to give away spoilers, but I thought it odd they all waited for the doctor- I assume it was hesitancy to besmirch the reputation of the air club, and it was thought to be a straightforward, tragic accident, but it seemed odd. Otherwise, it all moved along briskly, and entertainingly. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it very much.

I will only say I thought Sally Sackbut and the Bishop were two favorite characters among several, until Lady Crumbles, a philanthropic fundraising dynamo of a countess and brother of another member, comes on the scene. An example of the humor:

Lady Crumbles lived in a passionate whirl of organization. Charity matinée succeeded to hospital ball…and people instinctively (but vainly) put protecting hands over their cheque-books when she approached. Vainly, because Lady Crumbles’ masterful and obtuse personality had the effect of a tank, and to be perfectly candid, her figure was planned on similar lines, which made the joint effect the more overpowering.

Great fun, so glad I finally read it, for the Reading the Detectives group upcoming read. ...more

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Jul 23, 2015 Damaskcat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is another book in the excellent series of crime novels from the British Library archives. Apart from the background it could have been written today. It reads very well indeed and the characters are all too believable and the plot is exciting and well constructed.

It opens with a Bishop from Australia, on leave in England, visiting Baston Flying Club and asking to book some lessons. While he is there he witnesses an incident between the instructor and a club member which makes him curious. ...more

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Jul 13, 2022 Jan C rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, gr-group-read, 2022, between-the-wars, england

Interesting but kind of touch and go. It got bogged down somewhere in the middle but I felt it did pick up. I think the author only wrote 2 mysteries - he went off to the Spanish Civil War and got himself killed. But, on the whole, I enjoyed this one.

A bishop comes home from Australia, decides he should use his leave to learn how to fly so that he could ferry himself around Cootamundra. Introduces himself to the secretary of Baston Flying Club (not sure if that is the correct name of it). She in ...more

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May 09, 2022 Carolien rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2022, environment

The Bishop of Cootamundra arrives at the flight school in Banston, England seeking to be taught to fly a plane. His flying instructor ends up dead in a place crash, but the Bishop suspects all is not as it seems. Soon the Bishop, a local policeman and Scotland Yard are on the trail of an international drugs gang. The setting is fascinating in the early days of flying and it is one of the most ingenious murders I have ever encountered in fiction. A very interesting read.

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Apr 09, 2022 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: christopher-st-john-sprigg, jill-s-eighth-year-challenge

Dr. Marriot is the bishop of Cootamundra, a large area in Australia. He has been given a plane to be able to go to all parts of his diocese, however he is unable to fly the plane. He comes across to England to take lessons in flying, and joins a club at Baston, where they assure him he wil be able to master the art of flying a plane. The club secretary, a Sally Sackbut. takes him under her wing, so to speak and soon has him in a plane to learn. She introduces him to various members of the club. ...more

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Jul 29, 2023 Laura Anne rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, british-isles, travel-planes-trains-autos-boats

Enjoyable mystery with exciting aeroplanes and entertaining characters; wish there was a bit more of the Bishop playing amateur sleuth and bit less of the police procedural.

1 like · Like · see review