From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Death Has Deep Roots: A Second World War Mystery

Michael Gilbert,

Martin Edwards (Editor)

Start date: September 1, 2022

Finish date: September 30, 2022

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: Winner of our September poll.
[close] Winner of our September poll.

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Group reads

* VOTE NOW for November 2025 group read!
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* Sept 25: Lonesome Road (#3 Miss Silver Mysteries) by Patricia Wentworth
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What Members Thought

Sep 11, 2019 Tania rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

As much a courtroom drama as a mystery. The story starts with the trial of Victoria Lamertine, who is accused of the murder of a Major that she knew in France during the war, where they both worked in the resistance. He is found stabbed in a hotel room where she works. She denies the charge, but the evidence is against her. While her barrister works to try to get her off, her solicitors try to gather evidence to find out what really happened. A bit of a page turner, and I didn't guess the soluti ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 06, 2022 Carolien rated it liked it

Shelves: 2022, english-mystery

3.5 stars. A French woman who has been working in England is accused of murdering an English man, both of them having worked in the French Resistance in WWII. But the woman claims she is innocent, and her legal team sets out to provide the evidence by investigating not only the current murder, but also the disappearance of a spy in the war. Enjoyed it very much and planning to read more by the author.

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 01, 2022 Sandy rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-detective-grp, mystery-classic, own, z2022-own-24, rread-2022

I found this an excellent book with mystery, adventure and courtroom drama. All the characters were memorable, from the young investigator to the experienced lawyer. Even the opposing lawyer was well drawn. The story moves among various settings: England, France and the Old Bailey, and jumps in time as we follow each concurrent thread. The different points of view kept my interest wonderfully. Michael Gilbert has become a favorite author.

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 01, 2022 Jill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was a solid 5 star read for me. It starts with a French woman being on trial for the murder of an English man, who was an agent based in France during the war. This woman is not satisfied with the defence council she has, and asks that Nap Rumbold takes her case, him being a good friend of her lover, by whom she had a baby whilst a prisoner of the Gestapo. The boy she had, had died of malnutrition whilst still very young. Rumbold takes the case, as although he isn't normally acting as a def ...more

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Aug 13, 2020 BrokenTune rated it it was ok

The book started out great with a court room drama that was headed towards disaster as the defendant changed her legal advisors at the very last minute and her new barristers struggled for time to prepare a case that seemed to be a foregone conclusion. Thrilling stuff.
Unfortunately, once a little time is granted, the story changes into action mode, where we see threats, stabbings, and people digging up dirt from the past. Yep, this was so boring. I often had to flip back to a previous chapter to ...more

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