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A Blunt Instrument (Inspectors Hannasyde & Hemingway, #4)

Georgette Heyer

Start date: October 15, 2022

Finish date: November 15, 2022

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Next in this very popular series.
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What Members Thought

Mar 24, 2009 Susan in NC rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: my-library, tbr-with-gr-groups, currently-re-reading, reread

10/2022: probably last time I’ll reread this one - I don’t hate it, just enjoy her other mysteries more. The bible-spouting constable is really annoying. As always with Heyer, some quirky, witty Bright Young Things among the characters, but they can grate on my nerves after a bit. I will skim to the end to refresh my memory on the wrap up, I know whodunnit, think I remember the motive, we’ll see… Reread for Reading the Detectives group.

2/6/2016: 3 stars, I've read more Heyer mysteries since my f 10/2022: probably last time I’ll reread this one - I don’t hate it, just enjoy her other mysteries more. The bible-spouting constable is really annoying. As always with Heyer, some quirky, witty Bright Young Things among the characters, but they can grate on my nerves after a bit. I will skim to the end to refresh my memory on the wrap up, I know whodunnit, think I remember the motive, we’ll see… Reread for Reading the Detectives group.

2/6/2016: 3 stars, I've read more Heyer mysteries since my first reading of this book and they were better. Re-read this with Georgette Heyer fans reading group; consensus so far seems to be nobody's favorite Heyer mystery. It has the witty, dry British humor and dialogue; interesting, quirky characters and fair-play puzzle to unravel, but for me, a little too much emphasis on the timing of the murder and who could be the murderer, it drags on. A few fellow readers' comments and observations by Sgt. Hemingway, Supt. Hannasyde's snarky, irrepressible subordinate, made the pieces click into place for me around the end of chapter eight and I remembered/guessed who the murderer was; well done and fair enough, but I couldn't help feeling, did I want to bother reading the rest or just skip ahead? I did read the rest of the book just to enjoy Hemingway's wisecracks and the inane and outrageous ramblings of Neville Fletcher, nephew of the deceased and one of the chief suspects for a time.

6/20/2010: 4 stars; I tried this Heyer last year and couldn't get into it, but after starting with her first mystery and reading them in order, I've gotten a real taste for her style and am hooked! I actually read this one a couple months ago, but I remember well her characters and the humorous dialogue - her trademarks! The mystery for me is often secondary with my favorite Golden Age mystery writers; it's the atmosphere and characters I relish, and with Heyer especially, her sharp humor and witty dialogue. She has so much fun with her quirky characters, just like in her Regencies - she's one of my favorite writers in any genre!

British Golden Age mysteries are one my favorite genres, now I begin to wonder how well some of my favorites would hold up to re-reading! Ah well, any time spent reading Heyer, whether her mysteries or romances, is time well spent, so I enjoyed this one and look forward to whichever of her novels the group decides to read in March. ...more

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Jan 16, 2022 Lady Wesley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: listened

Some critics call this Heyer's best mystery, but to me it is about the worst, primarily because of the Bible-quoting policeman. ...more

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Dec 03, 2018 Gardener0126 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this very traditional, old fashioned mystery. Actually, I loved this book, and I wish Heyer had written as many mysteries as she did romances. It was sort of a combination of police procedural, cozy, and British country house mystery all rolled into one. Although it wasn’t full of action, my interest never flagged. Heyer’s characters are interesting, her humor is subtle, although it can be almost laugh out loud at times, and her plotting is excellent. Plus, there is just the tin ...more

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Mar 09, 2020 Jacqueline Vick rated it really liked it

I have to admit, I guessed the killer early on, but author Georgette Heyer added enough suspects to keep me from being certain.

The story is set in 1938, and Heyer utilizes some of the character types from that period: the vague young man who is more than he appears; the plucky, independent young woman; and the foolish man/woman who makes choices that give you the shrieks. She knows how to wield them, and it makes for a fun read.

When Ernest Fletcher is found bludgeoned to death in his study, ev ...more

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Aug 21, 2018 Aussie54 rated it really liked it

Shelves: re-read, nostalgia

I liked this more than I did when I read it years ago. I’ve always preferred Heyer’s Regency novels over her detective books, but I enjoyed "A Blunt Instrument" this time around.

I really liked young Neville. The plot was okay, but not all that noteworthy. I liked the portrayal of the characters in their 1930s setting. It’s interesting seeing how human nature hasn’t changed much after all these years. (I did guess the murderer very early on, but perhaps that was my subconscious remembering this, ...more

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

Shelves: british-mystery, mystery, vintage-mystery, bought-1993

A Blunt Instrument is another delightful vintage 1930s mystery. Heyer is a master of witty and interesting characters. In this outing Neville Fletcher, the victim's nephew and one of the primary suspects, leads the cast in charming backchat and succinct bon mots. Although it initially looks like no one could possibly have a motive to bash Ernest Fletcher, the "perfect gentleman," over the head, Superintendent Hannasyde begins uncovering dirty little secrets right and left. Soon it becomes appare A Blunt Instrument is another delightful vintage 1930s mystery. Heyer is a master of witty and interesting characters. In this outing Neville Fletcher, the victim's nephew and one of the primary suspects, leads the cast in charming backchat and succinct bon mots. Although it initially looks like no one could possibly have a motive to bash Ernest Fletcher, the "perfect gentleman," over the head, Superintendent Hannasyde begins uncovering dirty little secrets right and left. Soon it becomes apparent that almost everybody had a motive, but now the difficulty lies in the fact that according to the established times and movements nobody could have done it. A pretty problem indeed. It isn't until a second murder occurs and Hannasyde realizes what the two murders have in common that all becomes clear.

In addition to Neville, who makes it his business to drag red herrings and entertaining conversation into the picture, we have a detective novelist who just wants to see how the police really operate (while doing her best to shield her sister), a police constable who quotes scripture and sees sin and corruption everywhere, and Sergeant Hemingway (Hannasyde's right-hand man) who can't help but egg the constable on. Who killed Ernest Fletcher? Was it the nephew (Fletcher's heir) who has been in debt up to the eyeballs? Or perhaps the novelist's sister who hoped to make a search for those inconvenient IOUs? Maybe it was the sister's husband--more jealous of Fletcher than he lets on? Then again, it might be the ex-boyfriend of a young starlet whose heart was broken by Fletcher--not because he cared for the girl you understand, but in an effort at blackmail that went wrong. As usual, a lot depends on who's telling the truth and what time everything really happened.

This is a fast-paced, fun little period mystery. Certainly not an intellectual challenge, but light and breezy and Heyer does have a way with words. She is adept at producing just the right atmosphere and just the right dialogue.

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

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Dec 23, 2013 Gina Dalfonzo rated it liked it · review of another edition

Generally, I'm not good at guessing the murderer, so when I get it in the first few pages, it means the author was really having an off day. Either that or she had some reason for making it easy, but I wish she hadn't, because the rest of the book felt decidedly anticlimactic.

Otherwise, it's the typical Heyer mystery: There's a smart-aleck who's a suspect, there's a love interest for the smart-aleck, etc., etc., and so forth. Amusing and interesting, but not Heyer's best effort. ...more

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Mar 08, 2019 Annarella rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I've been a fun of Georgette Heyer books for a long time and I liked this mystery.
It's a comedy of manners, enjoyable and entertaining.
The characters are well written, not always likable but they're surely witty.
The style of writing aged well and I liked how she developed the plot.
A very good book, recommended!
Many thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all opinions are mine ...more

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Jul 04, 2010 Elizabeth rated it it was amazing

I loved this book, but I figured out whodunnit in chapter one.

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Nov 01, 2016 Melinda rated it liked it · review of another edition

This wasn't one of my favorites. I didn't care for the use of scripture throughout, it was annoying. No christian I have ever met, pastors included, has ever peppered their conversation with scripture this way. ...more

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Jan 12, 2016 Amy rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016

Inspector Hemingway is so clever and funny. If he hadn't been in the book I would've stopped reading it. I don't understand how GH can write such delightful mysteries as subplots and her Regency era romance books but her "modern" mysteries are so flat. ...more

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