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4.5 stars - Hare has become a favorite - his reluctant amateur sleuth Francis Pettigrew, retired solicitor, substitute judge at the opening of this mystery, is smart, funny, decent, self-deprecating. The Golden Age series is very enjoyable and entertaining and based in the author’s own experience as a lawyer and judge.
A judge is ill and Pettigrew is asked to sub; Hare writes humorously, effectively and wryly of the cases before him, citizens falling on hard times, disputes between landlords and ...more
A judge is ill and Pettigrew is asked to sub; Hare writes humorously, effectively and wryly of the cases before him, citizens falling on hard times, disputes between landlords and ...more

I have really enjoyed discovered Cyril Hare's work and his Francis Pettigrew series. This is the fourth book featuring Pettigrew and was first published in 1954. Pettigrew and his wife, Eleanor, have moved to a house that she inherited in Yew Hill. The house is in a beauty spot, with lovely views, and Eleanor is delighting in becoming more involved in the community. A stalwart of the parish is Mrs Pink, a widow who is given to good works and Lady Furlong is keen to also invite Eleanor. However,
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This is the fourth book in this series, and like those before it Hare manages to mislead the reader. In this Pettigrew has to stand-in for a local judge. Doing this he is introdueced to many of the local residents, as a number of them are in court answering claims for debts. Among them is a Mrs Pink, who rents a small cottage in the village, owned by a local garage owner, a Mr Todman. The owner wants Mrs Pink to vacate the cottage, as his family has grown in numbers and need the dwelling. Mrs Pi
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What a disappointment after the last two in this series! I really missed having Pettigrew around as much, and though I liked MacWilliam, the other detective was really boring. He felt very sorry for himself and spent more time worring about his image than investigating. The mystery wasn't gripping, the suspects few, minor characters unlikable. Also, the dry humor from the earlier books, especially Bare Bodkin, was MIA. All in all this was a very dreary book that I had to force myself to finish.
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Solid, straightforward classic mystery.





Mar 04, 2020
ShanDizzy
marked it as to-read

Jun 24, 2021
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Ellen
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