From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Untimely Death (Francis Pettigrew, #5)

Cyril Hare

Start date: July 15, 2023

Finish date: August 6, 2023

Discussion: Buddy reads

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Buddy reads

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What Members Thought

Jul 16, 2023 Carolien rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2023, english-mystery

The final instalment in the series sees Francis and Eleanor Pettigrew on holiday in Exmoor where an unfortunate sequence of events involving a pony and the local hunt results in Pettigrew finding and then mislaying a body. Our old friend Inspector Mallet turns up as he has retired to the area and the two men try to determine what happened. Soon after the son-in-law of the man who owns the farm where the Pettigrews are staying turns up dead with injuries suggestive of a car accident to the body. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Oct 10, 2022 Lady Wesley rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-golden-age-or-similar, listened

Review of the audiobook narrated by Chris MacDonnell

3.5 stars
This book was published in 1958, well after the real "Golden Age of Mystery," but apart from a few mundane details it could just as easily have been set in 1938. It is a skillfully crafted good, old-fashioned murder mystery. I recommend it to all Golden Age fans. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 13, 2023 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is the last in the series featuring Francis Pettigrew, which I have been enjoying. The series started in 1942 and this final book was published in 1958, the year that Cyril Hare, or Alfred Alexander Clark, died. He was only 58 and it's sad (as a reader) to think that he could have written so many more books, as I have really enjoyed everything I have read by him.

The series consists of:
1. Tragedy at Law (1942)
2. With a Bare Bodkin (1946)
3. The Wind Blows Death (1949)
4. Death Walks the Woods ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 12, 2024 ShanDizzy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A twisty, entertaining mystery

2 likes · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2025 Sarah G rated it really liked it

Another very enjoyable story with Francis Pettigrew and the delightful Eleanor, this time on Exmoor. These books always have such good characters and such a lovely feel to all of it. I’m sorry this was the final one in the series.

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 04, 2023 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: jill-s-ninth-year-challenge, cyril-hare

This is the last book in the Francis Pettigrew series, which I fear I will miss now it is finished.
This starts with Francis and his wife, Eleanor, taking a holiday to Exmoor, where Francis had spent holidays with his family as a child. On one of these family holidays, Francis had found a body on the moors whilst on a hunting party. As a youngster this had upset him greatly, and he found returning there couldn't help bring back the memories of that experience. Unfortunately, the same happens, but ...more

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Oct 03, 2012 Leslie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, mysteries

3.5*

I am sure that I have read this before (say 25-30 years ago) but I had no inkling of a memory during this reread. I was glad to see Inspector Mallett, now retired, in this final book.

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Nov 04, 2024 Ellen rated it it was ok · review of another edition

A bit tired.

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Feb 10, 2022 Laura Anne rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, british-isles

Well-written mystery but a bit awkward in length; started laying out enough story for a full-length novel, but then the conclusion was like the wrap up to a short story.

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