June 2017 - Trent's Last Case

[Jan C]

I recall having read two Trent books. I think the second one I read was Trent's Own Case

[Abigail]

I don’t think I’d read on. I enjoyed Trent as a character, but I thought the writing was all over the map.

[Judy]

I'm not sure if I would read on - I might do, but, as others have said, it wouldn't be a top priority for me with so many other books that I'm meaning to read.

[Jay]

I love the opening lines to 'Trent's Last Case': 'Between what matters and what seems to matter, how should the world we know judge wisely?'

[Judy]

Yes, that's a great opening line, Jay. I do enjoy the writing style.

[Jessica-sim]

Oh my, I seem to be the only one here who thinks the descriptions hilarious at times. I think it's very humorous, but I have to agree that the writing doesn't seem very consistent. Almost finished, and very tempted to read the other two books.

[Susan]

Good to hear, Simone. We all enjoy different things - I didn't find this book a slog, as I do many really early mysteries where the genre was just finding its feet. I can see why people were so impressed by it at the time, as it offered something different in terms of detective and character.

[Judy]

I did find the writing humorous but agree it isn't always consistent. I'll be interested to hear what you think if you do go on to the other two books in the series, Simone.

[Judy]

Susan mentioned a while ago that there is a new edition of Trent's Last Case coming out in August, from Collins Detective Club. I've just been admiring the cover:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trents-Last-...

I see this edition also has an introduction by John Curran and an afterword by Dorothy L. Sayers - sounds quite tempting.

[Jessica-sim]

Yes, I'm still debating whether or not to wait for the new edition.... I also was impressed by the cover Judy!

[Susan]

A good cover can make all the difference to a bibliophile ;)

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Just started!

[Judy]

Good to hear, Carol - hope you enjoy it!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

Judy wrote: "Good to hear, Carol - hope you enjoy it!"

I did! Absolutely loved it.

I'll save my 2 cents for the spoiler thread though. :)

[Judy]

A review of the new Martin Edwards book which I mentioned in another thread earlier mentions how influential Trent's Last Case was, with elements such as the unpopular victim and the country house setting.

[Susan]

Certainly an unpopular victim and country houses come up a lot in these type of mysteries. The Gervais Fen, which just won the vote, certainly has the unpopular victim and that other favourite - an academic setting.

[Sandy]

Having the victim disliked by all kept the murders light and increased the pool of suspects. An excellent idea.

[Judy]

I've just watched the 1952 film of this one which was shown on Talking Pictures recently, with Michael Wilding as Trent, Margaret Lockwood as Mrs Manderson and Orson Welles in outrageous scene-stealing mode as Manderson in a series of flashbacks. Very enjoyable, I thought, and fairly true to the book as far as I remember it.

[Ruth]

I love Talking Pictures. I watched a great film on there yesterday morning with Peter Vaughan called Smokescreen.

And I've just spootted The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is on later today.

[Judy]

Ruth wrote: "I love Talking Pictures. I watched a great film on there yesterday morning with Peter Vaughan called Smokescreen.

And I've just spootted The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is on later today."

Yes, they have some great stuff on there! I'd be interested to see The Wolves of Willoughby Chase as I loved the book as a child.