Dictator's Way - SPOILER Thread - Dec 21/Jan 22

[Susan]

Welcome to our Dec 21/Jan 22 Buddy Read of Dictator's Way aka Death of a Tyrant, the tenth in the Bobby Owen series, first published in 1938.

When an old acquaintance of Bobby Owen's from Oxford days turns up out of the blue, he needs help. Bobby little suspects that investigating the sinister enclave of 'Dictator's Way' will quickly set in train a series of momentous events, involving Bobby in a fistfight with an ex-professional boxer, kidnap, peril at sea and international intrigue - not to mention encounters with the mysterious and attractive Olive Farrar in whom Bobby might just have met his match.

Dictator's Way is the tenth of E.R. Punshon's acclaimed Bobby Owen mysteries, first published in 1938 and part of a series which eventually spanned thirty-five novels.

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Judy]

I've finished this one - I found it a quick read with some interesting characters, but once again found Punshon's writing style a bit repetitive and rambling in some sections.

Quite different from the previous books - I felt this was more of a thriller than a whodunit.

The political content was quite thought-provoking, although I thought some of the later twists got a bit confusing. I liked the bit at the end where the woman suddenly changes sides, referring to "The Redeemer" one minute and "The Tyrant" the next! (As soon as she hears that he has fallen.)

[Judy]

What did anyone think of Olive? I didn't feel she really came alive as a character, although it was good to see some romance for Bobby.

[Jill]

Judy wrote: " I liked the bit at the end where the woman suddenly changes sides, referring to "The Redeemer" one minute and "The Tyrant" the next! (As soon as she hears that he has fallen.)"

Yes That made me smile.

[Sandy]

I finished this quite a while ago and realized I never posted. My review: A bit too heavy-handed with the political diatribe. Though understandable for the time it was written, I thought it detracted from the mystery. Bobby still stands out for his perseverance when doing his duty, and Punshon's humor retains its subtle digs. "They also serve who only stand and wait."

While I'm very happy Bobby has a woman in his life, I agree with Judy that Olive did not come alive. Nor does she seem like a sensible woman. But he was smitten at first sight and is happy.

[Pamela]

This was one of the weaker ones for me, probably because it was a thriller rather than a mystery. Also, I felt Punshon was reusing ideas from earlier books - we had Bobby racing madly along on his motorcycle again, and then hiding in a bleak place unarmed with enemies all around.

I did like the scene with Troya and Mrs Troya, and I thought he did well to keep me guessing whether Bobby’s acquaintance Waveny was a villain or a fool. I’m not sure about Olive, I’m glad Bobby has a love interest but she seems foolish and that idea of her marrying Peter because of family connections seemed nonsense

[ChrisGA]

I have mixed feelings about this book. I started out savoring Punshun's droll humor and use of language, but I soon got restless and found myself skimming through his long descriptive or reflective passages.

It had plenty of action, but until Bobby explained the Etruria connection, I was confused. All the characters were behaving in such odd manners. I had no idea what was going on. In my defense though, Bobby didn't seem to know either. That's why I was surprised when he explained the whole Etruria situation on the boat. When did he figure it out?

According to my kindle dictionary, Etruria was an ancient region in Italy roughly corresponding to modern Tuscany--center of Etruscan civilization. Does anyone know if there really was a attempted uprising and bid for independence around this time period? Etruria here seemed to be a sovereign country, not a region. I had assumed it was imaginary -- representing perhaps struggle for freedom from dictators and their oppressive behavior in any country. Not really important, of course, but I had an obsessive curiosity as I read.

[ChrisGA]

Interesting ethical issue: Is a wrong ever right? Is there a higher morality than the law? Poor Bobby and his struggle.

[Judy]

Interesting question, Chris. I've just looked at Wikipedia and it says the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, which styled itself in Latin as Magnus Ducatus Etruriae (Grand Duchy of Etruria) existed until 1859.

No uprisings since then are mentioned on the page - does anyone know more? I am thinking maybe Punshon chose the region for his fictional independence struggle because it had been independent in the past.

[Pamela]

Judy wrote: "I am thinking maybe Punshon chose the region for his fictional independence struggle because it had been independent in the past..."

That seems likely to me too, Judy. I also think he is having a sly dig at Mussolini with his policy of harking back to Ancient Rome, because Etruria was an even older society than the Romans. He does like making all these dictators (and Moseley) seem ridiculous rather than sinister.

[Judy]

ChrisGA wrote: "Interesting ethical issue: Is a wrong ever right? Is there a higher morality than the law? Poor Bobby and his struggle."

This is a great question. I've just read a section about this in another current buddy read, The Golden Age of Murder. Author Martin Edwards has a whole section on "Justifying Murder," and devotes a chapter, "Knives engraved with blood and honour" to looking at how detective authors portrayed the rise of Hitler and Mussolini, and Mosley's Blackshirts in Britain.

Edwards looks at how Dictator's Way addresses this theme, as well as several novels by other writers, and says: "As the dangers posed by Hitler and Mussolini became clearer, colleagues in the Detection Club took up this theme, blending their entertainments time and again with a serious question seldom mentioned in most discussion of the Golden Age. Could there be such a thing as a justified murder?"

[ChrisGA]

I had never heard of Oswald Mosley. After looking him up, I have to say it is reassuring to know that the U.S. is not the only country with "questionable" politicians. The big take away from this novel seems to me is the frightening power of blind devotion to one's politics----and the need to sacrifice oneself to speak the truth to power and resist evil.

[ChrisGA]

Judy wrote: "ChrisGA wrote: "Interesting ethical issue: Is a wrong ever right? Is there a higher morality than the law? Poor Bobby and his struggle."

This is a great question. I've just read a section about th..."

Judy, I just now got to that chapter in Golden Age of Murder. It truly does raise these questions. Guess I should have read it first.