Our February Group Read - A Nice Class of Corpse by Simon Brett

[Bionic Jean]

I've been mulling over when it was set, since you posted this Helen. I suppose I'd assumed it was not contemporary with the mid-1980s, when it was written, but a little before. Maybe the 1950s? But that's just a guess. Has anyone noticed any clues to the era in the text?

[Helen]

That what I mentioned in my first post, about "time standing still." It hearkens back to an earlier time, but I'm not sure! Edited to mention that remnants of the class system existed for a very long time, certainly they exist even today.

[Bionic Jean]

Helen wrote: "That what I mentioned in my first post, about "time standing still." It hearkens back to an earlier time, but I'm not sure! ..."

Yes, when you said that I felt it has echoes of Agatha Christie's At Bertram's Hotel, in that sense, although both the story and the writing style are completely different!

[Michaela]

I finished it today, and it reminded me of the Golden Age style, but is obviously written much later. We don´t find out when it´s set. There are some unusual parts in it and (view spoiler)[the crimes are committed by different persons, while I never believed that Newth was the killer. In the end I thought of the wrong person being the murderer, but I didn´t like that he was so little involved in the story. I would have preferred Mrs. Naismith or Pargeter herself who of course couldn´t have been it, having to fill more books lol. (hide spoiler)] You see I´m trained in Agatha Christie where you can expect anything. ;)

[Bionic Jean]

True! To say Agatha Christie was part of the group which formed the Detection Club rules in 1930, she seemed to break them all over the place!

But it's good to have a sort of default for a golden age English mystery, as then we can delight in an author's own little twist on it - as here.

[Bionic Jean]

I've just discovered that Simon Brett was actually the president of the Detection Club from 2000 to 2015!

[Michaela]

Interesting, thanks Jean!

[Lisa]

Very cool!

[KelleReads]

There is a note to the reader at the beginning:
“Please note this book is set in the 1980s in England, a time before mobile phones and ubiquitous CCTV, and when social attitudes were very different.” I agree that there is a bit of timelessness that makes it
Possible this could be 1955 or 1985. I really enjoyed the opening and the overall tone and voice. Good choice!

[Deborah]

From what I have read from all of you it sounds like a good book. Unfortunately, I just could not fit it in for February. I do, however, have it on my "Want to Read" list.

[Bionic Jean]

Thanks Kelle.

I hope you can enjoy it eventually, Deborah, and be sure to come back here and tell us what you think!

[Craftyhj]

I've just finished the second in the series - it stood up well and I will definitely read on through the series. The only observation I would make is that I think the reader would miss out if they started with the second one as it assumes knowledge of the character of Mrs Pargeter and her background.

[Calvin]

I finally caught up with this book. Lots of fun. My wife liked it so much she has launched into the series

[Liisa]

I like that: “launched”

[JenniferAustin]

Calvin wrote: "I finally caught up with this book. Lots of fun. My wife liked it so much she has launched into the series"

Hurray! I enjoyed this one, too! And what fun that your wife liked it, too!

[Bionic Jean]

I enjoy them too! Good to hear from you Calvin, (and Liisa, Craftyhj and Jennifer!)