Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our August/Sept 21 Buddy Read, the second stand-alone Nicholas Blake novel we are reading: A Penknife in My Heart

First published in 1958, A Penknife in My Heart tells the story of how two men - total strangers - establish the perfect alibis by arranging to switch victims. Ned Stowe will kill Stuart Hammer's wealthy uncle for which service Hammer is to eliminate Stowe's neurotic wife, Helena. The men plot and the plan - with its horrifyingly simple premise - is solidified...

'More convincing, more detailedly thought-through than Highsmith's [Strangers on a Train].' - according to The New York Times. Join in and make up your own mind. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

I'm halfway through my reread now, and realise I had got the plot mixed up with Strangers on a Train. I wonder if Day-Lewis had read the Highsmith, as there are other similarities apart from the main plot idea - but the feel of the two books is quite different.

The description of the first murder is horrible even though the author doesn't dwell on the details - it still has a nightmarish quality.

I agree. I think many people stole that idea. In fact, my daughter is reading a YA book with very similar plot You Owe Me a Murder.

Do you think the police are on their trail towards the end, Susan? One or two comments from the Inspector to Ned sound as if they are putting the pieces together.

Yes, I thought so. Did you like the ending?

I do like the ending - I think it's quite satisfying and I like the way it echoes the earlier near miss, although it would be horrible for the people on the other boat! It might be even more satisfying to see them caught, though. What did you think, Susan?

I noticed more on this reread that I find Ned a rather unbelievable character - he seems too nice to carry out the crimes that he does. There doesn't seem to be a very strong motive for him to decide on murder rather than divorce.

I suppose Ned was the opposite of Stuart. Stuart had no remorse, but while Ned hated his wife, who irritated and annoyed him, he felt sorry once she was actually dead. I found her having an affair more unlikely. I think the author made the ending easier for Ned, as a character.

Just finished this! I really liked it, although the scenario is a bit unconvincing. amazing how many writers used such an unlikely idea. I agree that Ned seemed too nice for the crime, but he is weak and probably prey to a more forceful character like Stuart. He always wants to impress people too.

I found the chapters when the crimes were actually being committed were really exciting, as was the final one. There was a nice balance with the quieter chapters when Blake examined the psychology. I thought the part where Ned remembers when the daffodils first bloomed and Helena was so excited was really poignant - it was more sensitive than I usually get from Blake.

Glad you enjoyed it, Pamela. Me too. I thought it was particularly exciting considering the plot wasn't at all unique.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Pamela - glad you liked it so much. I agree about the memories of Helena being poignant, and also that the scenario is a bit unconvincing. I can see Ned drifting along, maybe, but not actually placing a newspaper ad, etc. I really like it too overall, though.

Many of the Blake books are a mixed bag, but, at his best, Day-Lewis was very good. There are only two more stand alones to read. I will be sorry when I finish them and there are definitely Nigel Strangeways mysteries that I will return to.

I’ll be sorry to finish the Blake books too, I enjoyed most of them, especially the early ones. This one reminded me a bit of The Beast Must Die, maybe because of the sailing references?

Yes, good point, Pamela. There were definite similarities.