Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our buddy read of The Private Wound by Nicholas Blake
(Cecil Day Lewis)

This is our last book by the author and his last stand-alone mystery, published in 1968. Lewis died in 1972 and, having looked at his bibliography, this seems to have been his last published novel, although The Whispering Roots and Other Poems was his last published work in 1970, under his real name.

In the West of Ireland in 1939 a young novelist rents a lonely cottage to write his new book in peace.

Almost at once, and without great resistance, he is seduced by the wife of the local squire. Harriet's husband is an older man - hot-tempered, impoverished, gone to seed - who once fought famously against the Black and Tans. Soon this eternal triangle becomes a local scandal, and the atmosphere of threat and violence, intensified by the approaching war in Europe, leads to a horrific murder.

The Private Wound is Nicholas Blake's last book, written with such intensity of feeling and depth of character that it is widely regarded as his best.

"Really splendid. When they come round to having a Crime-writer Laureate, Mr Blake's brow is there for the wreathing" - The Times

Blake's mysteries are a bit up and down, so let's hope we end on a high! Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

Did anyone guess the killer in this? I didn't - I was convinced it was the younger man (Sean?) who hero-worshipped Flurry. I thought Flurry was a very well-drawn character and I really didn't want it to be him.

No, although I thought it was a bit of a cop out to use the priest. All that unsatisfied lust, etc.

I had thought Kevin, or perhaps his wife?

I agree, Susan, but I wonder if perhaps the priest being the killer has become more of a cliche since this book was written? Probably the first person I suspect when most TV mysteries have an episode set around a church!

Kevin was my main suspect and I'm glad they got him on something else, probably even more serious. I hope Flurry got a light-ish sentence for murdering the priest Flurry was an interesting and sympathetic character. I wish Blake had included his fate in the epilogue.

I will use my "reader's rights" and imagine my own ending for Flurry: a few years in prison where he copes with his loss by working for the well-being of other prisoners then a quiet but meaningful life in the country. Sean has kept the property going and Flurry remembers his wife fondly.

Nice ending, Sandy and good point, Judy. It's just a bit, well, obvious that the priest is all overwhelmed with angst over the female form.

I did think it was a really interesting setting.

Finally got round to reading this. It was better than the last one, but these later stand-alone mysteries don’t appeal to me. There’s something about the way Blake describes women and relationships that makes me uncomfortable.

I did like the descriptions of the village and the political sub plot. Flurry was a great character, Blake was much more sympathetic towards him than towards Harry.

By the way, Seamus was Flurry’s right hand man, and Sean was the chap at the garage!

Thank you for sorting out the names, Pamela - I am often bad at keeping names straight. I do agree about there being something that's often uncomfortable about the way Blake describes relationships - I remember this in the last Nigel Strangeways book too.