Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

1950 mystery novel by the English author Michael Gilbert. Horniman, Birley and Craine is a highly respected legal firm with clients drawn from the highest in the land. When a deed box in the office is opened to reveal a corpse, the threat of scandal promises to wreak havoc on the firm's reputation—especially as the murder looks like an inside job. The partners and staff of the firm keep a watchful and suspicious eye on their colleagues, as Inspector Hazlerigg sets out to solve the mystery of who Mr. Smallbone was—and why he had to die.

A practising lawyer himself, Gilbert made the setting of the novel a London solicitor's office. The book was Gilbert's fourth novel and, like his three earlier ones, features Chief Inspector Hazlerigg. The novel was well-received and has regularly appeared in "Top 100" crime lists. Some critics consider it to be Gilbert's best work.


Are you in for our last British Library Crime Classics?

Just finshed:

by Michael Gilbert

My review

I read this version two years ago: .

I've also read and .

I enjoyed all three!

Lesle wrote: ""Those who like their puzzles cloaked in local color from a different time will be amply rewarded." -Publishers Weekly STARRED review A sad duty brings Alafair Tucker to Enid, Oklahoma, in the fall..."

I'm reading it now. I seem to have read it a long time before, but have forgotten it, mostly, though it made me a fan of Michael Gilbert for a long time.

I will be joining in this month.

I'm sorry, but the plot summary doesn't sound like Smallbone Deceased. I jumped ahead and read this last month. It is another good book from that series. Thanks for featuring the series.

Lesle wrote: ""Those who like their puzzles cloaked in local color from a different time will be amply rewarded." -Publishers Weekly STARRED review A sad duty brings Alafair Tucker to Enid, Oklahoma, in the fall..."

This is the wrong book, Lesle.

Rosemarie wrote: "Lesle wrote: ""Those who like their puzzles cloaked in local color from a different time will be amply rewarded." -Publishers Weekly STARRED review A sad duty brings Alafair Tucker to Enid, Oklahom..."

Fixed it thank you for the heads up. I used the British Library site. Who knows!

I wonder what the other book is?

Rosemarie wrote: "I wonder what the other book is?"

The Sky Took Him by Donis Casey


This is a modern book published in 2009. Have no idea how that discriptions is on the British Crime Library Site.

Smallbone Deceased
by Michael Gilbert
Series: Inspector Hazelrigg (4)
Members Reviews Popularity Average rating Mentions
460 18 57,056 (3.92) 89
"Those who like their puzzles cloaked in local color from a different time will be amply rewarded." -Publishers Weekly STARRED review A sad duty brings Alafair Tucker to Enid, Oklahoma, in the fall of 1915. Her sister Ruth Ann's husband, Lester, is not long for this world, and the family is gathering to send him to his reward. Alafair's eldest daughter Martha has come along to care for toddler Grace, freeing Alafair to comfort the soon-to-be-bereaved. But where is Kenneth, her niece's irresponsible husband? When it comes to light that Kenneth has been involved in some shady dealing with Buck Collins, the most ruthless businessman in town, everyone is convinced that Collins has done him in. In fact, no other possibility is considered. But Alafair suspects that things are not so simple, and with help from Martha, Grace, and her sister's cat, she sets about to discover the truth about Kenneth's fate. Over the next few days, Alafair and Martha come face-to-face with blackmail, intimidation, murder, and family secrets that stretch back over twenty years. And in the process, they discover things about each other that will change their relationship forever.

Thanks, Lesle.

I started this one and I immediately feel that the writing is probably the best (for me) of all the other British Library Crime Classics that I’ve read this year.

That's very interesting to know Chad!!

This one is good. Our Inspector isn’t given all that much screen time and he certainly isn’t given a big backstory or anything but I like him. He puts his foot down a few times and seems very capable. He is sort of a quiet character.

I was a little taken aback by a line near the top of page 122!

That is quite interesting thought on the inspector Chad!