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Book ReviewsMalice Aforethought (Ulverscroft Large Print) |
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Book: Malice Aforethought (Ulverscroft Large Print)
Written by: Francis Iles |
Publisher: Ulverscroft Large Print
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5
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Thoroughly Enjoyable Quaint English Read!
Rating:
5 / 5
This is a glorious book if you like cosy English mysteries! A classic from 1931, the dialogue is marvelous; you can just "hear" the English manerisms and personalities through the writing! The characters are charming and likeable, and the main character is fantastic and amusing with his running internal rationalizations that lead to his decisions and actions. Don't miss this one!
Malice Aforethought
Rating:
5 / 5
A delightful comedy (for this is its main strength, not the fact that it was the first "psychological thriller"-and I have my doubts about this fact: didn't Mrs. Belloc Lowndes anticipate Cox?). Dr. Bickleigh, a philandering medico suffering from an inferiority complex, determines to rid himself of his wife, a bullying and domineering shrew, in order to marry his mistress-who announces her engagement to another man immediately after the murder. (Of course, his "ingenious" plan is immediately seen through by the other villagers.) Superb wit: excellent social satire-St. Mary Mead steeped in venomed ink, with plenty of amusingly catty back-biting and splendid caricatures. Berkeley at his most acerbic is highly amusing, in small doses-like aconitine.
A classic mystery
Rating:
5 / 5
I have to confess that I don't own the audiotape, but I've read the book several times and think it's one of the best mystery novels ever written. It definitely, but definitely does not deserve to be out of print! Humorous mysteries are often not well plotted, but this is an exception; it's wickedly funny and ironic, yet it's also cunningly structured, with a story full of twists and turns that lead to a truly satisfying surprise ending. The character of Dr. Bickleigh, the hapless protagonist, is truly a hoot, and the supporting cast is fabulously drawn as well. Don't miss this one.
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