An English Murder – Cyril Hare

The title of this one also appealed. Ever since I started reading Enid Blyton as a child, I've always loved mystery, and later detective, stories.

Originally published in 1951, An English Murder is, as the title suggests, the story of an English murder. One that seem possibly a bit more English, because it, and the surrounding events, take place at an English country house, at Christmas time, with the snow falling outside like a Christmas card, with a member of Parliament staying at the house, and with a foreign visitor to keep telling everyone how English it all is!

It's a lovely, classic crime story, with a few twists and turns and with details to be observed. I particularly liked Hare's characters, especially Dr Bottwink with his obsession with Englishness.

Having a look on Amazon it seems that several of Cyril Hare's other books have recently been republished in paperback by Faber and Faber, and the latest one to do so was only released on 7 May 2009, making me wonder if An English Murder may be due for re-release soon. They have certainly released many of Hare's books (including An English Murder) as part of their Faber Finds range, but a cheaper range also seems to currently be in progress. 

I'll certainly be looking out for the others though, especially if I see them with the distinctive green Penguin jacket! I suspect they may be good enough to warrant a purchase regardless of the publisher.