Book info

• Title Gently Does It
• Author Alan Hunter
• Year 1955
• Genre Mystery

The last thing you need when you're on holiday is to become involved in a murder. For most people, that would easily qualify as the holiday from hell. For George Gently, it is a case of business as usual. The Chief Inspector's quiet Easter break in Norchester is rudely interrupted when a local timber merchant is found dead. His son, with whom he had been seen arguing, immediately becomes the prime suspect, although Gently is far from convinced of his guilt. Norchester City Police gratefully accept Gently's offer to help investigate the murder, but he soon clashes with Inspector Hansom, the officer in charge of the case. Hansom's idea of conclusive evidence appals Gently almost as much as Gently's thorough, detailed, methodical style of investigation exasperates Hansom, who considers the murder to be a straightforward affair. Locking horns with the local law is a distraction Gently can do without when he's on the trail of a killer.

Thoughts

To my surprise, I quite enjoyed this book. I’ve not seen the TV show, but I know of it, and knew what to expect when picking it up. I’m usually more of a fan of the fast-paced action thriller, but actually it was quite nice to read something a bit more laid back and relaxed - if such a thing can be said of a murder mystery style book.

I was intrigued by the author’s disclaimer at the start, that this isn’t a traditional whodunit and is more about piecing together the proof so the police have enough evidence to go to court. The author wrote that it was quite obvious who was the perpetrator at the start, but that led me completely down the wrong path. Was this just a clever case of misdirection?

Gently is an intriguing character but his obsession with peppermint creams became a bit of an issue for me. I like a good character affectation, I really do, but this was over the top. I don’t know if it was just used too much or if it’s because the words “peppermint cream” are just annoying, but I certainly rejoiced when his packet ran out and he couldn’t buy any more because it was Sunday.

That aside, it was a steady read, entertaining and intriguing enough to keep the pages turning, and a good start to what a presume is a longer series with this character.

Rating: 4 / 5