The Inspector George Gently Case Files
– Book XI
Alan Hunter
Robinson (Constable and
Robinson)
19 April 2012 ISBN-13: 9781780331522
Mystery / 1963 /Norfolk, England
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Reviewed
by Rachel
A Hyde
Harry French owns a fleet of charter boats and a boat building business
on the Norfolk Broads. When he is found dead in one of his boats
the morning after August Bank Holiday there are quite a few suspects.
Nobody much seems to like him, but is there enough evidence to convict
either his wild son John or disgruntled employee Sid? George Gently
is sent down from London to investigate.
I truly do wonder at the BBC for setting their adaptation of this
series in Newcastle upon Tyne. One of the great charms of reading
it is for Mr. Hunter’s tactile, tangible descriptions of Norfolk.
Whether he is describing the seaside resort of Starmouth (Great
Yarmouth), some dusty, forgotton township or the Broads he has the
power to transport the reader to another place and time. In this
book it is the Broads during a hot summer Bank Holiday week when
it is awash with visitors and fair splits the night with music.
He knows his boats too and at times I wished for a glossary for
some of the technical terms but as ever you could almost smell the
wood, paint and river water. There is a story in here as well of
course, a fairly simple linear tale of the murder of an unpopular
man, which I guessed early on, but which only adds to the atmosphere
so beautifully evoked. I continue to be glad that Robinson is introducing
a new generation of readers to this wonderful series.
Other reviews in this series
Gently
Does It - Book
I
Gently by the Shore – Book
II
Gently Down The Stream – Book
III
Landed Gently – Book
IV
Gently Through the Mill - Book
V
Gently In The Sun – Book
VI
Gently With The Painters –
Book VII
Gently To The Summit – Book
VIII
Gently Go Man - Book
IX
Gently Where The Roads Go –
Book X
Gently Floating - Book
XI
Gently Sahib - Book
XII
Gently With The Ladies -
Book XIII
Gently Northwest - Book
XV
Gently Continental - Book
XVI
Gently With The Innocents - Book
XVII
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