Mystery fans are undoubtedly familiar with the “Golden Age” of detective fiction. Writers including Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Josephine Tey were popular then and remain popular today. Of course, there were many others writing during these years, of whom one was George Bellairs. Readers who enjoy this time period in mystery writing will want to give this title a look.

This novel has all of the key features of the stories of that time. Readers can tell this from the first page when a character named Rev Ethelred Claplady is introduced. There follows a murdered busybody along with a Scotland Yard inspector.

There is also the small village where much transpires. Sound good to you? If yes, read this and other entries in the series both of Bellairs book and the British Library.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

More twists & turns than I expected!

Note: I accessed digital review copies of this book through NetGalley and Edelweiss.

another great one for me in this publication series! If you want something entertaining and fun to read that has great historical aspects both in setting and writing, give this one a try!

I apparently made no notes on this book, no highlights … I remember the murder (that's memorable), but nothing else. It was an enjoyable Golden Age-era mystery, with some fun characterizations and an almost cozy village setting. Good stuff for an afternoon's read.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.

From http://www.bookbarmy.com

Is it possible to have a crush on a publisher?

My heart beats faster, my fingers fondle their book covers, and my wallet giddily opens its arms -- all for The British Library Crime Series by Poisoned Pen Press.

Just look at these beauties, I mean really, what mystery reader could resist?
I first became aware of this series with my first purchase of THIS long lost favorite mystery. Since then I have cultivated a insatiable craving finely-tuned taste for this Poisoned Pen Press imprint.

In 1997, husband and wife founders, Robert Rosenwald and Barbara Peters, who are also the owners of the legendary Poisoned Pen Bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona, saw an opportunity to re-publish the wonderful British mysteries novels of the 1930's and 1940's. They tapped into every bibliophile's secret desire --out of print titles, long lost authors, and beautiful covers to lovingly add to a bookcase:

“We knew that mystery readers wanted complete collections, so we thought we could make a business out of that.”
I've read several of these and, while some are better than others, all are well-plotted mysteries graced with some classic crime writing and completely interesting settings - in short they are pure fun escape reading.

There are locked room mysteries (Miraculous Mysteries), murders in Europe (Continental Crimes), small village settings (Death of a Busybody), and dead bodies in crumbling manors (Seven Dead).
In short, there's a British mystery for you in The British Library Crime Series. You got to love any publisher/bookseller who states this as their mission statement:

We are a community Bound By Mystery.

and who gathers praise such as this:

Hurrah to British Library Crime Classics for rediscovering some of the forgotten gems of the Golden Age of British crime writing.(Globe and Mail)

Might I suggest you support this fine enterprise by buying the books direct from their website ~ just click this logo.

A classic crime novel that brings back the flare of the golden age of detective literature. A quick, pleasant read.
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In a small English village, Miss Ethel Tither is the most unpopular lady. Set deeply in her religious ways, she makes it her mission to know everything about everyone. However, before she can open her mouth too much, she appears murdered. When attempts in solving the case came out blank, the local police is forced to reach out to Scotland Yard that sends Inspector Littlejohn to crack the case. Who in the village was desperate enough to shut the busybody up permanently and why?

I can’t say I knew the author when I requested the book but I did a little research. George Bellairs was a classic crime author that wrote detective stories in from the 40s to the 70s. He is best known for the adventures of Detective Inspector Littlejohn stories. Poisoned Pen Press started re-issuing old crime classics and I’m very glad they did. “Death of a Busybody” is the third instalment of the series. The vintage touch to the story is amazing and refreshing to read.

The style line is quite simple and the mystery is relatively easy to solve. All the clues are there to be openly picked by the reader and the slow pace of the story gives enough time to digest everything. At the same time, there are a few twists and surprises that add something extra to the story. In the end, the case closes very nicely and all loose ends are tide. Additionally, the author tells the reader about the fate of certain characters which gives a very nice touch and depth to the story.

The settings are the typical small villages in the country with the typical country style and people. The love for gossip, the criticism and the fake smiles give off the feeling that not everything or everyone is what they seem. Bellairs takes his time to present it and bit by bit reveals more about its inhabitants, but on the contrary of what one might think, the more you think you know, the less you actually know.
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The style of writing is compelling and captivating. I got a bit lost in the midst of all the dialects and typical small town phrases but still, it added charm and made the story and its characters more real. The author did a great job in adding lightness to very serious situations.

There are many small clues like black-out curtains on the windows, petrol shortages, land girls doing jobs on the farms and some mention of rationing, but rationing had not reached the extreme levels which later years made necessary. There is a tea shop which specializes in all sorts of sweets and there is definitely no shortage of sugar at this point. There also is not a single mention of fighting on any front and that is quite at variance with most mystery novels set in this time period.

“Death of a Busybody” was a fun, quick read with unexpected twists and memorable characters. I recommend this novel to all the fans of classic detective stories!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and the British Library Crime Classics, for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book.

Death of a Busybody is deliciously fun to read.  It is a mystery that delights readers with an assortment of colorful village residents.  Bellairs’ characters leap from the page, making it impossible for even the most serious of readers to hide their grins and chortles.  It's clear that Bellairs has an eye for both the nuances of human behavior and their at times seemingly absurd motivations.  The ways people relate to one another lies at the heart of Death of a Busybody.

Miss Tither is the archetypal nosy parker/ bully who knows everything about everyone and is prepared to tell each and every person exactly what it is they are doing wrong.  Responses range from grim tolerance to outright annoyance, but no one expects her to be murdered.  As the village constable is unprepared for such a serious case, Scotland Yard sends in one of their most perspicacious and easygoing detectives, Inspector Littlejohn. Faced a wide range of memorable villagers each with a potential motive and  lacking witnesses, Littlejohn has quite a challenge on his hands.

The characters are what make this eminently readable mystery extraordinary.  If you like the Hamish Macbeth series then you will definitely like this quirky, heartwarming mystery.  I was left with a smile on my face and a desire to read more books by this classic, under appreciated author.

5 / 5

I received a copy of Death of a Busybody from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

George Bellairs stands out, to me, from other Golden Age writers in his willingness to revel in the seamier side of village life (or resort life or farm life or whatever). No one is above reproach or pity, his detective is a cipher, and there's always side business that's super dark and kind of unrelated to the primary mystery. In this Inspector Littlejohn entry, the village in which the titular busy body is murdered (in a cesspool no less) is riddled with religiosity, fraud, and hypocrisy; one chapter about 2/3 of the way through is some straight up House of Usher darkness and it stands out like a sore thumb. Is the mystery satisfying? Absolutely not. The writing is intriguing, however, and definitely enjoyable. A strong recommend.

This book, the third in the Chief Inspector Thomas Littlejohn series was originally published in 1942 and depicts village life during the Second World War.

Bellairs mysteries during this time are light and humorous escapism for the period.

Miss Tither is a busybody who makes her way around the village of Hilary Magna sniffing out 'Sin' and handing out religious tracks. So it is no wonder that she is discovered dead in the vicars septic tank.

Littlejohn has his work cut out trying to find the 'needle in the haystack' as Miss Tither was not liked in the village.

A most enjoyable mystery from the British Library Crime Classic Collection. With a colourful cast of characters in a well plotted mystery.

Well worth the read.

Death of a Busybody by George Bellairs
Based in an English village the body of Miss Ethel Tither is found in a cesspool of the home of the local vicar and Inspector Littlejohn is called in from Scotland Yard to solve the murder!
The victim is the local village busybody who, with her strong religious views, has expressed what she thinks of most people in the village so the number of suspects are many.
The storyline is a little thin but I enjoyed the characters, especially the Inspector, and the setting and period of the novel.
I enjoy a good Golden Age Crime novel and now add this author to the list.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so glad that Poisoned Pen is reprinting so many wonderful Golden Age British mysteries. Death of a Busybody is perfect for those who enjoy Miss Marple and Midsomer Murders. Here we have a small, quaint English village with all of the usual characters - the vicar, the local police, the assorted other residents and just about every one of them ends up on the list of suspects when Insp. Thomas Littlejohn of Scotland Yard comes detecting. The victim is the local busybody and no tears are being shed over her demise. Good riddance seems to be the shared opinion of the villagers. The setting is 1942, the pace is slower and the dialog is pitch perfect. The plot is satisfying with a solid ending. In his writing career "George Bellairs" (Harold Blundell, a banker in real life) penned 57 mysteries about Insp. Littlejohn and I hope that Poisoned Pen will bring lots more of these gems to light.

I am sorry to say, this book needed more conversation to make it interesting. I like when books seem like real life, and being an expressive, there was too much of people's private thoughts, and not enough conversation between them. If you like this type of book, I recommend it! Thanks! Yes, the busybody drove me nuts!
carolintallahassee 👒

George Bellairs' Death of a Busybody is part of the British Library Crime Classics series. Miss Tither, the village busybody, meddles a little too much and is found dead in the vicar's cesspool. While the language of the setting/era did slow me down slightly but not so much that I found it impossible to follow. I do enjoy vintage British mysteries, and this one did not disappoint.

A traditional mystery story starts out quickly with the vicar, Ethelred Claplady (what a great name!) finding the village’s busybody, Miss Ethel Tither, in his cesspool. The local police call in Inspector Thomas Littlejohn, from Scotland Yard, to investigate – more a result of backlog in cases it is explained by Inspector Oldfield who has responsibility over the village of Hilary Magna from the town of nearby Evingdon.
Miss Tither seems to have had it out for almost everyone in the village. Her views of morality and non-religious behavior are the focus of her nosiness. And she doesn’t seem to have kept her opinions to herself, threatening villagers with exposing their scandalous behavior. No wonder she gets herself murdered!
A good, traditional, village mystery… even so far as having the local, young PC following the Scotland Yard detective looking for praise and advancement. All around, this book is a throwback to Miss Marple village or Dorothy Sayers and that era of mysteries. Thankful that Poisoned Pen is bringing this story back as part of its British Classics.

This is a cozy mystery originally written in 1942. George Bellairs, actually banker Harold Blundell, is the author of this book, the third in a series about Scotland Yard Inspector Littlejohn. Although it is third in a series, it is easy to follow and works well as a stand alone. George Bellairs is not a well know classic mystery author, but he should be. He created stories which included humor along with the mystery and characters are memorable. No one is perfect but all of them add a great deal to the story.
Inspector Littlejohn has been called to a village to investigate the death of a woman who never had a kind word to say about anyone. She particularly enjoyed reporting on the sins of her neighbors to everyone who would listen. Her body is found in a cesspool which apparently is the perfect place for this woman who enjoyed spreading dirt. Because of her meanness, she has no friends in the village.
When Rev Claplady starts explaining to Littlejohn exactly the evil that the woman spewed, it is easy to understand that the suspect list could include nearly everyone in the village. As the investigation moves forward we not only learn about the victim, but other people who populate the village.
This book is well plotted and moves along at a good speed. Everything is very tightly constructed with few wasted words. Character development is very well done. The reader is introduced to villagers and policemen alike. Within a short time, we get to understand each person, their individuality as well as their place in the world.
Littlejohn, along with the local police, work well together and gather information everywhere they go. As the story moves forward various motives emerge. Some are surprising and some of the suspects are very close to home.
I enjoyed this book very much.
I received the book from the publisher, Poison Press through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

Miss Tither, the village busybody, is not the best-loved resident of Hilary Magna. She has made many enemies: bombarding the villagers with religious tracts, berating drunkards, and informing the spouses of cheating partners. Her murder, however, is still a huge shock to the Reverend Ethelred Claplady and his parish. Inspector Littlejohn’s understanding of country ways makes him Scotland Yard’s first choice for the job. Basing himself at the village inn, Littlejohn works with the local police to investigate what lay behind the murder.
A second death does little to settle the collective nerves of the village. Life in the picturesque village of Hilary Magna proves to be very far from idyllic. This is the first book I’ve read by the author & I found it to be a light fun read with a satisfying twist and wonderful characters. The characters are well developed. I liked Littlejohn & look forward to reading more books in the series of which there are many. A very escapism novel which I’d recommend

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Miss Tither, gossip and busybody of the village of Hilary Magna is found dead. Chief Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is brought in to investigate, but with so many possible suspects can he find the murderer.
A nice little mystery, though I would prefer less of the vernacular in the speech patterns, as I did at times find it tiresome to read.
First published in 1943.

A good, solid mystery with enjoyable characters! Death of a Busybody by George Bellairs was a lot of fun. It’s set in a small village, and I just love a small village mystery. One in which all of the characters know each other, and everyone has secrets. It’s one of my favorite mystery settings, and Death of a Busybody didn’t disappoint!
The strength of a small village mystery lies in the characters, and I especially liked the vicar, the Reverend Ethelred Claplady, with his kind heart and love of bees. I also really enjoyed the local law, P.C. Sam Harriwinkle, with his do-good attitude and penchant to always be around when someone was cooking something yummy. You can’t have a small village mystery without the bumbling local law and the village vicar! You also have to have the usual suspects of unsavory characters wandering about the town as well. It was fun to meet everyone, good and bad. The lead character, Inspector Thomas Littlejohn, was likeable and talented, with a knack for popping up when he was most needed!
In terms of the mystery, it was fairly standard, nothing too flashy or convoluted. The pace started out good, and then it lagged a bit, but then it clicked along to the end. I did figure out one of the clues before it was revealed, but that didn’t hamper my enjoyment of this little mystery.
George Bellairs wrote 57 (!) books starring Littlejohn, and I’d like to read more of his adventures. Littlejohn was a capable inspector, who didn’t overshadow the mystery. I believe that Death of a Busybody is actually book 3 of the Littlejohn books, but I don’t think you need to read these books in order. I didn’t get the sense that I was missing anything, and I don’t know how many of the books are actually still being published. Sounds like most of these books might be a library sale treasure hunt! Death of a Busybody is actually just being republished now, and there is another recent publication, which is two books in one: The Dead Shall Be Raised and Murder of a Quack.
One aspect to Death of a Busybody that I really liked was at the end of the book, you really got a sense of closure to the mystery. Bellairs explains what happens to basically everyone that was a player in the plot, and this was nice to read. You find out what happens to the bad guys, and what happens to peripheral characters. No wondering what happened to so-and-so here!

Bottom Line: An enjoyable mystery with a classic feel and a charming setting

While this series of books from the Golden Age of British Mysteries has given me lots of wonderful books and discoveries of great new authors. Unhappily this book isn't one of them.

I couldn't even get through the second chapter. This book is so incredibly heavy with description. Every character gets an in-depth description in Huge and unnecessary detail. With little plot.

It's not that I mind lots of attention to the setting but this was too much. There are far better offerings in this series.

I’d actually give it 3.5 stars if I were able, the mystery is good and you aren’t sure who the villain is until almost the end of the book.

This book is the third one in a long series of books by author George Bellairs and was originally published in 1942 and the original hardcovers with dust jackets are quite collectible. The mystery is quite good, the townspeople hospitable, the police force all cooperate with each other and a villain you aren’t sure of until almost the very end.

If you enjoy mysteries, you’ll probably enjoy this one. I found some of the character names humorous. For instance, Miss Tither (as in church tithe) was the victim and was found in the church cesspit.

You also need to understand that there are some references to what would have been a current event or person at the time and you may not be familiar with them. They didn’t bother me enough to make me stop and look them up. The thing that kept sort of jarring me out of the story was that the words were written as the person speaking would have pronounced them. So, I often found myself stopping and going back over some of the words to parse them out before I could be sure what was being said. Another thing you might want to know that it contains a lot of words that are no longer used in general discussion or writing.

All of that said, I did enjoy the mystery and getting to know the inhabitants of Hilary Magna. It was thoroughly enjoyable to read a story where there were no rivalries in the police offices and the local people were a good and cooperative group.

“I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”