4 stars

Sleep and His Brother

James Pibble has been fired from Scotland Yard. I suppose it should come as no surprise for those in power disliked him for some time.

His latest investigation takes him to McNair House where he discovers a home full of children with a rare disease.

One reviewer stated, “The book really isn't about genetics or telepathy or corruption or crime at all…real one (is) obsession.” I agree with this statement. Since the book was originally written in 1971, it is littered with what we would now call un-p.c. behavior and language. The women are stereotyped, as is the behavior of the men. It is interesting to note just how far we’ve come since then, and we all think there’s much further to go. I shook my head.

The Lizard in the Cup

James Pibble has landed on the Ionian island of Hyos in order to protect a rich Greek man from the mob. The mob is looking at Hyos as a part of the chain in their drug smuggling operation.

Close by is a monastery run by Fathers Polydore and Chrysostom. They are very wealthy and one has to wonder from whence their wealth is coming.

Poison lizards, mysterious Home Office men wandering about the island and an English girl living like a hermit all play into this story.


One Foot in the Grave

Former detective James Pibble now lives at Flycatcher’s a very nice nursing home. He has little to occupy his time and is rather listless. That is until he discovers a body atop the water tower. It was a security guard named George Tosca and he is not alone in having met an untimely death at Flycatcher’s. There was a former military man and a gambler.

Pibble can’t resist and he is on the chase once more. He discovers blackmail and as more violence occurs, things get very dangerous.

This is a very good addition to the James Pibble series. I truly enjoyed it.

Peter Dickinson was a fine writer. Even though these stories were originally written in 1960’s, they seem timeless to me. These books are well written, although the plotting kind of loses track once in a while. Commander James Pibble is a keenly observant witness to human behavior. He picks up on minute clues in body language. I don’t know how I have missed reading him before and will continue to read him.

I want to thank Netgalley and Open Road Integrated Media for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read.

It's wonderful to have three of Peter Dickinson's classic James Prebble books in one ebook bundle.