"Death Makes a Prophet" is a mystery novel that was originally published in 1947 and is set in England. The first half of the book followed the events leading up to the murder, showing who had a motive. We don't see the murder. In the second half of the book, Inspector Meredith was called in and methodically, carefully pursued answers to this puzzling case. There were plenty of clues, but Meredith had difficulties forming a logical scenario from them.

Meredith uncovered clues that we already knew and, at the end, some critical clues that he didn't share until the big reveal. I did correctly guess whodunit, but how it was done was the surprise. I liked Meredith and his helper. There were no sex scenes. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable mystery.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advance copy of Death Makes a Prophet, a police procedural featuring Inspector Meredith of "The Yard", originally published in 1947.

All is not well in the Children of Osiris, or Coo as they prefer to be known, sect. It is a hotbed of passion, unscrupulous ambition, scheming and hidden secrets. So much so that when a murder occurs Inspector Meredith finds himself with a knotty problem and a plethora of suspects.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death Makes a Prophet. It is a novel of two halves with the first setting the scene and the second covering the investigation. The scene setting is great and highly amusing. Mr Bude has great fun with the members and their foibles, if it weren't for the fact that he was writing in the 40s you would think he was describing members of a hippy movement with their religious beliefs, vegetarianism and trances but without the free love and drugs. The investigation is more serious with Inspector Meredith stumped as none of his scenarios fit (and he muses over several) until another incident sets him on the right path.

The novel is much as you would expect from the era. A convoluted plot with a smart but almost invisible detective to unravel it, a good explanation of the crime at the end and some unusual characters to people it. The forensics are basic and it never ceases to amaze me how quickly they get their results but it's interesting to see them in development.

I have no hesitation in recommending Death Makes a Prophet as a good read, not least for the apt, punning title.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

This is the sixth John Bude I have read in the BLCC series and it is the most entertaining so far. I admit that I had hesitated before deciding to read it as I am not overly fond of detective novels and stories involving religious cults. However, my fears were dispelled after a page or two.

The first half of the novel is taken up with scene-setting: the Garden City at the centre of the cult, the Children of Osiris (“Cooism”), and the main officials and adherents are all amusingly depicted and vividly brought to life.

The principal members of the Cult of Coo, Eustace Mildmann, the founder, his son Terence, his benefactor, Mrs. Hagge-Smith, his housekeeper, Mrs Summers, the Prophet-in- Waiting, Peta Penpeti, and members of the Inmost Temple, Penelope Parker and Hansford Boot, are nicely portrayed, with all their failings and foibles displayed.

In the second half we have the various murders, and a suicide, which give rise to Detective Inspector Meredith’s investigation. At the end Meredith sums up the case very succinctly.

I did correctly identify the main murderer but the “how-dunnit” eluded me. I thought the solution was ingenious, if not completely original.

This is an excellent read and very fresh for a book first published seventy years ago. It comes with a brief Introduction by Martin Edwards, setting the book in context and giving some biographical information.