This story makes me smile every time I think about it. I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I even refused to make dinner for the family one night just so I could finish it. This is the Golden Age of Mystery's version of John Grisham. The story is part courtroom drama and part thriller. As Macrea and Rumbold senior manage the courtroom drama, Rumbold junior is traipsing across France, evading enemies, as he works to uncover the truth about Victoria Lamartine's history. Victoria is a damsel in distress and these lawyers will risk their lives their lives, if necessary, to see her found not guilty. The characters are wonderful, the plot has enough twists to keep the reader guessing, and the lawyers have a few Perry Mason tricks up their sleeves. Definitely a classic!

Great classic mystery set in post World War II Britain and France. The meatier part of the book is actually a quite well done courtroom drama and the rest involves investigation in France.

As the book opens, a young Frenchwoman who had a tragic wartime history as part of the Resistance in France, has been charged with murder in England, where she re-settled after the war. The murder victim was a soldier she had been attempting to get in contact with and had finally found.

Intelligently written, interesting plot and history and some great characterizations. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so enjoyable, I almost forgot that this was half legal drama, which is something I usually don’t care much about. I just want to read about a detective figuring out the mystery and I only got this for half the book. But it was a quite brilliant half. As you can already guess from the tagline, this isn’t the typical murder at the manor (or murder in the sleepy village) mystery; but it’s also not a story set during the second world war, only one that’s very much about it. The motive can be found in events that happened back then and wouldn’t have taken place in peacetime. Now I enjoy the good old ‘offing the horrid family patriarch for the inheritance’ plotlines as much as the next mystery reader but since diving into the British Crime Library classics and coming across a few stories that were more anchored to a certain time, I found myself enjoying those immensely as well and Death Has Deep Roots is a great example of these types of stories.

Well, and the courtroom scenes were…bearable. As said, I just don’t care for legal thrillers that much but occasionally a crime novel will contain them and I must say that at least I found them less exhausting than e.g. in Excellent Intentions (I’m still haunted by the prosecutor’s run-on sentences) and thankfully it’s also not really a novel that’s half courtroom-scenes. The parts that featured the legal team also contained planning, discussions and bouncing theories back and forth. Almost like two detectives discussing a case 😉

Gilbert is definitely an author I will look out for and see what else he’s written.

PA British Library Crime issue that doesn't disappoint. The period when originally written shows a much different style that is welcome for now every second crime book having mass murderers is the new norm.
The courtroom drama added to a complex plot and I look forward to more in the future.
Thanks to Poison Pen I have given an independent review.

This was a wonderful classic containing courtroom drama, a murder mystery, the lingering impact of WWII, the French resistance, the strange relationship between the English and the French, some sloppy police work, some proper police work and numerous shady characters. A mystery solved by logic and hard slogging with no DNA, no mobile phones and no internet. Well written, fast paced and very enjoyable.
A British Library Crime Classics novel published by Poisoned Pen and currently available on NetGallery.

I've loved reading these British Library Crime classics over the last year or so. I think that Death Has Deep Roots would have to be one of my favourites so far. Not only does it feature a murder mystery to get to the bottom of, but the action is split between characters who try to get to the bottom of the mystery and the courtroom where the person that has been accused of the crime is being tried.
I really enjoyed the way the action flicked between both parts of the story and it made for a really enjoyable read.
I have to admit that I didn't get to the bottom of the mystery fully until the big reveal, but that really didn't matter. The story is set in postwar Europe, with the murder taking place in London and the events that led to it having happened during the war in France. The storyline dealing with the French resistance in occupied France adds a depth to the storyline that really captures your interest. Possibly even more so now, as we are looking back at something that is now a long time ago, but when this was written the setting would have been a lot more recognisable to readers.
This was a great read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Victoria Lamartine was a part of the French Resistance during WWII. She has moved to England after the end of the war and now works as a chambermaid/desk clerk in a hotel owned by another Frenchman. She has been seeking a meeting with Major Thoseby because she believes he may have information about a man she once loved. Lt Julian Wells also fathered a child with Victoria. The child later died because of conditions in France during the war.

Major Thoseby has been murdered in the hotel. And Victoria is on trial for his murder. If found guilty, she could be hanged.

A team of men are working hard to represent her in court, find out as much information as they can and have her found not guilty.

There is a Macrea who will represent her in court, the attorney team of the father and son Rumbolds and McCann. McCann was a commando during the war and he and Nap Rumbold are friends.

Nap and McCann will be the ones who investigate. Nap goes to France and runs into villains who are willing to go to any length to get rid of him. McCann stays in England and along the way is drawn into a barroom brawl that is breathtakingly violent.

This is a courtroom drama as well as a thriller. From the distance of the twenty first century, it is hard to imagine the conditions in both France and Britain. With transit between the two countries, it is also hard to imagine that there would be a sense of mistrust in “foreigners”.

Michael Gilbert was a British mystery writer who was at the top of his game after WWII. This is one of his early works, and his talent is quite evident.

His familiarity with conditions during the war, as well as the workings of an English courtroom adds depth and texture to the story.

The characters are well developed. As things progress, the reader is drawn into the story and seeking the next crumb of information. The danger and the time constraint adds to the tension.

This is a terrific book. The British Library Crime Classics have provided reprints of wonderful stories by authors who have been nearly forgotten. This is another book which provides the reader with an adventure and a well done mystery.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

Major Eric Thoseby was killed with a knife "by an upward left-handed blow above the top of the stomach... delivered with intention and ...with considerable skill..." The murder took place at the Family Hotel on Pearlyman Street, near Euston Station. Victoria Lamartine, hotel receptionist, was on trial at the Old Bailey for the murder. You see, she was found in Thoseby's hotel room screaming, standing over the body. The prints of her left hand were on the murder weapon, a knife she used in the hotel kitchen. Vicky's current legal team was "willing to go to the jury on what amounts to an admission of guilt with a plea in extenuation." She decided to hire new solicitors. A message was dispatched to young lawyer Nap Rumbold requesting a private meeting with him at Holloway Prison. Rumbold's firm was retained to provide her defense.

First things first. Renowned legal mind Hargest Macrea must secure a postponement from Justice Arbuth (a strict, but fair judge). An eight day reprieve was granted. QC Macrea "shall use every subterfuge that the Law allows and perhaps a few that it doesn't..." to buy some time as Nap and former Commando Angus McCann head to France to investigate the French Resistance activities of Victoria Lamartine, Major Eric Thoseby and courier, Lieutenant Julian Wells. Time is of the essence. Will Nap and McCann be able to "assemble last minute evidence for the defense...[?]" Nap and McCann have been warned to leave things alone. Their safety might be jeopardized.

"Death Has Deep Roots:A Second World War Mystery" by Michael Gilbert, written in 1951, is a work of classic crime fiction. Gilbert's courtroom drama is a locked room mystery since only one staircase in the Family Hotel ascends to Thoseby's room. Victoria Lamartine is found standing over the body, but, don't be too quick to judge. Does time spent in the French Resistance during World War II factor into Thoseby's demise? Definitely a puzzler!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Death Has Deep Roots".

I have read several of the British Library Crime Classics, and this one is one of the better ones! Written at a time when World War II was still fresh in people's minds, this is a story of a woman accused of murdering her lover at a hotel where they were supposed to meet. The woman's background in the French Resistance and the victim's role as a British runner of agents during the war factor in the investigations required to prove her innocence.

The story unfolds on three fronts - one in France investigating what happened during the war, one in England following her missing lover's backstory, and one in courtroom where the woman is on trial. Mr. Gilbert manages to deftly balance these while also navigating the past. As the case and the truth unfold, the story is neatly wrapped up and justice is served.

A good mix of courtroom drama with foreign intrigue and private detectives pursuing the truth.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

I like that this does something a bit different with the context of the crime as here the roots go back to WW2 and the French Resistance. So this is part thriller as the investigators have to uncover murky deeds in wartime France while, in the foreground, there's all the tension of a courtroom drama. It would have been good if the characters had been a bit more characterised - but worth a read if you're looking for vintage crime with a different angle.

Victoria Lamartine faces a charge of murder. Her alleged lover Major Thoseby's murder made her the most logical suspect. Attorney Nap Rumbold becomes a late replacement for the defense. Can he save his client from the gallows? Much of the book consists of hearings at the Old Bailey. Some shows Rumbold's activities in trying to clear his client. Lamartine participated in the French Resistance during World War II, and the mystery takes us back to that time to absolve her. Although I enjoyed Perry Mason mysteries during my junior high years, my love of the courtroom mystery did not continue into adulthood. I requested it based on the World War II connection and because of its British Library Crime Classics series designation. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would after discovering it was a courtroom setting. I consider it an average mystery. I received an advance electronic copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book and found it a good story. I enjoyed the characters and the setting especially the historical aspect of it. The mystery was interesting and the plot easy to follow I recommend to all mystery lovers.

As much a courtroom drama as a mystery. The story starts with the trial of Victoria Lamertine, who is accused of the murder of a Major that she knew in France during the war, where they both worked in the resistance. He is found stabbed in a hotel room where she works. She denies the charge, but the evidence is against her. While her barrister works to try to get her off, her solicitors try to gather evidence to find out what really happened. A bit of a page turner, and I didn't guess the solution. Very enjoyable.

A good, but imperfect mystery set around WWII. It's very British. I enjoyed the courtroom scenes and many of the characters even though they were a bit long winded. Nonetheless, a solid story from an experienced author. Most mystery fans will probably like it.

I really appreciate the copy for review!!

Crime Fiction, courtroom drama, England, post WW2, murder, suspense, thriller

Events in occupied France result in a brisk courtroom drama of a murder in England utilizing investigators in both France and England. The accused is a woman who was active in the French Resistance and the victim was a British Major. If you get your nose into this one, it just might be glued there til the end!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is the American edition of a reprint of the British Library Crime Classic series of a “courtroom drama” first published in 1951. Historic crime aficionados might recognise some of the characters in both the police and the legal teams from other Gilbert novels, but for others it is not really necessary to enjoyment of this novel.
Frenchwoman, Victoria Lamartine, settled in London, has been accused of murdering Major Thoseby in a hotel where he has travelled to meet her. They both served in the French Resistance during the war – he was her senior British contact and she has been asking him to help her trace another agent – her ex lover and father of her son – who has been missing for some years. When Thoseby is found knifed to death in military fashion, Vicky will be blamed and after a short police investigation will be charged with the crime. The novel opens with her first Court appearance. Her trial will be temporarily suspended as a new legal team is selected. They will seek to overturn the idea that she had a genuine motive to kill Thoseby – the basis for the belief in her guilt. An investigation into the background of all the witnesses and an attempt to determine exactly what happened on the day in France when she was arrested by the Gestapo and her lover disappeared will be planned and rapidly carried out.
The novel will meld the trial process (which it was not possible to halt for long) with descriptions of the investigations in both England and France. This should give the feeling of growing stress as timetables are stretched – but maybe this is the least successful aspect of the novel. But this is a period piece so is interesting nonetheless to revert to the perspective of the time of “low tech” slower travel much of it by public transport; poor (if not non-existent) access to telephones all of which slow the process further. Then of course if Vicky did not kill, who did? Checking backgrounds will bring several of the defence search teams into awkward and dangerous places of organised crime – not to mention the still simmering old hatreds of the war.
The casual dropping of hints of the impact of the war on so many of the characters brings an added extra too – war for these people was a reality, something they had lived through, which had forced them into unaccustomed places and roles that were often violent and far from comfortable. They had then had to return to “ordinary” civilian life. Very real, but something that later peacetime readers need reminding of in true depictions of the time. This tale also allowed the recounting of organised crime and accompanying violence in both post war London and rural France too.
Without adding a spoiler was it possible to identify the killer, if indeed it wasn’t the possibly untrustworthy Frenchwoman of questionable background and morals? How early in the book could the reader spot the truth? Was it a good, believable tale? And that in spite of the strange vagaries of the British police and legal systems then (and now?).
I found it an assured crime procedural, not too simplistic, carrying the host of characters well and even allowing the few women present strength of mind and purpose. Gilbert didn’t take himself too seriously and there are the quiet jokes and humour slipped in that shows that novels are for entertainment. Yes this one quietly hit the spot.

*Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
I have become a big fan of the British Library Crime Classics as this series gives me an opportunity to read authors unknown to me earlier. This offering by Michael Gilbert tells a story of a French woman, Victoria Lamartine, who is accussed of stabbing a British officer who was supposedly her lover during WW2. Victoria acquires the service of a solicitor at the very last moment, Nap Rumbold, who hurries to France to unearth the secrets buried during the war.
The interesting thing about the narration is the combination of court proceedings and the search in France. Such narration allows the reader to follow both theatres of events and is rather intriguing.
The novel was fun to read, and keeping in mind it was written in 1951, when WW2 was so fresh in people's memory, a reader learns more about the atmosphere and reality of still post-war times.

"Death Has Deep Roots" is a mystery set in England and France and originally published in 1951. A young French woman is on trial for the murder of an English war hero that she met while working for the French underground resistance in World War II. She switches attorneys right before the trial starts, so we get the details of the trial while also following the adventures of the people trying to find proof that she had no motive to murder the man. The police evidence could as easily apply to others in the hotel, after all. There's a mystery that occurred in the past that the culprits want to keep hidden, so the investigators are in danger. The mystery was clue based and could be guessed, though it turned out to be more complex than I originally suspected. It was an enjoyable mix of courtroom drama and suspense. There was occasional use of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.

An interesting, but not entirely successful, approach to the detective novel here, in which a nicely-written, and at times witty, courtroom drama is interwoven with a rather derring-do investigation into the French origins of a murder.

Victoria Lamartine stands accused of stabbing to death her “lover” Major Thoseby in a London hotel. Both were involved in covert anti-German operations in occupation-torn France and she is believed to have borne his child. Just before the trial, she changes her defence team, and ex-Commando, turned solicitor, Nap Rumbold, undertakes a trip to France to attempt to find the evidence which will clear her.

This is a much less accomplished novel than “Smallbone Deceased”. The police case against the accused is, in reality, fairly flimsy, but the depth of the characterisation and the quality of the writing do compensate. I must confess that I do not like thrillers, and found the French episodes rather stretched my credulity, as did the adventures of one of the investigators in the underworld of London.

Martin Edwards’ Introduction is comprehensive and makes out a good case for the book. Ultimately, I was unconvinced.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the digital review copy.

Harking back to the occupation of France, this mystery is set first as a court room drama following the plea of a not guilty murder charge, with roots in the resistance fighter of France.
Extremely well set at the end of the war, which gives us a glimpse of that era, the people and the horror.
Extremely easy to read book, which keeps one interested to the very last page, until the mystery and court case is solved.
Great writer from the golden age.