Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

In the midst of a flood a dead body is found in the river. With the local police busy with emergency efforts, Superintendent Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is called on to handle the investigation. When the dead man if found to be leading a double life, the shock of his death is doubled for the grieving family. As with all police procedurals, there are a host of people hiding secrets and telling half-truths.

When the truth is finally revealed, it leads Littlejohn back to the ones who seemed to be innocent bystanders.

"The Body in the Dumb River" is a mystery that was originally published in 1961 and is set in England. Inspector Littlejohn followed up on obvious (and less obvious) leads and questioned many people. He slowly uncovered what happened until he was finally able to put it all together (with details filled in when whodunit confessed). There were clues and the reader can guess whodunit, but the mystery was somewhat complex which made identifying whodunit more difficult. The characters were interesting and varied. There was no sex. There was a fair amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.

I'm new to Bellairs, and this was pretty good, not great. But the author has a lot of obvious talent, and I'll try some of his other works. An above-average mystery. 3.5 rounded up.

I really appreciate the copy for review!!

Victim Jim Teasdale was so inoffensive that no one can believe he’s been murdered; he’s described as “a decent, hardworking chap, with not an enemy anywhere.” Nevertheless, his corpse was found in the Dumb River (referring to dumb as “silent” rather than dumb as “stupid.”) — so somebody wasn’t a fan!

Although the corpse was found in the south, Detective Inspector Thomas Littlejohn and his trusted, lugubrious Sergeant Robert Cromwell head to Basilden near Ely in Yorkshire, where they are sure the murderer really came from. There, they untangle Teasdale’s complicated double life and meet Teasdale’s snobbish, social-climbing family.

Newbies can enjoy The Body in the Dumb River as much as longtime Bellairs fans like me, even though it is the 35th book in the long-running series. First released in 1961, The Body in the Dub River remains as witty and suspenseful as ever, even decades later. Highly recommended.

Another crime classic from the British Library collection published here for the American market. In this 1961 police procedural by George Bellairs one of his regular characters Superintendent Tom Littlejohn of “The Yard” is closing down a case in Fenland when the area is subjected to large scale flooding. When the local police already overwhelmed by the emergency are told of another body – a man that has been murdered - Littlejohn will stay on and investigate the crime. His sidekick Sgt. Cromwell will be dispatched from London to support him.
Things do not turn out to be entirely straightforward. There will be a need to identify the victim – Jim Lane who ran a hoopla stall in local shows - and this is done relatively rapidly. He and his young partner live locally and are well known and liked. But a problem will arise when it becomes clear that this is not his real name – and that he has a wife and family in Yorkshire who it is claimed thought he was a travelling salesman in art. With two places of residence, two partners and two life styles sorting out where “Jim /James” was killed and who was involved is more difficult.
Taking the challenges of the period – poor transport and communication, and these complicated by the flooding – days will unravel as the legal processes are carried out and Littlejohn and Cromwell try and uncover the murderer. En route to the conclusion the reader will be shown very different families and standards. Accompanied by snobbery, class bias, financial issues, maintaining face, family traditions, love relationships and those of habit. Once some of that background becomes clear it is easier to work out not just who could, but who did the killing and why.
This is a slick novel, albeit very much of its time, with a good sense of place and people. Some are sympathetic; some are not ones you would want to spend much time with. The gradual building of the picture of people in Jim/James life does not give the culprit away too soon, so this is a competent whodunit. Not too violent, not too gory – very much a story that uses the murder to explore people at their best and worst. A good fun “light crime” read of a time now well past, but of interest as people never really change.

Another George Bellairs book, another fabulous mystery. Bellairs writing is always entertaining, his character are very realistic and the period and attitudes are depicted with clarity.
This book is rather sad for the people involved, and in reading it, the book and circumstance come to life in the readers mind - not an easy task in a book, but Bellairs seems to have that knack. A fabulous read and a great page turner

cosy-mystery, procedural, British-detective, law-enforcement

Shall we call the Scotland Yard man Superintendent Plod? Better at due diligence than most in spite of nasty weather and even nastier relatives of the deceased. Everybody who knew the man, except for the family, was flabbergasted that the nice man had been murdered (thought his wife and father in law were more likely prospects). But Littlejohn kept on and kept nudging until the truth came out. I loved the atmosphere, detailed descriptions, and insights into the past. Now I need to read more by the author!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

The ever empathetic Inspector Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is on the scene of a Yorkshire murder - with a mystery he needs to delve deep into in order to solve the crime. Well drawn characterisation with an acutely observed atmospheric setting - at times distressingly bleak and depressing, so well drawn. Not my favourite in the series but worth it's weight for the writing alone. Enjoyable addition with the usual excellent introduction from Martin Edwards.

I'm huge fan of George Bellairs and I started this book as soon as I downloaded it.
I liked this book but it's somehow "different". It reminded me of Maigret: the atmosphere, how Littlejohn investigated, the descriptions were very similar to those written by Simenon.
I consider Simenon a great writer so I don't think this is a defect but the Littlejohn and the atmosphere of the book seemed different, like a book written by another author.
It's a gripping and entertaining reading even if it's slow paced at times and darker than the other installment.
Most of the characters are unlikable but fleshed out and realistic, the setting is bleak and well described.
A good mystery, I look forward to reading other books by Mr Bellairs.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

3 stars

I read the Kindle edition.

Superintendent Littlejohn and his trusty sidekick DS Cromwell have a sure puzzler on their hands in this one.

A man's body has been found in a rushing river in the middle of a downpour and major flooding. He has been stabbed. Once identified, it was learned that he led an unusual life. He didn't use his own name and worked for a carnival. He was in a relationship with a young woman who was not his wife. He had told his wife that he had a job on the road, but didn't tell her what he was doing because he was embarrassed.

The investigation leads Littlejohn and Cromwell up north where they meet a variety of potential suspects. Some of them are deadly and Littlejohn himself may be in danger.

This is written and plotted in Mr. Bellairs' usual style, that is to say well. I didn't care for t his story as much as the previous ones I've read. It didn't seem to have the Littlejohn I've come to know and like. Something was off.

I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review.