I thoroughly enjoyed Fell Murder. I’ve read three other books by E C R Lorac, Bats in the Belfry, Fire in the Thatch, and Murder by Matchlight, all of which I enjoyed. Fell Murder is rather different. Set in Lunesdale in Lancashire towards the end of the Second World War, it has a slow start as Lorac takes 25% of the book to describe the landscape and introduces the characters. She obviously loved the area, just south of the Lake District, and describes in detail not just the scenery but the way of life of a close-knit community of farming folk. She also describes the changes to the traditional farming methods forced by wartime regulations and the uncertainty of living in an unstable and changing world.

Then the mystery begins with the discovery of the body of old Robert Garth – found dead–’dead as mutton‘–in the trampled mud of an ancient outhouse. The Garth family, live at Garthmere Hall, ruled by Robert with a rod of iron. The Hall is a gloomy medieval building, with mullioned windows, dating from Jacobean times but with a ‘new wing’ added in Queen Anne’s reign.

When the local police officer, Superintendent Layng, investigates the murder he doesn’t get very far, failing to win the confidence of the local people, finding their slowness in answering his questions frustrating and bewildering. So Chief Inspector Robert Macdonald from Scotland Yard is called in. There are a number of suspects, the main one being Robert’s eldest son Richard who had only just returned to the area, although not to his family, after an absence of twenty five years. Richard has a sister, Marion who helps run the farm, and two brothers, Charles, and Malcolm who all live at Garthmere Hall.

Macdonald’s understanding of the ways of the community helps him get to the bottom of the mystery. I had little idea who the culprit could be and think the ending was a bit rushed. What I enjoyed the most about this book are the characters and the way Lorac has captured the essence of that particular place and time during the War.

I also enjoyed the excellent short story, The Live Wire, which I thought was amusing and most original.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for a review copy via NetGalley. 4.5*

"Fell Murder" is a mystery set in England that was published in 1944. The locals are turned off by the local inspector, so halfway into the story Chief Inspector MacDonald is called in to solve the difficult case. He knew how to gain the local's trust and get the clues needed to solve the mystery. This was a clue-based mystery. Whodunit was guessable, but a lot of misdirection was also worked into the case. The characters were varied and interesting. There was a fair amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I would recommend this interesting mystery.

An absolutely delightful mystery that takes place in northern England near the end of World War II. An elderly landowner and farmer is found dead. He was not well-liked. Could one of his children, including one son who had just returned after an absence of nearly 25 years, have done it? Lorac's CID inspector MacDonald investigates with real sensitivity & insight. I particularly loved how this novel gave an authentic feel for the place (Lorac's home village) the people, and the time.

The book is filled out with a short story that seems puzzling at first, but ends nicely.

Even if it's not my favorite E.C.R. Lorac I think it's a great book, well written and entertaining.
Since the first pages you can feel how much the author loved the places and I appreciated the great descriptions.
The mystery is solid, there's plenty of suspects and it's a great work of deduction in discovering the culprit.
I had some doubt about the culprit but the solution came as a surprise.
I loved the character development, characters are well thought and realistic. McDonald is as a great character as usual.
It was a gripping and entertaining read.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The Dales during the 2nd World War was a contradiction of a place. Farmers' tables whilst not groaning under the weight of home grown produce were definitely a good deal more appealing than those in the towns. The life however was as hard as it had ever been with the young men away at the front and the daughters and granddaughters striving to take their place and keep things going while battling a patriarchal society who felt they were overstepping their boundaries.

Into this landscape comes Chief Inspector Macdonald, called in to solve the murder of one such patriarch found dead by one of his tenant farmers. Known for their taciturn natures the people of the Lune Valley are not willing to share their secrets nor those of their neighbours and so the investigation is a case of slowly, slowly does it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the main characters were well written and easy to picture as was the landscape and various locations. I did feel that the short story at the end was a bit of an add on and with hindsight I would have read it on a separate occasion rather than continuing on as it was more of a distraction than anything else. I had not heard of this author before but think I would enjoy reading more of their work.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys 20th Century fiction with a strong storyline and vivid location, it is definitely worth the read.

This is the fourth novel by Ms. Lorac that I have read, thanks to the splendid British Library Crime Classics reissues. All of them have featured Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Macdonald, most are set during World War II, and they provide an interesting snapshot of life during wartime: how the English countryside was both removed from the danger yet a part of the sacrifice being made by the entire country.

Ms. Lorac takes a great deal of time describing what farm life was like in the 1940s, setting the scene for her urban readers as well as us here in the future. It is very obvious that Ms. Lorac loves the Fells, and the farming life, and has a great deal of respect for the men and women who devote their lives to the land. She lovingly describes how the community comes together to help bring in a harvest before the rain, how one must work from dawn till dusk, how being respected is more important than being liked, how those who leave the land are drawn back to see it once again.

And that is one of the threads – the prodigal son returns in secret to see the land, to walk the hills, before returning to the war. But his visit doesn’t remain a secret, and when his father is murdered, he along with the rest of the family are prime suspects. The local police cannot crack the silence of the community, so in comes Macdonald: humble, respectful, willing to listen. It is his quiet intellect that finally solves the case.
This is a book for people who love a mystery with local flavor – the first half of the book puts you right in the middle of rural England during the war, and how day-to-day life must carry on regardless of the horrors outside. Once Macdonald arrives, the background becomes an integral part of understanding the murder, and how people respond to the situation that they find themselves in. A well-written police procedural that captures the essence of a very specific time and place.

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

I have only recently discovered E. C. R. Lorac. This one, like the others that I have read was very enjoyable. Lorac skillfully paints a picture of a little slice of time during the war. The novel isn’t only a mystery, it’s a beautifully presented snippet of history. I enjoyed the picture of life and relationships in this farming community in the Lake District very much. The love of the farmers for their land and their particular codes of behavior made for interesting reading.

The beginning of the book tells us a little about the setting and the characters that populate the novel. Inevitably a murder is committed, and many possible motives and suspects have already been presented to us. Eventually Inspector McDonald is called in and after some investigation and deduction, the murderer is revealed. I don’t think I would ever have guessed who that was going to be.

The mystery itself turned out to be relatively straightforward in hindsight. In actual fact, I was totally confused until the somewhat unexpected ending. In retrospect though, the ending fit the story perfectly.

I really enjoy Golden Age mysteries and am pleased to have discovered this author. Highly recommended if you like your mysteries with well drawn characters, and an excellent sense of place and time.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46825800-fell-murder" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Fell Murder" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562780158l/46825800._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46825800-fell-murder">Fell Murder</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1124726.E_C_R_Lorac">E.C.R. Lorac</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3026305475">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
<b>My First Net Galley Review! So exciting! With the bonus that I have found a new-to-me Golden Age writer that I think I am going to really enjoy!</b><br><br>The introduction was by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31252.Martin_Edwards" title="Martin Edwards" rel="nofollow">Martin Edwards</a>. For me, seemed to be moving into spoiler territory. I stopped reading, but read afterwards and enjoyed his thoughtful comments.<br><br>Part of the charm of Golden Age mysteries is that the are often a snapshot in time, showing a vanished world - in this case a farming community in The Fells (just south of the Lake District) I was fascinated by the farming world and regulations in England during WW2. The whole landscape and its characters are so beautifully realised that I felt like I was walking the land with Inspector MacDonald. I did indeed admire his patience.<br><br>I have to knock a star off for the murder not being as interesting as the characters, but this is definitely an author that shouldn't have faded into obscurity.<br><br><blockquote>
<br><br><b>Bonus:Short Story The Live Wire</b><br>Completely different in style this shows Lorac as a very confident writer. I found it amusing - but I have a warped sense of humour!<br><br>

1944-45ish Lancashire. The author spends a lot of time describing the life of a farmer in those days as well as the lovely countryside. It seemed work was hard and fell to the aged, women, young boys and infirmed. But they did toil away in a place of peace and beauty. But there is a murder to wreck the idyllic life.
It's a slow plot which moves faster once the laconic Scot Inspector MacDonald arrives and sets out to solve a crime where there are few clues, everyone seems quite nice and the victim while not well liked was well respected.
I have not read any other books in this series (this was number 24 of 46) but I would think there were better crime novels but maybe not a better period piece.

If you enjoy clever mysteries, this is the author and book for you!
I’d never heard of ECR Lorac until I read Fell Murder. One of the Golden Age of British Mystery writers, she had passed me by. Having read and enjoyed every minute of this book, I promptly bought as many of her other titles!

In this British Library Crime reprint – for the American market – we are offered Lorac’s 1944 Fell Murder – not set in her more usual Devon but in The Lake District. As it was a contemporary tale it is during the Second World War to which there are constant references, Garthmere is a rural community adjusting to the stresses of the new requirements, practices and regulations. So when a murder occurs the local police will initially undertake the investigation – but overstretched with new duties (and non availability of police due to enlistments) an old familiar – Inspector MacDonald of Scotland Yard - will be called in. He will work the case in his usual inimitable style and uncover the guilty party.
Early on we are introduced to John Staple, small farmer and overseer of Garthwaite Hall Farm. Setting the background he will be talking to Richard Garth, (oldest son and heir of the owner Robert now in his eighties but still farming). He has been absent from the area for over 25 years in Canada after a falling out over his marriage plans. Richard, working on the Atlantic convoys and coming close to death several times, is quietly using his leave to visit places of his youth. But he will not visit his family. Shortly after the meeting his father will be found shot dead and the police will be called in.
The course of the story and investigation will present all the family – farming daughter, middle son home from the Far East after the fall of Singapore and the youngest half-brother restricted by poor health, the late father, Robert and a distant “cousin” Elizabeth working there as a war-time “land girl”. Servants, farm workers and neighbouring farmers and residents will be built into the picture – many as possible suspects. All will need to maintain their farming routines throughout the investigation so Lorac shows in believable detail the realities of war-time farming during the second major war in less than thirty years. She hints that things have inevitably been changing under the pressures – but this has been causing disagreements and family pressures that have been playing out for years and might now be coming to a head.
As a “simple” detective novel – can the killer be discovered? – this is a fine tale. With a full range of the community depicted and family disagreements it is not easy to spot the killer too early. Macdonald’s need to gain the confidence of the community to persuade them to provide him with information needed to solve the crime is mirrored in the gradually built picture not just of the living landscape but the people and activities within it. He cannot rush, and that creates a quiet ambience for the reader too. The terminology and the behaviour and speech of the characters might inevitably seem dated, but none of the story seems unlikely – so this novel has worn well.
So if you like re-prints of historic crime novels this should be one for you. Lorac is a fine writer and is good at quietly depicting both her characters and the lives they live in a sympathetic manner that is engaging. The wartime background – and the Lakes location, even now a major tourist destination - hold their attractions too. Underlying it all is of course the extreme irony of a wide enquiry into the death of one elderly man at a time when thousands are dying every week by the impact of war in both Britain and elsewhere. Ordinary life may continue in spite of everything – maybe a quiet reassurance is being offered. Even for a non contemporary reader this is nonetheless a satisfactory read.

This most recent of Poisoned Pen Press' reprints of E.C.R. Lorac's crime novels reminds me slightly of a previous work, [i]Fire in the Thatch,[/i] in that both are set in farming country and primarily concern farmers. Lorac clearly had a high opinion of farmers and people who "serve the land," but she had sufficient empathy to understand why her fellow city-dwellers found them impossible to deal with. Thus it is that when the local inspector attempts to investigate the death of an unlovable local patriarch, he finds himself completely stonewalled. While nobody is [i]precisely[/i] concealing anything, the collective population is so unhelpful overall as to be equivalent to an organized campaign of obstruction.

Thus it is that series detective Inspector McDonald is called in to sort things out, soothing a few ruffled feathers and convincing people that maybe, just possibly, they should assist the police in their inquiries. McDonald's presence is very soothing, and between his general polite conversation on farming and Lorac's delight in talking about the beauty of the area, the novel is extremely pastoral, considering the brutality of the murder.

The mystery itself is fair, although ultimately so simple that the mystery largely depended on never mentioning the true motive (although it was, of course, perfectly obvious if you thought about it from the right angle). Possibly that's one reason the novel takes such a pastoral angle, since a hard, realist take would have made the culprit too easy to guess.

I received an advance reader copy from Poisoned Pen Press, which I found to be an excellent quality digital file. I spotted no typos, and found their EPUB to be overall extremely well-made.

Fell Murder was originally published in 1944 and has now been included in the growing number of British Library Crime Classics mystery novels. Once again there is a most informative introduction by Martin Edwards which proved beneficial to me. E. C. R. Lorac took a little deviation from the standard plotting of a mystery novel to educate her readers in the truths of daily life for farmers in isolated portions of the English countryside, this time in Lancashire. This resulted in a detailed telling of what day-to-day life was actually like for tiny communities during the war years. Lorac was a great admirer of the Lancashire countryside and farming life so the first half of this book is devoted to what might be considered by some readers as unimportant detail. Don't be fooled though, because those tiny details are what add up to the crime and the solution to that crime.

Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Macdonald does not make an appearance in this story until midway through the book, but once he is on the scene he begins immediately to gather the tiny, seemingly unimportant facts which eventually lead to the guilty party. Lorac gives her characters life and depth and the descriptions of the farming environment is lovingly portrayed. Readers who don't like quite so much background included in a story might become impatient with the slow movement of the plot, but I found it charming and necessary to help explain what had happened to lead up to the death of Robert Garth. Once again a wholly satisfying novel by Edith Caroline Rivett.

Also included with this book is the short story "Live Wire" published in 1939. This one features a small time criminal who does exactly what people have always been advising him to do - he uses his brains. Crime is just full of surprises.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an e-galley of this novel.

I like these Golden Age-era mysteries. This one does a wonderful job of capturing a unique time and place and people. The new Kindle edition also includes a bonus short story.

This cozy puzzle mystery takes place in September of 1943, among the lovely fells and dales of northern England. And because the book was published in 1944 when the war still felt endless, reading it felt like a tiny glimpse into a time capsule. We spend the book in the quiet countryside, far away from the terrors of the war, but oh-so-casual references to things like blackout curtains and food rations give us the sense that this way of living has become the new normal, part of the fabric of everyday life. In fact, the local police have to call in Scotland Yard to solve the murder case because they are far too busy dealing with “use of petrol, surveillance of aliens, registration of alien children arriving at the age of sixteen, black-out offences, licences for pig-killing, black-market offences…”

Enter Chief Inspector Robert MacDonald. I love this guy! He is genuinely kind and respectful and patient, and these qualities make him an amazing detective because people feel comfortable with him and end up telling him far more than they would normally share. I really enjoyed his company.

The mystery was good and although I didn’t solve the case on my own, the author did “play fair” and provide plenty of clues so that, with a little more thought, I could have figured it out. I think it’s a very enjoyable whodunit.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital advance review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

The location and farming community descriptions rather outshine the detecting in this one, though things do pick up about halfway through. The closed community and village secrets is a standard of the genre - this is good but it would have been nice for something to have shaken up the well-trodden route.

I had never heard of ECR Lorac before reading this book but will now be searching out more of her work. The author's real name was Edith Caroline Rivett (1894-1958). A Londoner born and bred, she settled in Lunesdale in her fifties. I am amazed her work is little known as although this is a murder mystery, her characters are so much more than mere one-dimensional whodunnit stereotypes, they are nuanced and well-rounded characters around which Lorac creates an almost lyrically beautiful Yorkshire world within which to play out her story. Her plots may not be as intricate as Agatha Christie's but that is more than compensated for because we care about her characters and what happens to them as there is an emotional as well as an intellectual appeal in the book. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good detective story in a beautiful period setting, with characters that are well fleshed out.

In Fell Murder, Lorac does a great job setting the scene. Before the murder even happens, we know the family and their quarrels, the neighboring farmers and the landscape well. For some, the prolonged introduction may make the book seem to start off slow, but I like getting to know the eventual suspects and seeing how they interacted with the victim when he was alive.

Garth was a respected, rather than loved, elderly and wealthy landowner. Even though he was tough and mean, he was a hard-worker and dealt with people fairly for the most part. Nevertheless, there are plenty of suspects among the family and neighbors. MacDonald, our series detective, is called in from Scotland Yard because the local man is too busy and not used to dealing with murders, and it’s for the best. The local man is a townie and treats the farmers as if they’re stupid. MacDonald is gentler and realizes their slowness in speech and action has nothing to do with intelligence. The locals think about what to say, will not jump to accuse anyone. They’re stubborn and distrustful of outsiders, but they’re hard-working and honest and MacDonald treats them with respect.

The mystery was well-done. The clues were there, but I only saw them in hindsight. It wouldn’t have been hard to guess who the killer was though.

This is the third in the series I’ve read—they’re of course being reprinted out of order—and probably my favorite so far. The landscape and characters do outshine the mystery, but sometimes that’s just fine.

Classic, Vintage Crime....
Classic, vintage crime featuring Chief Inspector Macdonald investigating murder in the Dales. Atmospheric, highly descriptive, well plotted and with some very credible and colourful characterisation. An enjoyable read with the usual informative introduction from Martin Edwards and an extra bonus short story ('The Live Wire').

The title of E.C.R. Lorac’s 23rd book in a series featuring Chief Inspector Robert MacDonald refers both to fells (hills in the dialect of Northern England) and fell, meaning “deadly, or destructive.” The novel proves as clever as the title.

After 25 years away, Richard Garth comes back to the fells of the Lake Country, but certainly not to be greeted as the returning prodigal son. The Garth son and heir left England behind when he quarreled with his father Robert, now 82, over the younger Garth’s choice of a wife. Richard Garth just wants to see his native region again — but certainly not his father nor any other member of his family. But when the stubborn, curmudgeonly old hothead Robert Garth is killed, MacDonald comes down from Scotland Yard to check out whether the murder is all in the family.

First released in 1944, Fell Murder begins a bit slowly; it isn’t until the old man’s dead, that the novel really takes off. Yet, after that, the novel makes up for it with suspense keeps a reader glued to the pages. The novel’s set in the Lune Valley of England’s Lancashire, where Lorac went to live with her sister, and readers can see her devotion to the land and to gracefully blending the old and the new.

In the interest of complete disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, British Library and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for rereleasing this delightful series; I’ve devoured each one!