Death Drops the Pilot

Loved, loved this book! George Bellairs (Harold Blundell() was a brilliant author who wrote this book decades ago...and I must say this is one of his best I've had the opportunity to read. When I saw this book' available my heart leapt as he wrote with a unique style of his own, with sharp wit, personality and mysteries within mysteries.

DI Littlejohn and Sgt. Cromwell investigate the suspicious death of a ferry pilot after the ferry grinds to a halt on a sandbar. But it's not a simple death, nor is it a simple mystery to figure out. Village characters, some of which are interestingly morose and grey, others grizzled in mind and spirit and still others who are a bit more...polished look upon each other with wariness as each is questioned and suspected. Clever Littlejohn has a few tricks to add to the mix. This book takes you hither and thither as further mysteries occur, including ties to the past. You will find bits of love and lashings of deceit. No one is exempt from betrayal of some sort. I really enjoy the brooding atmosphere of the sea, the humour, the plot and subplots and the characters are well done. I was mystified right up until the end and enjoyed the various rabbit holes.

Those enamoured with this author and Golden Age books will surely enjoy this book. But mystery seekers will, too.

My sincere thank you to Agora Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this engrossing book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated. Thank you, too, for re-visiting previously-published Golden Age books! They enchant me to no end.

The Enigmatic And Ever Empathetic Littlejohn.....
The bright, enigmatic and ever empathetic Inspector Littlejohn investigates the death of a pilot of a ferry boat in this atmospheric and engaging tale. With Sargeant Cromwell at his side. Littlejohn explores clues aplenty and locals who hinder rather than help his case. Engrossing from the first page to the last, the author has tremendous fun with the characters and red herring that populate his clever and intricate plot. Just wonderful.

It's always a pleasure to read George Bellairs and I love his Inspector Littlejohn mysteries.
This one is gripping and highly entertaining, complex and a bit darker than usual.
Littlejohn and Cromwell are at their best and the characters we meet are flawed and experienced betrayal and got secrets.
The plot is tightly knitted and the solid mystery, full of twists and turns, kept me guessing till the end. The solution came as a surprise and I loved it.
Style of writing, descriptions of the places, character development and storytelling are excellent.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I was drawn into this story from the beginning when the captain sets sail and then he just disappeared. My first thought was that he was a ghost so I had to read on to find out more. He's not though. This 'needing to find out more' continued throughout the book. Brilliantly written this murder, mystery had me hooked. I do love a good 'whodunnit' and this is certainly up there with the best of them. It's part of a series so I will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Littlejohn does it again, with an excellently plotted mystery set on the north-west coast of England. A river ferry pilot is stabbed and thrown overboard on the last crossing of the night. The local police are stumped as the taciturn residents close ranks, so they call in Scotland Yard.

There are a great cast of characters as usual, with my particular favourites being a postman of dubious morals and a landlady who doesn’t wear underwear under her jumpers (nudge nudge). Great fun and a satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.