The Sussex Downs Murder

Originally released in the 1930’s, The Sussex Downs Murder has been re-released for today’s mystery lovers. This is a fabulous classic crime read, with many plot twists and turns along the way. When John Rother mysteriously disappears (and bones begin appearing), Inspector Meredith is on the case. Meredith is a likeable character, and while we mostly see him on the case, we do get a few moments with him at home. I especially enjoyed the setting and the writing of 1930’s England.

One of the more fascinating aspects of this book comes to us in the character of Aldous Barnet, a local mystery writer. Meredith and Barnet have several conversations throughout the book in which Mr. Bude seems to give some insight into his own mystery writing techniques.

True to his word, Mr. Bude keeps the reader up to date with Meredith’s investigation and the various clues – large and small – that he unearths. The alert armchair detective may put the pieces together early. If you miss a clue or two, don’t fear – Meredith explains it all in the end.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The plot is quite deep as it twists and turns while the police investigate the murder. The characters were interestingly interwoven between themselves in their relationships. It is a book which one could get lost in and immerse oneself for hours discovering little pieces of information regarding the mystery. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy a good, clean read. Can you solve the mysterious murder, before the police?

This novel was one of those relaxing reading experiences which I most often get when I can pick up one of the books I refer to as a classic. The landscape around the Sussex village of Washington becomes an integrated part of the entire story, not just a place where a body was found. John Bude created the character of Superintendent Meredith to be a man who was so entirely human and normal that readers can relate to him immediately. The people of the village of Washington and other small villages close by were entirely believable. This mystery is complicated and unusual. I really enjoyed the fact that the author had his detective work the case out loud while discussing it with others so that I, as the reader, understood where he was headed in his thinking and why. When he had to give up on a line of enquiry I fully agreed with that decision. Lovely, just lovely for readers who like to be a part of the solving of the mystery. And then there are the humorous aspects that fit into this novel as if they were happening in an everyday conversation. Meredith's conversation with the garage owner was especially good for a chuckle.

Trying to figure out what had happened to John Rother involved untangling a snarl of times, places, what witnesses actually saw, and who to believe. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this down-to-earth policeman and his superior officer discuss their way through all the twists and turns to reach the correct solution. Many thanks to British Library Crime Classics for making these older novels available again. They are a pleasure for those of us who get very tired of the more modern mystery novels which seem to often place too much emphasis on the gore and leave out the finesse and the intellect.

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.

There is something about a good British mystery that can't be topped. From the way the mystery is presented to the inquisitive detective, the Brits just know how to draw the reader in and keep them captive from beginning to end and believe me, "The Sussex Downs Murder" is no exception.

From the opening pages, we meet John and William Rother. Both run a business making and selling lime. When John leaves on a trip, he says goodbye to his brother and his wife, reminding the brother to take good care of the business. John's car is found abandoned with other clues that scream foul play.

Enter Superintendent Meredith... He has been called to lead the investigation and he leaves no stones upturned as he searches for answers - following lead after lead and suspecting first one then another. Full of great red herrings, this book will leave the reader guessing through to then end.

This captivating mystery was written in 1936 by Ernest Carpenter Elmore, an English theatre producer and director who penned his mystery novels under the pseudonym John Bude. He published more than 30 crime novels, this being the 3rd. Elmore died at the young age of 56 in 1957.

Recommended to those that love British mysteries, Agatha Christie, or any well written mystery that has some good red herrings!