The Devil’s Elbow by Gladys Mitchell
And so we start another week of reading and talking about books from a particular year – and this time we’ve chosen 1951! As we’ve mentioned, there’s plenty of reading material to pick from, and I decided to begin with some classic crime in the form of a title from the very prolific Gladys Mitchell. I’ve written about the Great Gladys (as Philip Larkin called her) before, when I reviewed the first novel featuring her detective, Mrs. Beatrice Adela Lestrange Bradley. A marvellous creation, Mrs. Bradley went on to feature in a staggering 66 titles and “The Devil’s Elbow” is number 24.
By the time she wrote this book, Mitchell was well into her stride with the Bradley series, and in some ways dropping into a sequence of books randomly like this leaves you at a bit of a disadvantage; there are regular characters you aren’t quite up to speed with, and you don’t have the whole history of the series at your fingertips. I felt that occasionally here, but it certainly didn’t spoil the enjoyment of reading!
The crime takes place on a coach trip to Scotland, and this is indeed the perfect setting for a murder mystery – a kind of updated version of the country house murder. However, Mitchell very cleverly rings the changes by having much of the action happening to, and narrated by (in extracts from letters) a young man who is the tour guide, George Jeffries. Fortunately for all concerned, when a murder takes place and George falls under suspicion, it transpires that his young lady is currently working for Mrs. Bradley. The latter takes off for Scotland hot-foot to investigate, with her regular Scotland Yard sidekick Detective-Inspector Gavin in tow; fortunately the latter is on leave and the local Scottish detective, Inspector Mactavish, is happy to have as much help as he can.
On the coach, of course, is a wonderful cross-section of society: some married couples, some unmarried lady couples, older people on their own or travelling with relatives (including a very enterprising and resourceful young man who will become a large part of the story), some man-mad young women, the odd spinster or two, and one particular character who is what we used to call ‘not quite right in the head’. This array of humanity gives Mrs. Bradley a chance to analyse merrily as well as giving the reader plenty of food for thought when it comes to working out who killed the victim.
Once the murder has taken place and Mrs. Bradley becomes involved there is plenty of action, particularly as the waters become muddied with the complication of a group of coach party members who went off for an impromptu boat trip (why? and is this significant as far as the murder is concerned?) There are plenty of red herrings, lots of energetic running around Scotland and detecting by George (accompanied by Robert, the enterprising young man, and Miss Carter, from one of the ladies’ couples), and meanwhile in the background Mrs. Bradley cackles away merrily, seeming to know just about everything and being able to hit the nail on the head every time with her deductions. I’m not going to say anything else about the plot (let’s face it, you can’t say too much about a murder mystery without risking spoilers), except to say that towards the end of the book I *did* pick up who the guilty party was – although that didn’t spoil the denouement at all!
“The Devil’s Elbow” was a wonderful read; cleverly written, entertaining and enjoyable, it was also surprisingly funny in places. Mitchell gets in some lovely asides, such as a sly reference to “Miss Joyce Grenfell’s portraits of exotic spinsters” and a telling discussion of the likelihood of a writer of crime novels actually committing a murder! If I had any criticism to make it would be the tiny one that the ending was perhaps ever so slightly rushed. Mind you, as I devoured the book in a couple of sittings, absolutely loving it, that might well have been my fault rather than the book’s! The device of the letters works well and helps the suspense build; the introductory scene at the beginning, where the letters are handed over to the detectives to read, has the corpse present but it isn’t identified, so the reader doesn’t know who’s going to be killed for some time.
As for Mrs. Bradley, she took a little bit of the back seat for chunks of the book, which was understandable in that she could hardly be expected to chase villains round the Scottish countryside, taking all sorts of physical actions I won’t go into! She’s a wonderful detective, and as I got myself reacquainted with her I found myself wondering again who in their right mind chose the very lovely Diana Rigg to play a crocodilian, wizened old woman in the TV adaptation! One thing did occur to me, though – Mrs. Bradley’s voice is meant to be a thing of beauty, a quality that recurs throughout the books. How is it, then, that she’s constantly described as ‘cackling’…?
So, a wonderful start to the #1951club! If you’ve never read any Gladys Mitchell I really can’t recommend her books highly enough – her work spans six decades and she was writing about Mrs. Bradley right up until her death in 1983. Let’s hope all the books this week are as good as “The Devil’s Elbow” – onward and upward!
******
It’s worth mentioning that Bill Bibliomane is a regular reader and reviewer of Mitchell’s work, both under her own name and pseudonyms; so if you have an interest in her work, pop over and have a look at his blog here.
heavenali
Apr 10, 2017 @ 07:04:42
Well this sounds fabulous. I really haven’t read very many Gladys Mitchell books though enjoyed the few I have. What a perfect setting -as you say a spin on the country house setting – all rmthe characters are still together in one place.
I read an Agatha Christie for the 1951club over the weekend – so good. Review in a day or two. Just started my second book Tempest Tost.
(I have an Elizabeth Bowen book with that dull Vintage red cover – rather uninspiring aren’t they?).
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 09:00:35
The cover was really offputting – I can’t imagine the point of releasing them like that. But the book was fabulous fun – Mitchell is a great read. Glad you’ve read Baghdad – I have too and my review will be later in the week. Loved it!
JacquiWine
Apr 10, 2017 @ 08:08:55
This sounds like a lot of fun, somewhat reminiscent of an Agatha Christie Miss Marple mystery, Nemesis?
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 08:58:28
Yes, there *are* similarities with the coach trip scenario – though Miss Marple is actually on the coach in Nemesis, whereas Mrs. Bradley makes her entrance somewhat later!
MarinaSofia
Apr 10, 2017 @ 08:45:42
Sounds fun. I haven’t read much Gladys Mitchell either. And that bend gives me vertigo!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 08:57:36
I know – just looking at it makes you wobbly! The book *is* great fun – I read a lot of the Mitchells back in the day and they were always so enjoyable.
Denise
Apr 10, 2017 @ 08:48:22
I’ll always remember reading her short story, Daisy Bell, the image of the scenery really stuck in my head and it’s very similar to the picture here.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 08:57:01
Oh, that’s a new one to me – I’ll look out for it!
BookerTalk
Apr 10, 2017 @ 09:54:38
This sounds fun. I now have a new name I can introduce to my sister who is a big Agatha Christie fan but keen to find other writers who can deliver just as good a plot
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 09:57:51
It is great fun and her books are also a little bit strange – your sister has many treats ahead of her! 🙂
BookerTalk
Apr 10, 2017 @ 11:13:15
It also means I get plenty of ideas for gifts!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 16:33:22
Which is always handy! 🙂
luvviealex
Apr 10, 2017 @ 10:23:10
Well done you for getting the week off to such a good start. I fear I shall be posting just one review if I’m lucky. I’m still ploughing my way through The Blessing by Nancy Mitford. I heard a great podcast this morning on ABC Radio Books and Arts which reviewed an American book called Pistols and Petticoats: 175 years of Lady Detectives in Fact and Fiction by Erika Janik. I wondered if you had heard of it/read it. I thought it sounded really interesting.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 16:34:09
One is fine! We’re just happy when people join in. I have the Mitford but I don’t think I’ll get to it alas. The Janik book sounds very interesting, and I don’t think I’ve come across it – I shall have to investigate!
Izzy
Apr 10, 2017 @ 12:10:12
Funny that your book should have such a dull cover. I bought Death at The Opera last year (published by Vintage too) and it has a lovely cover, and there are pictures of other available titles on the back, all very nice…maybe this series is more recent, I’ll have to investigate !
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 16:33:02
Yes, I have several Mitchells I bought in a set and they have super covers – this one (from the library) was awfully boring…
Izzy
Apr 10, 2017 @ 12:19:52
How weird ! I’ve just looked up the series I was mentioning above, and there are numerous titles available but The Devil’ Elbow has a different cover, the same you have !
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 16:32:31
How odd! And such a shame they didn’t give it a striking cover!
Jonathan
Apr 10, 2017 @ 13:48:55
I’ m glad you liked your first book for 1951 club….murder mysteries never appeal to me so I doubt I’ll ever read it.
I finished my first 1951 book yesterday but may not be able to get a review done now until Friday. I started my second today.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 16:32:10
Excellent! Looking forward to your thoughts!
Simon T (StuckinaBook)
Apr 10, 2017 @ 14:07:25
Great first book for your 1951 Club! Your description of Mrs Bradley is delightful. I’ve still not read any of the books (though have a few – and did watch the TV series).
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 16:31:52
The books are great fun, Simon, and she’s a wonderful character. I remember enjoying the TV series, simply because Diana Rigg is so wonderful, but they bore little relation to the actual books!
Desperate Reader
Apr 10, 2017 @ 20:09:44
I’ve had mixed experiences with Mrs Bradley, some of the books I’ve loved, others less so. I remember liking the Diana Rigg series to the point that I spent years (pre Amazon maketplace) trying to find any of Mitchell’s books. Watching them more recently has been disappointing, but I still think Rigg is excellent, despite not even a passing resemblance to the literary version of Mrs B.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 10, 2017 @ 20:34:48
Agreed about Rigg – she’s such a wonderful actress that I think she’d transcend the limitations of any part. As for the Mitchells, I guess that with a career as long as hers and so many books there are bound to be some that are not quite so good. But they’re usually fun!
madamebibilophile
Apr 10, 2017 @ 21:13:07
This sounds wonderful. 66 titles is astonishing! I’ll definitely seek out some of the 66 🙂 Like Ali, I’ve got a Bowen with that red cover – I think its a mistake, I hope Vintage change their aesthetic soon…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 11, 2017 @ 10:01:47
It’s a lot of books! And yes, those covers are horrid – what *is* the point? You don’t have to do fancy if you don’t want to, but you could do a nice generic cover instead of just a bland slab of a not very nice colour…
Lucy
Apr 11, 2017 @ 19:48:49
I will absolutely get this! Being respected by Larkin seems something one should be able to put on a CV, but also, I absolutely hate the Devil’s Elbow. I have been on it once some years back, misguidedly thinking it would be a fun trip for a Sunday. I should have pulled over and apologised to the poor little aged Fiesta I had at the time afterwards 😉
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 11, 2017 @ 20:18:19
Eeek! I get vertigo just looking at the picture! This is great fun, though, and having been there will add an extra element for you, I’m sure!
1streading
Apr 11, 2017 @ 20:10:45
I love reading all the reviews from your chosen year. I hope to take part as usual though MBI reading is rather weighing me down!
I’ve not read Gladys Mitchell – not sure I’d like it. I read a Dorothy L Sayers last year – my memory was that I’d loved her in my youth – and found it a little annoying!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 11, 2017 @ 20:17:28
I can imagine you’re swamped at the moment Grant! Join in if you can. Mitchell is rather a one-off and I think you would either love or hate her. I love her, but not as much as I love Sayers! Sometimes we can’t revisit the books of our youth though – it’s always a risk!
buriedinprint
Apr 12, 2017 @ 21:47:37
One thing I find disorienting about jumping into the middle of a vintage series is that I find myself thinking that someone who is a walk-on is a regular and vice versa, so I make terrible predictions. It’s like watching Star Trek and getting attached to the red-shirted extras who, regulars know, are clearly going to be zapped off the planet while the regulars all get beamed away to safety!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 13, 2017 @ 08:45:18
:))) Yes, I know what you mean – it’s hard to know who’s going to stay the course and who is marked for elimination!!
In My Notebook, April 2017 « Buried In Print
Apr 13, 2017 @ 21:15:32
preferreading
Apr 14, 2017 @ 02:24:44
GM has been a bit hit & miss for me but I do like the sound of this one. I’ve downloaded it from the library so we shall see. Thanks for the review & for hosting the 1951 Club. It’s been so much fun.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 14, 2017 @ 09:37:45
I think her books do vary in quality, but this one was great fun! Glad you’re enjoying 1951 – there are some marvellous books!
A #1951Club wrap-up (and where next?) – Stuck in a Book
Apr 17, 2017 @ 20:37:57