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Titles in This Set
Lonelyheart 4122
Hopjoy Was Here
Charity Ends at Home
Bump in the Night
Coffin, Scarcely Used
Condition: New
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9789124338039
Publisher: Farrago
Overview
Step into the wry, deceptively sleepy world of Flaxborough with this five-book paperback collection from Colin Watson, one of British crime fiction's most quietly subversive voices. Featuring Lonelyheart 4122, Hopjoy Was Here, Charity Ends at Home, Bump in the Night and Coffin, Scarcely Used, this set follows the imperturbable Detective Inspector Purbright as he untangles murder, blackmail and small-town scandal beneath a veneer of respectability. Sharp, funny and endlessly entertaining, it's an essential collection for fans of classic English crime writing.
About the Books
Colin Watson's Flaxborough Mysteries are celebrated for blending traditional police procedural plotting with sly social satire, and this collection brings together five of the earliest, most beloved instalments. In Coffin, Scarcely Used, the sudden death of a respectable councillor proves far more sinister than it first appears. Bump in the Night sees Inspector Purbright called to the noisy, vandalism-plagued town of Chalmsbury, where mischief soon turns deadly. Hopjoy Was Here opens with the baffling disappearance of two housemates and a distinctly unpleasant discovery in the drains. Lonelyheart 4122 introduces the unforgettable Miss Lucilla Teatime as Purbright investigates a lonely hearts agency linked to missing women. Finally, Charity Ends at Home finds a tireless charity worker drowned in her own garden pond, drawing eminent citizens into a web of blackmail and deceit. Purbright himself remains one of crime fiction's most understated heroes: patient, courteous and quietly brilliant. Together, these five novels offer a perfect introduction to a series ranked among the best of English crime writing.
- Five complete Flaxborough Mystery novels in one brand-new paperback set
- Witty, character-driven crime writing praised for its dry English humour
- Features iconic characters Inspector Purbright and Miss Lucilla Teatime
- Ideal for fans of classic British detective fiction and cosy crime
- A thoughtful gift for crime fiction readers and collectors
- Brand new condition with fast, free UK delivery
About the Author
John Colin Watson (1920–1983) was a British writer best remembered for his twelve Flaxborough novels, set in a fictional English town closely modelled on Boston, Lincolnshire, where he worked as a journalist. His crime fiction is distinguished by its comic, dry wit and its sharply observed caricatures of small-town life. Four of the novels were adapted for BBC television as Murder Most English. Watson was inducted into the Detection Club in 1970 and also wrote Snobbery With Violence, a well-regarded study of interwar thrillers.
Why You'll Love This Collection
Funny, clever and deliciously subversive, the Flaxborough Mysteries are a treat for anyone who loves crime fiction with real character. This five-book paperback set is the perfect way to discover Colin Watson's sharp wit and unforgettable cast from the very beginning.
Please Note: Books are dispatched with the UK ISBN and UK edition cover exactly as shown in the listing images.
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