Friday, December 11, 2015

Friday Forgotten (or Overlooked) Book: THE HOG'S BACK MYSTERY (1933) by Freeman Wills Croft


Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away, my then husband and I went on a Freeman Wills Croft reading binge. There my familiarity with this British Golden Age author ends. If you ask me which books we read and what did I think of them (other than the fact that I must have enjoyed them or I wouldn't have kept reading) I couldn't tell you.

But recently, Croft's name began popping up in online conversation and I determined to reread some of his books once again if I could find them. (Not as easy as one might think.) As luck would have it, THE HOG'S BACK MYSTERY is currently available as part of the British Library Crime Classics reprint series. But I opted for the audio version narrated by the wonderful Gordon Griffin. For me, audio works just fine as an alternate. I listened to it a few days ago while in the middle of wrapping Christmas presents and other assorted holiday chores.

Croft was the grandfather of the police procedural mystery (at least that's how I think of him). He was also a proponent of the Golden Age detection strategy of 'play fair' with the reader (which never mattered to me, but I'm probably in the minority there) so in this particular book you should be able to figure out the killer unless your eyes glaze over from the minutiae of forming a perfect alibi. Near the end, I lost track of who was doing what to whom at what time and just agreed with Inspector's French's summation. I never did accept that such a finely tuned alibi would have worked in real life. But then, books aren't - necessarily - real life.

For me, the excruciatingly detailed split-second timing of the alibi was the only weakness in a nearly perfect procedural mystery. But then, I'm not numbers oriented so there is that to consider as well. You might have a totally different reaction.

Otherwise THE HOG'S BACK MYSTERY is a fascinating case - 10th in the Inspector French series - which begins with the confounding disappearance (seemingly into thin air) of a doctor from his study (while still in his house slippers) and culminates, all told, in the especially cold blooded murders of four people. An almost tangible underlying atmosphere of unease fairly clings to the pages of this book, but don't ask - I couldn't put my finger on any specific thing. There's just that sense of inexplicable menace which can be self-generating in a good mystery.

I don't want to give too much away because the rewarding part of this sort of story, besides the atmospherics, is the step by step, clue by clue, chapter by chapter mounting of the case by the indefatigable Inspector and his police cronies. If you love that sort of thing - as I do - then this is the book for you.

My rating: 4 Stars (Would have been five but for the ending.)

Since it's Friday, you will want to check in at author Patricia Abbott's blog, Pattinase, to see what other forgotten or overlooked books other bloggers are talking about today.

17 comments:

  1. I look forward to this Yvette, thanks. I to tend to head detail-orientated solutiuons like this but I can overlook it!

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    1. That's what I did, Sergio. It really is an excellent mystery. One of those that stay in the memory longer than most. I loved it.

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  2. I used to go across the Hog's Back every day. I might try and find this book!

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    1. You should be able to find it in this new reprint, Tom. If you like vintage golden age mysteries, then this one is a prime example.

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  3. I think that I must get this book for my husband. He grew up with that view of the Hog's Back in Surrey.

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    1. Definitely then, Rosemary. Maybe you can get it in time for Christmas. :)

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  4. Well, I'm not so sure about the mystery (altho I've recently discovered the appeal of cozies) but I've suddenly gotten a hankering to visit Hog's Back in person one day.

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    1. Well, maybe you'll get a chance to visit sometime. England is a beautiful country.

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  5. Glad you enjoyed this book. I think it's one of Crofts' best.

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  6. Merry Christmas Yevette,
    We'll I made it back from Boston. We stayed at The Holiday INN the places I wanted to stay were $350 up to $800 a night. We drove to Portland took a bus into Boston. I took my Daughter to Chinatown for lunch then a cab to hotel. We unpacked and called a cab to Isabella Stewart/Gardner Museum. I wanted to share that with her. Then we took a cab to the North End to Conti's Restaurant
    on Salem st. Next day we shopped on Newbury St. and had coffee at the TAJ Hotel use to be the Ritz when I stayed there.Then lunch and back to Hotel to get ready for the Boston Pops.Then Back to North end, Renee loved that area. Mikes Bakery is the best.All this with my walker, GOD! I am happy to be home.
    Renee has booked the Pop's for New Years and going back with hubby. They found an Apt in the north end . Save about $150 on cabs. She has been to Portland a few times. Misses the action, well I showed it to her. Going back
    to bed with my sweet dog.
    Maybe next time we can meet for coffee. I want to do the Apt in the spring.
    yvonne

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    1. So glad you guys had a great time in Boston, Yvonne (even with a walker). Sounds like it was fast and frenetic. Museums. Museums. Museums. I LOVE MUSEUMS!!! And don't get me started on good bakeries. There used to be one in town and it went out of business now I have nowhere to get my scones. Forget about the supermarket ones. Yuck.

      Boston Pops. Good for Renee and her hubby.

      It's always good to get back home and be able to flop down and hang about in your pajamas. :)

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  7. Yvette, I am so glad you featured this author. I have been thinking about reading Croft's books, you have given me more motivation. I will look for this book, this edition, and then I can try more if I want.

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    1. If you love police procedurals you will love this one, Tracy. I'm sure. Well, pretty sure. :) I really enjoyed listening to it. I plan on getting my hands on some actual Croft books in the new year. Though they are not the easiest to find at reasonable prices.

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  8. Yvette, I enjoy reading quaint and delightful mysteries such as this one, especially when they are set in England (in the countryside) and in a place like Hog's Back. Thanks for introducing me to Freeman Wills Croft.

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    1. You're welcome, Prashant. I hope you'll be able to find some of Croft's books on one of your book jaunts. :)

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  9. I read and reviewed this one a few months ago, Yvette. I agree with you - I think it's one of Crofts's best. And while you don't really have to match wits with Inspector French, it's worth noting what French himself says to his superintendent when he's ready to begin explaining what happened:

    “Do you know, super, that I had in my possession every single bit of information that was required to solve this problem; and until a couple of days ago I didn’t know it! And what’s more, super, from my reports you have in your possession at this moment every single bit of information that you require to solve it too!"

    Uh huh. Sure you do. Good luck with that! But I agree with you: it's a very well-done book, centering around some really chilling crimes.

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    1. A terrific book for sure, Les. Maybe I read about it on your blog. I never can remember where or when unless I write it down and of course, I generally forget to write things down. At any rate, I'm now looking around for more Croft books.

      Re: your quote - I thought when French said this I'd figure things out but other than suspecting someone from the first and still not being able to figure out how it was done, I only got more confused. Ha!

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