Smallbone Deceased: Difference between revisions
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The book was ranked 64th in the ''[[The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time]]'', published in 1990 by the British-based [[Crime Writers' Association]].<ref>{{cite book |year=1990 |editor1-last=Moody |editor1-first=Susan |editor1-link=Susan Moody |title=The Hatchard's Crime Companion: 100 top Crime novels |location=London |publisher=[[Hatchards|Hatchard]] |isbn=978-0-904-03002-0 |oclc=60057335}}</ref> Five years later, it was ranked 80th in the ''[[The Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time]]'', published by the [[Mystery Writers of America]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Penzler |first1=Otto |author-link1=Otto Penzler |editor1-last=Friedman |editor1-first=Mickey |title=The Crown crime companion: the top 100 mystery novels of all time |location=New York |publisher=[[Crown Trade Paperbacks]] |isbn=978-0-517-88115-6 |oclc=31605503}}</ref> | The book was ranked 64th in the ''[[The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time]]'', published in 1990 by the British-based [[Crime Writers' Association]].<ref>{{cite book |year=1990 |editor1-last=Moody |editor1-first=Susan |editor1-link=Susan Moody |title=The Hatchard's Crime Companion: 100 top Crime novels |location=London |publisher=[[Hatchards|Hatchard]] |isbn=978-0-904-03002-0 |oclc=60057335}}</ref> Five years later, it was ranked 80th in the ''[[The Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time]]'', published by the [[Mystery Writers of America]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Penzler |first1=Otto |author-link1=Otto Penzler |editor1-last=Friedman |editor1-first=Mickey |title=The Crown crime companion: the top 100 mystery novels of all time |location=New York |publisher=[[Crown Trade Paperbacks]] |isbn=978-0-517-88115-6 |oclc=31605503}}</ref> | ||
==Reception and/or Appraisal== | |||
The ''[[New York Times]]'' did not review the book upon its publication. A much later appraisal comes from [[Jacques Barzun|Barzun]] and Taylor's encyclopedic ''[[A Catalogue of Crime|Catalogue of Crime]]'': | |||
<blockquote>Two splendid murders on the premise of a London solicitor. The motives ae good, and one must call excellent the detection by Inspector Hazlerigg and an amateur assistant, who enjoys parainsomnia. As a bonus we are given a method of mortgaging property already fully mortgaged, and a pleasant bit of fooling about the Ascheim-Zondek test and its antecedents. All in all, Gilbert's masterwork.<ref>[[Jacques Barzun]] & Wendell Hertig Taylor, ''A Catalogue of Crime'', | |||
[[Harper & Row]], New York, "Second Impression Corrected", 1973, page 209</ref></blockquote> | |||
The ''[[The Guardian|Guardian's]]'' obituary of Gilbert by [[H. R. F. Keating]] described the novel as:<blockquote>a classic of the genre...rich with everyday details of a law practice, both good and naughty, dancing too with pawky humour; at the same time it sets a puzzle to please the most exigent of readers.<ref name="Guardian obituary">{{cite news |last=Keating |first=HRF |author-link=H. R. F. Keating |title=Obituary: Michael Gilbert |url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/feb/10/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |accessdate=8 May 2016| date=10 February 2006}}</ref></blockquote> The [[Daily Telegraph|''Telegraph's'']] obituary of Gilbert also praised it as "one of his finest novels".<ref name="Telegraph obituary">{{cite news |title=Michael Gilbert |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1510088/Michael-Gilbert.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |accessdate=8 May 2016 |date=10 February 2006}}</ref> | The ''[[The Guardian|Guardian's]]'' obituary of Gilbert by [[H. R. F. Keating]] described the novel as:<blockquote>a classic of the genre...rich with everyday details of a law practice, both good and naughty, dancing too with pawky humour; at the same time it sets a puzzle to please the most exigent of readers.<ref name="Guardian obituary">{{cite news |last=Keating |first=HRF |author-link=H. R. F. Keating |title=Obituary: Michael Gilbert |url=http://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/feb/10/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |accessdate=8 May 2016| date=10 February 2006}}</ref></blockquote> The [[Daily Telegraph|''Telegraph's'']] obituary of Gilbert also praised it as "one of his finest novels".<ref name="Telegraph obituary">{{cite news |title=Michael Gilbert |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1510088/Michael-Gilbert.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |accessdate=8 May 2016 |date=10 February 2006}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 12:11, 31 October 2016
Smallbone Deceased is a British crime novel by Michael Gilbert, first published in 1950 by Hodder and Stoughton (U.K) and Harper & Row (U.S.). Inspired by Gilbert's career as a solicitor, the novel is set in a London solicitor's office.
The book was ranked 64th in the The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time, published in 1990 by the British-based Crime Writers' Association.[1] Five years later, it was ranked 80th in the The Top 100 Mystery Novels of All Time, published by the Mystery Writers of America.[2]
Reception and/or Appraisal
The New York Times did not review the book upon its publication. A much later appraisal comes from Barzun and Taylor's encyclopedic Catalogue of Crime:
Two splendid murders on the premise of a London solicitor. The motives ae good, and one must call excellent the detection by Inspector Hazlerigg and an amateur assistant, who enjoys parainsomnia. As a bonus we are given a method of mortgaging property already fully mortgaged, and a pleasant bit of fooling about the Ascheim-Zondek test and its antecedents. All in all, Gilbert's masterwork.[3]
The Guardian's obituary of Gilbert by H. R. F. Keating described the novel as:
a classic of the genre...rich with everyday details of a law practice, both good and naughty, dancing too with pawky humour; at the same time it sets a puzzle to please the most exigent of readers.[4]
The Telegraph's obituary of Gilbert also praised it as "one of his finest novels".[5]
References
- ↑ (1990) The Hatchard's Crime Companion: 100 top Crime novels. London: Hatchard. ISBN 978-0-904-03002-0. OCLC 60057335.
- ↑ The Crown crime companion: the top 100 mystery novels of all time. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks. ISBN 978-0-517-88115-6. OCLC 31605503.
- ↑ Jacques Barzun & Wendell Hertig Taylor, A Catalogue of Crime, Harper & Row, New York, "Second Impression Corrected", 1973, page 209
- ↑ Keating, HRF. Obituary: Michael Gilbert, 10 February 2006. Retrieved on 8 May 2016.
- ↑ Michael Gilbert, 10 February 2006. Retrieved on 8 May 2016.