With a Bare Bodkin

For the duration of the war, the Ministry of Unnecessary Forms (my words), is housed in an aristocratic mansion of biblical proportions, repurposed for its governmental function without regard to grace or aesthetics. But the Ministry is confronted with murder. One of the typist/form runners is struck down while boiling the kettle, and there are suspects aplenty. Enter civil servant Pettigrew, a placid, unflappable man who was in private practice before the war. Now the poor man is plodding through through the war, too old to be on the battlefield defending his country, but doing his bit, as they say, in keeping the government functioning as best he can. It is up to Pettigrew to figure out who had the opportunity (many), means (lots), and motive (abundant) to do the poor woman in. This is a delightful mystery, lots of clues, very whodunnit, and extremely well written. Cyril Hare is an superbly skilled plottist, and he has the writing skill to keep you turning the pages.

U.K. lawyer Cyril Hare wrote some of the best golden age style British Mysteries going, most with attorney Pettigrew. Here Pettigrew is doing war duty at a huge special bureaucratic ministry which has commandeered a large remotish mansion. When murder occurs among the files, it's Pettigrew who must keep order and track down the cause. Great atmosphere, great characters and great fun.