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The Mysterious Mr. Badman
The Mysterious Mr. Badman: A Yorkshire Biblio Mystery | W. F. Harvey
11 posts | 4 read | 7 to read
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Astroneman
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Mehso-so
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Ruthiella
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Pickpick

Mr. Digby is minding his landlord‘s bookshop for an afternoon, during which 3 men come in separately, all looking for the same, slightly obscure, Bunyan title. Then, just before closing, a boy arrives with that very title to sell. Coincidence or mystery? Mystery of course! What secrets does the book hold? At just under 200 pages, this was a quick and satisfying read. Mr. Digby is a charming, middle aged sleuth.

#GoldenAgeCrimeClub

LeahBergen I‘m looking forward to this one. 👍 13mo
Ruthiella @LeahBergen I think you will like it. 13mo
68 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Mitch
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And that‘s a wrap - another new to me author and a sub genre of crime discovered! Anything we‘ve left out, not touched on ??? #goldenagecrimeclub

jlhammar Harvey has some fun character names--Athelstan Digby, Olaf Wake, Kitchener Lilywhite, Euphemia Upstart. I got a kick out of the part with Digby and the unhelpful British Automobile Club. “I shall resign at once from this Club and transfer my Annual Subscription to the Crippled Children's Benevolent Association.“ 13mo
Ruthiella @jlhammar You are right! Those names were awesome! 😂 I really enjoyed the time warp aspect of it. Hiring cars at local garages, the little boy who collects license plate numbers, the couple and their bookstore with their home behind and above the shop. 13mo
Mitch It has a real nostalgic quality about it didn‘t it @Ruthiella and @jlhammar I liked that. It has a very quaint feel at times. The names were fun - it felt like a game of Clue! 12mo
25 likes3 comments
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Mitch
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One thing I think didn‘t travel across time well for me was the role of the politician. This book could not have been written on our time - I‘d hope! Did it sit badly with anyone else! #goldenagecrimeclub

yourfavouritemixtape For me, I read it as a story set long ago, so it didn‘t bother me as for me it was part of that time? 13mo
jlhammar Yes, it was all a bit shady (Sir Richard abusing his power for personal reasons, the intention to find and return incriminating evidence to keep it under wraps). Interesting what Digby sees as the right/moral thing to do in this case. 13mo
Ruthiella Absolutely. The morality of shielding a rapist and murderer because of his father‘s political position crossed the line. And to make the bad guys Fenians was even worse. But I did appreciate Mr. Digby‘s pacifism and how he pondered how to best act. He didn‘t just assume. (edited) 13mo
Mitch These aspects have book one a darker shadow I think. And I wonder how these issues would have been received at the time?? 12mo
24 likes4 comments
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Mitch
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Letter and treasure hunts seemed more important than murders in this crime caper. Did this add to the interest / pacing of the book? #goldenagecrimeclub

yourfavouritemixtape I really liked the pacing of the book. It was not too confusing but was fast enough to keep it interesting. 13mo
jlhammar I really liked this aspect of the book. I also thought he did a good job with pacing. 13mo
Ruthiella I thought it was as well done. At first I was a little disappointed that we know the murderer/thief‘s identity so quickly, but it was handled well and so kept my interest. 13mo
22 likes3 comments
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Mitch
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‘When at two o‘clock on a sultry July afternoon Athelstan Digby undertook to keep an eye on the contents of the old bookshop in Keldstone High St, he deliberately forgot to mind his own business.‘

Loved the opening ! An a main sleuth who‘s job is to manufacture blankets! What did you think? #goldenagecrimeclub

jlhammar Yes, great opening! Really enjoyed Digby. Loved the whole bit with the padded poker 😆 and found his relationship with his nephew endearing. 13mo
Ruthiella I loved Mr. Digby. Particularly when he later tells Dick/Neville that he has to atone for the harm he caused. I also liked how he had so many things methodically stowed away in his pockets. 😀 13mo
Mitch I loved his pockets! He‘s make a fantastic Boy Scout! 12mo
20 likes3 comments
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Mitch
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The author of this months #goldenagecrimeclub usually wrote horror ( which became a new and important genre following WW1). How do you think he faired with his dabble with crime fiction?

jlhammar I haven't read his horror, but I think his dabble with crime fiction was a success. It's a shame he died young. Might have turned into something more than just a dabble. 13mo
Ruthiella I think he did an excellent job! Were there a series featuring Mr. Digby, I‘d definitely read more. 13mo
Mitch I believe @Ruthiella there is one more novel - but it‘s hard to source and a few short stories! Good luck hunting them down! 12mo
21 likes3 comments
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Mitch
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Hi #goldenagecrimeclub readers! I know not everyone managed to get this one ( sorry publication dates across the world didn‘t help matters!) but please chime in when you do get hold of a copy! Let‘s kick off with initial impressions ……..

AmyG Hoping to jump back in next month. This month was just weeks of traveling. 13mo
yourfavouritemixtape I liked it, thought it has a nice pace, liked the female character but wish it was more about books :) 13mo
jlhammar I enjoyed it! I liked the first half a bit more, felt more like a cozy whodunit. The second half veered a bit more into thriller/action territory. 13mo
Ruthiella I did get a copy in good time, but had such a busy week, I wasn‘t able to get to it until yesterday afternoon. I agree with @yourfavouritemixtape that it wasn‘t quite a “bibliomystery”. The book was just a vessel. I agree too with @jlhammar that it became more a thriller than a mystery. But I quite enjoyed it. Great characters and sense of place and a lively plot. 13mo
Mitch I was craving for more scenes set in the bookshop! 12mo
25 likes5 comments
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jlhammar
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Pickpick

Another fun #GoldenAgeCrimeClub pick! Light and charming. Athelston Digby—doting uncle, blanket manufacturer and board member of The British and Colonial Bible Society—was a delightful amateur sleuth.

batsy Glad you enjoyed! Couldn't get a print copy easily with the closure of BD and the Kindle edition is only available later this year. 13mo
jlhammar @batsy I was lucky to get a copy of the UK edition via Amazon. I think I enjoyed the first half a bit more than the rest, but still a good read. Hope you enjoy if/when you get to it! 13mo
76 likes1 stack add2 comments
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yourfavouritemixtape
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Pickpick

Finally managed to read one od the #goldenagecrimeclub picks. It said it‘s a binliomystery but the book didn‘t play that big of a role. I didn‘t mind. There was a female character I liked.

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Mitch
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First published in 1934 our #buddyread for next month is set in a bookshop and antiquarian books play a major role! Delightful! Join us if you can - discussion on Oct 29th. #goldenagecrimeclub

Aimeesue Rats! It‘s not out for Kindle in the US until December. How disappointing! (edited) 14mo
Mitch @Aimeesue oh no! I probably should have checked that. Ooops! Shall we change around the order so you think and read the Christie next? 14mo
Aimeesue @Mitch Totally up to you. PB and Kindle versions release 5 December in the US, but I don‘t know if that‘ll impact anyone else. 14mo
yourfavouritemixtape I started this today. I love books about books! 14mo
54 likes4 comments