I recently tweeted a photo of my British library Crime Classics collection, most of which I haven’t read, and asked the good people of Twitter which I should read next.
As I should have perhaps anticipated, I got many, many suggestions – practically as many as there are books there. But I went away and explored a few of the options, and chose Death in Captivity (1952) by Michael Gilbert, which I think I got as a review copy. I was intrigued by it’s WW2 setting and the ‘locked room mystery’ element to it.
The novel is set in a POW camp in Italy towards the end of the war – the soldiers have heard rumours that the end of the war might be coming, but nothing concrete. But they do know that a retreating German army might have no compunction in a few last-minute killings of British soldiers in an interment camp. Now is the time to make good their escape – and they have been busy tunnelling away from the various huts they’re living in.
I’ll be honest – the characters more or less blended into factions for me, in this one. I was too caught up with the setting and the mystery (to which I’ll come in a moment) – so this review is going to be lamentably short on characters’ names and personalities. I was also feeling pretty anxious when I read it, so was speeding through for the plot. But Gilbert definitely makes us feel like we’re in the middle of this camp – with all the humour, rivalries, fear, and ambition that are the everyday norms of the extraordinary situation in which these man have found themselves.
While there are a few tunnels, most are really only decoys for the main tunnel. But one morning, the soldiers find that there is a dead body in it, under a pile of rubble. It brings about a long list of questions: murder or accident? How did he get in? Do the Italian guards know about the tunnel – and how can they begin to investigate his death without exposing their chance of escape?
Like so many detective novels, the denouement doesn’t live up to the prowess of Agatha Christie. If, like me, you started with her, every subsequent detective novelist will disappoint with their plots – I’ve yet to find any exceptions. And, no, the denouement here is not particularly satisfactory – but what was brilliant was the way in which Gilbert brought that world to life. For the vividness there, and sections of real tension, I’d very readily recommend Death in Captivity.
I read this last year and loved it – as you say, for the setting and tension rather than the characterisation. The way in which it was a microcosm of a particular section of British society at the time was also interesting and kind of telling – carrying out the investigation on the basis of who went to school with whom, etc.
I like the sound of the atmosphere and sense of tension in this one. It’s certainly an unusual setting for a ‘locked room’ kind of mystery!
I actually thought the second half of the book, as they travelled through the Italian countryside, more interesting than the first. Overall though I thought it was excellent and very well written indeed.
It does sound fascinating, Simon – such an unusual setting for a murder! Fortunately, I do have a copy of this somewhere on *mYy* pile of BLCCs! :D
I agree with you on this Simon – the author had been an Italian prisoner of war, so the setting is extremely realistic. I must admit in the huge number of characters I found the one who-dun-it puzzling, and I intend one day to re-read it to see if I missed any clues.
I read this book (and enjoyed it) more for the setting than the mystery. But I have read other books by this author and liked them a lot, and plan to read as many as I can find. You have reminded me to get back to reading more by him.
He did write a book published in 1956, Be Shot for Sixpence, which does not appear to be one of his best, but is espionage and about a topic I am interested in, so I will seek it out.
I am amazed at your huge collection of British Library mysteries. They are just beautiful, even displayed with only their spines visible.
I think we have to try to get over the fact that apparently, there will never be another Agathe Christie. But if we can enjoy a good mystery novel that is almost as good, then… that will just HAVE to do!