published 1945, set in 1940
[There’s an air raid at the hospital]
‘I suppose Woody and I will have to plunge down to that mouldy shelter. The one and only advantage of night duty is that you can stay above ground. Do you think we dare just go to bed and see if we can get away with it?’
‘My dear, last time Joan Pierson and Hibbert did that, the Commandant routed them out and drove them down to the shelter just as they were, and now everybody knows that Hibbert goes to bed in her vest and knickers.’
‘Well we don’t go to bed in our vests and knickers. Com’s welcome to drive me forth in my Jaeger pyjamas.’…
[Later] Cockie [stood] in the narrow doorway, politely averting his eyes from a line of solid-looking underwear hanging across the little kitchen…
Woody dived under the line of washing, holding up a garment for the Inspector to follow her. ‘Excuse the Jaeger coms and things, but chiffon and crepe de chine don’t quite suit the life of a VAD…’
***For a discussion on what you might understand by ‘vest and knickers’ be sure to see this entry.***
observations: It’s hard to say which is better – this book or the marvellous black and white film made from it in 1946, which apparently was too terrifying to be shown in any medical situation – ‘banned from hospitals’ makes a change in the annals of censorship.
The book creates an extraordinarily convincing atmosphere of the second world war – the hospital, the blitz, the regular medical staff and the volunteers. It is set in a hospital in Kent (ie not far from London): a harmless old man dies in the operating theatre – but why on earth would anyone want to kill him? Life goes on, and there is a ghastly party night for the staff. A second murder removes all doubts, and then it turns out that the main characters we have been following all have their motives. Days pass, and the suspects (all those who were near the theatre on the day in question) are stuffed in together (no-one else in the hospital wants to be around them) waiting for something to happen. The final denoument is wholly surprising, and brilliantly done.
In the meantime, of course, they have all been chatting, being witty, starting and finishing love affairs, and being snobbish about everyone else. The three main women share a cottage on their own to avoid being with the lower-class women, as above. There is some funny business with the shillings for the gas meter – what a gift that system was to UK murder story writers of the era – and the revelation that the medical staff all carried small quantities of morphine around in their gasmask holder, just in case they were ever trapped in a bombed building.
The picture is of utility underwear of the time – it was produced by the Ministry of Information and is now in the collection of the Imperial War Museum. The second picture, also from the IWM collection, is of a hostel for war workers – the toothbrusher lives in a hostel with other similarly-placed young women, very much like the women in this book.
LOOKING AT WHAT GOES ON UNDER THE CLOTHES
‘I suppose Woody and I will have to plunge down to that mouldy shelter. The one and only advantage of night duty is that you can stay above ground. Do you think we dare just go to bed and see if we can get away with it?’
‘My dear, last time Joan Pierson and Hibbert did that, the Commandant routed them out and drove them down to the shelter just as they were, and now everybody knows that Hibbert goes to bed in her vest and knickers.’
‘Well we don’t go to bed in our vests and knickers. Com’s welcome to drive me forth in my Jaeger pyjamas.’…
[Later] Cockie [stood] in the narrow doorway, politely averting his eyes from a line of solid-looking underwear hanging across the little kitchen…
Woody dived under the line of washing, holding up a garment for the Inspector to follow her. ‘Excuse the Jaeger coms and things, but chiffon and crepe de chine don’t quite suit the life of a VAD…’
***For a discussion on what you might understand by ‘vest and knickers’ be sure to see this entry.***
observations: It’s hard to say which is better – this book or the marvellous black and white film made from it in 1946, which apparently was too terrifying to be shown in any medical situation – ‘banned from hospitals’ makes a change in the annals of censorship.
The book creates an extraordinarily convincing atmosphere of the second world war – the hospital, the blitz, the regular medical staff and the volunteers. It is set in a hospital in Kent (ie not far from London): a harmless old man dies in the operating theatre – but why on earth would anyone want to kill him? Life goes on, and there is a ghastly party night for the staff. A second murder removes all doubts, and then it turns out that the main characters we have been following all have their motives. Days pass, and the suspects (all those who were near the theatre on the day in question) are stuffed in together (no-one else in the hospital wants to be around them) waiting for something to happen. The final denoument is wholly surprising, and brilliantly done.
In the meantime, of course, they have all been chatting, being witty, starting and finishing love affairs, and being snobbish about everyone else. The three main women share a cottage on their own to avoid being with the lower-class women, as above. There is some funny business with the shillings for the gas meter – what a gift that system was to UK murder story writers of the era – and the revelation that the medical staff all carried small quantities of morphine around in their gasmask holder, just in case they were ever trapped in a bombed building.
The picture is of utility underwear of the time – it was produced by the Ministry of Information and is now in the collection of the Imperial War Museum. The second picture, also from the IWM collection, is of a hostel for war workers – the toothbrusher lives in a hostel with other similarly-placed young women, very much like the women in this book.
Moira - Thanks for highlighting this book. Not only did Brand do a fantastic job of depicting a wartime hospital, but she also created a tense, suspenseful mystery. I thought there was a very effective sense of near-claustrophobia as Cockrill gets a little closer to the truth. And the relationships and interactions? Quite well done.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree totally, that tense atmosphere is so well done. This really is one of my top 10 mysteries of all time, and it always bears re-reading, even when you know whodunit.
DeleteYou are right, it is hard to decide which is best, the book or the movie. I guess I would vote for the book, because of the development of the characters and a clearer picture of what the Blitz was like. Watched the movie first, later read the book, then the movie again.
ReplyDeleteHave you read other books by Brand (and liked them)? I did not care for the first Inspector Cockrill book (Heads You Lose) at all, and am not sure whether to continue with others.
This is much the best one, I think: I have read them all, and have re-read three over the past year or so. I might work slowly through all of them just to see... But I do think it is generally agreed that Heads You Lose is not good, so don't be put off trying another if it turns up at the book sale!
DeleteGood, I am glad I asked. I have Tour de Force but I would much rather read them in order if I am going to read them, so I will keep an eye out for the middle ones.
DeleteI may surprise you and try and pick a copy of this up - quid pro quo - watch this space!
ReplyDeleteCozy(ish) it might be, but honestly I don't think anyone could not respond to the tension she creates in the final third. Film well worth a look too, as you will have gathered.
DeleteThe utility underwear photo is slightly scary - but thankfully not s much as the film, which in some ways I prefer to the book just for its rich atmosphere and the wonderful Alastair Sim as Cockrill - great post - thanks.
ReplyDeleteI love both in different ways:the film is amazingly creepy and tense, and it is Alastair Sim's finest moment.
DeleteI read this one forever ago and liked it, but have never reread it. Brand did a great job of setting the scene, I think.
ReplyDeleteOne of my top 10 murder stories I think - I never make a definitive list, and I think they keep changing, but I do love this one for it atmosphere and tension and the great dialogue among the suspects.
Delete