With thanks to the British Library for the review copy.
I have been lucky enough to receive quite a number of these British Library Crime Classics from the publisher – probably more than I can actually cope with if I am honest judging from the number still unread on my shelves. However, when Murder’s A Swine dropped through my letterbox recently a quick glance at it told me that I wanted to read it almost immediately. My interest in it was sparked mainly by the author – Nap Lombard – not a name I heard before, but the author details on the back of the book reveal this to have been a pseudonym. Nap Lombard was in fact the joint pseudonym used by writer Pamela Hansford Johnson and her first husband writer and journalist Gordon Neil Stewart. Under the name Nap Lombard, the pair wrote two mystery novels during their marriage this was the second of them. Writing partnerships always fascinate me, how is the work divided up? – does one person write chapter one, the other chapter two and so on – or does one write and one come up with all the ideas? With a mystery novel this seems even more complicated.
First published in 1943, this Second World War mystery is very entertaining, there are some very odd goings on indeed – which are just spine tingling enough.
“I should imagine this was murder, too, because it would be very difficult to build yourself into a heap of sandbags and then die…”
On a wintry night in the London blackout a young air raid warden in company with amateur sleuth Agnes Kinghof find a body partly hidden in the walls of the air raid shelter which serves the block of flats where Agnes lives. As the police begin their investigations into who has died and how, the block of flats where Agnes and her husband live are further disturbed that very same evening when Agnes’ upstairs neighbour Mrs Sibley is terrorised by the deeply unpleasant sight of a pig’s head at her fourth floor window. Mrs Sibley who lives with her great friend, a writer of girls boarding school stories is deeply distressed and Agnes and her husband Andrew – having just arrived home on leave – busy themselves with helping to soothe the poor woman’s shattered nerves.
With the discovery of more unsavoury threats and notes signed ‘pig-sticker’ Agnes and Andrew – throw themselves wholeheartedly into investigating the mystery themselves. They rather put the backs up of the police lead by the absurdly named Inspector Eggshell, and really get on the nerves of Andrew’s cousin; Lord Whitestone a Scotland Yard big-wig with the unfortunate family nickname of Lord Pig. It is quickly deduced that it is more than likely that the culprit is living among them and is one of the other tenants in the block of flats. Someone is not who they say they are. What at first seem little more than unpleasant and inappropriate pranks start to look more sinister when a connection is made between one of the residents and the dead man.
When poor frazzled Mrs Sibley and her friend leave London for a riverside retreat – they are followed – and it isn’t long before the ‘pig-sticker’ seems to have claimed another victim.
“Coincidence plays a large part in life; but in the drama of Mr Coppenstall and the pigs it played a very small one.
The only coincidence, indeed, lay in the fact that at this moment the Wrong Person was reading the telegram.
‘Name of Kinghof?’ the boy said, meeting the Wrong Person on the stairs.
‘That’s right,’ said the Wrong Person, putting out a hand, and returning with the envelope to seclusion and a steaming kettle. Handed in at Hooham at 4.45. Good enough. The Wrong Person resealed the envelope and stole out to slip into the Kinghof’s letter box.”
Despite stern warnings from Andrew’s titled cousin to not get involved it seems Agnes and her husband just can’t help themselves. Having worked out why the ‘pig-sticker’ has been targeting his victims – the only thing left to do is discover who he is. There are a few red herrings along the way, as Agnes unwittingly uncovers a sinister right wing political group and puts herself in danger during first aid training. I really don’t want to say too much more about the plot for fear of spoilers.
One thing that irritated me a bit was the too frequent descriptions of Agnes – who we are cheerfully told doesn’t have a very attractive face, but whose legs and figure are marvellous and so it didn’t matter. To have been told this once I might just about forgive but having the fact rammed down my throat subsequently was unnecessary and irritating. Perhaps readers in 1943 would have felt differently – I wonder? This is a small thing and perhaps dates the book a little – but certainly wasn’t enough to spoil my enjoyment.
Murder’s A Swine is a thoroughly well written novel (which is what I would expect from PHJ) with some delicious little slices of humour, especially in some of the dialogue, and in Agnes and Andrew’s interactions with Lord Pig. There is some really well realised characters throughout the novel with even very minor players emerging well fleshed out. Agnes herself is an especially likeable character, witty and imaginatively intelligent with a wonderful tendency to quote the sayings of her aunt General Sidebotham. Through her eyes we see something of the times in which the story is set – little glimpses of War time England which really give this novel a great sense of period.
All in all, though I found this a very entertaining mystery, with just the right amount of nerve jangling suspense. One of the most interesting aspects is that there is not a huge list of suspects – yet even within the narrow field of possibles the authors really keep you guessing.
I have come across a husband and wife team before: Nicci Gerrard and Sean French writing under the name Nicci French. Must make for interesting marital discussions over supper!
Ah right, I haven’t read any of their books. I hadn’t known Nicci French was two people. Yes those chats would be entertaining.
I thought this was a fun read. Thoroughly entertaining.
It was good fun, and I didn’t guess the who either which makes it fun.
I shall come back and read your review properly later, Ali, as I have copy of this on my TBR too. But I’m glad to know you found it so entertaining! 😀
I hope you enjoy this one, it was definitely an entertaining mystery.
To add to Susan’s example, there’s another famous married couple who wrote crime novels: the Swedish writers Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo, authors of the Martin Beck detective series which began in the 1960s. I think they wrote alternate chapters, one writer picking up where the other had left off. A fascinating process, I suspect! Anyway, this BLCC mystery sounds very enjoyable. I’ve been keen to try PHJ for a while, so this might be an interesting introduction…
As an introduction to Pamela Hansford Johnson it would be interesting though this is really not like any of her novels that I have read. She’s a good writer though, and worth exploring. This was an enjoyable mystery, which I suspect the authors had some fun writing.
That’s an interesting thought (about how a writing partnership would function). Perhaps one is the “idea” person and the other is more of a hands-on writer or editor person? Do you think it varies from one project to the next (or perhaps the type of project it is)?
Well yes I suppose it might depend on the project or the personalities of the writers concerned.
This does sound appealing, the names they came up with and the quotes I quite like. Another current wife/husband writing team is Christopher Brookmyre and Dr. Marisa Haetzman who write together under the name of Ambrose Parry. They’ve given a number of interviews where they discuss how they work together if you’re interested.
Ah OK thank you. I loved the strange names in this book.
Charles Todd is a mother and son writing partnership. They live in America and I think in different parts of the country, but their books are set in Britain just after WW1. Great novels. Anyone read any of these?
Ooh OK, the WW1 setting would certainly appeal to me.
Sounds pretty good to me! Thanks.
Glad you think so.
sounds like a good one, thanks!
It was. 😁
Sounds like a clever one and I always wonder that with writing partnerships, too!
It was quite clever, an enjoyable one and the PHJ connection was interesting to me.
Aww, it’s kinda disappointing to have thought the name was so remarkable and then to have found that it was invented. Then again, i guess that makes sense! Glad you enjoyed this one and I appreciate that kind of ending too. Well done.
Well no, I was more interested in the book when I discovered who was behind the pseudonym. It turned out to be a good read as well.
I am enthralled to learn that Pamela wrote mysteries! I haven’t heard of this elsewhere, so obviously it’s a good thing I decided to catch up on book blogs today. Thanks!
I know, I was just as enthralled. Hope you enjoy this if you read it.