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Imogen Quy #3
Debts of Dishonor
Hoping to attract a generous endowment, St Agatha’s College, Cambridge, invites fabulously wealthy Sir Julius Farran to dine. The evening is a disaster for everyone but Imogen Quy: Farran invites her to come and work for him.
She declines, but when Farran dies, suddenly and shockingly, she has to look into it. His death left a large hole in his company accounts that could mean financial ruin for St Agatha’s. To save her college, Imogen starts to cast her cool eye over the financier’s heirs, employees and enemies. What is right about the death of Sir Julius? What is wrong about it? And why did it happen? After all, her name rhymes with ''why''.
She declines, but when Farran dies, suddenly and shockingly, she has to look into it. His death left a large hole in his company accounts that could mean financial ruin for St Agatha’s. To save her college, Imogen starts to cast her cool eye over the financier’s heirs, employees and enemies. What is right about the death of Sir Julius? What is wrong about it? And why did it happen? After all, her name rhymes with ''why''.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
56 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Jill Paton Walsh
73Ìýbooks215ÌýfollowersJill Paton Walsh was born Gillian Bliss in London on April 29th, 1937. She was educated at St. Michael's Convent, North Finchley, and at St. Anne's College, Oxford. From 1959 to 1962 she taught English at Enfield Girls' Grammar School.
Jill Paton Walsh has won the Book World Festival Award, 1970, for Fireweed; the Whitbread Prize, 1974 (for a Children's novel) for The Emperor's Winding Sheet; The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award 1976 for Unleaving; The Universe Prize, 1984 for A Parcel of Patterns; and the Smarties Grand Prix, 1984, for Gaffer Samson's Luck.
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Jill Paton Walsh has won the Book World Festival Award, 1970, for Fireweed; the Whitbread Prize, 1974 (for a Children's novel) for The Emperor's Winding Sheet; The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award 1976 for Unleaving; The Universe Prize, 1984 for A Parcel of Patterns; and the Smarties Grand Prix, 1984, for Gaffer Samson's Luck.
Series:
*
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
April 12, 2025
More Or Less on the Rocks
And this is not only true of Sir Julian Farran, whose body was found at the foot of a precipitous cliff, but also of the plot itself because in the middle of the book I had figured out who the murderer was, and I am usually extremely bad at that kind of thing, being a man you can stun with a trick as old as making a coin disappear. Therefore, unlike the two preceding Imogen Quy mysteries, Debt of Dishonour did not keep me wondering and deducing while turning the pages at all, and then at the end, when Jill Paton Walsh puts her heroine into a moral dilemma, making her choose between keeping true to her principles or adopting a more utilitarian approach about blowing the gaff or not, she all too soon lets Imogen off the hook by having someone else sort out the problem for her so that even this one situation in which Imogen’s goody-two-shoes-ness is put to the test is blowing over, with everything just falling into place. Which is quite a pity because it could have given an edge to the Imogen Quy character.
And an edge is what’s sorely needed by Imogen Quy because she is so understanding, so helpful, so decent and soooo perfect that she is beginning to get on my nerves in this third book featuring her. I mean, every sleuth appearing in more than one novel should have their foibles to make them bearable: There is Sherlock Holmes and his opium addiction as well as his tendency to withdraw into a shell of rationalism, there is Hercule Poirot with all his annoying smugness and pedantry, there is Miss Marple, who has a deep distrust of human nature, there is Lord Peter Wimsey and his facetiousness, which hides a war trauma, but when you look at Imogen there is nothing that makes her really memorable or interesting. It would definitely have added to her personality if for once, she had had to risk a blot on her escutcheon, either by betraying her high-minded principles or by inflicting harm on others just because she stuck to them. However, the author just didn’t see it that way.
And this is not only true of Sir Julian Farran, whose body was found at the foot of a precipitous cliff, but also of the plot itself because in the middle of the book I had figured out who the murderer was, and I am usually extremely bad at that kind of thing, being a man you can stun with a trick as old as making a coin disappear. Therefore, unlike the two preceding Imogen Quy mysteries, Debt of Dishonour did not keep me wondering and deducing while turning the pages at all, and then at the end, when Jill Paton Walsh puts her heroine into a moral dilemma, making her choose between keeping true to her principles or adopting a more utilitarian approach about blowing the gaff or not, she all too soon lets Imogen off the hook by having someone else sort out the problem for her so that even this one situation in which Imogen’s goody-two-shoes-ness is put to the test is blowing over, with everything just falling into place. Which is quite a pity because it could have given an edge to the Imogen Quy character.
And an edge is what’s sorely needed by Imogen Quy because she is so understanding, so helpful, so decent and soooo perfect that she is beginning to get on my nerves in this third book featuring her. I mean, every sleuth appearing in more than one novel should have their foibles to make them bearable: There is Sherlock Holmes and his opium addiction as well as his tendency to withdraw into a shell of rationalism, there is Hercule Poirot with all his annoying smugness and pedantry, there is Miss Marple, who has a deep distrust of human nature, there is Lord Peter Wimsey and his facetiousness, which hides a war trauma, but when you look at Imogen there is nothing that makes her really memorable or interesting. It would definitely have added to her personality if for once, she had had to risk a blot on her escutcheon, either by betraying her high-minded principles or by inflicting harm on others just because she stuck to them. However, the author just didn’t see it that way.
January 30, 2022
I'm terrible with a mystery about finances but this was not overly complicated and reminded me a bit of Antonia Fraser's Jemima Shore detective novels. Very pleasurable if not memorable.
July 19, 2017
I did not enjoy this book as much as the previous two, but I think it was because of the theme and some of the characters, rather than the story. Imogen Quy, a Cambridge college nurse, meets the very wealthy tycoon Sir Julius Farran at a college dinner. The college is having some financial difficulty and is hoping that he will give them some money. He invites her to a board meeting, hoping to hire her, although it was not clear to me what role he thought she would fill. She goes, and meets the board members, one of whom is a former lover of hers. The board also includes the new bursar of the college, who was hired after the previous bursar apparently fouled up the accounts thus putting the college in its current straits. When Julius dies falling off a cliff near the drying-out hospital he has gone to, the question of 'did he fall or was he pushed' naturally arises. The plot evolves from there, bringing in Julius's wife, ex-wife, daughter, son-in-law, and doctor (who also runs the hospital where Julius went to dry out from his alcoholism.) At least two more murders occur or are discovered when Imogen starts investigating. Farran's company begins to implode, taking with it the college funds which the new bursar has invested. The college will be ruined if Imogen can't figure out what happened to the money - and the boss. The whole financial thing was a bit over my head, although based on some recent scandals was fairly believable. There were several threads to follow, and I read it too quickly to sort them out properly. This will be a good candidate for a re-read later.
November 15, 2020
Jill Paton Walsh’s Imogen Quy detective novels have been a real find; they have consistently provided reliable entertainment and the comfort of a good old-fashioned, beautifully plotted murder mystery. It’s a shame that there are only four of them. I’ve read them slightly out of sequence, reading the last one, The Bad Quarto, before Debts of Dishonour, the third novel. Of all of them, it’s the one I liked least. It’s hard to put my finger on why that should be - possibly because the plotting required too great a suspension of disbelief, or possibly because of its setting in the world of business and high finance, with Cambridge playing less of a part that’s in the other books. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable enough read for a dark and dank November.
December 14, 2013
Felt a bit like a cosy crime, possibly because of the Cambridge college setting. A good story but was a bit tame, though Imogen the heroine was quite an enjoyable cgaracter, though a bit of a doormat.
November 19, 2009
Hated the name "Quy" Not sure how to pronounce, it became an annoyance that took away from reading pleasure. Won't get another.
December 17, 2023
Debts of Dishonour sees the welcome return of amateur sleuth Imogen Quy, nurse at St Agatha’s College in Cambridge.
When Sir Julius Farran, head of the Farran Group is invited to dine at St Agatha’s College. The Master of College invites Imogen to dine at High Table. Sir William, the Master of College, is slightly uneasy about the engagement, but is assured by the new bursar Peter Wetherby that Farran is a financial genius. Sit Julius is accompanied by Andrew Duncombe who had left the college some time previously without warning to join the Farran Group. Imogen had a relationship with Andrew and muses that it will be interesting to see him again.
During the course of the evening there is some disturbance by two of the younger dons, Carl Jenner and Clive Horrocks who grasp the opportunity to take Sir Julius to task for some of his dealings with the companies he has taken over. Later Sir Julius imparts to Imogen that he has many enemies, and if he she should read one day that he has fallen under a bus she should remember these words.
When Imogen reads some days later that Sir Julius is dead by misadventure she wonders if he was murdered. Andrew Duncombe is also wondering as Sir Julius’s son-in-law has taken over the control of the company and unceremoniously fired Max. So, Imogen and Max set out to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. Their first port of call is the clinic where Sir Julius was staying at the time of his death. Discovery that the Doctor who owns the clinic is to marry Sir Julius’s widow Lucia sets Imogen thinking. But it seems that many people has a vested interest in doing away with Sir Julius, several members of his Board of Directors bear grudges for a variety of reasons. Most recently the son of one of the owners of one of the businesses he bought and closed putting many people out of business has been constantly harassing him.
Then there is another death at board level and the financial conglomerate which has already withstood the financial implications of the loss of its founder is further hit by the loss of his replacement. For Imogen who has no shares in the company the financial situation is academic, but Imogen is shocked to discover that St Agatha’s could be effected.
A very cleverly constructed plot with a marvelous twist. Very satisfying as the ends are all cleverly tied up.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
When Sir Julius Farran, head of the Farran Group is invited to dine at St Agatha’s College. The Master of College invites Imogen to dine at High Table. Sir William, the Master of College, is slightly uneasy about the engagement, but is assured by the new bursar Peter Wetherby that Farran is a financial genius. Sit Julius is accompanied by Andrew Duncombe who had left the college some time previously without warning to join the Farran Group. Imogen had a relationship with Andrew and muses that it will be interesting to see him again.
During the course of the evening there is some disturbance by two of the younger dons, Carl Jenner and Clive Horrocks who grasp the opportunity to take Sir Julius to task for some of his dealings with the companies he has taken over. Later Sir Julius imparts to Imogen that he has many enemies, and if he she should read one day that he has fallen under a bus she should remember these words.
When Imogen reads some days later that Sir Julius is dead by misadventure she wonders if he was murdered. Andrew Duncombe is also wondering as Sir Julius’s son-in-law has taken over the control of the company and unceremoniously fired Max. So, Imogen and Max set out to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. Their first port of call is the clinic where Sir Julius was staying at the time of his death. Discovery that the Doctor who owns the clinic is to marry Sir Julius’s widow Lucia sets Imogen thinking. But it seems that many people has a vested interest in doing away with Sir Julius, several members of his Board of Directors bear grudges for a variety of reasons. Most recently the son of one of the owners of one of the businesses he bought and closed putting many people out of business has been constantly harassing him.
Then there is another death at board level and the financial conglomerate which has already withstood the financial implications of the loss of its founder is further hit by the loss of his replacement. For Imogen who has no shares in the company the financial situation is academic, but Imogen is shocked to discover that St Agatha’s could be effected.
A very cleverly constructed plot with a marvelous twist. Very satisfying as the ends are all cleverly tied up.
-----
Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
May 19, 2017
This was a disappointment; after her Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries, I was expecting more. Nurse Imogen Quy is not a compelling character: she is clever, and apparently attractive, although there is no description of her, the is modest and self-effacing, but assertive and well like by the students and staff at St. Agatha's College in Cambridge. But her involvement with Big Business in the form of Sir Julius Farran didn't make sense to me, and neither does her level of concern over his death. I'll skip the rest of the series.
October 8, 2024
very enjoyable
The cast of characters in this tale is a bit less attractive, the villains believable and complex.
Imogen, college nurse at St. Agatha's Cambridge, gets drawn into the company of a group of business people who lack her moral compass. A death occurs, and Imo is as usual suspicious and is proved correct. Business rubbing shoulders with the university leads to problems, but St. Agatha's is fortunate to have Imo to unravel things. Interesting and of course beautifully written.
The cast of characters in this tale is a bit less attractive, the villains believable and complex.
Imogen, college nurse at St. Agatha's Cambridge, gets drawn into the company of a group of business people who lack her moral compass. A death occurs, and Imo is as usual suspicious and is proved correct. Business rubbing shoulders with the university leads to problems, but St. Agatha's is fortunate to have Imo to unravel things. Interesting and of course beautifully written.
November 22, 2024
Imogen Quy is the nurse in a fictional Cambridge College and is quite an engaging character but I did not enjoy this book much. I found many of the other characters to be unlikeable and I don't mean the villains!
A rich businessman falls off a cliff then months later his successor is murdered. Imogen who had been suspicious about the first death feels that the two deaths must be linked. There's actually quite a neat solution but this book did not work for me. I doubt that I will read any more of the author's books.
A rich businessman falls off a cliff then months later his successor is murdered. Imogen who had been suspicious about the first death feels that the two deaths must be linked. There's actually quite a neat solution but this book did not work for me. I doubt that I will read any more of the author's books.
April 8, 2021
This third Imogen Quy book was good--interesting mystery and characters. I didn't like it as much as the second entry in this series, A Piece of Justice, but I enjoyed it. The setting in the fictional St. Agatha's College in Cambridge University is well-evoked, and there's a surprising twist. The author died in 2020, so I don't think more of these mysteries are forthcoming, but her books that continue Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane novels are very good.
April 28, 2023
This episode largely takes Miss Quy out of the cosy Cambridge college environment that regular readers are familiar with, into the world of high finance, and it doesn't go well... either for the characters, or for the plot. She is very much a fish out of water, with even more unlikely turns of events and coincidences than we have come to expect... and for me, the ending was too neat on the one hand and left too many other things hanging.
April 9, 2025
Excellent Cambridge mystery
Part of the Imogen Quy mysteries. Imogen is a nurse at St. AGNES.She is invited to attend a dinner at the college for the very wealthy and controversial Sir Julius. Shortly Sir Julius turns up dead, having fallen off a cliff. His death is followed by his son in law's death and a scandal at his company. It is a fast paced story with very interesting and energetic characters. Very enjoyable.
Part of the Imogen Quy mysteries. Imogen is a nurse at St. AGNES.She is invited to attend a dinner at the college for the very wealthy and controversial Sir Julius. Shortly Sir Julius turns up dead, having fallen off a cliff. His death is followed by his son in law's death and a scandal at his company. It is a fast paced story with very interesting and energetic characters. Very enjoyable.
July 6, 2019
It’s hard to believe this was written in 2006.
On the first page Imogen Quy is invited to dine at high table because the master of St Agatha’s College wants “a good conversationalist and also a pretty woman�
Her reply: “Flattery, flattery�. Really?
Hello Ms. Jill Paton Walsh, this is the 21st Century.
Grrr. !
On the first page Imogen Quy is invited to dine at high table because the master of St Agatha’s College wants “a good conversationalist and also a pretty woman�
Her reply: “Flattery, flattery�. Really?
Hello Ms. Jill Paton Walsh, this is the 21st Century.
Grrr. !
September 1, 2021
Being in lockdown and having a tempremental computer meant my reading has risen in the last ten days. This was an enjoyable and well written mystery not sure whether it would fit in the cosy category, Our main character Imogen Quy is definitely the new super sleuth the worlds needs when added to all her other good doings. Could have been a bit precious but avoided that trap
January 14, 2022
Mostly forgettable characters except Imogen, who is a very pleasant person but does seem to be a bit of a doormat, even if a very clever one.
Well-written, but I don't think there's any clear way of following Imogen's deductions, except in retrospect.
December 10, 2019
I enjoyed this mystery. Especially the moral dilemma it presents. I'll have to go back and read the other Imogen Quy mysteries. Good solid British cozy mystery complete with well drawn amateur detective. I'm amazed at the amount of time she was able to devote to her extra curricular sleuthing.
December 24, 2020
Interesting plot that kept me engaged and guessing. However, it was hard to like any of the characters including Imogen. In fact, she seemed to be acting out of character throughout most of the book - especially in terms of her "love life."
March 25, 2023
Really enjoying this series and it's refreshing for a detective series to be nice and short as there's only 4 books to read in it so it feels like an easy one to complete! Her writing reminds me of P D James though these books aren't as good.
February 19, 2025
Social attitudes in this book felt so dated that I wondered if it was meant to have taken place in the 80s or earlier, but then characters had cell phones so apparently not. This feeling of temporal displacement was so distracting it took away from my enjoyment of the book.
April 20, 2025
Mystery ?
People to care little about; boring financial dilemmas. People with money people without. Humanity at its worst. People with money caring little about anything but selves. People without caring and trapped.
People to care little about; boring financial dilemmas. People with money people without. Humanity at its worst. People with money caring little about anything but selves. People without caring and trapped.
July 14, 2017
Not nearly as good as the Peter Wimsey books by the same author but not bad either
November 8, 2017
Very intricate. Surprising, unexpected ending
November 21, 2018
My least favourite of this quartet, although it's not bad.
June 17, 2019
Unique twist! Really enjoyed this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
Probably the best of the series, so far.
July 14, 2020
Good enough to finish, but not a great book.
January 16, 2021
5/10.
Not my favourite book of the series - suffers slightly from being set mostly outside the world of Cambridge academia.
Not my favourite book of the series - suffers slightly from being set mostly outside the world of Cambridge academia.
December 29, 2021
Well, I did not see that plot twist coming.
January 24, 2024
A bit too academic (and cliched). I'll switch to the Vane and Wimsey novels for now.
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