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Inspector Mallett #3
Suicide Excepted
Suicide Expected , first published in 1939, is the third book in the series featuring Scotland Yard's Inspector Mallett. From the first edition “Mr. Hare settles into his stride. His third novel confirms the hopes aroused by his first and second. Unquestionably he joins the select few who can 'keep it up'; and in Suicide Expected he shows himself master of one of the most difficult arts in detective fiction—the art of surprise. As the title shows, the story turns upon the 'suicide clause' in a life insurance policy. Did Mr. Dickinson put an end to himself or was he the victim of foul play? The police were satisfied with the verdict of suicide. The dead man's children were not—family pride apart, they stood to lose heavily if their father took his own life, since the insurance company would not pay up. Inspector Mallett was sufficiently impressed by Stephen's argument to open a special file. But if it hadn't been for Stephen's determined pursuit of the unknown murderer, the file would have remained empty. The combination of amateur and professional is becoming a popular feature of modern detective fiction. But Mr. Hare uses it in a peculiarly effective and unexpected way.� Cyril Hare was the pen-name of Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark (1900-1958).
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1939
38 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Cyril Hare
95Ìýbooks98ÌýfollowersCyril Hare was the pseudonymn of Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark who was the third son of Henry Herbert Gordon Clark of Mickleham Hall, a merchant in the wine and spirit trade in the family firm of Matthew Clark & Sons.
Having spent most of his formative years in the country where he learned to hunt, shoot and fish, he was educated at St Aubyn's, Rottingdean and Rugby, where he won a prize for writing English verse, before reading history at New College, Oxford, where he gained a first class degree.
His family tradition indicated a legal career and he was duly called to the bar in 1924 and he joined the firm of famed lawyer Ronald Oliver and went on to practice in the civil and criminal courts in and around London.
He was 36 when he began his writing career and he picked his pseudonymn from Hare Court, where he worked, and Cyril Mansions, Battersea, where he lived after he had married Mary Barbara Lawrence in 1933. The couple had one son and two daughters.
His first literary endeavours were short, flippant sketches for Punch magazine and he had articles published in the Illustrated London News and The Law Journal. His first detective novel, 'Tenant for Death' was published in 1937 and it was called 'an engaging debut'.
During the early years of World War II he toured as a judge's marshall and he used his experiences as the basis for his fourth novel 'Tragedy at Law', which was published in 1942. In that same year he became a civil servant with the Director of Public Prosecutions and in the latter stages of the war he worked in the Ministry of Economic Warfare, where his experiences proved invaluable when writing 'With a Bare Bodkin' in 1946.
He was appointed county court judge for Surrey in 1950 and he spent his time between travelling the circuit trying civil cases and writing his detective fiction.
In addition to these two strings to his bow, he was a noted public speaker and was often in demand by a wide variety of societies. But his workload did curtail his literary output, which was also hampered by the fact that he did not use a typewriter, and his reputation, very good as it is in the field of detective fiction, stands on nine novels and a host of short stories. He also wrote a children's book, 'The Magic Bottle' in 1946 and a play, 'The House of Warbeck' in 1955.
He has left two enduting characters in Inspector Mallett of Scotland Yard, who featured in three novels, and Francis Pettigrew, an amateur sleuth, who also featured in three novels. In addition the two appeared together in two other novels, 'Tragedy at Law' (1942) and 'He Should Have Died Hereafter' (1958).
Having suffered from tuberculosis for some time, he died at his home near Boxhill, Surrey on 25 August 1958, aged only 57. After his death Michael Gilbert introduced a fine collection of his short stories entitled 'The Best Detective Stories of Cyril Hare', in which he paid due tribute to a fellow lawyer and mystery writer.
Gerry Wolstenholme
June 2011
Having spent most of his formative years in the country where he learned to hunt, shoot and fish, he was educated at St Aubyn's, Rottingdean and Rugby, where he won a prize for writing English verse, before reading history at New College, Oxford, where he gained a first class degree.
His family tradition indicated a legal career and he was duly called to the bar in 1924 and he joined the firm of famed lawyer Ronald Oliver and went on to practice in the civil and criminal courts in and around London.
He was 36 when he began his writing career and he picked his pseudonymn from Hare Court, where he worked, and Cyril Mansions, Battersea, where he lived after he had married Mary Barbara Lawrence in 1933. The couple had one son and two daughters.
His first literary endeavours were short, flippant sketches for Punch magazine and he had articles published in the Illustrated London News and The Law Journal. His first detective novel, 'Tenant for Death' was published in 1937 and it was called 'an engaging debut'.
During the early years of World War II he toured as a judge's marshall and he used his experiences as the basis for his fourth novel 'Tragedy at Law', which was published in 1942. In that same year he became a civil servant with the Director of Public Prosecutions and in the latter stages of the war he worked in the Ministry of Economic Warfare, where his experiences proved invaluable when writing 'With a Bare Bodkin' in 1946.
He was appointed county court judge for Surrey in 1950 and he spent his time between travelling the circuit trying civil cases and writing his detective fiction.
In addition to these two strings to his bow, he was a noted public speaker and was often in demand by a wide variety of societies. But his workload did curtail his literary output, which was also hampered by the fact that he did not use a typewriter, and his reputation, very good as it is in the field of detective fiction, stands on nine novels and a host of short stories. He also wrote a children's book, 'The Magic Bottle' in 1946 and a play, 'The House of Warbeck' in 1955.
He has left two enduting characters in Inspector Mallett of Scotland Yard, who featured in three novels, and Francis Pettigrew, an amateur sleuth, who also featured in three novels. In addition the two appeared together in two other novels, 'Tragedy at Law' (1942) and 'He Should Have Died Hereafter' (1958).
Having suffered from tuberculosis for some time, he died at his home near Boxhill, Surrey on 25 August 1958, aged only 57. After his death Michael Gilbert introduced a fine collection of his short stories entitled 'The Best Detective Stories of Cyril Hare', in which he paid due tribute to a fellow lawyer and mystery writer.
Gerry Wolstenholme
June 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 27, 2022
I don't often give 5-star ratings to detective stories, but this was wonderful and almost impossible to put down. So many great characters and red herrings, and just so cleverly written.
March 15, 2020
I liked the first novel I read by Golden Age author Cyril Hare, and I thought I would like this one as much as . But Inspector John Mallett, the clever Scotland Yard CID detective who features in both novels, comes in much too late to save Suicide Excepted.
Mallet happens to be on the spot at the Pendlebury Old Hall hotel, located 42 miles outside of London, when old Leonard Dickinson dies. His death is ruled a suicide, which means that the insurance company won’t pay. Dickinson’s family � most of them self-centered, arrogant and simply awful � sets about trying to re-investigate the death to prove that it was murder. Out of a sense of justice? Surely, you jest! No, to make sure they get £20,000 from the British Imperial Insurance Co. Dickinson’s bumptious young son, Stephen, goes as far as to say he doesn’t care if anyone gets charged � in fact, that might just complicate the payout.
I think if Mallett had been active in the novel, Suicide Excepted might have been as good as Tenant for Hire. The Dickinson clan would have been comic relief while a real professional looked into matters. Instead, Mallett is around only for the very beginning of Suicide Excepted and then disappears. I got 70 percent through the novel, and still Mallett had not returned. At that point, I decided to follow Mallett’s excellent example and disappear myself. Did not finish.
Mallet happens to be on the spot at the Pendlebury Old Hall hotel, located 42 miles outside of London, when old Leonard Dickinson dies. His death is ruled a suicide, which means that the insurance company won’t pay. Dickinson’s family � most of them self-centered, arrogant and simply awful � sets about trying to re-investigate the death to prove that it was murder. Out of a sense of justice? Surely, you jest! No, to make sure they get £20,000 from the British Imperial Insurance Co. Dickinson’s bumptious young son, Stephen, goes as far as to say he doesn’t care if anyone gets charged � in fact, that might just complicate the payout.
I think if Mallett had been active in the novel, Suicide Excepted might have been as good as Tenant for Hire. The Dickinson clan would have been comic relief while a real professional looked into matters. Instead, Mallett is around only for the very beginning of Suicide Excepted and then disappears. I got 70 percent through the novel, and still Mallett had not returned. At that point, I decided to follow Mallett’s excellent example and disappear myself. Did not finish.
July 15, 2015
Another amusing mystery by Cyril Hare, though rather odd in two aspects:
1. Inspector Mallett makes a brief appearance at the very beginning and the very end. The "detective" work is done by amateurs, who actually don't do a very good job of it. He shows up at the end and offers the solution.
2. The second twist is this concerns the alleged suicide of an elderly man, and his heirs are doing their utmost to prove that he was murdered. Haven't run across that before.
An elderly man strikes up a conversation with Inspector Mallett in an inn, and then is found dead the next day, apparently due to an overdose. It is believed to be suicide, but is it? His family wants a verdict of murder - they cannot collect on his life insurance if he committed suicide, and they are in dire need of money. (Side note: What is it with all these characters in English mysteries who don't work? They just spend their time trying to get inheritances or live off other people. It's like they're allergic to the very idea of earning their own money. Okay, I'm off my soap box.)
I wasn't sure if I liked this one or not, and finally decided that I did, though with some reservations. The characters are amusing (typical Hare) and likable (except Uncle George, who unfortunately doesn't get bumped off). I really didn't suspect the person who turned out to be the killer, which was nice. Hare did an excellent job with the red herrings in this one. Rather like , the ending isn't perfectly happy. Someone you liked is dead and it affects the other characters.
1. Inspector Mallett makes a brief appearance at the very beginning and the very end. The "detective" work is done by amateurs, who actually don't do a very good job of it. He shows up at the end and offers the solution.
2. The second twist is this concerns the alleged suicide of an elderly man, and his heirs are doing their utmost to prove that he was murdered. Haven't run across that before.
An elderly man strikes up a conversation with Inspector Mallett in an inn, and then is found dead the next day, apparently due to an overdose. It is believed to be suicide, but is it? His family wants a verdict of murder - they cannot collect on his life insurance if he committed suicide, and they are in dire need of money. (Side note: What is it with all these characters in English mysteries who don't work? They just spend their time trying to get inheritances or live off other people. It's like they're allergic to the very idea of earning their own money. Okay, I'm off my soap box.)
I wasn't sure if I liked this one or not, and finally decided that I did, though with some reservations. The characters are amusing (typical Hare) and likable (except Uncle George, who unfortunately doesn't get bumped off). I really didn't suspect the person who turned out to be the killer, which was nice. Hare did an excellent job with the red herrings in this one. Rather like , the ending isn't perfectly happy. Someone you liked is dead and it affects the other characters.
March 16, 2018
This 3rd entry in the Inspector Mallett series was a very good Golden Age mystery, even if Mallett himself played a surprisingly small role!
Read
March 8, 2018In many Golden Age detective novels the actual plot is feeble and contrived, but one reads them for the crumpets in the library and the footprints on the lawn. Hare, however, is brilliant. This is a delight from start to finish, with a plot both original and excellent. Furthermore, he plays fair and gives you the information you need. I loved this to pieces, and my only complaint is that more Hare needs to be made available as ebooks.
November 24, 2019
Full review at classicmystery.blog
July 13, 2011
Cyril Hare was the pseudonym of Alfred Alexander Gordon Clark who was an Engligh judge and crime writer. He chose his pen name as a mixture of Hare Court, where he worked in Roland Oliver's chambers, and Cyril Mansions, Battersea, where he made his home after marriage. His novels featured two main investigators, Francis Pettigrew--who was a barrister--and Inspector Mallett--a large police office with a huge appetite. He wrote nine detective novels which were published from 1937 to 1958. Suicide Excepted was his third book.
Suicide Excepted is a lovely mystery novel that would likely appeal to both mystery fans and general readers who are fond of British work. The novel is a combination of intricate puzzle, a bit of a thriller, and a slice of British life. It starts out with the death of an odd elderly man who has kept a scrapbook of rather morbid quotations. He has been staying at an obscure country hotel and it would be convenient if the overdose of sleeping medication were just an accident or even suicide. But is it that simple? Is there a cold-blooded murderer at work? For you see, his family stands to lose a tidy sum in insurance money if the verdict is suicide--and the family can definitely use the money. Contrary to most mysteries where no one wants a murder to have happened, the heirs begin drumming up evidence to try and influence a verdit of foul play. The amateur "sleuths" do find some interesting clues, but while they're beavering away, Inspector Mallett of Scotland Yard is following his own line.
Suicide Excepted works well as a traditional whodunit--there is a floor-plan, a houseful of suspects, and all kinds of suspicious activities going on behind the scenes. It also gives a humorous look at family life in 1930s Britain--with all the infighting between siblings and cousins. We are also given a good look at various levels of society. We are taken from the country hotel to a Lincolnshire country estate, from the shore of Brighton to the "sticky heat of London." The book has delightful dialogue filled with Hare's playful wit and the plot is informed by his profound knowledge of British law.
Suicide Excepted is a lovely mystery novel that would likely appeal to both mystery fans and general readers who are fond of British work. The novel is a combination of intricate puzzle, a bit of a thriller, and a slice of British life. It starts out with the death of an odd elderly man who has kept a scrapbook of rather morbid quotations. He has been staying at an obscure country hotel and it would be convenient if the overdose of sleeping medication were just an accident or even suicide. But is it that simple? Is there a cold-blooded murderer at work? For you see, his family stands to lose a tidy sum in insurance money if the verdict is suicide--and the family can definitely use the money. Contrary to most mysteries where no one wants a murder to have happened, the heirs begin drumming up evidence to try and influence a verdit of foul play. The amateur "sleuths" do find some interesting clues, but while they're beavering away, Inspector Mallett of Scotland Yard is following his own line.
Suicide Excepted works well as a traditional whodunit--there is a floor-plan, a houseful of suspects, and all kinds of suspicious activities going on behind the scenes. It also gives a humorous look at family life in 1930s Britain--with all the infighting between siblings and cousins. We are also given a good look at various levels of society. We are taken from the country hotel to a Lincolnshire country estate, from the shore of Brighton to the "sticky heat of London." The book has delightful dialogue filled with Hare's playful wit and the plot is informed by his profound knowledge of British law.
March 8, 2015
The economy of An English Murder was needed here in the telling of this story. While the layout of the situation and was unique, it languished in the overwhelming pile of dialogue and dimwitted characters. So, while I found the overall plot a great idea, I found the telling of the story- long winded.
July 17, 2021
You want to understand what Cyril Hare is doing in the bulk of his mysteries? Well, the first paragraph of this one will tell you. He begins his tale with a loving portrait of a fine old building in a fine old village. But wait for the punch line at the end.
This is just the opening act of a mystery that upends what we expect to happen in this kind of book. The wise series detective is on the scene of the crime. But he does not disagree with the suicide verdict. Since that suicide verdict does the dead man’s heirs out of a nice insurance payment, this group of self-interested amateurs gets together to prove the suicide is a murder. The result � well, it’s not classic cozy. The amateurs make a hash of things, some lives get damaged by their meddling, and when Scotland Yard figures it out, everything is made worse.
Worth a read as it is a sly mystery. But there is a stinger in the tail of this one.
This is just the opening act of a mystery that upends what we expect to happen in this kind of book. The wise series detective is on the scene of the crime. But he does not disagree with the suicide verdict. Since that suicide verdict does the dead man’s heirs out of a nice insurance payment, this group of self-interested amateurs gets together to prove the suicide is a murder. The result � well, it’s not classic cozy. The amateurs make a hash of things, some lives get damaged by their meddling, and when Scotland Yard figures it out, everything is made worse.
Worth a read as it is a sly mystery. But there is a stinger in the tail of this one.
June 17, 2019
GAD mystery and a good one, I think. My only qualm is that I am not sure that one of the of clues was entirely fair however, I was very surprised by the killer. It made perfect sense, but I was very much led by the author to go another way even though in retrospect, he made it clear that the supposed killer had a bad habit that he was indulging in rather than murder.
May 13, 2025
A tale of amateur detectives.
"Cyril Hare" was an English lawyer who wrote nine book-length mysteries and some short stories that were collected after his death in 1959. Although writing was never his primary occupation, his books are professional and notable for their wry humor and their quirky characters. TRAGEDY AT LAW is considered his best, but I think this one is a fascinating look at how sudden death affects a family and what happens when the cause of that death is uncertain.
In Hare's books, the detecting is done by Inspector Mallet of Scotland Yard or lawyer Francis Pettigrew and sometimes both. This one features only Inspector Mallet and (in an interesting twist) most of the detecting is done by the family of the deceased. Mallet figures into it only by the accident of having been a guest at a country hotel on the night when the "suicide" occurred.
But WAS it suicide? The dead man's son argues persuasively that his father would not have committed suicide and the evidence points away from accident. Who would have murdered a harmless, if peevish old man?
The son is a bright, personable, intense young man who decides to try to find evidence that the police have overlooked. He enlists his energetic sister and her reluctant boyfriend and they proceed to find and interview anyone who might be able to shed light on the matter.
This author was an intelligent, thoughtful man and his books have a great deal to say about human nature and the oddities of human relationships. The brother and sister and boyfriend form an uneasy and sometimes acrimonious triangle.
The ending took me by surprise, but that's on me The clues are there. I'm thrilled that Hare's books are now available on Kindle so that I can become reacquainted with them. If you like a good, literate English mystery, you shouldn't miss them.
"Cyril Hare" was an English lawyer who wrote nine book-length mysteries and some short stories that were collected after his death in 1959. Although writing was never his primary occupation, his books are professional and notable for their wry humor and their quirky characters. TRAGEDY AT LAW is considered his best, but I think this one is a fascinating look at how sudden death affects a family and what happens when the cause of that death is uncertain.
In Hare's books, the detecting is done by Inspector Mallet of Scotland Yard or lawyer Francis Pettigrew and sometimes both. This one features only Inspector Mallet and (in an interesting twist) most of the detecting is done by the family of the deceased. Mallet figures into it only by the accident of having been a guest at a country hotel on the night when the "suicide" occurred.
But WAS it suicide? The dead man's son argues persuasively that his father would not have committed suicide and the evidence points away from accident. Who would have murdered a harmless, if peevish old man?
The son is a bright, personable, intense young man who decides to try to find evidence that the police have overlooked. He enlists his energetic sister and her reluctant boyfriend and they proceed to find and interview anyone who might be able to shed light on the matter.
This author was an intelligent, thoughtful man and his books have a great deal to say about human nature and the oddities of human relationships. The brother and sister and boyfriend form an uneasy and sometimes acrimonious triangle.
The ending took me by surprise, but that's on me The clues are there. I'm thrilled that Hare's books are now available on Kindle so that I can become reacquainted with them. If you like a good, literate English mystery, you shouldn't miss them.
March 30, 2020
Cyril Hare is one of the Golden Age of mystery authors, and I am dipping into my husband's collection of older paperback editions of titles by these writers as we are on Stay At Home orders during Covid 19. These are nicely entertaining and broadening my knowledge of these writers. Suicide Excepted is my first Hare. Apparently the police investigator (Inspector Mallet) appears in several other Hare titles, but here he makes a rather limited appearance, although it is he who finally identifies the culprit.
The premise is different than most mysteries. Here a man presumably commits suicide. His family members do not think he would do such a thing, and so they embark on their own trying to find a likely suspect. The style is a bit wordy, and the daughter's fiance was totally obnoxious, but their investigations provided an entertaining read.
An aside: This book was written in 1939. I just read a current title Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders. Both have a character named Fothergill, which may be very common in England, but which jumped out at me as unusual.
The premise is different than most mysteries. Here a man presumably commits suicide. His family members do not think he would do such a thing, and so they embark on their own trying to find a likely suspect. The style is a bit wordy, and the daughter's fiance was totally obnoxious, but their investigations provided an entertaining read.
An aside: This book was written in 1939. I just read a current title Poppy Redfern and the Midnight Murders. Both have a character named Fothergill, which may be very common in England, but which jumped out at me as unusual.
June 30, 2019
Superbly written mystery. I've given this four stars as opposed to five - even though my overall enjoyment tempted me to give it full marks - due to the fact I spotted the murderer very early on. That aside, it's a cracking book.
May 31, 2019
For my full review click on the link below:
May 6, 2021
3 1/2 stars
December 16, 2017
Insurance Pickle
This is the third Inspector Mallet, but the second one I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed the first one and am hoping for the same with this one. Inspector Mallet was in from the beginning in this case, although not in a professional capacity. Mr Dickson died. Was it an accident or suicide? All the evidence points to suicide, but his adult children, Stephen and Anne don’t believe it. Stephen, in the first instance, because he wants the insurance money, whereas Anne doesn’t believe their father was the type to commit suicide, plus she also wants to remove the stigma from the family name.
Stephen, Anne, and Martin, Anne’s fiancé, all take part in trying to solve the death of Mr Dickinson, with some unexpected help from Eleanor, the mother of Stephen and Anne. Her contribution is vital and sheds new light on a possible motive for murder. How they go about investigating is interesting, to say the least. Exactly what does an amateur investigator do, with no credentials and no experience? We find out as we read the book. Stephen had gone to Inspector Mallet in the beginning but Mallet, apart from opening a file, did nothing as he was satisfied with the coroner’s verdict, and so he doesn’t really play much part in this story until the end.
The author’s usual delightful, understated humour runs through the book and adds to my enjoyment. The characterisations are first-class, the writing is skilful, the plot seems quite puzzling, and the final reveal is a �.. surprise. I was sure I knew who had actually committed the murder, right up to the last few pages, but I was wrong. This is an excellent murder-mystery by a master of the craft. Recommend.
This is the third Inspector Mallet, but the second one I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed the first one and am hoping for the same with this one. Inspector Mallet was in from the beginning in this case, although not in a professional capacity. Mr Dickson died. Was it an accident or suicide? All the evidence points to suicide, but his adult children, Stephen and Anne don’t believe it. Stephen, in the first instance, because he wants the insurance money, whereas Anne doesn’t believe their father was the type to commit suicide, plus she also wants to remove the stigma from the family name.
Stephen, Anne, and Martin, Anne’s fiancé, all take part in trying to solve the death of Mr Dickinson, with some unexpected help from Eleanor, the mother of Stephen and Anne. Her contribution is vital and sheds new light on a possible motive for murder. How they go about investigating is interesting, to say the least. Exactly what does an amateur investigator do, with no credentials and no experience? We find out as we read the book. Stephen had gone to Inspector Mallet in the beginning but Mallet, apart from opening a file, did nothing as he was satisfied with the coroner’s verdict, and so he doesn’t really play much part in this story until the end.
The author’s usual delightful, understated humour runs through the book and adds to my enjoyment. The characterisations are first-class, the writing is skilful, the plot seems quite puzzling, and the final reveal is a �.. surprise. I was sure I knew who had actually committed the murder, right up to the last few pages, but I was wrong. This is an excellent murder-mystery by a master of the craft. Recommend.
January 23, 2022
Inspector Mallett, CID is vacationing at the sub-par country hotel. On the last evening of his holiday, a fellow lodger, the elderly, garrulous Mr. Leonard Dickinson strikes up a conversation and invites Mallett for a drink. Mallett finds the man's ramblings about his history, his family, his vague allusions to his own death both intriguing and depressing. When he asks the old man, "I shall see you at breakfast?" the old man replies, "Perhaps!"
On the following day, as Mallett is preparing to pay his bill, he learns that Dickinson is dead, an apparent suicide, which is the ruling of the coroner's inquest.
The verdict of suicide is a blow to Dickinson's wife and two his two adult children, who are beneficiaries of a life insurance policy that will not be paid in the event of suicide. So Steven and Annie Dickinson, and Annie's fiance, Martin set out to investigate the man's final days in order to prove that his death was not a suicide, but murder.
I am a fan of Hare's short stories, which are cleverly written and pull off some neat plot twists, and the Hitchcockian irony at the conclusion of this tale does not disappoint. The problem is that it is too rambling, and not with any sense that the reader is being purposely misdirected - yes, a few of the red herrings do play into the finale, but much of it is just over-writing, and it would have benefited by some objective editing.
Still - a real surprise at the end of the tale, and Hare is well worth checking out for lovers of a good plot twist.
November 2, 2021
I read the first Inspector Mallet book and said that we hadn't found out much about Mallet, hoping that future books would feature him more, this being the third and we know very little about him still. Having said that, we meet him at the beginning of this book, and then not again until the end. He does infact meet the victim at a hotel he is staying at at the end of his holiday. The old man, a Mr Dickinson, is dining next to Mallet at the hotel, and starts up a conversation with him. The following morning when Mallet is about to leave, Dickinson is found dead in his bed, apparently from an overdose of his prescribed medicine. Mallet is not entirely satisfied with the local policeman's verdict, but being as it is out of Mallet's area, he leaves to the local police. From this point we meet the victim's family at the funeral, and find out that less than a year ago Mr Dickinson did insure his life for a considerable sum. From then on we follow the family's investigation as to what could possibly be a murder.
I did enjoy this book as it kept up my interest all the way through. I chose many characters as a possibility of being the murder but was completely surprised at the end. I think this was a clever plot, and a well written addition to my reading.
I did enjoy this book as it kept up my interest all the way through. I chose many characters as a possibility of being the murder but was completely surprised at the end. I think this was a clever plot, and a well written addition to my reading.
September 22, 2019
Inspector Mallet enters into this story only at the beginning and at the end. At the start of the book, he's morosely dining in a third rate country hotel, when he's cornered by the boring Mr. Dickerson, whose unrelenting pessimism could amount to a declaration of world-weariness. So when Mr. Dickerson is found dead the next morning of a sleeping pill overdose, the coroner's verdict of suicide seems reasonable. But the dead man's son and daughter, Stephen and Anne, don't agree. They set out to prove that it was murder, and so they engage a private detective to find out who else was staying at the hotel that night. Armed with that list, the siblings and Anne's fiance, the unprepossessing Martin, interview all the suspects. It's only when another suicide takes place that Inspector Mallet is called in again, now in his professional capacity.
I had vague recollections of having read this book before, but even so, I was again surprised by the ending. Most of the characters in this book aren't very nice, but I liked the atmosphere of amateur sleuthing, with frequent pauses for tea.
I had vague recollections of having read this book before, but even so, I was again surprised by the ending. Most of the characters in this book aren't very nice, but I liked the atmosphere of amateur sleuthing, with frequent pauses for tea.
May 20, 2018
This was a slow-paced rather weak mystery and quite the reverse of a normal detective story / murder mystery in that there was no detective and no real murder investigation. There was just a death (ruled suicide by inquest), which the rather dull and dim children of the deceased then attempted to prove was murder simply by tracking down the other people who had been 'at the scene' i.e. staying in the same country hotel that night, to see if there was anything fishy about them. Although this was billed as part of the Inspector Mallett series, he was barely in it aside from right at the beginning and right at the end. But it could've benefited more from his presence. It was a teeny bit tedious and long-winded, and the characters didn't really spring to life for me. However, it did have an unexpected twist at the end which perked things up!
September 11, 2021
I've read six of Cyril Hare's novels, and each, in it's different way, is something of a quiet gem. No two of them are similar, and the murder, when it happens, quite often takes place towards the end. Given CH's background, it's probably not a spoiler to let slip that the motive occsionally turns upon a point of law. But not in this one. In fact the motive here is pretty straightforward, but in as much as the clues are all present, the misdirection is more than enough to make the eventual conclusion something of a surprise. Some readers have expressed disappointment that CH's Inspector Mallett makes only a few fleeting appearances here, but to be honest, I've always found him unconvincing, so I didn't really miss him. Even so, I definitely enjoyed this.
October 24, 2022
I really like this book. It begins with a man who sounds like he’s contemplating suicide and then he actually does die, seemingly a suicide. Unfortunately, his family will be unable to collect on his insurance policy unless they can prove it wasn’t or at least show some doubt about the suicide. So, the son, the daughter, and the daughter’s fiance investigate and try to prove that the man did not commit suicide. The characters are interesting and there are quite a few red herrings. Inspector Mallett, who apparently was introduced in his previous stories, doesn't figure much here, but remains an important character, especially at the beginning and end, which has a very good twist.
I’m really glad I got introduced to this writer so I’m going to be looking for his other books.
I’m really glad I got introduced to this writer so I’m going to be looking for his other books.
November 25, 2023
This was the last in the Inspector Mallett minus Francis Pettigrew series, and I liked it a lot more than the other two in that set. (The Francis Pettigrew ones are far superior.) I think in Hare's case, I simply prefer reading about his amateur detectives than his police making inquiries, no matter how bumbling the amateurs might be. And the inquiries actually went off in multiple different directions, making it a pretty interesting read.
Docked one star because I think it was pretty obvious from early on . Nevertheless the twists and turns were an interesting read, and I enjoyed this one a lot.
Docked one star because I think it was pretty obvious from early on . Nevertheless the twists and turns were an interesting read, and I enjoyed this one a lot.
April 16, 2024
“Suicide Excepted� (1939) is Cyril Hare’s third novel with Chief Inspector Mallett of Scotland Yard. While at a resort hotel, Mallett dines with Leonard Dickinson, a rather dyspeptic gentleman and regular guest. The next morning Dickinson is found dead and a coroner’s hearing, at which Mallett gives evidence, rules the death a suicide. Because a suicide clause in Dickinson’s insurance policy means that they will not inherit a substantial sum of money, they must find a way to overturn the verdict. The novel describes their investigations. This book is delightful. The plot is clever and the writing is delightfully humorous. Highly recommended.
September 8, 2024
This tale appears to be, like most of Mr. Hare’s books, a slow build. A series of small whirlwinds spinning about just kicking up dust. Until one becomes large enough to damage and kill.
On the other hand, the character building and very detailed knowledge of how family quarrels and spats work, make Jane Austen look absolutely slapdash. It would make a man like the author very uncomfortable to be around as a family member, I think; he sees and understands way too much.
And that is what this tale is about, how family dynamics play out, by making murder both possible and impossible. How easy and how hard is it to hide truths, and when do pecadilloes matter - or not?
What an ending!
On the other hand, the character building and very detailed knowledge of how family quarrels and spats work, make Jane Austen look absolutely slapdash. It would make a man like the author very uncomfortable to be around as a family member, I think; he sees and understands way too much.
And that is what this tale is about, how family dynamics play out, by making murder both possible and impossible. How easy and how hard is it to hide truths, and when do pecadilloes matter - or not?
What an ending!
April 24, 2019
I was disappointed that, although there were Transcriber Notes, they did not mention that the text has been altered. While I am quite happy to be spared the vile anti-Semitism of one of the characters, 'Suicide Excepted' has been an example for me of the social history one can pick up from reading fiction, and I feel it would be more honest to admit that censorship has occurred. Rewriting history should always be acknowledged, however trivial it may seem.
Apart from that, it is not one of Cyril Hare's best but still a fun tale.
Apart from that, it is not one of Cyril Hare's best but still a fun tale.
February 20, 2021
"Suicide Excepted" is very clever mystery that keeps the reader engaged until final twist. The story sees Inspector Hallett on holiday in Pendlebury where he meets Leonard Dickinson and they spend the night talking. The following day Dickinson is found dead with coroner ruling it suicide which mean they will not be paid a large insurance payment. Dickinson's son Stephen approaches Hallett for help in proving the case as murder. Following Hallett's indifference, Stephen, his sister Ann and her fiance Martin attempt to track down the murderer themselves.
May 4, 2022
A good example of the classic British murder mystery - well-written, but lifeless; more crossword puzzle than novel. For instance, when several characters learn of the existence of an unsuspected relative, all of them take it nonchalantly, with no show of emotion. I know British people are reserved, but come on...
As another reviewer pointed out, this one might have been better if the series detective, Mallett, had been in it more, but he's only there for the beginning and end of it. Classic bait-and-switch on the author's part.
As another reviewer pointed out, this one might have been better if the series detective, Mallett, had been in it more, but he's only there for the beginning and end of it. Classic bait-and-switch on the author's part.
September 11, 2023
Another brilliant Golden Age Murder mystery.
Cyril Hare (pen name) is a new find for me & this is the 2nd of his books I’ve read.
Here we start with Detective Mallett on holiday & seemingly finding a suicide the morning of his departure.
The coroner’s verdict of suicide negates the life insurance policy of the dead man so his children decide to challenge the premise & try to prove murder instead.
The Whodunnit was a total surprise - brilliant!
Cyril Hare (pen name) is a new find for me & this is the 2nd of his books I’ve read.
Here we start with Detective Mallett on holiday & seemingly finding a suicide the morning of his departure.
The coroner’s verdict of suicide negates the life insurance policy of the dead man so his children decide to challenge the premise & try to prove murder instead.
The Whodunnit was a total surprise - brilliant!
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