Book #45 A Shot in the Dark

A Shot in the Dark by Lynne Truss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Lumme!" A word right out of the 50s. I can hear my mum saying it, when she was rather surprised. Constable Twitten uses it too, in this romp through Brighton in the 50s. Remember Bob-a-Job week? Ha! My memories of being a cub and boy scout! Knickerbocker Glories? Vim (the cleaning variety)? cockles and mussels in vinegar, saucy postcards, reprehensible Max Miller jokes, Stick-ups (not hold-ups)? It's all here in this comical, witty crime fiction by Lynne Truss.

Brighton in 1957. Inspector Steine is senior bobby by the sea. No more crime here since the Middle Street massacre. A quiet life - no criminals, no crime, no stress. And then the ambitious new constable shows up to work and starts investigating a series of burglaries. How annoying then, when Constable Twitten is despatched to the Theatre Royal for the night and has to sit next to a nasty theatre critic who is promptly shot dead part way through the opening night of a new play.

A Shot in the Dark is great fun, it's lighthearted despite the fact that some crime investigation is recorded! If you remember the 50s you will love this. If you don't you will still enjoy this witty delight.

View all my reviews