A Gentleman’s Murder by Christopher Huang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A Gentleman’s Murder is a tour de force in the English mystery genre. Set primarily in London in 1924, it’s the story of Eric Peterkin, a Chinese-English veteran of WWI whose men have traditionally been soldiers and members of the Brittania club in St. James. When a newly elected club member is murdered, Peterkin takes it upon himself to find the killer. To do this, he must delve into a decade-old murder and risk expulsion from the club of which was founded by one of his forebearers.
But A Gentleman’s Murder is so much more than an excellent mystery. It’s also a factual chronicle of daily life in post-war England. The setting positively scintillates, reflecting Huang’s extensive research. The story also provides incisive commentary on contemporary issues-the treatment of returning veterans, the overt and subtle racism of the era and attitudes toward the addicted and mentally ill. All of the characters are well developed and their actions are consistent with their personalities. It’s one of those books that you are sorry to see end.
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Book Review – A Gentleman’s Murder, by Christopher Huang
