Buried for Pleasure

By Edmund Crispin

Book Overview

A sleuthing Oxford professor hunts a village blackmailer, in a novel by an author who "combines a flawless plot, witty dialogue, and a touch of hilarity" (The New York Times).

In the sleepy English village of Sanford Angelorum, Oxford professor and amateur detective Gervase Fen is taking a break from his books to run for Parliament. At first glance, the village he's come to canvass appears perfectly peaceful, but Fen soon discovers that appearances can be deceiving: someone in the village has discovered a dark secret and is using it for blackmail. Anyone who comes close to uncovering the blackmailer's identity is swiftly dispatched.

As the joys of politics wear off, Fen sets his mind to the mystery--but finds himself caught up in a tangled tale of eccentric psychiatrists, escaped lunatics, beautiful women, and lost heirs . . .

"His books are full of high spirits and excellent jokes, with constant literary allusions . . . But at times the mood turns darker, and Crispin is capable of passages of both genuine suspense and ingenious deduction." --The Daily Telegraph

"One of the most literate mystery writers of the twentieth century." --Boston Globe

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1504092228
• ISBN13: 9781504092227
• Release Date: December 2023
• Publisher: Open Road Media Mystery & Thri
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Gervase Fen runs for Parliament

The title of this Gervase Fen mystery is dredged from English folklore: "Buried on Monday, buried for health, /Buried on Tuesday, buried for wealth; /Buried on Wednesday, buried at leisure, /Buried on Thursday, buried for pleasure; /Buried on Friday, buried for fun, /Buried on Saturday, buried at one; /Buried on Sunday after eleven, /You get the priest and you go to heaven." A more macabre folk jingle than, say "Monday's child is fair of face..." but appropriate for a murder mystery that our detective-don solves while standing for Parliament in rural England. Along with the eccentric detective Gervase Fen, Professor of English Language and Literature in the University of Oxford, Edmund Crispin also features one of his eccentric animals in "Buried for Pleasure." This time it is a `non-doing' pig that falls in love with the village's pub manager. The plot also works in that most obvious of red herrings: an escaped lunatic who believes himself to be President Woodrow Wilson. His normal mode of dress is a pince nez, and he must be the only lunatic in literature who declares, as he is captured and led away, "I warn you that if my Fourteen Points are not adopted, Western Europe will be at war again within a decade." Since "Buried for Pleasure" takes place in 1949, his prophecy was correct, although tardy. We never do find out exactly why Fen is standing for Parliament. One of the other characters challenges him to explain his motives: "'Well, what on earth...I mean, why are you standing for Parliament? What put the idea into your head?' "Even to himself Fen's actions were sometimes unaccountable, and he could think of no very convincing reply. "'It is my wish,' he said sanctimoniously, `to serve the community.' "The girl eyed him dubiously. "'Or at least," he amended, `that is one of my motives. Besides, I felt I was getting far too restricted in my interests. Have you ever produced a definitive edition of Langland?' "'Of course not,' she said crossly. "'I have. I've just finished producing one. It has queer psychological effects. You begin to wonder if you're mad. And the only remedy for that is a complete change of occupation.'" Read this book not so much for the mystery, but for Fen's final campaign speech when he decides that he doesn't want to get elected after all. As for the mystery, Crispin ties all of his loose ends together in a climactic automobile chase that involves the lunatic who thinks he's President Wilson, the Cockney pub manager and her non-doing pig, the murderer, a candidate for Parliament, and the rector who is plagued by a poltergeist. And the poltergeist. "Buried for Pleasure" is vintage Crispin.

Professor Fen stands for Parliament and exposes a murderer

The title of this Gervase Fen mystery is dredged from English folklore: "Buried on Monday, buried for health, /Buried on Tuesday, buried for wealth; /Buried on Wednesday, buried at leisure, /Buried on Thursday, buried for pleasure; /Buried on Friday, buried for fun, /Buried on Saturday, buried at one; /Buried on Sunday after eleven, /You get the priest and you go to heaven."A more macabre folk jingle than, say "Monday's child is fair of face..." but appropriate for a murder mystery that our detective-don solves while standing for Parliament in rural England.Along with the eccentric detective Gervase Fen, Professor of English Language and Literature in the University of Oxford, Edmund Crispin also features one of his eccentric animals in "Buried for Pleasure." This time it is a 'non-doing' pig that falls in love with the village's pub manager.The plot also works in that most obvious of red herrings: an escaped lunatic who believes himself to be President Woodrow Wilson. His normal mode of dress is a pince nez, and he must be the only lunatic in literature who declares, as he is captured and led away, "I warn you that if my Fourteen Points are not adopted, Western Europe will be at war again within a decade." Since "Buried for Pleasure" takes place in 1949, his prophecy was correct, although tardy.We never do find out exactly why Fen is standing for Parliament. One of the other characters challenges him to explain his motives:"'Well, what on earth...I mean, why are you standing for Parliament? What put the idea into your head?'"Even to himself Fen's actions were sometimes unaccountable, and he could think of no very convincing reply."'It is my wish,' he said sanctimoniously, 'to serve the community.'"The girl eyed him dubiously."'Or at least," he amended, 'that is one of my motives. Besides, I felt I was getting far too restricted in my interests. Have you ever produced a definitive edition of Langland?'"'Of course not,' she said crossly."'I have. I've just finished producing one. It has queer psychological effects. You begin to wonder if you're mad. And the only remedy for that is a complete change of occupation.'"Read this book not so much for the mystery, but for Fen's final campaign speech when he decides that he doesn't want to get elected after all.As for the mystery, Crispin ties all of his loose ends together in a climactic automobile chase that involves the lunatic who thinks he's President Wilson, the Cockney pub manager and her non-doing pig, the murderer, a candidate for Parliament, and the rector who is plagued by a poltergeist.And the poltergeist."Buried for Pleasure" is vintage Crispin.