- Mass Market Paperback
- Publisher: Dell Pub Co; Reprint edition (Aug 1990)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0440205867
- ISBN-13: 978-0440205869
- Product Dimensions: 16.8 x 10.7 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,221,434 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
The author is in an impish mood as he tackles - and sometimes dismantles - the group of actors, singers, directors, etc. gathered for the annual Ketterick Festival, centered in the venerable Saracen Inn, whose courtyard serves as stage and theater. The mood of returning participants is somewhat dampened by the nosy, intrusive presence of new hotel manager Des Capper, a poor substitute for deceased "dear old Arthur," loved by all. Des spends much time giving unwanted advice and ferreting out scandal, while his harried wife Win works the bar. He quickly antagonizes young actors Gillian Soames and Peter Fortnum; the aging matinee idol team of Clarissa and Carston Galloway; dynamic, autocratic music conductor Gunther Gottlieb; and even wimpy Brad Mallory, agent for Indian countertenor Singh and Russian soprano Natalya Radilov. They all appear shocked, however, when Des is discovered stabbed to death in his hotel apartment and savvy Superintendent lain Dundy is presented with a host of suspects; a victim seemingly engaged in blackmail; a play in progress, and a timetable that seems to alibi everyone. Except that it doesn't, of course - and Dundy works his way through a replay of tedious minute-by-minute comings and goings to a not-very-surprising culprit, whose powerful motive is hidden to the end. There are many dull quotes from tire Jacobean comedy being performed and many false trails explored, some of them mildly intriguing. The gossipy, barbed, behind-the-scenes battles are the chief asset in a story that's a weak echo of the author's best (Fete Fatale, etc.). (Kirkus Reviews)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
"The Chaste Apprentice" is a play on the programme of the Ketterick arts festival, as is an unknown opera. But the murder that takes place was not scheduled, and a member of one of the casts must be responsible. Robert Barnard is the author of "Death of a Salesperson".
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Robert Barnard is usually a treat to read. And "Death and the Chaste Apprentice" is no exception. Bernard is quite prolific in his writing/subject matter and often chooses literary characters or subjects about which to write. In this work, we find the London suburb of Ketterick presenting its annual fine arts festival, "The Chaste Apprentice" being the theatrical entry (an "easily forgotten" Elizabethan drama!). Des Capper, the obnoxious host of The Saracen's Head, where the play is being presented and where the actors themselves are residing, is found stabbed in the back--a rather symbolic gesture, as it were, due to Capper's zeal to "unearth the hidden" from the cast and company. It appears that all the cast members have their own alibies--as he certainly died during the performance! Or so we think. Barnard is always quite clever with his story line--and plethora of literary allusions and references. He also introduces young Charlie Peace, who is to be featured in later Barnard stories. This book is fraught with clever theatrical references and idioms and moves along at a fast pace. Barnard's wit and expertise show through readily. Not a "deep" book, but certainly a worthwhile one, especially if you like British mysteries with a twist of wry!
Format:Mass Market Paperback
...who develops into a more rouded character later in the series.
But if you want to work through all the novels featuring a detective you like then you have to start here.
To a 21st century reader this novel is rather twee and old fashioned, but it tells you how the genre was in 1989...
But if you want to work through all the novels featuring a detective you like then you have to start here.
To a 21st century reader this novel is rather twee and old fashioned, but it tells you how the genre was in 1989...
Format:Hardcover
Robert Barnard, currently lives in Yorkshire with his wife. He was born in Essex on 23 November, 1936. Educated at the Royal Grammar School in Colchester and at Balliol College, Oxford, taking his Ph.D. from the University of Bergen, Norway, in 1972, he spent many years as a distinguished academic while establishing himself as one of today's most distinguished crime writers. His fascination with the pure detective story is evident in his many novels.
Robert Barnard is a good example of the writer who prefers his detective novels to be just that, based on detection. There are no `bells and whistles' in his books. It is virtually always true that good honest police work gets to the bottom of the crimes being committed. This is one of his earlier books published in 1989 and introducing a young and fresh Charlie Peace, a character who will feature in many of his later stories.
The story revolves around a long forgotten Elizabethan drama, The Chaste Apprentice, an entry in a fine arts festival in London. The host of the Saracen's Head, the place where the members of the cast are staying, is found dead and not from natural causes. He has been stabbed in the back. Although all the members of the cast come under suspicion, they would seem to have cast iron alibis, as it is almost certain that the man died during the performance of the play . . .
Robert Barnard is a good example of the writer who prefers his detective novels to be just that, based on detection. There are no `bells and whistles' in his books. It is virtually always true that good honest police work gets to the bottom of the crimes being committed. This is one of his earlier books published in 1989 and introducing a young and fresh Charlie Peace, a character who will feature in many of his later stories.
The story revolves around a long forgotten Elizabethan drama, The Chaste Apprentice, an entry in a fine arts festival in London. The host of the Saracen's Head, the place where the members of the cast are staying, is found dead and not from natural causes. He has been stabbed in the back. Although all the members of the cast come under suspicion, they would seem to have cast iron alibis, as it is almost certain that the man died during the performance of the play . . .
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
An Introduction to Charlie Peace
Robert Barnard, currently lives in Yorkshire with his wife. He was born in Essex on 23 November, 1936. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2007 by J. Chippindale
An Introduction to Charlie Peace
Robert Barnard, currently lives in Yorkshire with his wife. He was born in Essex on 23 November, 1936. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2007 by J. Chippindale
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
