- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Pan Books; New edition edition (9 April 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 033037592X
- ISBN-13: 978-0330375924
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 200,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Set in a military hospital during the Blitz, "Green for Danger" is widely regarded as a classic mystery from the Golden Age of the detective story. When a patient and a nurse are murdered, Inspector Cockrill finds himself with six possible suspects.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This whodunnit has two very strong parts: its intriguing setting, and its complex, twisting plot.
The setting is a military hospital in Kent during World War II, and rings true (the book was written during the war) without ever getting in the way.
The plot is fascinating: it twists and turns in all directions as first the author convinces you that any one of the suspects could be the culprit, and then just as validly convinces you that NONE of them could have done it. Particulary intriguing are the scenes where the suspects discuss amongst themselves how they could be guilty.
This book is worth reading for the writing: the unfolding of the mystery, the characters, the setting, an intriguing "howdunnit", and a unexpected end. Unfortunately, the revelation of the murderer's identity and motivation is unconvincing, making the denouement disappointing after such a good build-up.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The postman pushes his bike up the hill to a new hospital in Kent at the time of the Blitz in 1940. He has only seven letters to deliver and each of those seven correspondents represent the staff who will be present at the postman's death 'on the table' a few months later. Is the death just one of those unfortunate medical accidents or something more sinister?
Inspector Cockrill, a 'bird-like' man with trademark floppy hat, claims he knows all the answers 'virtually straight away' but just can't prove it. Whilst he is cogitating, the hospital becomes a dangerous place to inhabit, either from Luftwaffe bombs or it's own medical staff.
The book has plenty of stiff upper lip from the cast of brave chaps and girls but the main epidemic is an outbreak of verbal diarrhoea. The novel is overwhelmingly dialogue with almost no narration and reads like a screenplay. Be prepared for sentences that read, 'Did Bates ask Cockie whether Barnes or Moon had opened the drugs cabinet? Woody inquired of Esther.'
Talk, talk, talk made characterisation difficult; after 75 pages I still thought 'Woody' was a bloke rather than a 'blowsy trollop'. I can well understand why the Alistair Sim film is so well-loved; watch it first, then decide whether to read this.
Inspector Cockrill, a 'bird-like' man with trademark floppy hat, claims he knows all the answers 'virtually straight away' but just can't prove it. Whilst he is cogitating, the hospital becomes a dangerous place to inhabit, either from Luftwaffe bombs or it's own medical staff.
The book has plenty of stiff upper lip from the cast of brave chaps and girls but the main epidemic is an outbreak of verbal diarrhoea. The novel is overwhelmingly dialogue with almost no narration and reads like a screenplay. Be prepared for sentences that read, 'Did Bates ask Cockie whether Barnes or Moon had opened the drugs cabinet? Woody inquired of Esther.'
Talk, talk, talk made characterisation difficult; after 75 pages I still thought 'Woody' was a bloke rather than a 'blowsy trollop'. I can well understand why the Alistair Sim film is so well-loved; watch it first, then decide whether to read this.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Looking at the title of this book you probably think that you have heard it before, and you would be correct as there is a film made of this with the same title, starring Alastair Sim as the detective. More than likely you have seen the film, after all it has been on tv countless times and I know that I have seen it quite a few times.
This book was the second outing for DI Cockrill, who apeared eventually in seven novels. This book is also considered to be Brand's masterpiece. First published in 1945 this book is set in the midst of the war. In a military hospital in Kent, a few miles from the nearest town an influx of civilian patients are admitted due to an explosion in the town and not enough space in the local hospital. When one of these patients dies on the operating table, could it just be one of those things, or something more sinister? DI Cockrill is called in to investigate, and having to remain at the hospital overnight due to air raids comes to the conclusion that the death was murder, especially when a sister turns up dead.
As the suspense grows and a nurse is nearly killed, Cockrill manages to save another civilian patient from being killed. The field is narrowed and it can only be a handful of doctors and nurses who could have commited the crimes. We start to learn more about these individuals and what possible motives they could have, if any. Cockrill knows who the murderer is and why, but he cannot prove it. Segregating these people from everyone else he hopes to wear them down until he can get a confession, but will it work?
Full of twists and turns, a lot of red herrings and psychological insight this is a great little mystery. If you like the old style 'Golden Age of Crime' books then you should really have this one in your collection. If you haven't seen it then Green For Danger [DVD] is a great film to watch.
This book was the second outing for DI Cockrill, who apeared eventually in seven novels. This book is also considered to be Brand's masterpiece. First published in 1945 this book is set in the midst of the war. In a military hospital in Kent, a few miles from the nearest town an influx of civilian patients are admitted due to an explosion in the town and not enough space in the local hospital. When one of these patients dies on the operating table, could it just be one of those things, or something more sinister? DI Cockrill is called in to investigate, and having to remain at the hospital overnight due to air raids comes to the conclusion that the death was murder, especially when a sister turns up dead.
As the suspense grows and a nurse is nearly killed, Cockrill manages to save another civilian patient from being killed. The field is narrowed and it can only be a handful of doctors and nurses who could have commited the crimes. We start to learn more about these individuals and what possible motives they could have, if any. Cockrill knows who the murderer is and why, but he cannot prove it. Segregating these people from everyone else he hopes to wear them down until he can get a confession, but will it work?
Full of twists and turns, a lot of red herrings and psychological insight this is a great little mystery. If you like the old style 'Golden Age of Crime' books then you should really have this one in your collection. If you haven't seen it then Green For Danger [DVD] is a great film to watch.
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