A Murder in Mayfair

by Robert Barnard

Book Overview

Can the truly rich get away with murder--or is there always a price?

Two days in May bring Colin Pinnock's career to a peak. His party wins a stunning election victory and he wins a new government office. Among the congratulations pouring in lurks one grubby card asking: "Who do you think you are?" Is this someone trying to put him down a peg, or is it someone holding damaging information? Come to think of it, is it possible...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1890208647
• ISBN13: 9781890208646
• Release Date: September 2011
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.3" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Almost not a mystery

The way Robert Barnard crafts the Colin Pinnock character is the key to the book. Barnard must harbor a secret longing to trade his eminently successful career as writer-academic for the world of British politics as he seems so very, very comfortable speaking for Pinnock, the young Labor Party MP. Pinnock is about as likable as a moderately ambitious progressive MP can be made without stretching things beyond credence. Barnard's treatment of an progressive/establishment British politician has the ring of truth at every step. His treatment of the routines of a junior minister in the British system and the way Pinnock consistently trusts and respects his support staff reflect a reverence for the British system that one can only hope is accurate. The way Pinnock the MP goes about doing his job would be be the envy of neophyte American congressman. Mr. Pinnock was clearly born to the role of Junior Minister but the charm of the book is the way Barnard gives Pinnock the person a chance to rise to the level of Pinnock the politician. Maybe Barnard could have worked a bit more on the plot to add a little suspense here and there but by doing so he might have upset the flow of a lovely little (murder) story. A very enjoyable read from beginning to end. Another vote for Barnard.

It Kept Me Entertained

Robert Barnard, currently lives with his wife in Yorkshire. 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. It is May, spring is in the air and everything in the garden is rosy for Colin Pinnock, at least that is how it seems to him. A stunning election victory followed by a new government and a junior office for himself. Bit amid all the congratulations that he receives there is one hostile message, asking: "Who do you think you are?" Is this merely a jealous rival or even somebody trying to make sure his feet stay on the ground. Or does the statement have a more sinister meaning? Indeed' who is he, really? and who were his biological parents? As Colin begins to investigate these question he is led back to an old political scandal. Events from the past begin to intertwine with the present and Colin finds himself the object of a series of incidents that at first threaten to affect his career, but later actual threaten his very being . . .

Intelligent mystery by prolific UK writer

In its authors native UK this book was published as "Touched by the Dead" ,the title being a quotation from Tennyson,reflecting the writer's main career as a professor of English literature.It is a more evocative title than Murder in Mayfair and illustrates a key theme of the book-the role of the past in shaping the present. It opens in May 1997 the day after New Labour has been returned to power in the UK following 18 years of Conservative government.The narrator is Colin Pinnock a Labour MP who is designated a junior minister in the Department of Education.He receives a note thrust under the door of his London apartment aking the stark question "Who do you think you are? It prompts him to undertake a search for his family origins which lead back to a minor sixties political scandal.This is clearly modelled on the real life affair of Lord Lucan who went missing after allegedly killing his wife. In the book the Lucan figure is Lord Revill who vanished after killing his wife and conducting an affair with his children's nanny.Research uncovers that Pinnock is the illegitimate child of the liasion between Revill and the nanny and there are other ,less welcome suprises lurking round the corner as he delves deeper into the case .These include a stalker,an assailant with a knife and other relatives emerging from the woodwork. Barnard has tackled political themes before (see Political Suicide)and his view of politicians stops some way short of idolatory.He makes some sharp observations about our political lords and masters and his disillusion with the present adminstration comes through loud and clear Well and clearly written with compassion and warmth this a good book and merits reading by devotees of the British crime novel

Barnard Turns Out Another Good One

Robert Barnard's latest mystery, A Murder in Mayfair, contains a number of devices Barnard has used before. There's an engaging young man embarked on a quest for his parentage, a bit like the earlier Out of the Blackout. Then there's the solving of a 35-year old murder to help clarify current events, much like A Scandal in Belgravia. Finally, there's an unexpected homoerotic twist, like...oh, how many Barnards shall I name? All in all, this was a fast-paced, interesting, and engaging mystery. Not Robert Barnard at his best, but Robert Barnard in good form.

Entertaining crime thriller

Colin Pinnock feels he is on his way up the ladder of success when he receives an appointment as junior minister. Everyone congratulates Colin on his new assignment. his euphoria is disturbed by a strange post card that states,"Who Do You Think You Are?" Colin knows the card was sent before news of his appointment, leaving him to interpret the message quite literally that it has to do with his past. A second card follows shortly afterward.On his first day at the job, his "boss" Margaret Stevens is stunned because Colin looks just like Lord John Revill who vanished in 1962 after allegedly killing his wife. Colin knows he was adopted and begins a search for his roots.A MURDER IN MAYFAIR is an entertaining thriller that centers on the real identity of the lead protagonist (or for that matter, anyone). The story line is crisp and filled with unexpected surprises that never reveal the climax. The characters are intriguing, especially Colin. The villain is crazy, but does things at the end that seems a bit loose. Still, Robert Barnard shows his talent to hook an audience from the start and keep them interested until the novel is finished. Harriet Klausner