Items related to Hopjoy Was Here (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Synopsis
The gripping sight of four burly policemen manhandling a bath down the front path of a respectable villa isn't one the residents of Flaxborough see every day.
Net curtains twitch furiously, and neighbours have observations to make to Chief Inspector Purbright and Sergeant Love about the inhabitants of 14, Beatrice Avenue. Nice Gordon Periam, the mild-mannered tobacconist, and his rather less nice (in fact a bit of a bounder) lodger Brian Hopjoy had apparently shared the house amicably.
But now neither man is to be found and something very disagreeable seems to be lurking in the drains... Then a couple of government spooks turn up, one with an eye for the ladies - the drama is acquiring overtones of a Bond movie!
Witty and a little wicked, Colin Watson's tales offer a mordantly entertaining cast of characters and laugh-out-loud wordplay.
What people are saying about the Flaxborough series:
“Colin Watson wrote the best English detective stories ever. They work beautifully as whodunnits but it's really the world he creates and populates ... and the quality of the writing which makes these stories utterly superior.”
“The Flaxborough Chronicles are satires on the underbelly of English provincial life, very well observed, very funny and witty, written with an apt turn of phrase ... A complete delight.”
“If you have never read Colin Watson - start now. And savour the whole series.”
“Light-hearted, well written, wickedly observed and very funny - the Flaxborough books are a joy. Highly recommended.”
“How English can you get? Watson's wry humour, dotty characters, baddies who are never too bad, plots that make a sort of sense. Should I end up on a desert island Colin Watson's books are the ones I'd want with me.”
“A classic of English fiction... Yes, it is a crime novel, but it is so much more. Wonderful use of language, wry yet sharp humour and a delight from beginning to end.”
“Colin Watson threads some serious commentary and not a little sadness and tragedy within his usual excellent satire on small town morality and eccentricities.”
“Re-reading it now, I am struck by just how many laugh-out-loud moments it contains. A beautifully written book.”
“As always, hypocricy and skulduggery are rife, and the good do not necessarily emerge triumphant. Set aside plenty of time to read this book - you won't want to put it down once you've started it!”
“Colin Watson writes in such an understated, humorous way that I follow Inspector Purbright's investigation with a smile on my face from start to finish.”
“If you enjoy classic mysteries with no graphic violence and marvellously well drawn characters then give the Flaxborough series a try - you will not be disappointed.”
Editorial reviews:
“Watson has an unforgivably sharp eye for the ridiculous.” New York Times
“Flaxborough is Colin Watson's quiet English town whose outward respectability masks a seething pottage of greed, crime and vice ... Mr Watson wields a delightfully witty pen dripped in acid.” Daily Telegraph
“Arguably the best of comic crime writers, delicately treading the line between wit and farce ... Funny, stylish and good mysteries to boot.” Time Out
“A great lark, full of preposterous situations and pokerfaced wit.” Cecil Day-Lewis
“One of the best. As always with Watson, the writing is sharp and stylish and wickedly funny!” Literary Review
"The rarest of comic crime writers, one with the gift of originality." Julian Symons
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Colin Watson was born in 1920 in Croydon in south London. At age 17 he was appointed cub reporter on the Boston Guardian, a regional newspaper. His years as a journalist in the Lincolnshire market town proved formative, and he collected there much of the material that provided the basis for the Flaxborough novels. He won two CWA Silver Dagger awards, and the Flaxborough series was adapted for television by the BBC under the title Murder Most English. Watson died in 1983.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherFarrago
- Publication date2018
- ISBN 10 1788420187
- ISBN 13 9781788420181
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages192
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 12.23
Shipping:
US$ 2.64
Within U.S.A.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
Hopjoy Was Here: Volume 3 (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR010009128
Quantity: 6 available
Stock Image
Hopjoy Was Here (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Seller: St Vincent de Paul of Lane County, Eugene, OR, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Paperback This item shows wear from consistent use but remains in good readable condition. It may have marks on or in it, and may show other signs of previous use or shelf wear. May have minor creases or signs of wear on dust jacket. Packed with care, shipped promptly. Seller Inventory # 2EE-01-1540
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Hopjoy Was Here (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Book is in Used-VeryGood condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain very limited notes and highlighting. 0.59. Seller Inventory # 1788420187-2-3
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Hopjoy Was Here: Volume 3 (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9781788420181
Quantity: 3 available
Stock Image
Hopjoy Was Here (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Book is in Used-Good condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain limited notes and highlighting. 0.59. Seller Inventory # 1788420187-2-4
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Hopjoy Was Here: Volume 3 (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Seller: Goldstone Books, Llandybie, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Good. All orders are dispatched within one working day from our UK warehouse. We've been selling books online since 2004! We have over 750,000 books in stock. No quibble refund if not completely satisfied. Seller Inventory # mon0005991915
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Hopjoy Was Here (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Seller: MusicMagpie, Stockport, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. 1700507602. 11/20/2023 7:13:22 PM. Seller Inventory # U9781788420181
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Hopjoy Was Here: Volume 3 (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Seller: Reuseabook, Gloucester, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Used; Good. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Seller Inventory # CHL6197051
Quantity: 1 available
Stock Image
Hopjoy Was Here: Volume 3 (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Seller: Reuseabook, Gloucester, GLOS, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Used; Very Good. Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. Though second-hand, the book is still in very good shape. Minimal signs of usage may include very minor creasing on the cover or on the spine. Seller Inventory # CHL6082705
Quantity: 5 available
Stock Image
Hopjoy Was Here: Volume 3 (A Flaxborough Mystery)
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9781788420181
Quantity: 3 available