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Off with her Head!

Page history last edited by PBworks 18 years, 3 months ago

Cole, GDH and M - Off with her Head! (1938)

 

 

Review by Nick Fuller

3/5

Nothing speaks more about the English detective story’s avoidance of excessive detail (so beloved of the depraved contemporary writer) than its treatment of gore. Here, the severed head found in a student’s room is treated in as light-hearted a manner as the obligatory eccentricities of the dons. Thus we have humour instead of horror. Unfortunately the plot is as light as the style. The action is diffuse; the plot full of holes (Why send the package containing the head? What purpose does the car accident at the beginning serve?) and inconsistent (although the crime was committed on Monday night and the bulk of the action takes place on Wednesday, the detectives inquire into the events of Tuesday night); and the reader has little chance of spotting the murderer. For that matter, neither does the detective, young Insp. Fairford, who relies on a murderous attack on his beloved committed in broad daylight.

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