Rhode, John as Miles Burton - A Smell of Smoke (1959)

This, one of the last Burton titles – only two further books were published after this – finds Inspector Arnold and Desmond Merrion on what is for them familiar ground, the English village complete with its instantly recognizable characters – the captain of local industry, the bobby, the lady of the manor and assorted working class locals such as publicans and farmers. Indeed, considering that this book was published as the 1960's were beginning, some aspects of the story may seem to the modern reader to be more in keeping with much earlier attitudes, although this could possibly be due to a mistaken understanding of what rural life was really like at the time. This is perhaps most notable in regard to the question of illegitimacy, which plays an important role in the book. Despite these questions, however, Burton lovers will find this a mostly satisfying read.

The story begins with the apparently accidental death of a man who it appears is universally disliked. When his body is fished out of a moat no-one expresses any regret, although the questions of where his income comes from and what his earlier history is become even more significant when an important local citizen is bludgeoned to death soon afterwards. This man had been near the scene of the earlier tragedy and, having been called in to assist, Arnold and Merrion discover that is was the odour of an unusual- smelling cigarette near the scene that set off the events which led to his murder. Here it is Merrion who does almost all the detection, Arnold being mostly present to represent the official view and air the thoughts of the less intelligent reader. The solution when it comes is satisfying enough, though the motive may seem a little insufficient. However, the pace is good and while not one of his very strongest this still represents another solid addition to the Burton canon.

R E Faust.

See also: http://www.classicmysteries.net/2011/11/a-smell-of-smoke.html