Crazy characters with seemingly few scruples! I love the "upstanding" citizens and the British police trying to muddle through the secrets. The writing and descriptive phrases were stunning. I immediately read the next book!

I definitely enjoyed this book. A twist at the end, too. Good mystery as well as an interesting inspector.

This book is definitely a product of it's time. When I first started reading, I had a very hard time making the transition to the language used and the way the story was written. However, once I got through that, it was an enjoyable read. Most mysteries that I read have lots of action and running around, but I think of the words soft and quiet to describe this book.

I really enjoyed this cozy little mystery, reminds me of Agatha's stories! How Inspector Purbright and Sergeant Love finally figure out whodunit is fascinating reading, with a delightful cast of characters and a dry sense of humor throughout. This series was originally from the late 50's, but don't let that put you off, this is a wonderful police procedural and I look forward to the rest of the series. Thanks to #netgalley for allowing me to preview this book.

What a delightful start to a new series for me! I love the quirky characters and the tone of the novel. I will enjoy continuing the adventures of Professor Purbright.

Although I am not familiar with Colin Watson’s work, when I read the title of Coffin, Scarcely Used, I just had to request the novel from Netgalley. Watson began writing in the late 1950’s and published more than a dozen books by the early 1980’s. This novel is his first.

No one thinks anything of the death of businessman Mr. Carobleat until the more unusual death of Mr. Gwill, the proprietor of the local paper and Carobleat’s next-door neighbor. Mr. Gwill was found in a field near an electric plant, apparently electrocuted. Inspector Purbright of the Flaxborough police wonders if the death could be suicide, but this seems an unusually cruel way to go. Purbright is also interested in the comments of Mrs. Poole, Mr. Gwill’s housekeeper, hinting at some kind of supernatural events from next door.

When Inspector Purbright begins looking into Mr. Gwill’s affairs, he is struck by some advertisements Gwill has clipped from his own paper that seem to be coded in a particular way. Whatever Gwill was involved with, it seemed to also involve several other local businessmen—Dr. Hillyard, the undertaker Mr. Bradlaw, and the lawyer Mr. Gloss.

This mystery is fairly complicated, but aspects of it are relatively easy to figure out. I was well ahead of the inspector in regard to what was going on with the ads but did not guess what else was going on. The novel is characterized by a wry sense of humor, particularly in discussions among the various police. I found it mildly entertaining.

I really don't know how I managed to miss this author's work during the 30+ years of working in libraries. I am familiar with the name, but despite loving crime fiction, especially those from the 1920s to the 1950s, I seem to have missed Colin Watson. I am delighted to have finally discovered his work and to know that I have a lot of books to get through. A great series for those who love Miss Marple and other series with a real sense of the period they portray.

A clever slice of "old fashion" British mystery.
The police are presented as not too bright, but prove more than equal to the task.
Many possible suspects, but no one seems to have an adequate reason.
Once it finally comes together you think it's all over. But wait for the last page. It's a wonderful surprise joke!

I received word of this book in an email from NetGalley and the premise sounded fun. At the time I didn't realize it had been written back in the fifties and was being newly released as e-books. Watson's small-town English investigators must determine what is going on when what appears to be a suicide turns out to be the first of several local deaths. A touch of dry wit and impeccable descriptions make this an enjoyable procedural with a hint of Agatha Christie thrown in.

What a gem! If you enjoy Agatha Christie type mysteries this series is for you. A sleepy little town somewhere in the countryside in England with a mysterious death that appears to be a suicide but doesn’t quite make sense. A quirky investigator who does his job with a small team of helpers. And low and behold, a nefarious underworld. Lots of tongue in cheek moments and of course the good guy figures it all out. Definitely a fun read and a treat from more modern style police investigations.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

There is a certain dry, sardonic wit common to many British novels--a slightly understated, slid in dig that can go unnoticed or over the head. To be honest, it took me a few chapters to settle into the rhythm of the novel and start really enjoying myself. But as the plot unfolded (and the body count rose) and my own gray cells started trying to keep up with the inspector's I found myself virtually flipping through the pages as fast as I could to see if Purbright could beat the reaper.

I would place the time of the action at about early Dr. Who (which had some of that same sly humor)--no cell phones, no computers and, sadly for the detective, no Tardis.

The UK publisher Farrago (Prelude) seems to search out the overlooked and underappreciated gems of 20th century humor and mystery of which this is clearly one, so I look for Farrago/Prelude titles on NetGalley and am seldom disappointed, nor am I this time, and am eager to continue reading this series as it is (re?) introduced to the American public.

In the town of Flaxborough, one of its prominent citizens is found electrocuted in his house slippers on the crossbars of an electricity pylon. This rather bizarre death follows the altogether unremarkable death of his neighbor and fellow prominent citizen just a mere six months earlier. Was the electrocution a murder? Are the two deaths connected? And what seedy business could be occurring in this otherwise pleasant town? Originally published in 1958 as the first in the Flaxborough series, Colin Watson wrote a delightful mystery that did not require gruesome crimes and heart-pounding action to hold the reader’s attention. Instead, Watson relied on a solid mystery with a well-plotted ending and deliciously witty insights into small town life and personalities. Now that the Flaxborough series is in the process of being reprinted, a new generation of readers can enjoy a sense of nostalgia while puzzling over a mystery that withstood the test of time.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time focusing in on this book (but that's mostly my own fault). It was a very quick and easy read. I saw that someone called it a "British cozy mystery", and I would have to agree. The writing gave me a Sherlock Holmes/Arthur Conan Doyle vibe, and it wasn't just the British aspect. And honestly, the writing was a nice change of pace from my predominately female crime fiction.

There were a ton of characters, and that kind of distracted me. And investigating multiple murders/deaths/suspects was a lot of keep track of. But I just wasn't fully into it. I'll be reading the rest of the series though - thanks to NetGalley!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Farrago for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

This book wasn't for me and I gave up early on I'm afraid.

A pleasure. A witty and delightful detective, Inspector Purbright is a character to savour. This, the first novel in the series, is a joy - set in 60's England, Purbright gives foul play the boot with aplomb and a huge dose of dry humour. Certainly not 'just' a whodunnit! Highly recommended and not to be missed.

I can dig this book. It's British with a classic feel and plenty of humor. The title alone was enough to garner my interest. It's a reasonable who-done-it, and I really like those. It borders on a cozy and was just the right read for when I read it. If you're looking for a mystery without gore or excess violence, this is a good choice. It has some fun prose as an added bonus.

My copy came via Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free choosing.

I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more in the series. I very much appreciated the old-timey setting and the solid characters developed by the author.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

When one man is killed in a village it isn't really news unless a few months later another turns up dead - this time a suicide; and connected to the other. Now, it seems at first all cut and dried, but to Inspector Purbright, a highly intelligent policeman, he knows that it's foul play. But proving it is going to be another matter.

Not to mention that the reason for both deaths escape him at the time; he doesn't seem to have any headway by questioning the dead man's companions; nor does he get anywhere questioning his housekeeper. But then, something occurs to him: it is only a matter of a book at the home of the deceased Mr. Gwill, and a list of repetitive advertisements that bring his attention. And our intrepid inspector is on his way to solving a very intricate and detailed operation of the highly delicate sort that could just change everything...

What a delightful surprise this book was. I have never read anything by Mr. Watson before, but I can tell you that I am going to read the rest in this series. As far as British police procedurals go, this is one of the best. I can almost see it come to life, with the late Alistair Sim playing Inspector Purbright; a man who knows in his gut what is going on around him, and uses his wits to discover the truth of the matter.

What seems at first as cut and dried isn't; and by use of several policemen Purbright manages to get all the pieces of the jigsaw and put them together. And what a puzzle he has fashioned! This is an older book, but masterfully written, and is right up there with the best of them. Murder, blackmail, and scandalous immorality are woven within indeed make for a remarkable mystery that is very well written.

When all is said and done and the ending comes, we realize how simply enjoyable it was to read. I look forward to the next book by this late author. Highly recommended.

DNF the series as of today ,I tried to read it in fact I read about 67% of it but the story was so boring that it put me to sleep two times while I was reading it., thinks Netgalley for at least letting me give this series a try.

The writing is clearly of its time. Characterisation is enigmatic. The lead character is charming and polite but clearly astute. The story, as a series of red herrings and implications, lead the inspector on a journey of examination where all is very definitely not what it seems. Colloquial, countrified and very polite, murder and other misdeeds are perpetrated in a most inconvenient manner.

The style of writing is quite difficult to grasp at first, but as the story unravels the reader gets used to the steady yet often stilted pace. Described as witty, there is clearly a lightness to the presentation that implies wry humour. Perhaps this would be more clear in a play format where nuances can be better inferred, but here it can sadly pass you by.

As for the ending, it was not really a big surprise to know who did it, but the explanation of the timeline and what really happened was an interesting if unrealistic twist.

Not an unpleasant read, but I'm not sure I would be in a hurry to read more