I normally very much enjoy George Bellairs novels, but I now realize it’s because I adore Littlejohn. Unfortunately, this book is not of that series. Not only that, but I didn’t necessarily care for the flippant tone of the parts written in present tense. It was as if he was just experimenting with a new tone.

Having said all that, it’s still Bellairs and still better written than much of what’s published today. Consequently, I would still recommend it, with a little explanation of the difference in this to other Bellairs novels.

Thank you to NetGalley and the George Bellairs Literary Estate for providing a copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review.

I am a longtime fan of George Bellairs' Inspector Littlejohn novels. Death Stops the Frolic is an early work and does not feature Littlejohn, but rather Inspector Nankivell.

Bellairs is a good storyteller and this was a solid mystery, but I did not enjoy it as much as the Littlejohn novels. The narrator describes the local people and likely suspects and, especially in the first half of the novel, adopted a somewhat condescending and at times contemptuous tone to tell us about the locals. This took me aback a bit, but the second half of the novel was more in keeping with the Bellairs' of Littlejohn tradition. Nankivell, though no Littlejohn, is likable and the police procedural come to a satisfying end.

George Bellairs remains one of my favorite Golden Age authors and I look forward to reading future reprints of his novels.

This is not one of Bellairs' best efforts. While it was a somewhat enjoyable read, there was not enough about Superintendent Nankifell. There was plenty description about the main and not so main characters. There was even more about the places, but to a fault. I felt like I was ready a travel guide. Bellairs matured with his later works about inspector Littlejohn.

Alderman Harbuttle, a man who irritates many, but not enough to incite murder one would think, is stabbed to death after falling through a trap door in the church as he led his fellow Zionists in a game of follow-my-leader. Superintendent Nankivell (actually on the scene waiting to pick up his wife) is all for calling in the yard, because it’s likely to be a politically dicey affair, but he is put off, due to his particular knowledge of all the people involved. Things heat up even more when a boy who claims to have seen something is also murdered. Engaging police procedural - the superintendent is quite likeable and cleverly solves the case.

George Bellairs never fails to deliver and I'm never disappointed by his books even if I have very high expectations.
This is an excellent stand alone story with a great description of village life and a solid mystery.
The cast of characters is fleshed out and the description of the historical background is vivid and realistic.
One note: some observation can be a bit un-politically correct but this is part of the time mindset.
I was an excellent read that I couldn't put down, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

3 stars

Since this is an early Bellairs' book, I would guess it is understandable that it is not his best. Originally published as “Turmoil in Zion,” it does not feature Inspector Littlejohn (who is a favorite of mine).

The writing, as always, is superb, but this book did not hold my interest as much as the later ones. Of course, the reader must realize the era in which the book was written to understand some of the archaic language and attitudes of the inhabitants of the little village.

I want to thank NetGalley and Agora Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review.

I have been a fan of George Bellairs novels for several years, ever since I discovered Inspector Littlejohn. This novel doesn’t feature Littlejohn, but rather the equally talented Superintendent Nankivell. I really enjoyed this novel, although initially I was a little put off by the change from first person/present to the more familiar third person narrative that characterized the first chapter or two. Once I got used to that, I found this an easy to read novel, that held my attention.

I’ve come to expect interesting characters and witty observations about everyday life from this author and this novel didn’t disappoint in that regard. It begins by picturing much of the village population at a celebration of Zion Chapels anniversary. We are introduced to the main characters and soon learn something about their lives, their relationships, and their secrets. The party ends on a sour note, with a very unexpected murder. Superintendent Nankivell takes on the case and ends up solving more than just the murder.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review.

Who Killed The Alderman?.....
An early Bellairs (first published as ‘Turmoil In Zion’). No Inspector Littlejohn here but rather the equally empathetic Superintendent Nankivell. Superbly written and perfectly observed, a larger than life cast of characters and laced with dry wit. Excellent reading.

My thanks to the publishers for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mr Harbuttle, self made grocer, property speculator and town dignitary, reaches his personal Pisgah through the upper storey trap door of the Zion Chapel with a bread knife through his heart. His demise brings another murder in its wake in a new edition of this George Bellairs charmer set in wartime Britain in the improbably industrial yet religious town of Swarebridge. It's a good read for a winter evening by the fire.

Bellairs' cinematic eye and gentle parodies of small town life and its people entertain. Unusually, we are not with Littlejohn this time but with the equable Superintendent Nankivell. Urgency is not in his nature but then the joy of Bellairs is not in a clever, paced plot or in the unravelling of a precisely involved and carefully clued puzzle. He is not a giant of literature either. But his portraits of people stay with you and, while some, mainly wealthy and corrupt, are caricatures, most are sympathetically drawn. Consider the exiled Swiss baker in this story or the diminutive Miss Sleaford with her framed portrait of the soldier who passed through and provided her once in a lifetime romance before, we are told, surviving the war and growing fat and abusive to a wife elsewhere.

Of course and as usual, the avuncular Bellairs misses no opportunity to lament 'the gracious old and the hideous new', although today, in our turn, we might view the chromium and imitation tailors with nostalgia.

I enjoyed this book and was pleased to see it also contains a tantaliser for 'He'd Rather Be Dead' about the murder of another self made petty potentate and I look forward to reading the rest of that one too.

Another charming story from the articulate George Bellairs. Wartime rationing leads to nefarious goings-on and enthusiastic religious escapades. A gentle mystery with a good story and a surprise ending; well written and a pleasure to read.

2.5 stars

Quite a short story,that had some charm.
A typical small village ,rocked by a murder in the church.
Good to be kept wondering.