The Way Through the Woods (Inspector Morse)

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• ISBN13: 9780804111423
• Shape: New

Description

"Cunning...Your imagination will be frenetically flapping its wings until the very last chapter."

THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD

Morse is enjoying a rare if unsatisfying holiday in Dorset when the first letter appears in THE TIMES. A year before, a stunning Swedish student disappeared from Oxfordshire, leaving behind a rucksack with her identification. As the lady was dishy, young, and traveling alone, the Thames Valley Police suspected foul play. But without a body, and with precious few clues, the investigation ground to a halt. Now it seems that someone who can hold back no longer is composing clue-laden poetry that begins an enthusiastic correspondence among England's news-reading public. Not one to be left behind, Morse writes a letter of his own--and follows a twisting path through the Wytham Woods that leads to a most shocking murder.

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Customer Reviews

poetry puzzles
A young, beautiful Swedish tourist is reported as missing when she should have been at the home of her relative in Wales. A year later, there is still no trace of her and no report of anyone finding her body, even though the woods where she was last seen, were thoroughly combed by the Thames Valley police. Chief Inspector Morse is only semi enjoying a holiday at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis where he reads a tantalising account in the Times, about the missing tourist, now christened the Swedish Maiden by the press. An anonymous writer has put forward a collection of verses which purport to offer clues to the girl's whereabouts. The subject becomes a matter of huge interest to the general public, with different people all contributing their theories. Morse and Sergeant Lewis plough their way stolidly through the maze of supposed clues to a final solution, with lots of red herrings along the way and even a touch of romance for Morse to brighten his days.

2006-06-18 (Australia) | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 4

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A logical puzzle in the best English mystery tradition
This book has its flaws, but for those who like the English tradition of mystery novels, it's perfect. Inspector Morse is an enigma that grows on us like a new puppy, and he is the perfect vehicle for a labyrinth of clues and intimations leading to a conclusion only an architect of human psychology could create. The writing is crisp and generous with the main characters, although the people who comprise the mysterious events are necessarily given somewhat shorter coverage. All the clues are on the page far before the solution is given. While sometimes it seems as if soap opera narration of the lives of the police takes center stage, it contributes to an understanding of their progress and its hangups, and helps add momentum to a relatively realistic discussion of the plodding process of uncovering clues. Where this book falls down is its uneven dramatic events and its sometimes obvious shifts of narrative to hide vital data, causing a sudden "gotcha" at the end, that's part of the riddle and the joy of seeing this one conclude. I would recommend this to anyone who likes the mind games of British detective authors.

2005-11-08 | Chris Blanc (Houston, TX) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 4

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So disappointing!
I have enjoyed the dramatizations of Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse series, and decided to read the books. Being a bit of a print snob, I assumed that a book is always better than a television adaptation. Now I am not so sure. This detective novel had a fair share of suspense, and I enjoyed the author's deftness at word play. Literary allusions, epigraphs, puzzles and fine quotations abound. If you love Hardy and A.E. Housman, you will feel a kinship with Inspector Morse and his creator. However, in the end the story had nearly enough flaws to make me feel that I had wasted my time reading it. There are some good plot twists, but some bad ones too. Minor characters are developed up to a point where they become interesting, and then they drop out of the story as if the author had forgotten they were there. False clues in a mystry are part of the game, but in this case I think there were a few too many. They seemed to clog up the narrative rather than advance it. Of course, it would be wrong to give anything away that would spoil the experience for a potential reader. I'll just say that some of the red herrings were a bit too obvious, and at least one of the big surprises seemed not all that surprising when revealed. The final resolution seemed cobbled together, but that is a fault common to most mystery stories. The fun is in the pursuit-the capture is always a letdown.

2005-06-24 (Planet of Paint) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 3

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A tightly written story that is extremely cunning.
As all the books in this series, this one is extremely well-written. The plot is tight and the mystery will keep you guessing until the end. Dexter's writing and his Morse series are top drawer.In this book we have the mysterious disappearance of a Swedish student. (Quite a beautiful Swedish student to all accounts). Morse is on holiday, but finds that he can't just relax and take time off. His agile brain needs something to work on and the appearance of some strange verses in the Times appear to fit the bill. The verses are a riddle about the Swedish student that disappeared in Oxford about a year ago. These books are so intricately written that it is difficult to write a review without giving away some of the surprises, so I will say no more about it. I will recommend though, that you read this series from the beginning. As good as the television series was, these books should be read in order for us to appreciate fine writing in the detection genre.

2005-05-11 | romonko (alberta canada) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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one of mystery's great curmudgeons
The history of the mystery is replete with examples of detectives who tread a fine line between the amusingly eccentric and the downright boorish (Sherlock Holmes being the archetype; Poirot, Nero Wolfe, and others following in his footsteps). Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse fits squarely and delightfully in this tradition. If you've never seen the TV series on PBS and A&E, or better yet read one of the books, you're really missing out on something special.

Morse, whose first name wasn't revealed for years, is an Oxford-educated, beer-drinking, Opera-loving, vintage Jaguar-driving, Crossword puzzle maven and also one of the biggest curmudgeons in all of literature. He does not suffer fools gladly, other than his much put upon but continually bemused partner Lewis. His superiors are forced to tolerate his idiosyncrasies and his bibliousness because he also has a uniquely intuitive mind and a knack for solving the most puzzling crimes. In an interesting symbiosis, John Thaw's television portrayal of Morse bled over into the novels and took some of the harsher edges off of the character and Kevin Whatley's Lewis helped to make the character less of a dolt and more of a naïf in the books too.

In this Gold Dagger winning installment in the series, Morse is on an unwelcome holiday when he gets drawn into the case of a year old disappearance of a Swedish girl who is assumed to have been murdered and ditched in the local woods. The largely moribund investigation is reinvigorated when The Times receives a cryptic letter with tantalizing but ambiguous literary clues to the dead girl's whereabouts. As the story unfolds Morse finds himself in the midst of a murder investigation that includes everything from pornography to ornithology. As always, the book offers both a satisfying mystery and the great pleasure of watching Morse and Lewis interact with one another and with suspects, superiors and the various ladies who inevitably tweak Morse's heartstrings.

After a highly successful run of 13 novels, Dexter killed Morse off earlier this year in The Remorseful Day. On the one hand, it's nice to see an author finish a series while he still has his fastball, but Morse and Lewis will be missed. Try one of the books and keep an eye peeled for the show, both are outstanding.

GRADE: A+

2000-10-13 | brothersjudddotcom (Hanover, NH USA) | Helpful Votes: 7 | Rating: 5

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The Remorseful Day

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9780804119542
• Ready: New
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Description

For a year, the murder of Mrs. Yvonne Harrison at her home in Oxfordshire had baffled the Thames Valley CID. The manner of her death--her naked handcuffed body left lying in bed--matched her reputation as a women of adventuresome sexual tastes. The case seemed perfect for Inspector Morse. So why has he refused to become involved--even after anonymous hints of new evidence, even after a fresh murder? Sgt. Lewis's loyalty to his infuriating boss slowly turns to deep distress as his own investigations suggest that Mrs. Harrison was no stranger to Morse. Far from it. Never has Morse performed more brilliantly than in this final adventure, whose masterly twists and turns through the shadowy byways of passion grip us to the death. . . .

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Over 13 novels and a popular television series later, Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse has taken his place alongside Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Lord Peter Wimsey, Philip Marlowe, and a handful of other famous sleuths. Like most of them, Morse possesses an uncanny intelligence, especially in matters of crime and crosswords, but Dexter has always made sure that his detective remains fully a man--flawed and uncertain despite an outward bravado. In this final, difficult story, Morse's humanity unfolds much as his cases do: with the slow revelation of secrets and surprises that frequently catch the reader off guard.

The novel begins with events now a year old. Yvonne Hamilton had been found in her home murdered--handcuffed and naked. The Thames Valley Police had supposed robbery, but their suspects had dissolved and all the leads had dried up. A year later, while Morse is on furlough, two anonymous calls to Chief Superintendent Strange open the possibility of a new line of inquiry. Strange wants his best man on the case. Morse, however, shows a surprising reluctance to embroil himself in what seems to be a classic Morsean puzzle. When he finally does reopen the investigation, his unorthodox approach worries even his longtime sidekick, Sergeant Lewis--who begins to suspect that his boss has a personal connection to the victim. What could Morse be up to? And--as many readers will be asking throughout--what could possibly bring his career to a close?

Like the work of few other mystery writers, Dexter's Morse series has consistently blended the dignity of high art with the grimness of crime and punishment. While it's a cliché to say that he transcends the genre, he has certainly expanded its range to novels that entertain while they instruct--even when that instruction is grammatical. The Remorseful Day is indeed a remorseful farewell, a delicately handled conclusion to a series that will now remain artfully complete, not lingering beyond its time. --Patrick O'Kelley

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Customer Reviews

End of an era
This is quite the end of an era for me. The Oxford education's appreciation for language, the nuances, the subtelties, all this resonates once again with Inspector Morse as he reluctantly pursues multiple murderers, whilst being ambiguously involved with the victim herself. As usual, Colin Dexter keeps the reader off kilter, not quite knowing the full story as certain facts only come to light over time. The characterisations of Morse, Lewis and Strange are even stronger than ever. If you have never read any of this series, do yourself a favour and read the others first. This book stands alone, it is true, but to fully appreciate the personalities and the relationships, ypu'd best get to know them before you say goodbye to them. I will miss Morse. He is my father's peer. I miss them both. Thank you so much for the collection of stories and memories. Much appreciated.

Sarah Leamy
Author of When No One's Looking

2010-07-05 | Author of When No One's Looking (2010) (New Mexico) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Brilliant
Wow, what an amazing ending for the Inspector Morse series. I have read the book three times and seen the show twice - always left with an overwhelming sadness at the loss of such a great character. Colin Dexter's quotes weaved within his Morse novels are wonderful and gently remind me to challenge myself mentally. It is too easy to dumb down our lives and sometimes we need an easier mental path; but we also should strive to challenge ourselves mentally and Inspector Morse novels do so in an enjoyable fashion. If buying, read the series in order to get a greater connection with the characters.

2010-03-31 (ODB, TX USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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I cried buckets :(
I bought my first Inspector Morse as a teenager and immediately fell in love with the crabby,hopelessly flawed yet heart-achingly vulnerable title character. Fast forward almost 20 yrs, I returned to my childhood home and discovered my 6 old Colin Dexters still there in my old room. I was mesmerised all over again and decided to purchase the rest of the series here on Amazon. I really and truly had no clue why the front cover of THe Remorseful Day had " Morse's Final Mystery" printed on it. I assumed Mr Dexter tired of writing the difficult character and allowed him to finally retire.I was thus caught completely off guard to read the ultimate final chapter of Chief Inspector E Morse. I cried and cried and to be honest that was a month ago and it took me this long to be able to come here and write this review. I have to say that this mystery was complex,kept me guessing all the way through and at no point in time did I have the identity of the killer correct. Very good read but if you get attached to literary characters as I do,read with a box of Kleenex close by. Well done Mr Dexter.

2009-12-21 (Barbados) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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I'll miss you Morse
You knew you had to go and readers felt you easing away. It was not jarring nor unexpected but still reprieve wished for. Lewis continues what he does on Masterpiece Theater series which eased the pain and loss.

2009-10-23 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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An Acquired Cup of Tea
Colin Dexter was at Cambridge University with my dad, studying Classics. This goes a long way to explaining the academic style, self-conscious punctuation, and numerous classical references in the novel, which at first I found distracting until about half way through, when I began to appreciate the characters and dry humor. The mystery seems to take second place to the story of Morse and Lewis and followed a lot of circumlocution, but it came together in a satisfying conclusion. Since I started at the end with The Remorseful Day (is this a transferred epithet?), I will go back and start at the beginning. I just purchased Last Bus to Woodstock. Hats off to Dexter for elevating the mystery genre. I also recommend the following British mystery, which is more in the Agatha Christie style. Christmas is Murder: A Rex Graves Mystery by C.S. Challinor, who also studied the classics.

2008-08-12 (fl United States) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 4

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Dead of Jericho (Inspector Morse Mysteries)

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• Outfit: New
• ISBN13: 9780804114868
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Description

"[MORSE IS] THE MOST PRICKLY, CONCEITED, AND GENUINELY BRILLIANT DETECTIVE SINCE HERCULE POIROT."

--The New York Times Book Review

He meets her at a suburban party. They share a flirtation over their red wine . . . and he doesn't see her again. It's the old familiar story for Morse. Then one day he just happens to be in Jericho, where Anne Scott lives. Nobody's home--and Morse should know since her door is unlocked and he takes a quick look inside. Only later does Morse learn that the lady was at home, just not alive. The jury's verdict at the inquest is death by suicide. But that doesn't sit right with Morse, and he embarks on his own investigation into the tangled private life of a lovely woman, all the while feeling his own remorse of what might have been. . . .

"You don't really know Morse until you've read him. . . . Viewers who have enjoyed British actor John Thaw as Morse in the PBS Mystery! anthology series should welcome the deeper character development in Dexter's novels."

--Chicago Sun-Times

"A masterful crime writer whom few others match."

--Publishers Weekly

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Customer Reviews

Force on the Case !
Colin Dexter was born in 1930 and, over the course of his writing career, has won CWA Gold Dagger and Silver Dagger awards. "The Dead of Jericho" was first published in 1981 and is the fifth book to feature the famous Inspector Morse.

"The Dead of Jericho" opens with Morse at a party. Not only is the thirsty lothario making the most of the hospitality, he's also trying it on with a significantly younger lady called Anne Scott. Presumably stuck for company, Anne quite happily chats to him for the rest of the evening and even suggests he calls to see her at some point. Unfortunately, Morse's evening is cut short with a phone call from Lewis and - suspecting a husband stashed away somewhere - takes six months to actually make it to Anne's house. Although someone appears to be in the house, nobody answers when he calls round...so he takes the hint and leaves. He's back that evening though, when news breaks that Anne has apparently killed herself - the news leaves Morse feeling a little suspicious and badly regretting a missed opportunity. His presence is only marginally official, given that DI Bell is in charge of the investigation. Of course, that isn't likely to stop Morse unofficially sticking his nose in.

I had hoped "Service of All the Dead"- the fourth Morse book - had seen the series finally hit its stride. Unfortunately not. While much is made of Morse's genius and his refined tastes, he seems to spend most of his time leering over the ladies and drinking prodigious amounts of beer. (It's well beyond the book's halfway point before Morse officially takes over the investigation and he barely seems capable of turning up for work sober. Five books into the series and it's become very easy to see how Armstrong and Miller came up with Jack Force). Dexter's writing is occasionally difficult to take seriously too : "He was drinking too heavily, he was smoking too addictively, fornicating far too frequently...Oh God, how he hated himself occasionally !" (Steady on, old chap. Next thing you'll be telling us that Oxford's schoolboys can call into a backstreet pub for a lunchtime pint and a spot of go-go dancing). Easily enough read overall, but it really isn't that difficult to find something a good deal better.

2010-05-31 | Craobh Rua (N. Ireland) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 2

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Put Colin Dexter on your Must Read Series List!
Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse series is a must read for mystery fans. Notice that I say the series, not just a specific book. They are all equally good and each one is unique in it's mystery and puzzle. In this book a woman that Morse had met at a banquet is found hanging in her kitchen. Did she commit suicide or was she helped. Morse needs to find out because the woman had left an impression on him six months before at the banquet. By the time the reader gets to the end of the book there is another death that is most certainly a murder in the Jericho section of Oxford (in fact next door to where the woman was found). Morse knows that the two deaths are connected, but what a convoluted puzzle for him to figure out. Everyone involved is lying and that doesn't make it any easier for him, but the irascible Morse figures it out in the end. These books are extremely well-written, and a real joy to read since they are so well-written. The plots are always extremely clever, and they keep you guessing right until the end.

2004-11-09 | romonko (alberta canada) | Helpful Votes: 7 | Rating: 5

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An enjoyable, stimulating read !
A chance, flirtatous encounter between Inspector Morse and a friend of a friend provides the context for Inspector Morse's interest in a tawdry suicide. The brooding Chief Inspector contemplates what might have been as suicide turns to murder, and murder again ! Sergant Lewis and Coroner Max Bell provide a delicious counterpoint to a puzzle with a light literary undercurrent. A good read !

1998-05-04 (Louisville, TN) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 5

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A fanastic mystery book by Colin Dexter
This book is good, yet it is just like any other ordinary mystery book. It has a boring start, but as the story progresses it gets more intense. It starts off like a mystery book. The detective meets with a lady. They get to know each other and later on the lady is found dead in her home. Murder? or Suicide? --The detective is on the search for answers.

1997-12-19 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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A Mystery Book that must be read.
In the beginning of the story, it was just like another typical mystery story. After a while, the story was getting really exciting. The ending was smashing and the characters was great.I highly recommend this to everyone.

1997-12-09 | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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The Secret of Annexe 3 (Inspector Morse Mysteries)

Description

Much too early on New Year's Day, a grumpy Inspector Morse is summoned to investigate a murder at the Haworth Hotel. The victim is still wearing the Rastafarian costume that won him first prize at the hotel's New Year's Eve party; his female companion and other guests have vanished. It's a mystery that's a stretch even for Morse. But with pit-bull fervor he grabs the truth by the throat and shakes loose the bizarre secrets of a cold-blooded crime of passion.

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Customer Reviews

An eventful New Year
During the New Year's Eve break when Imspector Morse was supposed to be on leave, a body was discovered in the bedroom of a local hotel which had held a special holiday function in the form of a fancy dress dance and dinner. Morse and Sergeant Lewis were called in to investigate the murder of a guest at the dinner, whose head had been smashed in with a heavy object, but when the names and addresses of all the attending guests were checked out, it appeared that not only had this guest but several others given false names and addresses. As the guests had not been detained before the arrival of the police, a hunt began for the occupants of the rooms who had obviously been there with "significant others" who were not their legal spouses. The reader needs to concentrate closely to unwind the tangled web which follows but if this is possible, it's an intriguing read with Morse being his usual arrogant, boozy self and with poor Lewis being the fall guy for his sarcastic wit.

2006-06-15 (Australia) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 3

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Not my favourite Morse, but still worth reading.
Although this book was not my favourite of the brilliant Inspector Morse series, it is still worth reading. Even Colin Dexter's less than best efforts are a cut above many who write in this genre. This is a puzzle that has Morse and Lewis going off in the wrong direction right up until the end of the book. They have the gist right, but no way of connecting the facts to make them make sense. Who was the person dressed as a Rastafarian at the New Year's Eve fancy dress ball? Who killed who? Was it the jealous husband or was it the lover? For a time Morse and Lewis did not know the exact identity of the corpse found on the bed in Annexe 3. Morse and Lewis are pitted against a very clever killer this time, but they do manage to sort it out. This is really a wonderful British procedural series. The character of Morse is developing into something quite special.

2005-01-26 | romonko (alberta canada) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 4

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The real mystery is...
At an airport, my head filled with work, I wanted, needed a distraction. I'd seen the Morse series before on TV and decided to check out a book.
I'd never read a detective novel before but I knew what to expect; a clever, contrived and ultimately satisfying journey from confusion and blood to clarity and purity.
Indeed the early part of the book where all of the characters seemed two-dimensional and the plot vague and weak only increased my anticipation of the ultimate journey to the light.
Sadly, what I found was so disappointing I ended up giving the book away to a hotel receptionist.
The characters presented here are two-dimensional beyond belief (Lewis eating egg and chips every night indeed! Is that what Dexter believes to be representative of the working class). His Morse is truly disagreeable and not at all clever....("Clever!" says Morse when a couple check into the hotel under a classically-referenced pseudonym). No Morse, "clever" is when criminals conceal their identity.
Dexter seems to think he's an intellectual with vague classical references; none of which actually mean anything. It's as if he is wedging his limited classical square pegs into the narrative's round holes (and believe me, there ARE holes!)....and HE wrote the narrative!
Each chapter is preceded by a quotation, usually inappropriate which firstly confused me (as it usually had little to do with the chapter) and secondly showed the marked difference in literary ability between the quotor and the quotee.
Finally, and fundamentally the story is flawed. I won't give away the final version of events as established (in case you intend to read the book); but even the most willing suspender of disbelief would not understand the rationale behind the murder plot; contrived but not clever and I would consider reckless and destined to immediate failure (Who wouldn't have guessed the postman's address ruse?). And not telling a rastafarian from a white guy....Come on!
The real mystery is why the publishers wasted ink and paper on this rubbish.

Eddie Vertente

2004-09-06 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 1

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A nice, middling Morse
I came across this in a used book store and recognized it immediately for what it was: a Morse mystery that I had never read. As Inspector Morse stories go, this one is good but not exceptional. It is always good to be in the presence of the cranky Inspector, especially since he is so clearly personified by the late, great John Thaw, and this story has some very unique elements in the telling of a good story, but it relies a little too much on coincidence for its final resolution. It was a necessary device in this case, but if Morse hadn't been in that particular pub at that particular time... Oh, well. I think we read these as much for the enjoyment of Morse's cognitive processes and his relationship with Lewis, his long-suffering sergeant. And there are far worse ways to spend and evening! (I don't want this back.)

2003-03-03 | Laurie Fletcher (Casper, Wyoming, USA) | Helpful Votes: 4 | Rating: 4

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Not Dexter's best effort
A good read, but this mystery is not up to the author's standards. The dialogue was not as humorous and imaginative, especially between Morse and Lewis, as it was in previous novels. For some reason the characters come off a little flat in this book. The plot suffers a little as well - just not the usual Dexter potboiler.

1999-09-18 | Helpful Votes: 6 | Rating: 3

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The Jewel That Was Ours

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• ISBN13: 9780804109819
• Brainwash: New
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Description

"Superbly clue-laden...A complex and satisfying puzzle."

THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE

The case seems so simple, Inspector Morse deemed it beneath his notice. A wealthy, elderly American tourist has a heart attack in her room at Oxford's luxurious Randolph Hotel. Missing from the scene is the lady's handbag, which contained the Wolvercote Tongue, a priceless jewel that her late husband had bequeathed to the Ashmolean Museum just across the street. Morse proceeds to spend a great deal of time thinking--and drinking--in the hotel's bar, certain the solution is close at hand--until conflicting stories, suspicious doings, and a real murder convince him otherwise....

"It is a delight to watch this brilliant, quirky man [Morse] deduce."

MINNEAPOLIS STAR & TRIBUNE

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Customer Reviews

Tour: The Opportunities Presented
John Ashenden is a tour guide. He has a group of Americans from the West Coast. Laura Stratton, one of the guests on this rather expensive tour, dies in an Oxford Hotel. Lewis and Morse are called. The tourists are told about the Wolvercote Buckle, a significant artifact displayed at the Ashmolean. It seems that the dead woman carried a costly jewel with her that belongs with the Wolvercote Tongue. The theft of that jewel is a severe disappointment to a scholar, Theodore Kemp. The remaining plot could have been devised by a Shortz. It is intricate. The format is simple, but exciting.

2010-05-31 (Carneys Point, NJ USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Inspector Morse to the Rescue
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In this traditional British mystery a group of elderly American tourists are on a bus tour in Oxford. It turns out that the travelers have more than their share of secrets. When an accidental death and a murder occur, Inspector Morse suspects that events in the pasts of some of these tourists and their guides are playing a part in present events. (We don't learn Morse's first name until the final book in this fine series.)
Dexter's books have a sly, malicious sense of humor and much is said in a tongue in cheek fashion. Morse is a lot of fun for the reader. He's not a happy man, but he is a bright bachelor able to bounce back from adversity as long as he has his booze, his crossword puzzles, his classical music, and an infrequent roll in the hay. He is not willing to take any blame for swallowing all those red herrings put out for him and the reader.
The final unraveling of the plot is very complicated, defies common sense and is more ingenious than credible and leaves you wondering if you haven't been taken for a bus ride yourself.
As in the classic British mystery this book even has all the suspects gathered together in a meeting with the police inspector ticking off the facts of the case and pointing to the murderer. Readers will learn the title has two meanings. Inspector Morse is a brilliant detective whose bursts of insight sometimes send his investigations off in the wrong direction and sometimes lead to the arrests of innocents. Exculpatory evidence often turns up to prove that he's been too hasty. For these errors he is unapologetic and good at ignoring his mistakes. Sergeant Lewis in this Colin Dexter outing fawns over his boss a great deal and is all to ready to overlook his superior's miscues.
The book provides an interesting overview of Oxford and some of its oddities. With this mystery in hand, just hop aboard the bus, have fun, and go along for the ride. You'll have fun as long as you don't object to a supposedly logical man's logic going off track at times.

2008-01-22 | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Colin Dexter's Fun if Convoluted Revision of the Telvision Morse Episode"The Wolvercote Tongue"
This review serves the simple purpose of alerting fans of the television series on the significant changes made by the author in the novel to the plot as seen on television. I refuse to give any of these changes away, nor any of the story details, as I detest most Amazon mystery reviewers(not all) as blabbermouthed nincompoops, who call to mind the asinine rabbi on Seinfeld who can't keep a confidence, but insists on blurting out personal information to everyone he meets. A mystery just isn't your average novel - imagine someone describing the ending of the Orient Express in a review? I've actually seen just that! Yet even small touches at the beginning of a great mystery can be spoiled by a clumsy review. With mystery reviews "Less definitely is more!" And To quote Ninotchka, "There will be fewer but better Russians," - let the bodies pile up by themselves in their own good time. Respect not only the dead but the author's efforts at creating surprise! Let a reader enjoy discovering ALL the story.
The Jewel That Was Ours trots out a regular steeplechase of suspects, with more various and far more complex interactives than anything possible within the confines of the time constraints the tv show faced. I prefer this version of the story, and disagree with the Kirkus reviewer who seems to find this rather stale beer, as Morse would put it.
I also don't agree with complaints about lack of character development -there's certainly far more here when compared to the television version. Fans of highly complicated plots should have a field day here.
In sum: quite different and far more complicated than the television version titled "The Wolvercote Tongue" - so there's no worry of 'already knowing how it turns out.'
Note to author - as if he hasn't heard it a thousand times - The American battleship South Dakota was sold for scrap in 1962. Next time, Colin, consult Janes.

2007-09-04 (California) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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"It's this wretched love business."
Featuring a large assortment of characters, most of them Americans on a tour of England, the ninth Inspector Morse mystery is heavy on details and complications and more difficult to follow than most other mysteries in this series. Laura Stratton is on the trip to donate the priceless, bejeweled Wolvercote Tongue to the Ashmolean Museum, which already has the ancient Wolvercote Buckle to which it belongs. Laura's death in her bathroom, the theft of the treasure, the subsequent murder of museum curator Dr. Theodore Kemp, a suicide, and a pedestrian accident in which a woman on the tour is run down by a car provide more than enough turmoil and mystery to keep Inspector Morse, his trusty Sgt. Lewis, and the local police force busy, full-time.

Morse must decide whether these events are all related and, if they are, if one person is responsible for all the mayhem. Because of the large cast of characters, there is little opportunity for individual character development, making it more difficult than usual to keep track of the many characters. In addition, some of the tourists, tour agency employees, and Oxford lecturers are having relationships with each other, further complicating the stories. All the characters have alibis. Many will vouch for each other, and those who appear guilty of some parts of a crime could not possibly have committed other parts of the same crime.

As Morse becomes frustrated by the complexities, many readers will also become frustrated--with the undeveloped characters, the red herrings, and lack of linear progression in the cases. In the conclusion, Morse draws the tour group together and outlines his case, step by step, telling them (and the reader)about what has happened, instead of showing the action while it is happening. Though Morse solves the case(s), the author keeps the reader at arm's length and prevents him/her from being part of the excitement as the mysteries are solved.

Because the development of Morse's character and relationship with Lewis, usually a high point in these novels, is sacrificed to the complexities of the cases, readers new to the series will gain little understanding of these two men and how they work together and apart. One of the most complex novels in the Inspector Morse series, The Jewel That Was Ours is filled with a large number of seemingly interchangeable characters, all of whom have unlimited potential for evil in a plot overly filled with red herrings. n Mary Whipple

2006-05-20 (New England) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 4

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There's all kinds of death in this book, but only one murder
In this book we see a death by natural causes, a suicide, a death by a road accident, and one death by murder. Morse and his wonderful Lewis are left to solve the puzzle which also includes a theft of a very valuable piece of jewellery. I can't stress enough how wonderful this series is! Dexter is a very gifted writer, and the puzzles that he sets are masterpieces. He is a master storyteller who sets a perfect pace and he crafts wonderful characters. I really enjoy seeing these done on film with John Thaw as Morse, but reading the books is really the way to really appreciate the intricacies of each of these books. I'm only sorry that I have only four left to read until the end of the series.

2005-04-04 | romonko (alberta canada) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Service of All the Dead

Description

"[MORSE IS] THE MOST PRICKLY, CONCEITED, AND GENUINELY BRILLIANT DETECTIVE SINCE HERCULE POIROT."
--The New York Times Book Review
This time Inspector Morse brings the imposition on himself. He could have been vacationing in Greece instead of investigating a murder that the police have long since written off. But he finds the crime--the brutal killing of a suburban churchwarden--fascinating. In fact, he uncovers not one murder but two, for the fatal fall of St. Frideswides vicar from the church tower Morse reckons to be murder as well. And as he digs into the lives and unsanctified lusts of the late vicar's erring flock, the list of the dead grows longer. Not even the oddly appealing woman he finds scrubbing the church floor can compensate Morse for the trouble he's let himself in for. So he has another pint, follows his hunches, and sets out to untangle the deadly business of homicide. . . .
"A BRILLIANTLY PLOTTED DETECTIVE STORY."
--Evening Standard (London)
"WILY. . . ELEGANT."
--Observer (London)


From the Paperback edition.

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Customer Reviews

Can you keep a secret, Inspector ?
Colin Dexter was born in 1930 and, over the course of his writing career, has won CWA Gold Dagger and Silver Dagger awards. "Service of All the Dead" was first published in 1979 and is the fourth book to feature the famous Inspector Morse.

Morse's investigation centres on St Frideswide's Church, a historic church that proves popular with the tourists. It's a while before Morse makes his first appearance, with the early part of the book setting the scene and introducing the key players. The Reverend Lionel Lawson has been the church's vicar for around ten years, and is well educated - and pretty well-off - individual. There has been some speculation about the Vicar's personal life - some believe that one of Oxford's down-and-outs in his brother, while others gossip about his alleged sexual preferences. However, he does have a very healthy bank balance...although he has suspected for a while that someone has been helping themselves to the collection plate. When the book opens, he knows his suspicions are correct - and that the pilferer is Harry Josephs, the church's Warden.

Harry is an ex-soldier who joined the Civil Service after he left the forces. He'd been made redundant two years previously, and has since only briefly worked in a pharmacy. (His redundancy is something he's still a little bitter about). Harry's wife, Brenda, works as a nurse and he suspects - correctly - that she's having an affair with Paul Morris, the church's organist and a music teacher. Morris is a widower, and his son, Peter, sings in the church choir. He and Brenda have only been "together" for around three months, but he'd be very keen for Harry to conveniently disappear. (In fairness, Harry isn't exactly the innocent and wounded husband - he's been playing away from home with the church's cleaner, Ruth Rawlinson).

The book's opening section concludes in August, with the Rev. Lawson calling on Paul Morris; it then picks up again with Morse, the following April. In between times there have been two deaths at the church : Harry is dead, stabbed in the vestry and the Vicar subsequently threw himself to his death from the church's tower. Paul and Peter Morris have both left Oxford - very abruptly - and, oddly enough, so has Brenda Josephs. Despite being officially on holiday - never mind the fact that it was never his case to begin with - Morse starts poking about...

For me, this instalment is definitely better than the three previous books in the series : it has an interesting storylone and Dexter's writing has improved dramatically from "Last Bus to Woodstock". Morse's main hobbies remain drinking beer, listening to classical music and leering over the ladies - however, despite his occasional grumpiness, there's still something quite likeable about him. A quick and easy read overall.

2009-10-29 | Craobh Rua (N. Ireland) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Oldie but goody
Came across the audio version at the library and listened in the car. It was fun hearing Kevin Whately, the narrator, competently do his own Sgt. Lewis and Inspector Morse. Service/Dead is a complicated mystery, one that highlights the likelihood that some crimes require more than basic investigative skills. Morse's intuition is what makes him an intriguing detective, though sometimes his irascibility is hard to take. If only he'd show some appreciation to Lewis, a dedicated cop if ever there was one, though one lacking Morse's innate talents. This is one of Dexter's more complicated cases, but step by step the solution becomes clear He is certainly a skilled writer, more literate than most in the genre. Always satisfying.

2007-07-06 | katknit (CT, United States) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 4

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A Brilliant Take on a Conspiracy Murder(s)
This is probably one of the best books that I've read anywhere that touches on the subject of a conspiracy murder. The plot is complex and convoluted, and absolutely brilliantly written. In this book Morse decides to pursue an unsolved mystery that is really out of his jurisdiction simply because he happened to stumble across it while on holiday. It fascinates him from the very beginning, and soon there is not just one body that turns up, but a number of bodies, all killed at various times. Morse knows they're connected, and he has to use his extreme intelligence to connect the crimes and determine who the murderer is. He does get there in the end, but in true Morse fashion, with quite a few missteps along the way. Wonderful book!

2004-09-29 | romonko (alberta canada) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Underrated
I don't see why this book gets so mediocre reviews?
It's certainly better then "Last bus..."

But I admit, maybe I'm being unfair; I did read this book in my mother-language (as appose to the others read in English) But even so, I got a different experience from this book, it wasn't as... routine and pattern-like, as some of the books are. This book was a bit (!) different, more action-packed, and touching
Together with "Way through the woods" it's the best book by Dexter (In my opinion).

2004-02-11 (Norway) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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An excellent mystery!
This was my first trip into the world of Inspector Morse, and I am happy to say that it was well worth it. I can see how Morse has become one of the most beloved crime solvers in the genre.

There are plenty of plot twists and several suspects in this case, and you need to pay attention. But Dexter is a fine writer and although you may sometimes feel puzzled, you are never confused. The story moves along at a perfect pace and is brought skillfully to a satisfying conclusion.

It was a wonderful mystery novel and I am looking forward to reading about the further exploits of Inspector Morse.

2002-01-24 | johndc (Bensalem, PA USA) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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