In the early days of World War II Gordon Clark (Cyril Hare was his pen name) was marshal to a circuit court judge. He uses this setting and this expereience to great effect in Tragedy at Law.
The Honourable Sir William Hereward Barber, Justice of the King’s Bench Division, is a circuit court judge. He travels from town to town on a circuit in the south of England hearing cases and dispensing justice.
Lady Barber, of course, accompanies him. She is a bright woman, younger than her husband, who has put her own ambition to one side to play the supportive wife. And then there is his legal entourage. They include Derek, his bright but inexperienced marshal; Beamish, the more experienced judge’s clerk, who maybe has something to hide; and Pettigrew, a capable barrister, and a ontemporary of the judge’s wife.
An interesting and well-drawn cast, they work and socialise together and effectively create their own little world on the road.
Cyril Hare writes about them wonderfully. His style is both elegant and witty and you really need to read slowly so that you can pick up and savour all the little details.
Then, of course, there is the mystery. The judge receives one threatening letter, then another, and then a poisoned box of his favourite box of chocolates. And so he comes to believe that somebody is trying to kill him. But who? And why?
The police investigate, Pettigrew makes his own enquiries, and a well constructed mystery builds towards a clever and unexpected denoument.
There is much to praise, but for me this book lacked that extra something that makes a really great mystery.
A good book I think, but not a great one.
Fleur in her World 
The setting and the characters sound interesting – too bad the mystery doesn’t live up to them.
I agree with you. It was OK, but nothing special. I loved the old Englishness of it all and found it quite funny in places, but some of the legal system bits went over my head. I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of his books. Will you?
There was enough I did like to make me think I will give the author one more chance, but probably a few years down the road. I have a feeling the style might suit me better when my life is at a rather slower pace!
Have you read Stratton’s War by Laura Wilson? Usually not one to read mysteries, I couldn’t resist the description ‘if you like Foyle’s War…’. So now I’m just waiting for a window of opportunity to dive in.
Darlene, I haven’t, but I read and enjoyed a couple of Laura Wilson’s earlier books and I like the period, so I’ll look out for it. Thank you!
I wish this one wasn’t missing the certain element you were looking for!