Photo de l'auteur

Francis Duncan (1) (1918–1988)

Auteur de Murder for Christmas

Pour les autres auteurs qui s'appellent Francis Duncan, voyez la page de désambigüisation.

8 oeuvres 454 utilisateurs 30 critiques

Séries

Œuvres de Francis Duncan

Murder for Christmas (1949) 226 exemplaires
Murder Has a Motive (1947) 87 exemplaires
So Pretty a Problem (1950) 52 exemplaires
In at the Death (1952) 44 exemplaires
Behold a Fair Woman (1954) 40 exemplaires
They'll Never Find Out (1944) 3 exemplaires
Murder But Gently (1953) 1 exemplaire
Murderer's Bluff (1948) 1 exemplaire

Étiqueté

Partage des connaissances

Nom légal
Underhill, William Walter Frank
Autres noms
West, Hilary (pseudonym)
Preston, Robert (pseudonym)
Date de naissance
1918
Date de décès
1988
Sexe
male
Nationalité
UK
Lieu de naissance
Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, UK
Lieux de résidence
Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, UK
Organisations
Royal Army Medical Corps
Courte biographie
Francis Duncan is the pseudonym for William Underhill, who was born in 1918. He lived virtually all his life in Bristol and was a ‘scholarship boy’ boarder at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital school. Due to family circumstances he was unable to go to university and started work in the Housing Department of Bristol City Council. Writing was always important to him and very early on he published articles in newspapers and magazines. His first detective story was published in 1936.

In 1938 he married Sylvia Henly. Although a conscientious objector, he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in World War II, landing in France shortly after D-Day. After the war he trained as a teacher and spent the rest of his life in education, first as a primary school teacher and then as a lecturer in a college of further education. In the 1950s he studied for an external economics degree from London University. No mean feat with a family to support; his daughter, Kathryn, was born in 1943 and his son, Derek, in 1949.

Throughout much of this time he continued to write detective fiction from ‘sheer inner necessity’, but also to supplement a modest income. He enjoyed foreign travel, particularly to France, and took up golf on retirement. He died of a heart attack shortly after celebrating his fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1988.

Membres

Critiques

As the title suggests, this is a murder mystery set during Christmas. The location is a country house. Former tobacco trader and amateur sleuth Mordecai Tremaine has received an invitation to spend the holidays there and meets an illustrious group of hosts and guests. And of course, a body is found unter the Christmas tree...
This mystery has all the ingredients needed: Interesting characters, a compelling case, a clever and likable investigator and a classic setting. I rather liked Tremaine, who - not unlike Miss Marple - takes advantage of his inconspicuous appearance to find out things that the police miss. And of course I did not guess the murderer!
This book is part of a series comprised of seven books, and five have been reprinted in recent years. I would definitely like to read the other four, too!
… (plus d'informations)
 
Signalé
MissBrangwen | 17 autres critiques | Dec 24, 2023 |
I liked [b:Murder for Christmas|27265905|Murder for Christmas (Mordecai Tremaine #2)|Francis Duncan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1445679245l/27265905._SY75_.jpg|47318174] better.
 
Signalé
fernandie | Sep 15, 2022 |
Such a satisfying little mystery, a perfect read for the holidays. If you like English country house mysteries I think you will enjoy this one. I've ordered two more books from this author. Can't wait.
 
Signalé
NagathaChristie | 17 autres critiques | Jan 6, 2022 |
Loved it! Love this author!
 
Signalé
NagathaChristie | 5 autres critiques | Jan 6, 2022 |

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Statistiques

Œuvres
8
Membres
454
Popularité
#54,064
Évaluation
½ 3.6
Critiques
30
ISBN
68
Langues
2

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