Anything for a Quiet Life: Difference between revisions
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'''Anything for a Quiet Life and Other New Mystery Stories''' is a collection of nine short stories by the British writer [[Michael Gilbert]] published in the United Kingdom by [[Hodder & Stoughton]] in 1990 and in the United States by [[Carroll & Graf]] the same year. All nine stories had previously appeared in ''[[Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine]]''. All of them take place in a fictional English coastal town called Shackleton-on-Sea, which is situated in the south of England not far from [[Brighton]] and [[Hove]]. They feature the activities of a small law firm called Jonas Pickett, Solicitor and Commissioner for Oaths, recently started by the | '''Anything for a Quiet Life and Other New Mystery Stories''' is a collection of nine short stories by the British writer [[Michael Gilbert]] published in the United Kingdom by [[Hodder & Stoughton]] in 1990 and in the United States by [[Carroll & Graf]] the same year. All nine stories had previously appeared in ''[[Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine]]''. All of them take place in a fictional English coastal town called Shackleton-on-Sea, which is situated in the south of England not far from [[Brighton]] and [[Hove]]. They feature the activities of a small law firm called Jonas Pickett, Solicitor and Commissioner for Oaths, recently started by Pickett, a man "on the wrong side of sixty"<ref>''Anything for a Quiet Life'', by Michael Gilbert, Carroll & Graff, New York, 1990, page 122</ref>. | ||
<blockquote>He was not, as he was fond of explaining to his friends, a retired solicitor. He was a retreating solicitor. Having made as much money as a bachelor of modet habits was likely to use in the rest of his lifetime, but not wishing to rust in idleness, he had abandoned a successful practice in north London and set up a modest office in Shackleton-on-Sea.<ref>''Anything for a Quiet Life'', by Michael Gilbert, Carroll & Graff, New York, 1990, page 73</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>He was not, as he was fond of explaining to his friends, a retired solicitor. He was a retreating solicitor. Having made as much money as a bachelor of modet habits was likely to use in the rest of his lifetime, but not wishing to rust in idleness, he had abandoned a successful practice in north London and set up a modest office in Shackleton-on-Sea.<ref>''Anything for a Quiet Life'', by Michael Gilbert, Carroll & Graff, New York, 1990, page 73</ref></blockquote> | ||
There are three other main characters, his partner, Sabrina Mountjoy; their secretary, Claire Easterbrook; and a general handyman, Sam Conybeare, "a mountain of a man who had once performed remarkable feats of strength and daring in a circus." | There are three other main characters, his partner, Sabrina Mountjoy; their secretary, Claire Easterbrook; and a general handyman, Sam Conybeare, "a mountain of a man who had once performed remarkable feats of strength and daring in a circus." Pickett himself had played a role in an earlier Gilbert novel, ''[[The Long Journey Home]]''. | ||
In the first story [[Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens|Mr. Calder]], one of the two protagonists of Gilbert's [[Mr. Calder & Mr. Behrens]] and [[Game without Rules]], makes a brief appearance. In the same story, Pickett also meets a police superintendent named Queen, as well as a headmaster named Major Appleby. Inspector Queen was a character in many of the [[Ellery Queen]] mystery novels by [[Ellery Queen]], and [[Inspector Appleby]] was the lead character in many novels by [[Michael Innes]]. | In the first story [[Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens|Mr. Calder]], one of the two protagonists of Gilbert's [[Mr. Calder & Mr. Behrens]] and [[Game without Rules]], makes a brief appearance. In the same story, Pickett also meets a police superintendent named Queen, as well as a headmaster named Major Appleby. Inspector Queen was a character in many of the [[Ellery Queen]] mystery novels by [[Ellery Queen]], and [[Inspector Appleby]] was the lead character in many novels by [[Michael Innes]]. | ||
In the second story passing mention is made of Chief Superintendent Morrisey, head of the London District Regional Crime Squad, a character in a number of works by Gilbert. | In the second story, passing mention is made of Chief Superintendent Morrisey, head of the London District Regional Crime Squad, a character in a number of works by Gilbert. | ||
=Stories in order= | =Stories in order= | ||
Revision as of 14:01, 15 June 2015
Anything for a Quiet Life and Other New Mystery Stories is a collection of nine short stories by the British writer Michael Gilbert published in the United Kingdom by Hodder & Stoughton in 1990 and in the United States by Carroll & Graf the same year. All nine stories had previously appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. All of them take place in a fictional English coastal town called Shackleton-on-Sea, which is situated in the south of England not far from Brighton and Hove. They feature the activities of a small law firm called Jonas Pickett, Solicitor and Commissioner for Oaths, recently started by Pickett, a man "on the wrong side of sixty"[1].
He was not, as he was fond of explaining to his friends, a retired solicitor. He was a retreating solicitor. Having made as much money as a bachelor of modet habits was likely to use in the rest of his lifetime, but not wishing to rust in idleness, he had abandoned a successful practice in north London and set up a modest office in Shackleton-on-Sea.[2]
There are three other main characters, his partner, Sabrina Mountjoy; their secretary, Claire Easterbrook; and a general handyman, Sam Conybeare, "a mountain of a man who had once performed remarkable feats of strength and daring in a circus." Pickett himself had played a role in an earlier Gilbert novel, The Long Journey Home.
In the first story Mr. Calder, one of the two protagonists of Gilbert's Mr. Calder & Mr. Behrens and Game without Rules, makes a brief appearance. In the same story, Pickett also meets a police superintendent named Queen, as well as a headmaster named Major Appleby. Inspector Queen was a character in many of the Ellery Queen mystery novels by Ellery Queen, and Inspector Appleby was the lead character in many novels by Michael Innes.
In the second story, passing mention is made of Chief Superintendent Morrisey, head of the London District Regional Crime Squad, a character in a number of works by Gilbert.
Stories in order
- Anything for a Quiet Life, page 7
- Black Bob, page 28
- Vivat Regina, page 50
- The Reign of Terror, page 73
- The Admiral, page 99
- We've Come to Report a Murder, Sir, page 122