I like Sergeant Beef. He’s down to earth and yet very clever.

This book, however, is so basic in writing, plot, and characterization that it’s almost boring. There’s not much compulsion to find out whodunnit, and the solution is presented in one of those “detective discourses on methods and information known only to him. There are a couple of “fair play” clues, but not many.

Beef’s biographer becomes embroiled in a case when his wealthy aunt is murdered. Although Beef is involved in another case, that of a man who apparently hanged himself, but was murdered, he comes to Lionel’s aid. The two cases are connected.

It would seem that author Leo Bruce used up all his energy in creating the twin crimes and had nothing left for the actual writing of the book. This is disappointing. ( )

The characters are good and Beef and the narrator are great fun. The puzzle is very well constructed, even if a bit flaky on a few details. It is not the full Christie, with a few clues held back till the end. Lightweight, in a good way, if you are in the mood for it. This was my first time reading a Beef story in over 10 years and I was very glad to be back to them. ( )