If we look at the possible range of criminal behavior, I think most people would rank murder pretty high on their list of serious crimes. So it was interesting to me, as I began re-reading the mysteries of that classic Australian author, Arthur Upfield, to find one of his books with the provocative title, Murder Must Wait. As it happens, it is among the best of Upfield's novels about Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte - "Bony" to his friends. I reviewed that book several years ago on the Classic Mysteries podcast, and I think it's worth discussing it again, as it shows off Bony in one of his best displays of ingenuity, compassion and traditional bush skills. Here's a transcript, somewhat edited (mostly to discuss availability), and I'd encourage you to read the book - it's really excellent.
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There was no question about the death of Mrs. Rockcliff: it was most certainly murder. Her killer apparently had hidden in one room of her small house in the Australian town of Mitford, waiting for her to walk through the door – and, when she did, the killer hit her with the proverbial blunt instrument, killing her. Murder is always a terrible crime. But Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte was more concerned about another crime. For Mrs. Rockcliff’s newborn infant was missing – possibly taken by the killer. And that would make the fifth infant stolen from their cribs or carriages in Mitford. So Inspector Bonaparte – Bony to his friends – knew that while murder was important, its solution would have to wait – the disappearance of those babies had to be solved and stopped first. That’s what happens in Murder Can Wait, a 1953 classic by Arthur Upfield.
Murder Can Wait is not so much about murder as it is about baby-snatching – I think we have to use something stronger than “kidnapping,” because kidnapping implies a ransom. The babies that disappeared in Mitford are not being kidnapped for ransom – at least no ransom notes have been delivered.
When Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte – and from now on, we shall call him Bony, as his friends do – is sent to Mitford to investigate the disappearances of the children, he arrives just after the murder of Mrs. Rockcliff and the disappearance of her baby, the fifth in the series of apparent child-snatchings. And he is quick to point out to his assistants in this investigation – as he says, “There is a point we must keep in mind, which is not to give homicide preference over abduction.”
Now Bony is an expert in tracking criminals and investigating crimes, but – as he freely admits – he is no expert when it comes to babies. And so he requests help in the person of First Constable Alice McGorr – and, I must say, she is nearly as forceful and memorable a character as Bony. It is Alice McGorr who correctly interprets many of the clues – who sees the significance in the different baby bottles found at the scene of the last abduction and whose observations will help Bony find some of the threads that link the abductions together, and – eventually – who will play a critical role in the final events leading to the solution of the mystery.
Bony’s own background – his abilities and talents inherited both from his white father and his Aborigine mother – will enable him to understand the significance of a rock painting stolen from the town library…and understand the involvement of local Aborigines who live near Mitford – and even spy upon them without being detected.
I don’t want to say much more about the plot of Murder Must Wait, for fear of spoiling it – except to tell you that I think it’s among Upfield’s best. It also contains some of his finest descriptive writing; he had a genius for summing up characters and scenes in just a few well chosen words. For example, there’s a wonderful scene where one of Bony’s superiors – Superintendent Canno – comes to Mitford to check up on the progress of the case, only to find himself swept away by Bony – Upfield writes, “Of course, Bony did the honours, escorting the great man to the airport, and only when he was airborne did Superintendent Canno feel like the mother-in-law who has been diplomatically evacuated.”
In other words, the writing is what you would expect from Upfield – it is witty, occasionally poignant and always refreshing. It's currently available in print, e-book and audio editions. I recommend Murder Must Wait very highly.
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You can listen to my complete audio review by clicking here.
Next: Pietr the Latvian, by Georges Simenon.
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