There’s a bat in mi belfry what I-I’m gonna do –
– there’s a bat in mi belfry what I-I’m gonna do, I’m gonna fix that bat* that’s what I’m gonna do, I’m gonna fix that bat.
*by fix I don’t mean kill, I mean talk to him about any personal issues he’s having. If there’s anything the compulsory ‘Bat Awareness’ course for Aberdeenshire Council employees has taught me it’s that bats are a protected species and I could go to prison for life or something like that if shift a roof tile near a bat’s home.
Anyway, Bats in the Belfry is the second E.C.R Lorac I have read, after getting a handsome pair for Christmas. Murder by Matchlight was good and all, but liked this one more, partly due to the fact it’s our old pal Inspector Macdonald, and it’s obviously easier to get into a story when a central character is already familiar. Also, the subtitle of ‘A London Mystery’ is deserved, as Lorac is not short on geographical detail. And not just the known landmarks, but none of the jolly chaps and chapesses with their convertible cars and gold cigarette cases seems to live in a normal house. One lives in a red brick cottage build just after the great fire, and the crumbling house/artist’s studio that inspired the title—and where all the ‘rum doings’ happen—has baths full of rust and rats and dead cats. It centres on a group of friends, one of which is a missing novelist with all his good novels and success behind him, as well as the wreckage of a marriage.
And just like with all the British Library Crime Classics, language I haven’t seen in modern books gets a nice outing.
Two items of information were worth considering in Grenville’s farrago of a blether-
As a kid I spent pocket money in a novelty/cheap tat shop called Farrago, and I’m an no stranger to having a wee blether.
In other news, I’m going to Inverness this coming weekend, and will be visiting Leakey’s secondhand bookshop pictured below. If you never hear from me again, it’s because I’m still there, lost in the stacks. Please send a St. Bernard with a mini keg brandy round its neck. Or failing that, Sellotape some Jaffa Cakes to a Jack Russell.
Lucy
Sarah
Good to hear you enjoyed this. Lorac’s been on my ‘must try’ list for a while, and the London setting in this mystery makes it all the more appealing.
LikeLike
I keep hearing good things about Bats in the Belfry, it’s clearly a must-read. I wish I got sent on bat awareness courses for work…
Leakey’s looks like heaven on earth! I must plan a visit/move in there 🙂
LikeLike
I don’t know about a jaffa cake and a Jack Russell – I’m happy to volunteer to lead the rescue party (though I might need one myself….)
And glad to hear Bats is good – I loved my other Lorac and the short story, so I really should read more of her! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was really lovely, such a nice, un-rushed atmosphere. I think any rescue party would indeed find themselves a bit too comfortable 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
If I went to that shop I’d never leave!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I spent rather a lot more money than I was planning to, but hey, at least it’s not local. If it were, I think I’d be bankrupt!
LikeLike
Goodness, Inverness has gone straight onto my “places to visit before I run out of money” list! Wow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And it’s so close to Loch Ness, you can buy your weight in books and Nessie key rings in one trip 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Living the dream!
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘baths full of rust and rats and dead cats’ now there’s a rich vein of inspiration that Lush have yet to plunder! Talking of lush, that bookshop is simply dreamy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! OMG that would be an ace Halloween line! Bath bombs with awful, fragrant surprises.
LikeLike
How is it that I have never heard of Leakey’s bookshop? I’m off to plan my next trip to Inverness….!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! It’s totally wonderful, you could lose days in there. Such a relaxed vibe in there, too, with lots of chairs to sit a while 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Leakey’s looks amazing, the windows seem to give it a church vibe. A spiral staircase always makes for more magic too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It totally is an old church 🙂 Standing on the top landing looking down was like bathing my eyes in joy. Overdraft-inducing joy.
LikeLike