Death by Sheer Torture

Death by Sheer Torture follows Detective Perry Trethowan as he investigates the bizarre death of his estranged aristocratic father, who was found dead on a medieval torture device while wearing spangled tights. Against his wishes, Trethowan must return to his family estate and navigate through a cast of eccentric relatives he had hoped to leave behind, searching for clues about who might have wanted his father dead. The investigation forces him to confront both his family's peculiarities and his own complicated feelings about his aristocratic background. This 1981 British mystery novel, the first in Robert Barnard's Perry Trethowan series, combines elements of the classic country house mystery with dark humor and social commentary about class divisions in British society. The novel explores themes of family obligation, social class, and the tension between duty and personal desire, all while maintaining the structured framework of a traditional detective story.

Readers describe this as a quick, light mystery with academic satire. The plot follows a professor investigating his unpopular father's murder at an English university. Readers appreciate: - The humor and academic setting - Fast pacing at under 200 pages - Red herrings and plot twists - Character development and dialogue Common criticisms: - Characters feel underdeveloped/shallow - Plot resolution is rushed - Setting details seem sparse - Humor falls flat for some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (115 ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) One reviewer called it "a breezy whodunit that doesn't take itself too seriously." Another noted it's "entertaining but forgettable." Multiple readers commented that while the academic setting works well, the mystery itself lacks complexity compared to Barnard's other novels. Several reviewers mentioned this serves as an acceptable introduction to Barnard's work but isn't representative of his best writing.

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Murder at the Reunion by Peter Chambers During a university reunion weekend, faculty members confront past rivalries and academic politics when their former dean is found dead.

Death of a Snob by Catherine Aird A remote Scottish hotel becomes the scene of intrigue when a guest dies under suspicious circumstances during a winter storm.

The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin An Oxford professor stumbles upon a body in a toyshop that mysteriously disappears the next day, leading to an investigation filled with academic satire.

Death in a Desert Land by Andrew Wilson Agatha Christie investigates murders at an archaeological dig in Iraq, blending historical facts with complex plot twists.

🔍 Robert Barnard wrote over 40 crime novels during his career and was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement in crime writing. 🏰 The "country house mystery" genre became popular in the 1920s and 1930s, with Agatha Christie's "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" being one of its earliest and most famous examples. 👨‍👦 The novel's protagonist, Perry Trethowan, breaks from aristocratic tradition by becoming a police detective - a career choice that was considered quite scandalous for upper-class Britons in the era. 📚 "Death by Sheer Torture" was published in 1981 and marked Barnard's first foray into series writing, after several successful standalone novels. 🎓 Before becoming a crime writer, Robert Barnard was a university lecturer in English literature and worked at universities in Australia and Norway, which influenced his writing style and character development.