Jack on the Gallows Tree

Leo Bruce

£10.99

Ushers a new highly-regarded and prolific author into the series; a key player of the mid-century crime fiction scene. A comedic crime novel, played partly for laughs but with a strong central puzzle at its core. Something different for returning fans of the genre. Offers a novel by a writer from a minority perspective writing during a time in which homosexuality was a crime.

In stock

Publish Date: 10/04/2026

Description

“If Carolus Deene catches so much as a whiff of murder he will be on the scent with all the persistence and gusto of a dachshund in search of truffles.”

While Senior History Master of Queen’s School, Newminster, Carolus Deene has a troubling hobby as a criminologist and sometime sleuth. Even more troublingly, he has jaundice. But with the papers shouting of the crimewave sweeping the seaside resorts of England, sending him to the coast to recover is too risky for the Headmaster – he will be much further from trouble in the inland spa resort of Buddington.

But before long Buddington is rocked by a twisted double-murder – two elderly women found dead on the same night at the same time, each with a white lily by their side. Perhaps things are looking up for the curious Deene?

First published in 1960, Leo Bruce’s classic mystery hums with his trademark wit and comedic flair, centred around an intelligent puzzle and a memorable cast of Buddington’s best.

Additional information

Dimensions 190 mm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback

Pages

256

Language

English

Edition

|Paperback original

Dewey

823.914 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K