Fault in the Structure (1977)
My
review:
Despite the fact that the criminal's identity is known from
the beginning, this is probably Mitchell's best book of the 1970s
(with the exception of Nest of Vipers). The plot changes
both locale and time—the first part is set in a university,
the second concerns amateur theatricals in the neighbourhood of
Wandles Parva. The murderer, the homicidal poet T.E. Lawrence, is
one of Mitchell's nastiest killers and a fascinating
portrait—while most late Mitchells are set around travelling
groups, the plot focusses on the poet and his murders. The first
three murders are those of the poet's guardian (heart failure);
the victim's wife, buried in the College basement; and a local
gossip bludgeoned to death (apparently Dame Beatrice doesn't know
of this one, as no reference is made to it later on). The second
half of the book deals with the murderer's attempts to
assassinate Dame Beatrice, and his eventual comeuppance. Elements
of the plot recall Faintley Speaking and Death at
the Opera, but the book is better than the former and nearly
as good as the latter.
Image provided by Jason Hall.