Anything for a Quiet Life

By: Michael Gilbert

Narrated by: Christopher Scott

Jonas Pickett, solicitor and commissioner of oaths, leaves London to set up a practice in a genteel Sussex resort.

This collection of nine inter-linked stories tell the stories of his clients: from a retired Admiral to the queen of the gypsies.

Michael Francis Gilbert ( 1912- 2006) is recognized as one of the most versatile British mystery writers. He was a lawyer in London for many years and at one point had Raymond Chandler as his client. He wrote almost every sort of mystery and thriller. He wrote police procedurals, spy novels and short stories, courtroom dramas, classical mysteries, crime novels, and almost every possible combination of these, all with the same competence and dry, detached wit. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, Named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America and was named Number 24 on The Telegraph's "50 crime writers to read before you die".

©1990 Michael Gilbert (P)2009 Audible Ltd

Classics

I love Gilbert and these stories are vintage. Please produce the Calder and Berens ones on audible as well!

Quite slow

The main character is a viewer rather than much of a participant. These where a collection of short stories, and maybe I would try a novel by the author. But I have to say that other authors do this kind of story much better. Agatha Christie,David Rosenthal, and a new author I just found Peter Grainger.

Very Enjoyable

Written in the 80s I think, and very English with clever plots, engaging characters, perfect atmosphere and excellent dialogue. These short stories or chapters of the same story are as good the second time around as the first. Highly recommended.

Great story with foul language

I was so hoping that this author would work for me, but I can’t deal with hearing the f-word emphatically narrated. Good writing, good narration, but not for me.

Anything for More Michael Gilbert

Engaging as mysteries, these stories also stand up well as stories, pure and simple. Their interconnected narrative gives you a three-dimensional view of the sleepy Channel-side hamlet in which each is set; the characters and their interactions entertain and intrigue just as much as the accompanying murder, mystery and mayhem. Another reviewer (Marina) prefers these to the Rumpole stories and I couldn't agree more--their underlying bonhomie trumps John Mortimer's practiced cynicism.

Christopher Scott's impeccable performance shines through a somewhat creaky recording quality—a low-level room tone runs throughout and, in one story, the level dips and rises for a few seconds like a cork in a duck pond. But the excellence of the content overrides these distractions. Encouraged to buy this on the strength of his Smallbone Deceased, Michael Gilbert did not disappoint. Surely, he deserves more attention, and more recordings.