Detective-Sergeant Cluff, from the shadows of a ginnel, watches a young woman weeping in Gunnarshaw’s busy high street – and wonders why. But when a dead body is discovered in a forest plantation, Cluff calls on his extensive knowledge of Gunnarshaw folk, as well as his instinctive perception of human nature, to uncover a trail of fateful and unrequited love.

I was quite excited to find three of the "Sergeant Cluff" series in my local Telephone Box Book Swap. Never heard of it & a new series is always good to find - plus it's set in Yorkshire -yay! So I just picked up this copy (didn't want to be greedy after all I might not like it!) & had high hopes for it - I was hoping Cluff would be a gruff but likeable character that I'd take to immediately.

Sadly it wasn't to be. From the off I found the story hard to follow mainly as I couldn't always tell who was supposed to be speaking & found it often seemed disjointed. Disjointed to the extent I found myself frequently going back to re-read parts as I felt I must have missed a sentence or two! Still I read onto the end- after all it's a mere 154 pages - but it was hard work at times.

The back cover blurb says the writing "show's the influence of Simenon and Gunnarshaw's finest, Sergeant Caleb Cluff, is a memorable detective - the Maigret of the Dales" Well, I can't comment on that, not having read any Maigret (though I do have one sat on my shelf. That recommendation isn't selling it to me though) but I'm guessing he's not a bolshy Jack Frost type character, as I had hoped Cluff would be!

Overall, sorry to say I found it disappointing. However, now I know a little of Cluff's personality (not much was given away) & the writing style, I may give him another chance....but only if the another of books is still at the Phone Box Swap next time I go, I'm not going looking for any.

Added to the Short Fiction Book Box

Released as part of the 2023 TV Book Release Challenge (#35)
Apparently the "Cluff" TV series ran from 1964-65. You learn some stuff through Bookcrossing....

Taken from the short fiction bookbox.