Smallbone Deceased

Hazlerigg looks rather like a farmer: “the only remarkable thing about this generally unremarkable person was his eyes, which were grey, with the cold grey of the North Sea.” He seemed destined to become a major series character, but although he featured in nineteen short stories as well as six novels, eventually he made way for a host of freshly created protagonists, both professional detectives and amateurs who stumble across crime. Gilbert’s career as a novelist lasted for more than half a century—his final book, the aptly titled Over and Out, was published in 1998—yet throughout that time, he kept ringing the changes, and never wrote a long series featuring a single “great detective”. This reflects a splendid determination to avoid the formulaic, but it may also explain why, for all the critical acclaim he received, he never quite became a household name. Crime fans have a taste for series, and for characters whose cases they can follow over a long period of time.

Michael Francis Gilbert (1912–2006) was born in Billingshay in Lincolnshire, and studied law at London University. He also had a spell as a teacher at a cathedral school, which supplied him with the background for his first novel as well as funds to complete his legal education. The Second World War interrupted his work on Close Quarters as well as his attempts to establish himself as a solicitor, but in 1947 he joined a highly respected Lincoln’s Inn law firm, Trower, Still and Keeling, becoming a partner in 1953; he remained with the practice until his retirement in 1983. His clients included Raymond Chandler, who became a close personal friend; when, towards the end of his life, Chandler was drinking heavily and struggling to cope after the death of his wife, Gilbert made strenuous efforts to help the great American novelist to resolve the financial difficulties he was facing.

The Swedish Academy of Detection made Gilbert a Grand Master in 1981, and the Mystery Writers of America followed suit six years later. He earned the CWA Diamond Dagger in 1994 to recognise his outstanding contribution to the crime genre, and was appointed a CBE in 1980. In all, he wrote thirty novels and 185 short stories, as well as work for radio, television, and stage. He served as Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, and was a proud member of the Detection Club for more than half a century. He was one of the leading lights of British mystery fiction throughout the second half of the twentieth century, and—to borrow a lawyer’s phrase—there can be no reasonable doubt that his best books deserve to be ranked as crime classics.

Martin Edwards

Smallbone Deceased

The characters in this novel (with the exception of eminent Counsel mentioned on page 56) are entirely imaginary and have no relation to any living person.

“There is no point in concealing the fact that London solicitors work in certain well-known and well-defined areas; nor would much purpose have been served by giving these fictitious names. The fact, however, that a number of regrettable incidents are supposed to have taken place in Lincoln’s Inn must not be interpreted as any reflection on the many and reputable firms who practise there: nor must any mention of the officials or functionaries of that Inn be taken as a reference to the present holders of those offices.”

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“One hundred and ninety thirdly (and lastly) Professional Gentlemen, as solicitors, attorneys, proctors, engineers, architects, medical practitioners, artists, literary men, merchants, master manufacturers, scientific professors, and others not engaged in manual labour, farming of land or retail trade, are considered to possess some station in society, although the Law takes no cognizance of their ranks inter se.”

Precedence: from Dod’s Peerage, p. 434.

‌Chapter One —Monday Evening— Parties to the Deed

First will be set out the Parties, each by his full name and address and by a Description, as, Lieutenant-Colonel in His Majesty’s Grenadier Regiment of Foot-guards, Solicitor to the Supreme Court of Judicature, Clerk in Holy Orders, Butcher, or as the case may be and (where of the female sex) wife, widow, spinster or feme sole.

I

“The thoughts of all present tonight,” said Mr. Birley, “will naturally turn first to the great personal loss—the very great personal loss—so recently suffered by the firm, by the legal profession and, if I may venture to say so without contradiction, by the British public.”

No one did contradict him; partly, no doubt, owing to the fact that Mr. Birley was personally responsible for the salaries of the greater number of those present, but also because the principal speaker at a staff dinner very rarely is contradicted; Mr. Birley, therefore, proceeded.