The Methods of Sergeant Cluff (British Library Crime Classics)

The excellent synopsis needs no more amplification or repetition. If I were reviewing the book on the atmosphere created then it would get 5 stars at least --there is real power in the writing of this setting . I found it difficult though to gain much more ,mainly because I found the quirky style of the author left some important areas neglected ,whilst concentrating on seemingly trivial things.It wasn't ,to me ,always clear about whom the various characters were talking and the crime detection element of the story was not really very taxing . However ,I do think many people might disagree with these points and I suspect that readers more in tune with North's style will give it the full 5 stars. A shame really ,because after an excellent introduction from Martin Edwards ,I was ready to be bowled over rather than being confused . Even for 1961 ,I do think a crime novel should make sure that the most basic police procedures are followed...

Cluff is one of those individualistic detectives. I think he takes some getting used to, as does the Yorkshire setting. However, being a Yorkshire woman I recognise the type very well. Some of the exchanges between the characters are eliptical and difficult to follw, especially at the beginning. As the characters begin to take shape reading gets easier and eventually the plot begins to unfold. All is not as it might seem at first, nothiing is as clear-cut as the senior police offficers believe (of course) and Cluff has to plough his own furrow, more or less assisted by his side-kick. I enjoyed reading this, but I can see that some people would think it takes too much effort. I am old enough to remember the TV series which I enjoyed and wish it could come back, but I suspect that it might look a bit slow nowadays.

I came to the Sergeant Cluff character through the intensely atmospheric (some might say dreary) BBC series. It is clear now that most of the atmosphere of those stories must have derived from the genuine location filming and the 405 line ultra-low definition black & white broadcast ( It is truly a minor tragedy that the BBC thoughtlessly destroyed the early series - in this day and age the whole lot would fit in a Twitter tweet) Without the rose-tinted memory of these programmes I imagine the thin plot lines and unsubtle character building looks hackneyed to a newcomer to the books. All I could offer in mitigation is that, speaking from fond memory, these Northern towns and Northern characters were dour, grey, direct and uncompromising as Gil North portrays them. They were also richly supportive and insular in a way which would be thought intrusive and dictatorial now. Change your mindset and slip back in time to get the best of this book.

In the foreword it is noted that "the uncompromisingly laconic style is not to everybody's taste", and that how it was with me. Half the time you don't know what is going on, there is very little dialogue and the inspector seems to stand around in silence all day. The characters are unsympathetic and caricatures. I was glad it was not a long book..

Utterly boring, and I am a vociferous reader. Describes all kinds of rubbish,and in the end forgot the plot - if there was one. One dimensional character. He has a dog and to be honest the dog was more interesting. Save your money for an ice cream on the beach.

Cluff is an interesting protagonist. The "methods" are unorthodox and maybe immoral at the end. Its a form of harassment and bullying of a man he doesn't like. There is a sort of natural justice so his method works in a way but it's a very Old Testament sort of justice and C!uff is a humourless and merciless OT God.

Dour gritty Yorkshire stuff reminiscent of the recent TV series Happy Valley and Last Tango in Halifax.The writing is a bit eccentric and hard going. Cluff evokes shades of Maigret in his doggedness in pursuit of The villains.

I just don’t like Sergeant Cluff. Reading this felt like reading a second hand book with horrible stains on it. All a bit murky.