Perfectly paced for a day's reading exercise. Well written, topical for a 1960's milieu. Excellent characters drawn convincingly. A plot that maintains attention throughout and does not become obscure. First time I've read Watson and it has made me want to seek out more of his work. A recommended mystery

This is the 4th in the series but you can read as a stand-alone. And if you enjoyed it as much as I did, you'll feel compelled to go back and read the earlier mysteries - that's my plan. They all feature Detective Inspector Purbright, who is just the droll yet thoughtful inspector you want to be solving the murders. Lonelyheart 4122 was a humorous and entertaining little book. At less than 200 pages it was easy to read and full of clever wordplays and plot twists. Originally published in 1967, it seemed to be both charmingly from an earlier time period and also very current. When you're looking for an amusing and satisfying British mystery, take the time to seek out one of The Flaxborough Chronicles by Colin Watson. ( )

LONELYHEART 4122 sees the introduction of Miss Lucilla (Lucy) Teatime to the mayhem that is Flaxborough and the series is all the better for her presence.

Originally published in the late 1960's, this is a time of matrimonial agencies (and is now a good time to admit I was getting Carry on Loving flashbacks... ), although there's considerably more subtlety in the wordplay and characterisations in these novels than was ever attempted in those movies (and no connection whatsoever!). Anyway, pre-Tinder and like "apps", matrimonial agencies, seemingly run by happily married people took it upon themselves to match single's based on answers to questionnaires, and one assumes, a fair amount of eenie, meenie, miney moe.

In LONELYHEART 4122 Mr Arthur Spain is very worried about his recently widowed sister-in-law, who seems to have vanished into thin air, with her normally immaculate doorstep being rapidly cluttered by bottles of curdling milk and piles of unread newspapers. His report to Inspector Purbright of this most concerning occurrence, finds he and Sergeant Love already perplexed by the disappearance of another well to do woman of a similar age. Eventually the hunt for a connection leads the investigation to Handclasp House, a local dating agency managed by a husband and wife team.

Meanwhile Miss Teatime has arrived in Flaxborough and made her way to Handclasp House seemingly intent on a match for herself, a woman purporting to be of comfortable means, and not at all interested in accepting the auspices of protection, or the surveillance of the local constabulary.

Suffice to say that readers new to this series will soon discover this is more than meets the eye when it comes to Miss Teatime and her presence in Flaxborough isn't quite what Inspector Purbright thinks it is. Old hands will be gently reminded of the sense of fun, and the acute sense of windup that is such a hallmark of this wonderful series.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/lonelyheart-4122-colin-watson ( )

When a local butcher visits Detective Inspector Purbright with the tale of his missing sister-in-law Lillian, Purbright remembers that recently another woman about the same age had gone missing. After searching Lillian’s home, he finds three letters from a suitor and a checkbook with a check made out to a local matrimonial agency, and he recalls the previous mission woman had also done the same.

After visiting the agency, Handclasp House, he acquires the name of a new client, Lucy Teatime. He sets his sergeant, Sid Love, to keep an eye on the lady in question while he searches for answers. Upon further investigation, he learns that there was a break-in at the the agency, and that the amiable Miss Teatime has been able to elude not only Sergeant Love, but another officer as well.

Convinced that the man who is courting Miss Teatime - for he is sure there is a man - is the same one who had courted the other two ladies who have still not been found, he is more than ever sure that there is a con artist at work who is not only fleecing these women of whatever means they have, but that he has something to do with their disappearance as well. And while it seems that Miss Teatime is sure the man she is seeing is not the same one Purbright has warned her against, he is. But will she be able to save herself before she meets the same fate, or will Purbright fail in rescuing her?

Once again we are visiting the market town of Flaxborough and the domain of Detective Inspector Purbright, and once again he is on the trail of a criminal, this time a man who joins a lonelyhearts club in order to fleece vulnerable women of their savings and then dispose of them. But he’s been elusive so far, and since he manages to change his appearance, no one can give a description. He also manages to meet in public places that seem ordinary at first, but in being so, no one pays him nor the lady much attention at all; and this is why his scheme has managed to foster so well.

But this time he’s come across two formidable adversaries: Purbright and the redoubtable Miss Teatime, who is nobody’s fool. In fact, Miss Teatime has a few secrets and surprises of her own which he doesn’t count on. It is once again a tale well-written with memorable characters who are lively and well-drawn, and a delight to read about.

When the ending comes we are given the requisite surprises that Mr. Watson manages to do so well; I would suggest that anyone reading his books does not jump to the end to sneak a peak at the outcome; it is so much more fun if you read the entire book through. I absolutely love these books and am looking forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended. ( )

While our Craigslist Killers and stories of dating service crime seem so new and horrifying, reading Lonelyheart 4122 is a sobering reminder that preying on the lonely did not start with the internet.

Handclasp House, a discreet service to introduce persons of good character wishing to meet gentlepersons of the opposite sex, seems to have attracted a nasty character who is killing women after emptying their bank accounts. Flaxborough DI Purbright and Sergeant Love are brought into the case. As always in Colin Watson's books it is Flaxborough and its citizens who are the subject of the book and usual they are hilariously human.

I received a review copy of "Lonelyheart 4122: A Flaxborough Mystery Book 4" by Colin Watson (Farrago) through NetGalley.com. It was originally published in 1967 by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London and has been reissued several times before this Farrago edition. ( )