Biggles and the Dark Intruder

[rosanicus]

Obligatory Taskmaster link...

Anyway, this was my latest Biggles read! I've had it high on my TBR ever since philomytha informed me of its Cornwall setting and - having bought a hardcopy for a fiver at a collectibles shop in Reading last week - I finally got round to reading it for myself.

Essentially it's a classic Biggles formula. Raymond invites Biggles into his office and complains about the fact that Biggles hasn't solved an aerial mystery yet, then informs him that there's been a potentially relevant development - the murder of a Cornish police officer on the road that crosses Bodmin Moor. Feeling professionally intrigued but also pessimistic (Biggles is in a bit of a downer mood all book, poor man), &Co drive and fly down to Bodmin themselves and do a little investigating...

It's nothing new really, and for a late series SAP book I wouldn't expect great innovation in form, but what this book did have in spades was TENSION and ATMOSPHERE. Maybe it's my Devonian upbringing showing but I fucking love a moors setting, and this book delivered it with style - even if it's clear the moors aren't exactly WEJ's favourite place in the world. Frankly between this and Hits the Trail I think he might just have it out for like... flat areas. Anyway, the really standout part of this book was the Bertie & Biggles friendship, which really shone through in the first half of the book.

Bertie gets to show off his expertise on heather of all things, linked to a youthful interest in grouse hunting (which he did in Scotland, apparently - another potential Gimlet crossover?). He also has a really spectacular whump plotline, involving stumbling through the moors in the dark, falling down a large hole, getting seriously concussed and almost burning to death. Honestly, the fact that WEJ finally learned that serious head injuries should be treated in hospital is admirable character growth on his part considering the last one I remember coming across was Biggles & Co where von Stalhein probably gets a skull fracture.

The mystery itself is intriguing and while it doesn't really play by the rules of The Game, I enjoyed the way it unfolded and especially the part where Bertie tries to say that an aristocrat can't be a villain and Biggles is rightfully unimpressed by his line of reasoning. It's nice when WEJ has even a mote of class consciousness pop up in a book!

I will say that the book's denouement (the villain putting a gun in his mouth and shooting out the back of his head...) was treated in an EXTREMELY blase manner which I think detracted from the rest of the admirably open emotion in the rest of the book. I think possibly WEJ was trying not to traumatise the presumed child reader but if you're doing that, WEJ, did you consider not writing it? Also this book contains the phrase 'bad tempered old bitch' which took me completely by surprise. The last use of 'bitch' I came across in Johns was in Steeley Flies Again, a book ostensibly for grown-ups, so seeing it here threw me for a loop.

Overally, it's a recommendation! Algy mans the phones for most of the book but he gets a few good moments. Ginger is suitably helpful, especially in rescuing Bertie from the hole he fell down. And Biggles gets to express frustration and try theories and generally be a capable but human detective! It's a good read and I'm pleased I read it - now to write H/C fic about Bertie in concussion recovery...

Comments

[philomytha]

This one has SO MUCH atmosphere, I loved having something set near to home on an environment I know fairly well, and WEJ brings all his best setting-writing game to Bodmin. Mine shafts and old ruined huts and heather and fire and scary dogs - it's great. And I hadn't noticed that 'bitch', it must be in a section I've never read aloud or else just possibly it's been edited out, my paper copy is in an omnibus edition reprint. And yeah, Bertie goes absolutely through the wringer in this one!

[rosanicus]

Perhaps Dr Biggles' next project should be tracking cursing in the works of WE Johns... an interesting area of study.

Honestly reading it made me want to go walking on the moors again, it has been far too long since I was actively concerned about falling in a bog.

[sholio]

It's been a while since I read this one, but it was fun! Lots of excellent moor ambiance and delightfully bonkers plotting. This was definitely a book that made me wish Algy had more field time ( #justiceforalgy) but everyone does get a few good moments.

[rosanicus]

I enjoy the unified #justiceforalgy sentiment in the comments! If he was there he'd not have much to do but at least he'd be good company for Ginger on all the nighttime stakeouts.

[tweague]

I haven't read this one! Definitely sounds like one to put on the list, I do love to make Bertie suffer <3

[rosanicus]

It's great for both Bertie competence AND Bertie whump, a really good combo.

[tweague]

I am halfway through now! Bertie laying down the law on Cornish geography, sheep-dogs breeds *and* the growth habits of heather is thoroughly splendid.

[ysande]

I just finished it this morning and loved listening to Bertie be knowledgeable about the wider world! You almost get the sense that Biggles knows everything about planes and relevant criminal activities and really not that much about anything else - like does he have weird hobbies? Bizarre but delightful skills? Not that he needs to - he has an excellent brain for lateral thinking and problem solving which he evidently chooses to put to work for the British government.

Bertie’s parts were wonderful and I thought it was cheeky of Biggles to tell him he was having a particularly bright day :D And then for the narrator to be like ‘yeah so Bertie’s plight is his own fault he absolutely could have been smarter about this whole affair but don’t blame him, he’s trying his best’ :D

AND THE WHUMP <333

What a book :)

[tweague]

You almost get the sense that Biggles knows everything about planes and relevant criminal activities and really not that much about anything else - like does he have weird hobbies?

I feel like this is especially the case in in the countryside - Biggles and Ginger are both pretty urban. (Unless it's the countryside of north-east India, in which case Biggles is All Over That.) So it's down to particularly Bertie to know All The Rural Stuff.

I have to admit, it's one of my more pernicious head-canons that Biggles sticks to his areas of interest pretty rigidly (though thoroughly) - not a great concert/theatre/cinema/art exhibition-goer, not a great reader of fiction, etc etc. Probably he's very good on some obscure corners of history. Probably gets really into vehicle restoration as he gets older. Probably started volunteering at the RAF museum at Hendon when it opened, though he's strictly works-side and doesn't talk about his flying experiences.

I thought it was cheeky of Biggles to tell him he was having a particularly bright day

I believe my precise words at that point were 'patronising little sh*t :D'. Bertie just did 70% of your observation and deduction on this case, cut him some slack!

[ysande]

One of the things I really like about Biggles the character is that he’s decidedly not perfect - he’s not even imperfect in that “all my flaws are actually tragic/secret strengths/meant to be endearing” way. He’s just - really really good at a whole bunch of things, including inspiring devotion and loyalty and Getting Shit Done and problem solving and being tenacious <333 but he also seems kind of unreasonably grumpy/sharp and a bit quick to overlook the autonomous nature of his friends/people on his team, and entirely too much in his head at times. And that’s so much more interesting than being perfect, or glamorously imperfect. I wonder though if the others ever get a bit shitty with him for mansplaining :D

[ysande]

You have totally and utterly convinced me to get off the internet and start reading this one immediately, thank you! :) <3

[ysande]

Shockingly, this one doesn’t appear to be on “the list”! 😱 I will have to try an actual (virtual) bookshop… but it will be worth it for Bertie <3

[rosanicus]

If you can't find it let me know, I have various... links...

[ysande]

Thank you! I found it after some searching at a… library. That had previously shut down and which I’m m very glad to see has sprung up again… <3

I’m so here for the Bertie hurt/comfort! :)

[wateroverstone]

This is the book which makes me think Chedcombe Manor must be somewhere in Devon or Cornwall or why else would Bertie know the area. Also doesn't Gimlet come from somewhere around here?
As a child (actually) I still do, I liked the suicide of the villain ending. It tidied everything up without a trial.
I agree with those who say 'it should have more Algy'

[rosanicus]

I like the ending itself! Being a Wimsey fan I am familiar with the tidying away of the inconveniently posh villain, it just felt weirdly graphic while also very subdued.

I think in-book Bertie comments that all moors are much of a muchness so if not the south west he's certainly from moorland.

[tweague]

Also doesn't Gimlet come from somewhere around here?

That was where my brain went ^_^ Lorrington Hall is in Devon (per 'King of the Commandos and especially 'Gimlet Goes Home' where a fair amount of the action is spent in the vicinity), so not a million miles away, and I imagine they went irresponsible joy-riding over much of the neighbouring counties in their youth.