Gentlemen Formerly Dressed by Sulari Gentill

Publisher's Synopsis

After narrowly escaping Nazi terror, Rowland Sinclair and his companions land in London, believing they are safe.

But they are wrong.

A bizarre murder plunges the hapless Australians into a queer world of British aristocracy, Fascist Blackshirts, illicit love, scandal and spies.

A world where gentlemen are not always what they are dressed up to be.

My Review of Gentlemen Formerly Dressed by Sulari Gentill

Gentlemen Formerly Dressed is the 5th book in the Rowland Sinclair series and picks up from the near miss that Rowley and his friends escape from in tumultuous Germany (Paving the New Road). Hampered by a broken arm, a horribly disfiguring burn on his chest and nightmare-inducing memories, the initial aim is to head for Australia after a brief stop in London.

Before he was to depart for warmer, safer shores, though, he feels it’s his duty to report what’s really going on in Germany to someone in authority in the UK. He can see that trouble is brewing and war is a definite possibility in the not too distant future. An altruistic and largely misguided hope that someone will listen to him that seems to be typical of Rowland’s unrealistic outlook on life, it seems.

Unfortunately, the person his brother Wilfred was able to line up to talk to, a peer of the realm, is found in the private suite of a gentleman’s club, run through with a ceremonial sword whilst wearing a frilly nightie. Also in the room is the man’s niece who is also his secretary. Her hands are covered in blood, she’s hysterical and inconsolable and, of course, the first person the police look to when coming up with a prime suspect.

Rowland’s not having it and leaps to her defense, becoming determined to get to the bottom of the murder regardless of the fact he has not one skerrick of evidence to prove her innocence.

While conducting his own extremely informal investigation, Roland encounters the British Union of Fascists (BUF), numerous members of the peerage class, a group of spies and the occasional German who may have recognised him from his recent encounters on the Continent. His boxing prowess is tested yet again and, inevitably, he pushes his luck as his obstinance lands him in hot water yet again.

One of the joys of the Rowland Sinclair series is the mix of fictional characters and real life luminaries from the early twentieth century that are added together to add spice to the story. H.G. Wells, Evelyn Waugh, Stanley Bruce, Prince Edward, Wallis Simpson and even the thought-to-be-all-washed-up Winston Churchill among others liven up this rollicking adventure set in Britain in the early 1930s. And, just in case there are any historical figures you didn’t recognise, there’s a great summary of each to provide you insights into their lives and roles after encountering Rowly and his friends.

This is just a pleasant trip back in time weaving engrossing mysteries through some of the more turbulent moments in history. Rowland, Edna, Milton and Clyde have their idiosyncrasies that can be, in turn, endearing and frustrating but they always manage to make their scrapes highly entertaining.

Gentlemen Formerly Dressed is another thoroughly enjoyable entry in the Rowland Sinclair series sweeping us through the upper classes in grand style. The hints of danger are tempered with good manners, style and controlled fury. The in jokes continue to roll on through as the seminal quartet carry on their easy friendship, something that ensures an overall light-heartedness to these books.