The Secret of Annexe 3 by Colin Dexter **
Reading dates 17 November – 15 December 2025
Inspector Morse novels in order:
- Last Bus to Woodstock ****
- Last Seen Wearing***
- The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn***
- Service of All the Dead **
- The Dead of Jericho ***
- The Riddle of the Third Mile **
- The Secret of Annexe 3
- The Wench is Dead
- The Jewel That Was Ours
- The Way Through the Woods*****
- The Daughters of Cain
- Death Is Now My Neighbour
- The Remorseful Day****
I had higher hopes for The Secret of Annexe 3, given the last few disappointments in the series. But it was again ridiculous, far fetched and even Morse felt a little flat (and don’t get me started on Lewis, who was a chips, eggs and fast driving caricature). I did not care for the plot and all the characters that assembled in the hotel around New Year’s celebrations got lost far too soon. So much could have been done with them and with the setting … A missed opportunity!
It might be telling that the quotes I highlighted are from the epigraphs and not from the novel itself. At least there were epigraphs rather than nothing or a summary. Those are always a delight as they are so well chosen.
The feeling of sleepiness when you are not in bed, and can’t get there, is the meanest feeling in the world.
(E.W. HOWE, Country Town Sayings)
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Snow is all right while it is snowing: it is like inebriation, because it is very pleasing when it is coming, but very unpleasing when it is going.
(OGDEN NASH)
-=-=-=-=-=-
A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table than when his wife talks Greek.
(SAMUEL JOHNSON)
-=-=-=-=-=-
By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day.
(ROBERT FROST)
-=-=-=-=-=-
You want to be like me, Lewis. I’m a dipsomaniac’
‘What’s the difference?’
Morse pondered for a while. ‘I think an alcoholic is always trying to give up drink.’
‘Whereas such a thought has never crossed your mind, sir?’
‘Well put!’ said Morse, thereafter lapsing into the silence he habitually observed when being driven in a car.
-=-=-=-=-=-
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew):
Their names are What and Why
and When
And How and Where and Who.
(RUDYARD KIPLING)
