A cuckoo was calling out in the dead of night. Why was it's notes so repetitive? And who shot it? This was a bad start to John Waterson's retirement from the school inspectorate to the seemingly idyllic village of Netherplash Cantorum in Dorset at the end of the 1950's. A series of practical jokes, some not at all funny and actually criminal, are being perpetrated by one or more of the local inhabitants, but for what reason? Is it for revenge or out of loathing for the new lord of the manor, businessman Ronald Paston? Several villagers come under the spell of his beautiful Indian wife Vera, not least the writer, John Waterson. As the events unfold, it is John who gradually pieces together the confusing strands, helped by his journalist son Sam, leading to a thrilling conclusion.
Egbert ("Bertie") Card
Aged 45, but looked younger, he bears little resemblance to his older half-brother, Alwyn. "Dark, saturine in expression, tall and slim, with a leathery skin and the cleanly-modelled features one often finds amongst expert horsemen". Fancies himself as a ladies man and is quite open with his flirtations, even though, at heart, he despises women.
Alwyn Card
Approaching the age of sixty, Alwyn is from an ancient Dorset family, formerly owners of the Manor of Netherplash Cantorum. The last in the line, with his half-brother Egbert (called Bertie), they sold their property to businessman, Ronald Paston and went to live into a smaller house (called "Pydal") in the village. Described as "a funny old boy"
Vera Paston
The exotic high-born Indian wife of Ronald Paston. Seems out of place living in a Dorset village, with her husband away for much of the time. "A passion-flower among the primroses". She is both interesting and attractive to many of the men who meet her.
Ronald Paston
Business man. Bought the Manor House at Netherplash Cantorum in 1957. He finds it difficult to be accepted in the village, despite hosting parties and funding the local flower show. He is married to Vera, but some feel that she is just one of his precious possessions.
Jenny Waterson
Formerly a music teacher at a famous girls' school. Married to John and 25 years his junior. Blonde haired, "small and vivacious". She has suffered from a phase of mental instability and their move to Dorset is partly to speed her recuperation.
John Waterson
61 years of age. MA Oxford. A classical sixth-form tutor at Amberley for some years, then an Inspector of Schools. Married, with two children, Sam (born 1937) and Corinna (born 1942) but his wife died 1946. Married again, to Jenny, and moved to Netherplash Cantorum, Dorset in May 1959. Working on a edition of the Aeneid.
The deadly joker was published by Collins Crime Club on 10 June 1963. It was dedicated to Joan and Jo Elven who ran the Brace of Pheasants public house in the village of Plush, Dorset. Cecil Day Lewis had always loved Dorset and he and his wife, Jill, stayed here in May 1960. In the story, Vera Paston is drawn from an intimate friend of Cecil, an Indian novelist, with whom he was involved in 1961/2. Sam Waterson has some of the traits of Cecil Day Lewis's journalist son, Sean, who notes some specific examples of this in his biography of his father. Incidentally, a real cuckoo did keep Cecil and Jill awake on their first stay at the Brace of Pheasants.
Location map of Plush courtesy of Streetmap.co.uk
Page created 19 February 2002 and last
updated 19 April 2008