‘Villainous Saltpetre’ by Clifford Witting

Published by Galileo Publishers,
14 May 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-9175432-5 (PB)
Originally published 1962. 

Having had a diet of contemporary crime novels recently (all of which I have enjoyed, I may say), I confess it was a particular pleasure when our esteemed editor sent me this book. Given that it was first published in 1962 I suppose one is stretching a point to claim that it is a Golden Age story, but Witting’s first novel was published in 1937 so I have no hesitation in claiming ‘Villainous Saltpetre’ under this classification, particularly as it conforms to type. I have relished all Wittings that I have read. 

The novel’s prologue gets matters off to a good start by leading the reader up the garden path initially before arriving at an unexpected ending. Where does it fit into the story was my first reaction. Part I starts in 1930 when a struggling playwright, Guy Brangley, successfully and deliberately gains publicity after staging his own disappearance. He is soon tracked down to a privately-owned island off the coast of north Cornwall, some of whose small and close-knit population have French ancestry. In due course Brangley manages to buy the island and its singular clifftop castle. Time and World War II go by. Brangley’s career as a playwright declines. Twenty five years later his body is found in the sea with injuries consistent with falling from the castle. Part One finishes with a coroner’s court coming to a verdict and the memorable statement: ‘Eight good men and wrong.’ 

In Part II a film company comes to the island. Relationships between members of the cast and crew come under scrutiny, particularly after someone calling himself Brian Easter parachutes in. He claims to be working on a series for the BBC, but there are sufficient grounds to suspect that he may not be all that he seems. The original verdict on Brangley’s death looks increasingly unsound as a person who worked for the previous owner of the island, but who was sacked and replaced by Brangley, visits the island and further information comes to light. Boat trips and radio equipment feature. Part III, appropriately subtitled ‘The Third Act’ given that a playwright is involved, solves the various mysteries of identity, death and a missing, allegedly unfinished, play. 

This is a very enjoyable novel, even if not perhaps Witting’s best. Part II gets a little bogged down with the film and its cast and is perhaps overwritten, although it could just be my impatience. But Witting not at his absolute best is still better than many other writers. I enjoy his asides: ‘[Brangley] made it a provision in his will that Pengawnen Castle should remain in perpetuity as a monument to his genius (he did not put it like that, but it was what he meant)’ is typical. A few charming line drawings (one assumes from the original publication) by John Armstrong do much to enhance the appearance of this edition. I am delighted that Galileo is reissuing Witting’s 16 novels and look forward keenly to further releases.
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Reviewer: David Whittle

Clifford Witting (1907-1968) was born in Lewisham, England. He was educated at Eltham College, London, between 1916 and 1924. During World War II he served as a bombardier in the Royal Artillery, 1942-44, and as a Warrant Officer in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 1944-46. He married Ellen Marjorie Steward in 1934 and they had one daughter. Before becoming a full-time writer, he worked as a clerk in Lloyds bank from 1924 to 1942. He was Honorary Editor of The Old Elthamian magazine, London. from 1947 up to his death. His first novel Murder in Blue was published in 1937 and his series characters were Sergeant (later Inspector) Peter Bradford and Inspector Harry Charlton. Unusually, he didn’t join The Detection Club until 1958 by which time he had written 12 detective novels. 

David Whittle is firstly a musician (he is an organist and was Director of Music at Leicester Grammar School for over 30 years) but has always enjoyed crime fiction. This led him to write a biography of the composer Bruce Montgomery who is better known to lovers of crime fiction as Edmund Crispin, about whom he gives talks now and then.