Mark from Mostly Books picked up Colin Dexter from his house, and was regailed with witty stories in the car as he drove him to Abingdon. The stories continued on the stage at St Helen’s and Katherine School Hall before an audience who had come to hear an informal talk entitled ‘A Perfect Crime’ by the author of the Inspector Morse murder mystery stories.
But when after some chat Mark tried to guide the conversation towards the perfect crime, Colin changed the subject. Instead he read the worse letter he had ever received, followed by the best.
Colin Dexter used to teach Greek and Latin at a school in Leicester but was forced to give up the profession he loved by loss of hearing.
The secret to a perfect crime is to leave no clues – something incompatible with writing murder mysteries where the purpose is to leave a trail of clues and create a book.
I’ve met Colin several times when he has opened the Private View with Oxford Art Society. He is always charming and amusing.
Was ‘the worst letter he had ever received’ from a Vicar by chance?
yes it was
‘dexter’
Fixed
I knew Colin when I was a student in Oxford; he and another friend who had lost his hearing used to drink in the Woodstock Arms and we would all do crosswords together! Lovely man, always had a good tale up his sleeve.