The Family Tomb (Gilbert novel)

The Family Tomb is a 1969 suspense novel by the British mystery and thriller writer Michael Gilbert published by Harper & Roe in the United States and by Hodder and Stoughton in England as The Etruscan Net. It was Gilbert's 14th novel....

Reception and/or Appraisal

The New York Times and Kirkus Reviews had very different appraisals of it:

The New York Times: There is a bit more to be said, however, for the non series novel, a more exacting task, demanding the develop ment, each time, of a new structure, new images, new milieu, fresh basic character ization. That brings us to Eng land's Michael Gilbert, a most creative author who has fol lowed this latter course with unusual consistency of quality. The most gratifying feature of Mr. Gilbert's latest, THE FAMILY TOMB (Harper & Row, $5.95), is that the story is eminently satisfying and there is not the slightest inti mation that the author has rigged the action. Englishman Robert Broke, following the death of his wife, has settled into the uneventful operation of an art gallery in Florence. Uneventful, that is, until the archeological excavations of the renowned scientist, Profes sor Bronzini, pique his listless curiosity. Bronzini is probing the extensive tombs of a 5th century pirate, and valuable relics may be expected. Only a faint suspicion that all is not well engages Broke's mind, un til friend (a restorer of relics), is murdered. Then Broke becomes involved in both the murder investigation and the fascinating vagaries of Italian politics.

Kirkus Reviews: THE BODY OF A GIRL BY MICHAEL GILBERT: In the once quiet town of Stoneferry on Thames, newly appointed Chief Inspector William Mercer officiates over the recently discovered skeleton of a girl, relates it wrongly to one Sweetie Sowthistle who had disappeared two years ago, and then to another young woman who had worked for the local solicitor. But then there are the Crows, a criminal organization, and a hot car racket, and a literally one but strong armed bandit called John Bull, and all of this is solidly forcefed in an energetic combination of the traditional and the procedural. Mr. Gilbert is at his professional best.