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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, L E Bendon’s The Weapon And The Fruit: Four And Twenty Blackboards reveals a dark undercurrent of murder and secrets beneath the surface of a seemingly peaceful London primary school.
The Weapon And The Fruit: Four And Twenty Blackboards
In the bustling chaos of a modern west London primary school, a beloved teacher is found dead—stabbed in the chest, locked inside her own home, with no apparent way for the killer to have entered or escaped. This is the fiendishly clever premise of Four and Twenty Blackboards, a novel by L. E. Bendon that’s captivating readers with its blend of classic detective storytelling, razor-sharp social commentary, and a cast of vivid, flawed characters. Fans of Agatha Christie’s meticulous plotting, Ben Elton’s dark humor, Terry Pratchett’s wit, and Mark Billingham’s gritty intrigue will find themselves utterly engrossed in this page-turner.
At the heart of the story is the murder of a Hammersmith primary school teacher, a woman admired by pupils, parents, and her loyal pet spaniel—or so she thought. But her recent erratic behavior had begun to unravel the façade of her perfect reputation, leaving behind a trail of enemies with motives as varied as they are compelling. Was it a colleague hiding a dark secret? A neighbor nursing a grudge? Or perhaps someone closer to home? The mystery deepens as Bendon weaves a narrative that’s as much about tracking down the killer as it is about exploring the power of perception, the fallout of unchecked ego, and the absurdities of modern life.
Enter Private Detective Lance Pomegranate, an eccentric Australian with a penchant for going barefoot and an irreverence that rubs the prim and proper the wrong way. Called in by DI Esi Owusu and DS Pawel Krol—two overworked detectives grappling with the bizarre case—Lance brings his quirky charm and unorthodox methods to the investigation. But he quickly finds himself at odds with Ciara Gallen, an appearance-obsessed newspaper columnist and mother of one of the victim’s pupils. Used to wielding her pen as a weapon of judgment, Ciara sees Lance’s barefoot defiance and the police’s fumbling as prime fodder for her column. She’s ready to vilify the trio in print, turning the court of public opinion against them—unless they can solve the locked-room puzzle and deliver a story juicy enough to satisfy her “ovine” readers.
What follows is a literary rollercoaster that has readers laughing out loud one moment and gripping the edge of their seats the next. Bendon’s prose crackles with energy, balancing the suspense of a classic whodunit with biting observations about contemporary society. The vibrant, chaotic world of the primary school serves as a perfect backdrop, amplifying the tension and absurdity of the investigation. Lance Pomegranate, with his barefoot bravado and sharp mind, emerges as a standout character—a quirky yet brilliant detective whose return fans will eagerly anticipate.
And good news for those fans: Lance will be back later this summer in a sequel, The Weapon and the Fruit: Any Body Can Murder. If Four and Twenty Blackboards is any indication, readers can expect more locked-room ingenuity, colorful characters, and a healthy dose of wit and suspense.
With a killer still lurking in the shadows, watching the investigation unfold, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Lance, Esi, and Pawel. Racing against the clock and Ciara’s poison pen, they must unravel the mystery before their reputations—and Lance’s career—are shredded. Four and Twenty Blackboards isn’t just a murder mystery; it’s a thrilling exploration of human nature, wrapped in a plot so clever it would make Agatha Christie proud. Whether you’re drawn in by the locked-room conundrum, the flawed yet fascinating characters, or the promise of a spaniel who deserves a little more attention, this novel delivers a reading experience that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.
L. E. Bendon
In creating irreverent detective Lance Pomegranate, along with his friends, associates, and acquaintances, I have written a mix of what I know, what I’ve merely read about, and a few ideas that I just liked.
–L. E. Bendon
L. E. Bendon, the inventive mind behind the locked-room sensation Four and Twenty Blackboards, was born in 1983 with a creative spark that’s been simmering ever since. A Londoner who rarely rests his head in the city, Bendon shares a distinctive trait with his quirky protagonist, Lance Pomegranate: a steadfast commitment to going barefoot. But that’s where the similarities end. While Lance navigates murder and mayhem, Bendon’s own journey has been a quieter evolution—one that took a sharp turn in 2020 when the world paused, and he found himself with time to reflect.
During that global hiatus, Bendon initially set out to gather writing tips for his mother, who harbored literary ambitions of her own. But the advice he collected soon ignited his own imagination. What began as a supportive gesture morphed into a personal challenge: could he craft a story that would captivate readers and carve out a new chapter in his life? The answer, it seems, is a resounding yes, as his debut novel now delights fans of sharp-witted mysteries.
Before turning to prose, Bendon’s creative output was entirely musical—his previous works all published as sheet music, a testament to his eclectic talents. A polyglot of sorts, he speaks several languages well enough to navigate foreign streets without a misstep, though he admits he’s not quite ready to translate his own books. When he’s not writing, Bendon’s affections lean toward the animal kingdom—he’s fond of cats but confesses a deeper love for tortoises, perhaps appreciating their deliberate pace in a world that often moves too fast.
The enigmatic “L. E.” remains a mystery even to Bendon himself. A pen name with no fixed meaning, he toys with the idea of reinventing it with each inquiry. For now, he suggests “Lunchtime Euclid”—a whimsical nod to his playful spirit and perhaps a hint at the geometric precision he brings to his plotting. A lifelong admirer of Terry Pratchett, Bendon laments the late author’s absence, a sentiment that underscores the wit and warmth woven into his own work.
Living a life that’s slowly tilting toward literature, Bendon is a figure as intriguing as the worlds he creates—barefoot, curious, and always ready to surprise. With a sequel on the horizon, it’s clear his foray into storytelling is just beginning to take root.
Find more from L. E. Bendon now:
Publisher: www.aneurysmcupcake.com
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3E0Wd2m
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3XWQ0eG
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4kyLvAM
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