The First Casualty

Ben Elton

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horrors of war

murder investigation in wwi

trench life during world war i

conscientious objector detective

themes of justice and truth

grim realities of the front

moral conflict in war

black comedy in serious

impact of war on individuals

historical fiction and murder mystery

slow pacing with buildup

societal roles during wwi

futility of war

Ben Elton's 'The First Casualty' is a historical fiction novel set during World War I, focusing on the investigation of a murder behind the front lines. The book delves into the horrors of war, the futility of investigating a single murder amidst mass slaughter, and the blurred lines between legal and illegal killings. Through the protagonist, Douglas Kingsley, the story explores themes of justice, truth, and the impact of war on individuals.

Characters:

The characters are vividly drawn, reflecting a mix of societal roles during WWI, with Kingsley being a central, complex figure.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is utilitarian and straightforward, mixing black comedy with serious themes, though it lacks flourishes.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a conscientious objector detective investigating a murder during WWI, exploring themes of moral conflict and the futility of war.

Setting:

The setting is evocative of World War I, particularly focusing on trench life and the grim realities of the front.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow, focusing on buildup but accelerates once the investigation progresses to the front lines.

Douglas Kingsley was an unlikely candidate to join the ranks of conscientious objectors, in that he had killed more men than most soldiers were ever likely to do. Not directly, of course; he had not p...

Notes:

The story is set in World War I, particularly in June 1917.

Douglas Kingsley, the protagonist, is a police detective who refuses conscription, which lands him in prison.

Kingsley's objections to fighting are intellectual rather than moral, which leads to his national disgrace.

The murdered character, Viscount Abercrombie, is a renowned poet and a war hero with a hidden homosexual identity.

Abercrombie's murder happens not in battle but in a military hospital, highlighting the absurdity of violence in war.

The book explores the contrasts between government-sanctioned murder in war and personal homicide.

The narrative raises questions about the value of investigating one murder amid the mass slaughter of thousands during the war.

Ben Elton dedicates the novel to his grandfathers who fought on opposing sides during WWI.

The title refers to the quote, 'The first casualty of war is truth.'

The book blends elements of murder mystery with critiques of war, politics, and social issues of the time.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include references to war violence, murder, and the psychological effects of war.

From The Publisher:

Flanders, June 1917: a British officer and celebrated poet, is shot dead, killed not by German fire, but while recuperating from shell shock well behind the lines. A young English soldier is arrested and, although he protests his innocence, charged with his murder.

Douglas Kingsley is a conscientious objector, previously a detective with the London police, now imprisoned for his beliefs. He is released and sent to France in order to secure a conviction. Forced to conduct his investigations amidst the hell of The Third Battle of Ypres, Kingsley soon discovers that both the evidence and the witnesses he needs are quite literally disappearing into the mud that surrounds him.

Ben Elton's tenth novel is a gut-wrenching historical drama which explores some fundamental questions. What is murder? What is justice in the face of unimaginable daily slaughter? And where is the honour in saving a man from the gallows if he is only to be returned to die in a suicidal battle?

As the gap between legally-sanctioned and illegal murder becomes evermore blurred, Kingsley quickly learns that the first casualty when war comes is truth.

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