Worksheet
Answer Key
But Was it Murder? Jania Barrell
Summary
On a Friday evening in November, Inspector Eliot is
called to the scene of a murder in Blackheath, south
London. With his assistant, Detective Bowen, he
examines the victim Alex Forley, who seems to have
shot himself. Is it straightforward suicide or murder? A
search reveals the victim was wealthy and lived alone.
The neighbours, Ronald and Catherine Crowther,
tell Eliot that they have not seen Forley for a week.
Eliot learns that Forley ran an antiques shop, and
had a girlfriend, Amanda Grant. Catherine says she
had heard a noise like a gunshot that afternoon. Eliot
suspects the Crowthers may be hiding something.
The next day, the body is identified by Amanda Grant,
who seems unemotional until she actually sees the
corpse. Later, she admits there had been problems
with their relationship, and that Forley had been close
to Catherine Crowther. Also, Forley had been suffering
from severe headaches and medical tests had been
carried out.
A search of Forleys house proves money was not the
motive there was 2,000 untouched on the desk. On
the answerphone there are messages from Amanda
Grant and a man called Philip. Eliot again questions
Catherine Crowther, who tells him she saw a man
call at Forleys house on Friday morning. She thinks
it might have been Philip Wilver, Forleys friend and
doctor. She also confirms Amanda Grants story
about Forleys health worries. Eliot is curious about
the relationships between Forley, Amanda Grant and
Catherine. Eliot and Bowen are suspicious of the
Crowthers, who they think may be hiding evidence.
Eliot is especially curious about a reference Catherine
makes to a gun.
On a visit to Forleys antiques shop, Eliot learns
from the manager, Linda Scott, that Forley had taken
2,200 in cash from the shop. Meanwhile, Bowen has
been slowly reading Forleys diary which is written
in Greek and Latin. The police next visit Dr Philip
Wilvers, who confirms the stories about Forleys health
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worries and the tests. On Thursday, Wilvers said that
he had phoned Forley with the results which gave him
the all-clear. He added that Forley asked him to see
him on the Friday for some advice, but his visit proved
to be unnecessary.
The police enquiries do not seem to be leading
anywhere. Anyone connected with Forley speaks
well of him, but there are a number of unanswered
questions both about Forley and his circle. Eliot is
disturbed by what he has observed in the Wilvers
household. Lisa Wilvers seems to dominate her
husband and is unloving towards her son. Also, he is
sure that at least two of Forleys friends are lying.
Eliot learns from Mrs Brook, the cleaning lady who
works for both Forley and the Crowthers, that Ronald
Crowther owns a gun, and that Forley had visited
Catherine Crowther on Wednesday. Forleys diary
reveals that he has been having an affair, but as yet
Bowen has not found the name of the woman. Eliot
and Bowen need to confront the Crowthers. A chance
encounter with the barman at a pub in Blackheath
proves Ronald Crowther has an alibi he was seen
out walking at the time of the murder. Eliot confronts
the Crowthers, and Ronald admits he gave Forley the
gun. Catherine confesses to her feelings for Forley and
her jealousy of Lisa Wilvers. Eliot now knows that the
Crowthers are not guilty, and that Lisa Wilvers is the
mystery woman. Eliots next target is Amanda Grant,
but examination of her story proves that she is not
guilty.
Eliot is baffled but, in a moment of revelation, he
pieces the story together the missing link is Philip
Wilvers. Eliots theory is that Wilvers had falsified
the test results, making Forley believe he had a brain
tumour. Wilvers had pushed Forley towards suicide
in the hope that he could then have salvaged what
was left of his marriage to Lisa. Under interrogation,
Wilvers confesses to the deception and the case is
closed.
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 Worksheet
Answer Key
Level 4

But Was it Murder? Jania Barrell

Check your reading
Chapter 8
Chapter 1
1. 1 b, 2 e, 3 a, 4 c, 5 d
1. 1 d, 2 a, 3 b, 4 e, 5 c
Chapter 9
Chapter 2
1. 1 d, 2 c, 3 e, 4 a, 5 b
1. a F, b T, c F, d F, e T, f T 2. Students own answer.

Chapter 3 Chapter 10
1. Forley lived alone, but cared for his house more 1. d, a, b, e, c
than most single men and had good taste and
money. Eliot spoke to Forleys neighbours. Chapter 11
Mr Crowther was middle-aged but his wife was
blonde, beautiful and much younger. They 1. a T, b F, c T, d F, e T, f F
hadnt seen Forley for a week but had been
expecting him at 4.00 that afternoon. Chapter 12
Mr Crowther said Forley was like a son to them. 1. a Alex Forley
b Dr Wilvers
Chapter 4 c Mrs Wilvers
1. 1 b, 2 e, 3 d, 4 a, 5 c d Bowen
e Dr Wilvers
Chapter 5
Chapter 13
1. a Bowens girlfriend
b Bowen 1. Students own answer.
c Mr Crowther
d Mrs Crowther Chapter 14
e Alex Forley 1. The pathologists report said that Forley had
been killed by a shot to the head and had died
Chapter 6 immediately. There were no other signs of
1. c, e, d, b, a violence. He had been in good health but had
been drinking. The time of death was between
Chapter 7 3.15 and 3.45 Friday afternoon. Eliot now had to
check who had an alibi for that time. Bowen was
1. Amanda Grant had known Forley for almost making slow progress on Forleys diary as it was
four years. They had had an argument about her written in Latin and Greek.
job the last time they met. Amanda said Forley
had shared interests with Catherine Crowther, Chapter 15
and had begun to find Ronald Crowther boring.
Eliot wanted to ask if Amanda was jealous of 1. 1 b, 2 d, 3 e, 4 c, 5 a
Catherine, but didnt. Amanda also said that
Forley had been having headaches and had been
to hospital for tests.

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 Worksheet
Answer Key
Level 4

But Was it Murder? Jania Barrell

Chapter 16 Chapter 18
1. a Ronald Crowther 1. Wilvers phoned Forley on Thursday to say he
b the Crowthers, the Wilvers and Amanda needed money and wanted to sell something,
Grant which explained the money on Forleys desk.
c Catherine Crowther Also, Wilvers lied about the test results on
d Lisa Wilvers Friday, saying Forley had a brain tumour.
e Catherine Crowther Wilvers knew about the gun and was sure Forley
f Eliot would kill himself. Wilvers knew Lisa was
having an affair with Forley, but didnt want Sam
Chapter 17 to grow up without a mother.
1. e, a, d, b, c
2. Students own answer.

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