The Big Sleep

Philip Marlowe has been hired by millionaire General Sternwood to investigate the blackmail of one of the general's daughters.  While watching a house into which the blackmailer had gone, Marlowe hears shots ring out.   He also hears the shooter run away.  Upon entering the house, he finds one person dead.

The body is that of the blackmailer, a second person is also there; one of the daughters of the general.  She is quite naked and quite drugged.  Marlowe takes her home, and upon returning to the scene of the crime finds the body missing.  The following morning, the Sternwood's Buick and chauffeur are found off the end of a pier.  The chauffeur's neck has been broken.

When Marlowe returns to the scene of the crime, he is confronted by a mobster.  Fortunately there is no disastrous consequence to the meeting.  Marlowe then follows up on another lead.  However, in this case there were dire consequences.

Marlowe still has unfinished business for the general.  He is searching for the missing son-in-law.  It would appear that he has skipped town with the wife of a local mobster.  Shortly after that, Marlowe realises that he is being followed.  He speaks to the guy, who in turn offers him information.  Unfortunately, later that evening the informant is killed.  Marlowe is given the information by the girlfriend of the victim.

Author Raymond Chandler has more killing to do in this novel before Private Detective Philip Marlowe solves the case.  This murder mystery was first published in 1939, so the reader must be prepared for terms of that era.   All-in-all, a good, quick read.

The Frost Fair

The Thames has frozen!  It is such an unusual thing that the people of London are having a fair on the ice, and skating on it, including the sons of Constable Jonathan Bale.  When one of his sons takes a tumble on the ice he finds himself looking at a body in the ice.

It is Henry Redmayne who is charged with the murder of the victim in the ice.  His brother, Christopher, finds him in Newgate, and finds out from Henry that there was enmity between the two men.  However,  Christopher is determined to set his brother free.

Bale, who is Christopher's friend, is unsure about helping him to find Henry innocent.  As an officer of the law, he must gather evidence to prove guilt.  Two of Henry's friends, who were with him on the evening in question, are convinced of his innocence, while a third is convinced of his guilt.  After interrogating the third friend, Bale begins tow question Henry's guilt.  And, Christopher finds out that the cause of the bitter enmity was a married woman.

Christopher is surprised when someone pushes him into the Thames.  This convinces him that the real killer is afraid that Christopher is on his trail.  Jonathan becomes of a like mind as more evidence comes to light.  The two must now get more to prove the truth and get Henry released.

Author Edward Marston has written another very good historical murder mystery that is well worth the read.

Bust

Max Fisher has arranged for a hit man to get rid of his wife.  Meantime he has been having it off with his busty executive assistant, Angela.  He thinks he has everything in hand by being with a client in a strip club when the execution is supposed to occur.

Bobby Rosa he been taking pictures of girls in the parks ever since he was confined to a wheelchair.  However, when he spots a beautiful, big busted girl in the Hotel Pennsylvania, he is sure that she is up to something other than meeting her husband.   He wants to know more.  He manages to sneak into her room to get some pictures of her in action in the room with her so-called husband.  He is sure that he recognises the man.  Later he realises that it is Max Fisher.  He is definitely onto something.

Detective Kenneth Simmons is positive that Fisher hired a hit man to do the murders.  He just needs to get the proof.

When he is presented with the picture of him and Angela, Fisher wants to contact the hit man for another job, because he can't afford the demands of Rosa.

Authors Ken Bruen and Jason Starr provide a whirlwind of events in this murder mystery, leaving the reader hanging at the conclusion of this, the first in a trilogy about Max and Angela.  A good, quick read.

The Sting of Death

A young woman has gone missing, and her cousin has asked Drew Slocombe, an amateur detective, to look into her disappearance.  Joined by his business partner, Maggs, They commence their sleuthing at the home of the missing woman.  What they discover prompts them to approach the police.  DS Den Cooper takes on the case, primarily because it has been a quiet summer.

Drew is surprised when the missing young woman turns up while he is visiting her mother.  She informs them that she had been kidnapped and locked up.  DS Cooper is informed the following morning that a child is missing and purportedly with the missing woman.  When he tells Drew of the missing child, Drew doesn't inform him that the missing woman is no longer missing.  DS Cooper is concerned when he speaks to the parents of the missing child that the father doesn't seem to be concerned about his daughter.

The missing child is found dead shortly afterwards.  The story takes a strange twist when the young woman who had started the queries in the first place commits suicide. Author Rebecca Tope pulls everything together in this bizarre murder mystery in the closing chapters.  A good, quick read.

The Repentant Rake

Sir Julius Cheever wants Christopher Redmayne to design a house for him in London.  On his way home from Northamptonshire, an attempt is made to rob Redmayne.  Fortunately he gains the upper hand on his robber and leaves him trussed up in the stable where the robbery attempt occurred.

Meantime, back in London, Jonathan Bale has a murder inquiry in his hands.  A wealthy young man has been strangled to death and his body left in an area of the city that doesn't match with who he would have been.  When Bale discovers the name of the victim, he takes it to Redmayne.  The he discovers that the victim is the son of the man who had engaged Redmayne to design the house for him.   Redmayne, in an attempt to glean information from his brother finds out that his brother has been threatened with death, just like the victim.

Redmayne finds out from the sister of the victim that he had been married.  When he and Bale meet with the widow, they discover that the victim's diary is missing.  Another high profile person is threatened with blackmail, and since he is prepared to pay up the amount demanded, Redmayne offers to be the one to hand it over, but capture of the culprit was impossible.

Shortly after this they learn of a third man being blackmailed.  When Redmayne begins to put pressure on a possible suspect, he is almost killed.  That is followed by a second ransom demand to the second blackmail victim.

How will Redmayne and Bale discover the culprit or culprits behind these dastardly deeds?  Author Edward Marston has some exciting adventures for the pair before they can solve this murder mystery.  A good, quick read.

Blind Eye

Someone in Aberdeen is attacking and blinding Polish workers.  Hate letters have been received by the police bragging about doing this and warning of more to come.  DS Logan McRae becomes involved in the investigation, but is pulled off of it when a fight occurs between local dealers and some Polish men trying to recruit them.  He is caught up working with DI Steel on that case, too.  However DCI Finnie pulls them from that claiming that they were interfering in an ongoing investigation.

Steel and McRae are ambushed when they are sent to investigate screaming in a house.  They find one of the McLeod boys has been blinded.  The action becomes more intense as they discover that it is an international ring that is trying to move in on the local crime rings.  Since there are Polish immigrants that are being victimised, they wonder of it is Polish mafia that are involved.

McRae is assigned to travel to Warsaw to liaise with Polish police and find out about similar blindings that had occurred there in the past.  Although the Aberdeen police had someone in custody for the blindings, there was another blinding while McRae was in Kraków.  Could they have made a mistake?

McRae  is able to find one man who had his eyes gouged out, and the name of the man who had done it.  Unfortunately for him and the police officer who is helping him, they are shot at and bombed.  Upon his return he and Steel are given a secret assignment of a parallel investigation into the killings.

The action really heats up in this murder mystery as the pages flyby.  Author Stuart MacBride has once again produced a real page turner that you won't want to put down.

The War That Ended Peace

Europe had basically been at peace since Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in 1815. The Paris Exposition of 1900 brought many nations to that city in harmony.  The western world seemed so far ahead of its far flung colonies.  Paris also hosted the second modern Olympics at the same time.

Improved hygiene had led to a rapid increase in the population of Europe, and this in turn led to a greater feeling of nationalism.  Not only was Europe experiencing this sense of prosperity, but Russia was on the rise and the United States was rapidly becoming an economic power.  Both nations were expanding imperialists, Russia to the east and the USA into the Pacific.

Although the Paris Exposition was bright with new things, it also showed the military might of the nations.  Behind the scenes, alliances were either formed or about to be formed.  The world was on the brink of catastrophe.

Britain was the strongest nation at sea, and Germany was the strongest nation in Europe, yet without a powerful navy and much in the way of colonies.   The royal families of the two nations were tightly related.  Yet, there was lots of animosity, especially on the part of the Germans.  Kaiser Wilhelm set about building a navy to compete with the British navy.  He was totally in charge of the German Empire, whereas Britain was a constitutional monarchy.

The Kaiser's Chancellor, von Bulow, was prepared to stir the pot, causing other countries to be at each other's throats, while Germany slowly and quietly got stronger.  Tirpitz, the Kaiser's new Secretary of the Navy, convinces him that a navy with battleships bigger than British ones is what is needed to secure Germany's place in the world.  Tirpitz's assumptions about how Britain would react proved to be far from the mark.

The naval race between Germany and Britain widened the gulf between those nations and at the same time forced more amicable relations between Britain and France.  France was constantly going through political turmoil since losing the war to Prussia in 1871.   The Dreyfus Affair was an example of the poor shape the French army was in.  Lacking friends in Europe, France turned to an unlikely friend, Russia.  It was Edward VII's visit to France in 1903 that would lead to the creation of the Entente Cordiale the following year.

Russia was stumbling along in the early years of the new century.  An incident on the Dogger Bank almost brought it to war with Britain.  In 1904 Russia found itself at war with Japan over control of parts of China.  The following year, after severely defeating the Russian navy, Japan agreed to peace.  The huge country of Russia was in many ways behind the developments of the rest of Europe.  It was still mainly a feudal country.  Its vastness ruled by a few rich elite, while the majority suffered from poverty. Costly strikes and revolutions were in the near future.

Tsar Nicholas II was an autocratic ruler who rarely took advice, and when he did, his advisors were not the best of men such as Rasputin.  He and his family were blissfully unaware of what was really going on in his own country.  The war with Japan had virtually bankrupted Russia, yet its expenditures on the military was above that of other ministries.   Russia found that it needed to connect with Britain, rather than Germany.  This led to Kaiser Wilhelm to feel surrounded.

Although Italy was part of the Triple Alliance, Germany felt that it could only truly turn to the Austrian-Hungarian Empire for support.  Austria-Hungary resented the strength that developed in German unification and also resented Italy.   The Germans were also concerned about the future of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire because it was made up of so many nationalities, very dissimilar to that of Germany.  The only way to keep the internal strife from wrecking the Dual Monarchy was to maintain a strong military.

The Balkans would prove to be a divisive factor between Russia and the Dual Monarchy.  As the Ottoman Empire began to crumble, the Slavs in the Balkans were guaranteed protection by the Russians, while the Dual Monarchy looked to the possible annexation of that area.

Many philosophers of the time argued against war, pointing out the economic costs as well as the cost in deaths of the best and brightest.  Alfred Nobel would create a peace prize just after the turn of the century.  Many pacifist societies would develope across the world, too.  Unfortunately there was not much of a pacifist movement in Germany, Austria-Hungary, nor Russia.  Nationalism seemed to be the natural enemy of pacifism in every country.

In preparation for war, the continental armies took advantage of the railways to move men and goods.  The Germans especially integrated their plans with railway timetables.   Unfortunately the armies and navies of the time did not communicate with each other, so war plans of one branch of the military were hidden from friends as well as foes.  Nor did the military see the reality of the new killing machines that were now available.  Their thoughts of a glorious war were generations in the past.

Germany was the most prepared for war.  The Sclieffen Plan was intended to eliminate France as quickly as possible using pincer movements to capture Paris.  It also intended to have Germany prepared for a two front war; eliminate France quickly while being on the defensive with Russia, then turning on Russia.  Unfortunately the plan, which meant going through neutral Belgium, didn't take into account the fact that Britain soul be drawn into the war on the side of the French as a result.  The Germans also counted on the Austrian-Hungarian army to keep Russia occupied fighting on the eastern front long enough for them to defeat France, and then bring their army to bear on the Russians.

Russia was well aware of what Germany was doing, but their own preparations were slow.  The Russians also had a spy in the Austrian-Hungarian army who kept them well informed.   Surprisingly both sides thought that the war would be a short one.

The first crisis leading to the war was the Moroccan issue.  Germany had hoped to push Britain and France apart, but in reality actually strengthened their relationship.  The second crisis occurred over the Balkan States.  At one time a part of the powerful Ottoman Empire, these states looked for independence, yet at the same time were viewed as up for grabs as the Ottoman Empire fell into decline.   Austria-Hungary and Russia had their eyes on the spoils.  Rumania, Bulgaria and Serbia would, each in its own way antagonise the Dual Monarchy.   It was Serbia that got under the skin of the Dual Monarchy the worst.

Austria-Hungary came to an agreement with Russia, whereby the former would annex Bosnia-Herzegovina, while the latter would be able to move naval ships freely from the Black Sea into the Mediterranean. Unfortunately things didn't work out well.  Bulgaria declared independence at the same time and Russia didn't get access to the straits.  The Serbs felt threatened by these actions.

By 1911, Europe was on the brink of war again as Germany once again tried to stick its fingers into Morocco.  Italy now decided to take advantage of the decline of the Ottoman Empire by grasping Libya.  The Balkan area was the next area in crisis.   The Ottoman Empire was unable to suppress the nationalistic feelings that were rising in the area.  Minorities turned one upon the other.

Yet, at the same time, a Balkan League was formed when Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro formed a defensive alliance.  Before long, Montenegro declared war on the Ottoman Empire, and were quickly joined by the other Balkan states.  It was a short successful war in the sense that the Balkan states threw out the Ottomans.  The major powers brokered a peace for fear of the war spreading.  They had a multitude of other reasons, too.

Aware that Prussia and Piedmont had created new, larger nations, Vienna was against Serbia attempting to do the same.  Russia, although far from prepared for war, did a trial mobilisation at this time, which caused Vienna to do the same.  Albania proved to be an issue, but finally the two powers backed down, fearful of the cost.  However, Montenegro seized a key city, which set Vienna threatening war.  Russia then was forced to back up its Slav brothers.  Seeing the situation they had created, Montenegro gave up the city, and war was once again averted.

In the middle of June 1913, Bulgaria launched a war against Serbia and Greece.  Rumania and the Ottoman Empire joined with Serbia and Greece, and before long, Bulgaria had lost the war and territory. However, Serbia and Albania remained at odds.   Threatened with war by Austria-Hungary, the Serbs backed down.

1914 brought renewed tensions.  As the year progressed, everyone felt that war was inevitable.  Sunday June 28, 1914 was a beautiful day throughout Europe; summer was underway and the leadership had commenced their summer holidays.  The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife was the final crisis, which brought on the dark days of the Great War.

Author Margaret Macmillan has written an excellent book explaining the many facets that led up to The Great War.  For a lover of history, this was a very enjoyable read.

The Amorous Nightingale

Christopher Redmayne has been engaged to design another house in London.  However, the builder is one that is not going to see eye-to-eye with him.  But, will they get to build the new house?  Redmayne has been commanded to the king's presence where he is informed that a famous actress has been abducted.  The king wants Redmayne and Constable Jonathan Bale to investigate and bring the woman safely back.

The kidnappers have demanded five thousand pounds ransom from the king.  The king does not have that kind of money.  Redmayne turns to his brother for his knowledge of the upper levels of society.  Bale isn't interested in finding the actress because he feels that the theatre is the foulest of depravity.  Henry, Christopher's brother, provides some names of potential abductors.

Bale decides to become involved in the search when the actress' maid is also abducted because he knew her family.  It isn't long after this that Redmayne receives a warning in the form of his brother being badly beaten up.  Another message is left at the palace when the maid's body is surreptitiously delivered there.

Author Edward Marston hints at various culprits throughout this historical murder mystery, but Redmayne and Consable Bale are able to eliminate them until the true culprits are found out in the end.  A very good, enjoyable, quick read.

A Question of Honor

Ten years prior to the Great War a lieutenant in the British army had committed murders in England and then disappeared in India.  An Indian soldier in his dying breaths tells Bess Crawford that he has seen the lieutenant serving in France.  Bess is sure she sees him later, too.

Bess and family friend, Simon Brandon set out to investigate.  Bess learns of the family the lieutenant supposedly killed.  The killing he apparently has committed just don't seem to match up with the man they knew.   As their investigation progresses Bess learns that the lieutenant did have a connection to the house where the family was murdered, however they don't have any idea of what the connection is.

Suspicion on the lieutenant is lightened somewhat when an arson fire kills two people in Winchester, whom possibly had information on the lieutenant, after Bess and Simon had visited them.  The lieutenant was in France working under an assumed name as a sapper.  Bess later meets him when he is brought in suffering from influenza.  His story confuses her about his guilt, yet she doesn't betray him.

However, once again, Bess is convinced of his guilt, when upon recovering, and being sent back to the front, he is shortly thereafter taken prisoner.  She is convinced he contrived to be taken prisoner so he wouldn't be brought to trial.

Author Charles Todd provides a surprising twist to the conclusion of this World War One murder mystery.  A good, quick read.  (I just wish that if this American author is going to write British novels, that he would use British spellings, such as Honour)

The King's Evil

Pudding Lane, London, September 1666.  A poorly tended fire in a bakery oven one night has taken the opportunity to grow.  And grow it did, for the closely packed wooden houses were good fuel to feed it.  London burned for four days.  In its aftermath, the city lay destroyed, burned to the ground.

Returning home from Oxford, Christopher Redmayne finds that his house and that of his brother, Henry have survived the conflagration.  Henry encourages Christopher to taken advantage of the tragedy.

Constable Jonathan Bale is doing his best to deter thieves taking advantage, too.  Thieve proliferated the city in search of goods that were now easily accessible.  Having met Redmayne on couple of occasions, Bale is not impressed by him.  Bale wants to maintain his honest position as a constable.  Redmayne has rubbed him the wrong way from the get go.

However, the two men find themselves working together when Redmayne 's employer is brutally murdered in the house Redmayne had designed for him.  Redmayne is determined to find the murderer.  As Redmayne begins his quest, he discovers some surprising things about the victim.  Meantime, Bale has discovered that the victim was not well liked amongst his business rivals.  The question arises, did the house that Redmayne had designed have anything to do with the murder?

Not long after this, the victim's lawyer is murdered.  Things point to a ship owned by the victim, and connections in France.  What dangers are Redmayne and Bale getting themselves into as their investigation progresses?

Author Edward Marston provides plenty of intrigue, tension and danger in the concluding pages of this historical murder mystery.  A very good read.

Believe or Die

Michael is travelling, in search of a particular physician.  One evening he happens to be invited to be the guest of Richard Mead.  That evening over a drink, Richard tells his story.

In 1642, King Charles is trying to force England towards papism, but parliament has refused his demands.  Throughout the country there are those who support him, and those who oppose him.

Two friends are to find themselves on opposite sides of the forthcoming war, and how this occurred is simply by accident.  Will Pitkin, Richard's friend, is involved in a riot and accidentally kills Richard's girlfriend.  A short time later, bent on vengeance, and intending to kill Will, Richard accidentally kills Will's girlfriend.  Both end up on the side that they had really opposed; Will in support of the king, and Richard supporting parliament.

Battles ensued between the Roundheads and the Caveliers.  Oliver Cromwell vowed to make the Roundhead army into the best in the land, while Prince Rupert led the king's forces.   Meantime, Will and Richard are lucky to survive the first season of fighting.  There would be more battles to come, angering these two men more and more at each other.  Unfortunately for King Charles, his treachery would lead to his execution in 1649.

Cromwell is now in charge of England, and he imposes his Puritan views on the nation. Royalist supporters are hunted down, and if they don't recant, the are killed.  Is this what England fought the civil wars for, Richard wonders.  Yet, he has his own vengeance in mind.  Will Pitkin must be found and killed.

Richard's hope of killing Will are thwarted when Will is captured by seafaring pirates and sold as a slave to the Moors.  With the war done, Richard goes in search of a  man who is killing witches.  Meantime, Will is struggling with his life as a slave.  In his despair he converts to Islam.

Luck is on Will's side.  An escape comes his way, plus a business venture.  However, before he can complete his part in the business venture he must complete his vow of killing his former friend, Richard.

Author M. J. Harris is very descriptive in his writing of the English Civil Wars that for a period of time it seems that Richard and Will become superfluous to the story.  However, when he gets back on track a good story ensues, however the reader is left hanging at the end.  Otherwise a good read.

Grave Concerns

Drew Slocombe has been developing his remote property for the purpose of having natural burials on it.   One of his employees, while going over the land with a metal detector discovers a body of a woman.  Because of other recent deaths, the police don't prioritize her remains.  Later, a young woman comes to Drew and suggests to him that the body could be that of her mother, and that her husband possibly killed her.  She is not prepared to share this information with the police.  Is it just the ramblings of a neurotic pregnant woman, or is there more to it?

Shortly afterwards a retired doctor visits Drew and tells a bizarre story about who the woman could possibly be.  He doesn't want to approach the police with his theory of who the woman could be.  However, when he names the daughter of the woman, it turns out that the daughter is the one who had visited Drew earlier.

When he is offered two thousand quid to search for the daughter's mother, Drew can't resist because his family is in need of the money.   Meantime, strange happenings are occurring in the burying grounds, which could end up putting people off wanting to be buried there.  Drew wants to ignore it, while his partner, Maggs is prepared to go to the police.

Author Rebecca Tope presents several twists and turns in the concluding chapters of this murder mystery.  A good, quick read.

Prime Suspect

DCI Jane Tennison has been trying to get ahead on the major crimes unit, but she is continually assigned menial tasks.  After a recent murder case is given to a male DCI, John Shefford, Tennison complains to her superior to no avail.

Fortunately for Tennison, Shefford suddenly collapses and dies from a massive heart attack.  Tennison demands, and is given the case, much to the disgust of Shefford's team.  She now embarks on learning about the case as quickly as possible.   She quickly discovers that the victim has been wrongly identified.  That in itself can get the case the team had put together earlier against a man thrown out of court.

Tennison orders the team to gather new evidence, which they resent.  DS Otley is doing everything to hamper her work and at the same time pin it on the man they have arrested.  Unfortunately time runs out on them, and he must be released.

However, moments after the man is released, Otley is apprised of the discovery of another victim.  He informs Tennison and later tells her that Shefford was sure that there was another victim in the north of similar circumstances.  Tennison persists in her belief that they are following up on the prime suspect despite his claims of innocence.

Although author Lynda La Plante's novel "Prime Suspect" gets off to a slow start, it slowly builds up steam, turning into a very good murder mystery.  Well worth the read, and making me want to read the two sequels.

A Bloody Field by Shrewsbury

It is 1399 and Henry has returned from Ireland because Richard II has been incarcerated in The Tower.  Henry's father is crowned king of England and Henry becomes the Prince of Wales.  Henry's guardian and tutor is the legendary Sir Henry Percy, also known as Hotspur.  Not long after this, Richard dies.

Wales is in rebellion and Hotspur wants to settle the dispute without further war.  He begins secret negotiations with Owen ap Griffith, leader of the Welsh.  At this time, Lord Grey takes it upon himself to make an incursion into Wales.   Unfortunately for him, Griffith kills his men and takes him hostage.  Meantime to the north, the Scots are causing trouble.  Hotspur must head north, leaving the young prince in charge of the marches.

Not long after this, Edmund Mortimer is taken prisoner after a battle with the Welsh.  King Henry decides he has no choice but to go to war with the Welsh.  Unfortunately for him, he is rebuffed, not in battle, but by a viscous autumn storm.  Defeated and humiliated Henry returns to England.  To the north, Hotspur has better luck, defeating the Scots and taking Lord Douglas captive.

Desperately in need of money, King Henry orders all prisoners held for ransom to be turned over to him.  Hotspur does not like this order.  Henry's demands will turn his foremost supporter against him.  What ensues sets the future for the War of the Roses.

Author Edith Pargeter has written a very good historical novel that outlines the House of Lancaster's claim to the throne of England and how it was secured in a single battle.  A good read.

Red to Black

Finn works for the British embassy in Moscow.  Moscow's attempts to honey trap him have had no success until they send Anna.  He is quite taken by Anna, but she is also taken by him.  Before long, they are working together.

When Putin comes to power, Finn rails against the Russian people for allowing this former KGB agent to become their leader.  He also rails against his own country for supporting Putin.  He seems to be going off the tracks, but Anna understands that he he is doing it on purpose.  He seems to have something in mind.

After Finn is taken back to Britain, and interrogated he resumes a normal lifestyle for a bit.  However, he then goes feral, and heads to Germany where he meets up with Dieter, a former agent of the BND.  He is searching for information on East German agents and their connection to Putin.

It is the events of 9-11 that change things forever.  Finn knows that President Bush will now focus in Iraq, thereby leaving Putin to do as he pleases.  He also fears that Anna's controllers will try to create a wedge between the two of them.

Author Alex Dryden has written an excellent thriller based on his knowledge and experiences as a journalist in Russia.  It opens the reader's eyes to how Putin came to power and has maintained that power through international intrigue.  A very good read.  I am looking forward to the sequel, "Moscow Sting".

Spies of the Balkans

Costa Zannis has rapidly risen through the ranks of the police in Salonika.  Hitler's armies are poised to invade Greece and Zannis finds himself in the midst of an oncoming war.  He has just dealt with the death of a German national and now he has a German Jew who is trying to smuggle children through Greece to Turkey to deal with.

Later that same woman wants Zannis to help smuggle more Jews.  However, before he can consider that, Italy invades Greece.  Being a reservist, Zannis is called up.  Things are quiet for the most part because Mussolini's troops have invaded late in the year and the mountains are an advantage to the Greeks.

Zannis is tasked with liaising with Marko Pavlic from Yugoslavia.  They find to each other's delight that they are both policemen.  Unfortunately for both of them, their war doesn't last very long because their barracks is bombed.  Before parting ways Zannis convinces Pavlic to become involved in the smuggling of Jews out of Germany.  Back in Salonika, Zannis begins to set up his network.

How long can the network stay up and running before the Gestapo break it down?  Will Hitler's ambitions for the Balkan countries stop the network?  Author Alan Furst has written an exciting spy thriller that the reader will find as hard to put down as I did.

The Last Good Man

In Jewish scripture there is a story of God placing 36 good people on the earth to protect humanity.  Without these people, humanity will perish.  The 36 do not know that they are the chosen ones.   When these people start dying off, it is assumed that they are being murdered.

In Copenhagen, a veteran detective, Niels Bentzon is placed in charge of warning the good people of Denmark to be ready,  the question, is how does he find the good people?  During his quest, he meets Hannah Lund, an astrophysicist.  Hannah is drawn in by the mystery.

Meantime, in Venice, another detective has been doing a lot of research on the same thing, and has amassed a tremendous file.  He is also occupied by looking after his dying mother.  His seniors suspend him because he is so focused on his investigation.  Bentzon convinces him to fax all his material to him.

Bentzon and Hannah study the material.  Hannah sees a pattern to the deaths.  She is able to calculate where the remaining two of the 36 will die.   One will be in Copenhagen and one in Venice.  Now, it falls on the pair to find the people who will die and prevent them from going to the place of death.

Author A. J. Kazinski creates a very exciting and tense thriller in this novel.  It is a book that the reader will find hard to put down.

A Very Private Murder

Charlie Priest has been taken off his leave because of a breech of security at the grand opening of a new mall in Heckley.  The word 'fuck' had been painted on the plaque commemorating the opening of the mall.  The question is, who is it directed at?

Meantime there have been some robberies with violence in the area.  Priest would like to be involved in the investigation, however his assigned task is the vandalism.  Unfortunately nothing of interest appears in the vandalism case, so Priest and his team is able to concentrate on the robberies.   That is, until the man at the centre of the vandalism is found with his brains blown out.

Throughout his investigation, Charlie learns quite a bit about the lifestyle of the rich and famous.  He cracks the case despite making a few errors along the way and at the same time his team is able to find the men who were using a vicious pitbull to commit robberies.  A good, quick, read by author Stuart Pawson.

The Black House

Fin Macleod has recently lost a child and it has kept him from returning to his policing job in Edinburgh.  Now he has been forced back to work because of a murder in his hometown on the Isle of Lewis; the question is whether it is the same killer he had been investigating in Edinburgh.

DS George Gunn meets him at the airport in Stornoway.  They immediately connect, however, the DCI sent from the mainland, Tom Smith is not impressed.  He sees no need for Fin, nor help from the local police.  Gunn tells Fin that the victim had been accused of an assault and a sexual assault.

As Fin progresses with his investigation, memories of his childhood in the area come flooding back.  Will the ghosts of his past help him solve the murders?

Author Peter May uses flashbacks to develop the characters in this murder mystery, weaving them into the main plot.  The story becomes very intense, and is hard to put down.  A very good read, and I look forward to reading the next two books in this trilogy.

The Absent One

Detective Superintendent Carl Morck has just returned from his vacation and been handed a file containing a cold case.  He has also been provided with a new secretary, Rose Knudsen.  His assistant, Assad, points out that they may have gotten the cold case because of funds flowing into the account of one person who pled guilty to the murders.  There were other suspects, but being children of wealthy parents, no prosecution followed.

Where the file had come from was a mystery, as were the bits of information that appeared on his desk afterwards.  Returning to the scene of the crime Morck and Assad discover a Trivial Pursuit game set up similarly to one that had been found at the scene of the crime.  What is the meaning of that?

Just as Morck and Assad are provided with more information, they are told by their superiors to stop the investigation.  Morck becomes more determined to carry on as a result.  However, both his home and car are shortly thereafter tampered with.  This only strengthens his resolve.

Morck, Assad and Rose set about gathering information on the gang.  As the information comes in, Morck gets to know the members of the gang.  They are violent and deadly.  Author Jussi Adler-Olsen creates a lot of tension for the reader as he draws this murder mystery thriller to its conclusion.   A very good read, hard to put down.

The Butcher Beyond

Charlie Woodend has taken his wife to Spain for a rest.  The doctor has recommended it for her health.  However, Charlie is unable to stop being the policeman that he is.  He immediately becomes suspicious of a man travelling on the bus with them to their hotel.  Fortuitously Charlie meets a Spanish policeman, who is no longer working due to Franco, the first evening in a pub.

That evening upon returning to his hotel, Charlie sees a man fall from the next room's balcony.  Upon a cursory examination of the body, he is positive that the man had been murdered.  Charlie is arrested and taken in for questioning, but released shortly afterwards.  Charlie's new ex-policeman friend, Paco Ruiz, tries to convince him into helping with a surreptitious investigation.

The body is identified and as a result, Charlie is forced by the British consul to work with a local police officer, by the name of Lopez, whom he despises.  Meanwhile back in England, Charlie's protégés, Bob Rutter and Monika Paniatowski begin by questioning the widow and then the victim's best friend.

Charlie is having no luck with his interrogations due to the interference of the the local policeman.  Paco, on the other hand is beginning to learn more.  Unfortunately, Lopez has a spy who also learns what Paco has discovered.  This gives him a very strong hand.

When the mayor of the Spanish town is murdered, Lopez is in a panic.  He realises that he needs the help of Charlie.  However, Woodend refuses to help unless he has the help of Paco.  Lopez ungraciously acquiesces.

Author Sally Spencer ensures that Woodend has his work cut out for him in solving the murders, and it is done in a very unusual way.  A good, quick read.

Backlash

Chief Superintendent Kershaw has just been in a serious road accident.  Apparently he has been desperately searching for his wife.  DI Colin Beresford meets his boss at the house of Kershaw and is surprised when DCI Monika Paniatowski introduces DS Katherine Meadows as her new bagman.

For some reason, Kershaw is convinced that his wife has been kidnapped.  It is DC Jack Crane that brings it to the attention of Monika that there appears to have been a forced entry into Kershaw's house. Bad Monika starts her investigation she comes to the realisation that she really doesn't know her superintendent.

Later that second morning, Monika is approached by two prostitutes who inform her that one of their friends has disappeared.  After hearing their story, Monika is convinced that the two cases could be tied together.  She gets reluctant support from her superior to carry on investigating both, and despite the support from her DI, Beresford is wary because of the damage it could do to her career.

The badly mutilated body of a young woman is found in the toilet of a pub on the nearby moors.  A third prostitute is able to provide a possible culprit when she looks at mug shots.  The team hustles to capture the perp.  Unfortunately they only find him and not Kershaw's wife.  The interview with him doesn't give any aid to the investigation either.  Are they too late?

Author Sally Spencer provides a couple of surprising turns of events as the reader progresses to the climax of this murder mystery.  A very good read; one of Spencer's best.

The Hanging Woods

DCI Hannah Scarlett and her team have been given the cold case of a missing boy.  His younger sister had recently contacted Hannah about the case.  She didn't want her brother to be forgotten nor her uncle to still be blamed for his disappearance.she had been persuaded by Hannah's friend Daniel Kind to contact Hannah.  Unfortunately, Hannah hadn't paid her any attention, so the young woman committed suicide.

Many in the community believe that the uncle killed his nephew, but the suicide victim never believed that.  At a dinner hosted by a local wealthy family, Daniel learns some interesting news; a young man who is doing voluntary work at a local library has claimed to be the illegitimate half-brother of the suicide.

Unfortunately, the man is killed when he confronts someone about his parentage.  Will more deaths occur before Hannah can solve the cold case and her colleagues solve the current cases?  Author, Martin Edwards has a few surprises up his sleeve before the conclusion.  A very good, quick read.

The Witch Maker

DCI Charlie Woodend has been given three days to solve the murder of the witch maker in Hallerton.  The burning of the witch must go ahead say the people on high because of its cultural value.  He takes his DS, Monika Paniatowski with him to begin the investigation.  Woodend tells DI Bob Rutter to investigate criminal activity in the town back to 1604 when the first witch was born.

As Woodend and Paniatowski investigate the town, much comes to light about the history of the town and the burning of the witch.  Also for them to consider is a murder that occurred 20 years earlier plus the recent suicides of two women of the town.   How do they factor in to the most recent murder?

It takes some time before Charlie is able to put together just what brought about the murders.  The reader has had a sense of a murderer throughout this mystery by Sally Spencer, but once again, the author comes up with a surprising conclusion.  A good quick read.

Peril on the Royal Train

Inspector Robert Colbeck has been requested to investigate a derailment in Scotland.  Unfortunately Superintendent Tallis doesn't want him to go.  He feels that London has enough crime to keep Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming busy.  Only the threat of Colbeck resigning forces the hand of Tallis to allow him to go to Scotland with Leeming to investigate the crime scene.

When they arrive at the accident scene, Colbeck and Leeming discover that the railway police superintendent is an old rival of theirs.  McTurk has his own mind about the accident and has no intention of helping the two detectives from Scotland Yard solve the crime.   The police inspector, Malcolm Rae, is of a similar bent and not likely to work well with the detectives from Scotland Yard.

While gathering information, Colbeck finds out that the railway has been threatened by sabbatarians.  Meantime back in London, a robbery occurs at the home of the owner of the LWNR.  Colbeck's father-in-law is sure that the robbery isn't what it seems.  He is sure that the burglar was after the time of the train carrying the Queen to Balmoral would be running, the details of which were in the safe which was broken into.

Colbeck is informed that the gunpowder for the attack on the railway came from an army barracks.  It convinces him that there is more to come.  Returning to London, the two detectives go in search of a criminal who can break into safes.  But will they find the information in time to save the royal family?

Author Edward Marston builds up the tension as Colbeck and Leeming fight their way to solving this murder mystery.  A good, quick read.

Grief Encounters

DCI Charlie Priest has been handed a murder case where the victim has been brutally murdered.  He recognises a tattoo on her buttocks; she had been a nude model when he was studying art.  The team finds out who the victim had been living with up until a year earlier.  Priest speaks to the man and finds out the significance of the tattoo.  A previous boyfriend had arranged for it.  The former is sure the latter had killed her.

Policing isn't just about murder cases, and Charlie has another case he has undertaken.  One of the senior police officers was forced to resign because he had forbidden images on his computer.  He is sure that they were planted there, but he is unable to prove it.  Charlie is determined to help him.  Later, an MP commits suicide for similar reasons.  When a woman is arrested for drink driving, her story turns out to be very similar to his senior officer's.

The team finds the accused murderer, but after Charlie and his DS, Dave Sparkington, have interviewed him, they are not so sure that they have the right man.   However, author Stuart Pawson has Charlie and the team working hard to solve this crime, while Charlie does some delicate work of his own to figure out the other.  A very good, quick read.

Where Shadows Dance

It is 1812 and Dr. Paul Gibson has just received the body of a young man from grave robbers.  He had specifically requested this young man because he had died from a defective heart.  It is while cleaning up the corpse that Gibson discovers a knife wound in the back of the young man's neck.

Gibson calls upon his friend Sebastian St. Cyr to tell him what he has found.  St. Cyr agrees to investigate the murder.  He discovers that the young victim had been employed by the Foreign Office.  Suspects include Russians, Turks, Swedes, French and Americans!

St. Cyr also has his hands full with Miss Hero Jarvis.  She is expecting his baby.  The two really do not get along, but for the baby's sake he asks her to marry him, and surprisingly she agrees.

As his investigation progresses, St. Cyr learns more about the victim and his work at the Foreign Office.  He is shocked later when a Swedish man is killed; one who could have been providing the victim with information.  Another potential witness is garrotted the next day.  It appears that spies are being targeted.  Things take a turn for the worse when Hero is kidnapped.

Author C. S. Harris provides an exciting conclusion to this historical murder mystery.  The St. Cyr series continues to provide the reader with thrilling reads.

The Serpent Pool

DCI Hannah Scarlett has a new DS on her cold case team.  She wants her team to investigate the death of a young woman who had been found tied up and drowned in a shallow lake six years earlier.  As the investigation progresses, Scarlett begins to wonder if her victim is tied to the recent murder of a book collector.

Meantime, Scarlett's friend, Daniel Kind has returned from overseas to find his sister, Louise partnered up with a wealth lawyer.  Unfortunately that relationship ends shortly after his return acrimoniously.  Feeling he needs to set things right, Daniel goes to visit the lawyer, only to find him missing.  Concerned, a few days later, and accompanied by Louise, and the lawyer's gardener, they find the lawyer killed and at the bottom of a disused well.

It is something that Louise tells Daniel and which he passes on to Hannah, that shows a link between the three deaths.  More links appear as the cold case team meets with the team investigating the two new murders.  Can DCI Scarlett's team solve the cases before more deaths occur?

Once again, author Martin Edwards has written a very good murder mystery, which is hard to put down.

A Death Left Hanging

In 1934 a woman was hanged for murdering her husband.  Quite some time later, her daughter, Jane Hartley QC, has asked the chief constable to investigate the murder further because she believes that her mother was framed for the murder.  She Is sure that the criminal involved was the police officer who investigated the case, and he is now a peer of the realm.  The chief constable hands this poisoned chalice to DCI Charlie Woodend.

Woodend assembles his team, DS Monika Paniatowski and DI Bob Rutter.  Rutter has the case file and the team agree that the investigating officer did not do a good job of interrogating the suspect.  It was as if he wanted to wrap up the investigation as quickly as possible for his own purposes.  Unfortunately for the team, Hartley decides to go to the press with the story.  It is at that point that the peer of the realm sticks his nose in and threatens Woodend, not impressing Charlie one bit.

This case brings a lot of revelations to the team, especially Monika.  However, it is the revelations that help clear up this gold case.  Another good, quick read in the DCI Charlie Woodend series by author Sally Spencer.

What Remains of Heaven

It is 1812 and the Bishop Of London has been foully murdered.  Sebastian St. Cyr and the Archbishop of Canterbury want him to investigate the murder.  Britain has been at war in Europe for some time now, and the Americans are threatening to invade Canada. The interesting thing is that the bishop's body is on top of a another body that has been dead for several years, and it appears that he too was murdered, because there is a knife in his back.

As he begins his investigation, St, Cyr discovers that Hero Jarvis had been meeting with the bishop on the night he was murdered.  Tom, St. Cyr's tiger, in his investigations, discovers that a man who had been in St. Cyr's army unit, and had been punished by him has vowed to kill St. Cyr should he ever see him.

Are the two murders connected in any way?  Could the bishop have killed the first victim and then been murdered in revenge?  Later the older victim is identified as an eldest brother of the bishop because of a ring he was wearing.  The elder brother had gone missing quite some time earlier.  Now the ring is missing.

More murder and revelations of a surprising nature are revealed to St. Cyr before he solves this mystery.  A very good read from author C. S. Harris.

Undercurrent

DI Andy Horton has just come home from a break, when he spots a police car with its blue lights flashing.  Curious, he finds that there is a suspicious death.  A professor has plunged to his death in a dry dock.  The victim is a professor who had given a lecture earlier that night.  Horton is sure that it was not a suicide, but how can he prove it?

Shortly after this, a young man is found dead on a yacht.  Horton realises, after he recognises the name of the victim, that he had been at the aforementioned lecture.  However, Horton's superintendent, Uckfield refuses to see any link.  Despite this Horton and DS Barney Cantelli continue to investigate.  They are warned off by their superiors.  Horton comes to the realisation that there is more to this investigation than meets the eye.

Horton is sure that the victims could have something to do with terrorism.  He enlists the help of his friend and pathologist, Gaye Clayton.  Later that night an attempt is made on his life.  The following morning Horton is called out to another suspicious death.  A man has been brutally murdered, and Horton recognises him as having been at the lecture, too.  He can't convince Uckfield that the three deaths are tied together.

Horton and Cantelli come up with a plethora of suspects.  But, how can they narrow it down?   Author Pauline Rowson has once again excelled.   This is a murder mystery you won't want to put down.  An excellent read.

Shooting Elvis

DI Charlie Priest, and DS Dave Sparkington have been called out to what appears to be a suicide by electrocution.  However, after studying the way the wires were wrapped around the thumbs of the victim, it appears that they have a murder on their hands.

As Priest's team delves further into the background of the victim, it is discovered that he was a convicted killer, who had served his time.  Only, it appears that the victim isn't the killer; the killer still is languishing in jail.  Was he killed simply because he resembled the jailed killer?

Sometime after this a small-time criminal is murdered.  Although the killing is in a different fashion, Priest wonders if the two are linked.  A psychiatrist is called in, and he is of the opinion that the two cases are linked.

Priest is thrown for a loop one evening when his girlfriend doesn't return from a run. The search team finds one of her shoes along the edge of her running route.  Fortunately she escapes from her attacker with only a few bruises.  Priest is taken off the case when his friend, a doctor, is brutally murdered, but for what reason?

Author Stuart Pawson maintains an electrically charged pace through the whole of this murder mystery;  this is a book that you will not want to put down.

Never End

A serial rapist is on the loose in Gothenburg.  The first girl he attacked has survived, but he killed the second one.  For Erik Winter and his team, it brings back memories of a previous rapist.  It reminds Winter of a similar case five years earlier.  Just shortly after the second attack, one of Winter's team members, Fredrik Halders, loses his ex-wife in a hit and run accident.

There is a commonality in the two rape victims who died.  They had both been strangled, and both had been wearing a belt, which was missing.  Sure about the commonality, Winter digs deeper.  He discovers photos of the two dead girls taken in exactly the same place.  But how does the third victim tie in?

Another young woman is murdered.  She managed to call her home using her mobile phone before she was killed, so the police have the sounds of her murderer on her answer machine.  A technician is able to eliminate the noises surrounding the voice and determines that the murderer is saying "Never again."  But, what significance does that have?

Author Ake Edwardson pulls together an exciting story that starts off very slowly, and maintains that pace for a major portion of the murder mystery, but has an adrenalin filled rush as it drives to the climax.  A very good, and thoroughly enjoyable read.

The Arsenic Labyrinth

Journalist Tony Di Venuto has asked DCI Hannah Scarlett to re-open the case of Emma Bestwick, who has been missing for ten years.  An anonymous caller has informed the journalist that Emma won't be coming back.  Scarlett discusses the case with her retired colleague, Les, Bryant, who is contracted to work on cold case files.  They decide to reopen the case.

A short time later, the mysterious voice tells Di Venuto where the body of Emma can be found.  Scarlett's superior tells her to go ahead with the search for the body.  The search team is surprised and shocked when another body is found nearby Emma's at the bottom of a mining shaft.

Not long after this, Scarlett is informed of another body found nearby in the lake.  This one is recently dead, and he is known to the police.  On top of that, he had been released from prison just shortly before Emma disappeared.

It is Scarlett's historian friend, Daniel Kind, who puts a name to the second victim.  He discovers it in a journal that he was reading for research into the Lake Distrct.  However, that doesn't solve the murder of Emma.  Author Martin Edwards has a few twists and turns up his writing sleeve before the story ends.  A good, quick read.

Death at the Jesus House

It is 1910 and a murder has occurred at an almshouse outside London.  Sir Peregrine Fishborne is not impressed with the inspector in charge, one Albert Fletcher, so he requests the help of Sir Francis Powerscourt.  There is an unusual mark on the chest of the victim that draws the attention of Powerscourt and Fletcher.

While the investigation is just starting, Fletcher receives a telegram from Fishborne that another murder has been committed in a school he is responsible for in Norfolk.  This victim also has the same imprint on his chest.  Peregrine wants Powerscourt to immediately investigate that murder, too.  Powerscourt finds an Inspector Grime in charge of the investigation.

It isn't long before a third victim turns up.  This one is a member of the governing body of the almshouse and school and he also has the same mark left on his chest. Powerscourt meets a third inspector, one Miles Devereux.

Meantime, Johnny Fitzgerald, discovers that William Monk, warden of the almshouse might be fiddling with the wills of the inmates.  At the same time, Powerscourt finds out that the company in charge of the three venues, plus others, could be sold in the near future, making a lot of money for the owners.  It appears that is the leaders of the opposition are the ones who were murdered.

Conspiracy, fraud, international intrigue, history, and vengeance are all tied up in the latest murder mystery involving Lord Francis Powerscourt.  However, author David Dickinson does leave the reader wondering about one thing at the end of the novel. A very good read.

A Death to Record

DS Den Cooper has been called out to a dairy farm where a body has been found. Cooper is positive that the culprit is the man who stole his girlfriend, Lilah.  She becomes very antagonist towards Cooper as the boyfriend is taken in for questioning.

Cooper is surprised that nobody seems to have any sympathy for the victim.  Later it is discovered that the victim was involved in wanting to ensure that all badgers in the area be culled because it was thought that they were a source of TB for the cattle.

There seem to be quite a number of potential suspects that Cooper has to investigate, because there are so many people who had bad feelings towards the victim.  He had been a badger baiter and wasn't above antagonising others.

Author Rebecca Tope gives the reader a few surprising twists to the story before bringing  it to its ultimate conclusion.  A good read.

Death Lies Beneath

A minor criminal had been clobbered over the head and then hospitalised.  Unfortunately he had meandered out of the hospital and died.  DI Andy Horton is wondering if there is more to the death than what appears on the surface.  Two of the mourners at the funeral were driving flash cars, causing Horton to wonder how they could afford them, since they were supposedly on benefits.

The morning after the funeral, Horton is called to a salvage yard where the body of a woman has been found.  Surprisingly, Horton realises that he had seen her at the funeral the previous day.  The question that arises is, is the victim connected the criminal whose funeral was the previous day, and if so, what was the connection?

Horton is now assigned a new partner from Europol.  He is surprised when Agent Eames is a woman.  Eames, while examining the victim's clothing, indicates that they are very expensive.  This gives Horton some new theories about her murder.

While checking with the warden of the prison where the first victim had once resided, Horton finds out that the victim had had a picture of the female victim in his cell.  While returning to his office, shortly afterwards, Horton is informed that police divers have recovered a bracelet - with an arm, where the female victim had been found.

Identification of the second remains are of another woman who had disappeared quite a few years earlier.  A potential suspect is identified, but when he dies the question arises, was it a remorseful suicide or something else?

Author Pauline Rowson throws the readers a couple of curve balls before drawing this murder mystery to a close.  A thoroughly good read.

Over the Edge

Charlie Priest's team is investigating an MVA.  It appears that the driver was racing, he was also carrying £500 in twenties and a Glock 38.  The vehicle in question was one of an identical pair of vehicles recently stolen.  The other was found shortly afterwards torched.  Although Priest can't attribute a crime to the death, he is sure that there is a connection to something bigger.

It isn't long after this that a former school mate of Priest's, Tony Krabbe, is murdered by an ice axe.  Krabbe was a mountaineering enthusiast.  Looking further into Krabbe's past points Priest in the direction of a known criminal.  Is there a connection, and if so, how can it be proved?

A few weeks into the investigation a new case surfaces.  Two bodies are found in the countryside.  Both are female and could be illegal immigrants.  As Priest and his team continue the investigation, more crimes seem to pile up on the suspect he has in mind.  It is just a matter of putting it all together and finding the suspect.

Author Stuart Pawson has written an excellent crime thriller in "Over the Edge", one that the reader will not want to put down.  I enjoyed this read, and look forward to the next in this series.

Where Serpents Sleep

It is 1812 and Sebastian St. Cyr has just been picked up by Hero Jarvis, daughter of Lord Jarvis.  She wants him to investigate a young woman, whom Hero believes was well-born, and forced into prostitution.  Unfortunately the said young woman was killed in suspicious circumstances.  The home where she was staying was burned to the ground and several women who were living there also died.

Meantime, Lord Jarvis has assigned his man, Colonel Epsom-Smith, to look into the matter and discretely kill those responsible.  Sir William Hadley, in charge of Bow Street, refuses to allow St. Cyr's friend Dr. Paul Gibson to perform any autopsies, despite evidence showing that the women had been stabbed before being burned.  Will St. Cyr and Epsom-Smith be working together or at cross purposes on this investigation?

As St. Cyr ramps up his investigation, he finds out that Hadley knew the victim.  Meantime Miss Jarvis has done some investigating of her own and come up with a possible name for the victim.  St. Cyr realises that he knows the victim's brother.  Later one evening two highwaymen attempt to assassinate Miss Jarvis.  She kills one and badly wounds the other.

More deaths will occur before St. Cyr solves this murder mystery.  Author C. S. Harris makes the concluding pages quite thrilling.  Quite a good read.

The Dogs of Rome

Arturo Clemente, an animal rights activist in Rome, has just been stabbed to death in his apartment.  Is it a political murder, as his wife is a member of parliament for the Greens?  Commissioner Alec Blume has been sent to investigate.

Because it is seemingly a political murder, several other officers are interested in the investigation.  Blume is sure that his former protege, D'Amico is set upon screwing the investigation up for him.  Blume is sure that the murder is neither random, nor political.  Blume's superior, Gallone, doesn't want him questioning the victim's widow for some reason.  He is determined to pin the murder elsewhere.

Gallone's hunt results in a motor vehicle accident causing injury to Blume and his partner, Paoloni, and the shooting death of another police officer.  Blume and Paoloni are convinced that the man that they were after was not involved in the murder, but now they must go after him for the murder of the policeman.

Despite his injuries, Blume persists in the belief that another man was the killer of the first victim, and he begins to put together his case.

Author Conor Fitzgerald introduces numerous characters right away in this murder mystery, and it takes a few chapters to place them in the reader's mind.  However, Fitzgerald has written an excellent thriller.  This is the first in a series about Commissioner Blume and I am looking forward to reading more.

Death in a Scarlet Coat

Lord Francis Powerscourt and his wife, Lucy,  are forced to stay in Candlesby following a minor motor vehicle accident in which they were involved.  Unbeknownst to them, the earl of the locality has recently died under suspicious circumstances.  The sons of the earl are doing their best to cover up the cause of death.

A few days later, Powerscourt is called back to Candlesby by the local doctor.  He admits to falsifying the death certificate of the earl.  Armed with this evidence, Powerscourt approaches Inspector Blunden, wondering how to proceed.  In further investigations, Powerscourt learns that there are several people who would have enacted the earl dead.  He then enlists the aid of his wife and friend, Johnny Fitzgerald.

The body is exhumed and it is determined that the former earl was brutally murdered.  Now an inquest into the death is required.  The inquest determines unlawful death.  Shortly thereafter, when the new earl is on his way to London to be invested into the House of Lords, he too is murdered.

It takes some time for the Powerscourt team to put together the evidence in this case, which has some interesting twists before author David Dickinson presents the reader with a surprising conclusion.  A good read.

An Unmarked Grave

Spring, 1918 and the world is still at war.  However, another insidious battle is underway within the war; influenza is killing as many as the battlefield.  Sister Bess Crawford has been called into the shed where the dead are kept by one of the orderlies.  There he shows her a body of a man who obviously has died not as the result of a battlefield injury nor the influence, but rather has had his neck broken.  Why is he here and who murdered him?

Unfortunately before Bess can do anything about it, she is struck down by the flu.  She barely survives.  After her recovery, Bess is informed by her family friend Simon Brandon that the orderly committed suicide.  She feels this can't be true.  She and Brandon set out to prove that the two deaths are in truth murders.

Returning to the front to nurse, Bess tries to find an elusive Colonel Prescott, who seems somehow tied up in everything.  While at the aid station, an attempt is made on her life.  How can Bess and her friends solve this mystery if someone is set on murdering her?  Author Charles Todd sets about creating some tense moments for the reader before resolving this murder mystery.  A good, quick read.

A Darker God

Chief Inspector Percy Montacute of Scotland Yard has just been seconded to Athens.  He is unsure just what for.  When he arrives there he finds he is to train the police.  While working in Athens, he runs into his former colonel from The Great War, Andrew Merriman.  Merriman asks him to take part in a play that he is putting on.  During dress rehearsal, Merriman is murdered.  Montacute requests the help of Letty Talbot who prompting the dress rehearsal to take down information from the assembled actors.

The police doctor indicates that Merriman had been stabbed in the heart prior to the rehearsal.  Several hours later, the wife of Merriman is pushed from the balcony of her home.  She is barely able to inform Montacute who is responsible before she succumbs to her injuries.  Montacute arrests her young cousin the following morning.

The following day, acting on an instinct, and information provided, Montacute sends his sergeant ant Letty on what appears to be a random trip.  An attempt is made on their lives, confirming Montacute's suspicions.  However, it still doesn't solve the mystery of who is behind the deaths.

Author Barbara Cleverly has a few surprises up her sleeve before she draws this murder mystery to a close.  A good read.

Death of a Friend

DC Den Cooper has been called out to investigate the death of a man who had bee involved in animal rights.  The post mortem indicates that the victim had been trampled by a horse.  His death followed the death of a woman who was also involved in animal rights.  Are the two deaths related, even though the woman's death accidental?

A prime suspect appears in the form of the husband of the of the accident victim.  His claim to having been stuck in Vietnam is proved false when flight records are checked.  What is the best way for Cooper to approach him?

Later while enroute to interview a witness, Cooper is called to return to the farm because a child he gone missing.  Could this be related to the murder?  Fortunately that is not the case.

Author Rebecca Tope presents a couple of suspects as the story draws to a conclusion, but do the police have enough evidence to charge either of them?  Newly minted DC Den Cooper has his work cut out for him.  Author Tope provides a surprising conclusion to this mystery.  A good read.

The Enemy Within

It is early November and a woman's body has been found under the prepared bonfire by a couple of boys.  DS Monkia Paniatowski has been called by the duty sergeant to investigate.  Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend has also been contacted.  The bonfire explodes into flames just after Woodend arrives.  He is fortunate enough to drag the body free.

Paniatowski discovers from the new pathologist, Dr Shastri, that the victim was suffering from cancer, and many not have had long to live.  She takes DI Bob Rutter with her to the home of the victim.  There they discover that the victim had been on the game for the past year.

Woodend and Paniatowski are convinced that the killer was trying to show the police that he is better than them.  It is possible, in their minds, that he will strike again.  And he does; this time the young woman is laid out beside a prepared bonfire that has been lit before its time.  Dr, Shastri informs Paniatowski that this victim also was suffering from cancer.

A third victim is found beside a blazing bonfire.  The local newspaper editor informs Woodend that is his wife, and she was suffering from cancer, too.  The bonfire had been guarded by two constables who where knocked unconscious, but not harmed in any other way.  Why?  It is while speaking to the editor the following morning that another inspector arrives at the house and arrests the stepson of the editor for all three murders.  Woodend is convinced that this is wrong.  He needs to find the true killer or his job is done.

Author Sally Spencer has written an intriguing murder mystery that provides a few surprises right at the end.  A very good read.

The Road to Hell

DS Alice Rice has just made it through a disciplinary hearing and been cleared of all charges.  Now, maybe she get back to routine.  The following morning, she and DI Manson are called out to investigate a body.  It appears that the woman may have been beaten and raped.

That night she is informed by Manson that her boyfriend has been killed by a hit and run driver.  As hard as it is to accept his death, Rice gets back to work soon after and begins working on the investigation of the murdered woman.  Rice and DC Cairns discover that the victim once worked as a nursing sister.  When tragedy struck her life went downhill.

Sometime later, Rice gets strange, threatening phone calls in the middle of the night.  Following that, while visiting her lover's studio, a brick is thrown through a window getting glass shards in Rice's face.  It is at this time that another body is found.  This time it is a male and he is completely naked.  It doesn't take long to discover that he is a clergyman.

Author Gillian Galbraith has written an interesting police story, that leaves the reader wondering, yet surprised at the twists the author provides at the end.  A good, quick read.

Death on Blackheath

Thomas Pitt, commander of Special Branch, and his right hand man, Sergeant Stoker, have been called by the local police to the residence of Dudley Kynaston, an important naval defense personage, because of blood, hair and broken glass on the stairs of the home.  One of the maids is missing, and the hair matches her hair.  Could this be a threat to Kynaston?

Three weeks later, a woman's body is discovered in a nearby gravel pit.  The face has been badly mutilated.  Could this be the missing maid?  Politics come into play when the prime minister's office directs Pitt to continue the investigation without the help of the police.  Pitt turns to his former superior, Lord Victor Narraway for help.

While collecting evidence, Pitt discovers that Kynaston has been having an affair.  Did the maid know this, and was she murdered for that reason?  Pressure mounts on Pitt to solve the case.  It is Stoker who discovers that the maid has run away, fearing for her life.  Now they must find her and discover the reason for her flight.

To make matters worse, another mutilated body of a young woman is found in the same spot as the other was.  As the investigation continues it begins to appear that there is more to the story of the missing maid than initially suspected.

Author Anne Perry has created a novel full of mystery, conspiracy, hatred and revenge.  Perry closes the story out with intense action.  A good read.

The Stationmaster's Farewell

The Exeter stationmaster has disappeared.  It is possible that the body in the Guy Fawkes bonfire is his.  Superintendent Tallis is sending Detective Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming to investigate.

Exeter's Superintendent Steel has a criminal in mind who might be in the picture for the murder of the victim.  Both Steel and Colbeck are castigated by the bishop for allowing this murder to happen so close to the cathedral.  At the inquest, Colbeck and Leeming feel that the new stationmaster is also worth looking into.  As Colbeck and Steel sift through the house of the victim, they are presented with a third suspect.

Having apprehended one of the suspects, Colbeck is unsure whether he is the true culprit.  He and Leeming maintain the pressure on the other two.  In a surprising turn of events the victim's diary turns up.  What hidden clues will it provide?

Author Edward Marston provides a surprising conclusion to this murder mystery.  A good, quick read.

Sanctity of Hate

A body has been found in the mill pond of Tyndal Priory.  Brother Thomas sets to investigate on behalf of Prioress Eleanor, for Brother Gwydo has found blood in the grass alongside the stream inside priory property.

Brother Thomas has also been asked to interview a young man who wants to become a monk.  However, he suspects that the lad carries hate in his heart for many things, and may not be a good candidate for the monastery.  A riot breaks out, threatening a young Jewish family temporarily seeking refuge in the inn's stable.  The young wife is about to give birth.  Adelard, the baker's son, wants to become become a monk and may have spread vicious rumours about the family.  He has also cast aspersions on Eleanor's maid and one of the monks.  Thomas has also promised not to baptise the child while Sister Anne helps with the birth.

Eleanor needs to make sense of it all.  Further turmoil is added to the community when one of the monks is garrotted outside the priory's walls.  Crowner Ralf arrests the young Jew when the aspiring monk is attacked.  He later learns he really has no suspects, yet keeps the Jew secure for his own protection.

As Thomas questions the aspiring monk, he learns things that point in a bad direction.  He tells Eleanor of the revelations.  They discuss the information with Crowner Ralf.   Trials and tribulations await the trio before author Priscilla Royal allows them to solve the murder.  A good, quick read.

A Killing Coast

DI Andy Horton is continuing his search for information about his missing mother.  However, he has his hands full, preparing for an American sub that is going to come into Portsmouth in the coming days.  He is involved in security operations, and must check out all reports of unusual activity.

It is while on one of these investigations that he gets a call from DS Barney Cantelli that a woman's body has been found on the shore.  During the post-mortem, it is discovered that the she is a he.

Also in the port is a super yacht, worth millions.  The owner is hosting a charity event.  Horton discovers that the wife of the owner is an old girlfriend of his.

The following day, the pathologist tells Horton that the victim found on the shore had been beaten and then drowned.  As a result of his delay in acting on the investigation, Horton gets a bollocking from his superior officers; one of whom didn't listen to him when he did mention the body.

Another body turns up in the boot of a car that has recently been submerged.  It turns out to be an elderly man who had been providing Horton with information.  The car belongs to a man who had been seen entering the first victim's home.  What ties them all together?  Horton thinks he has everything sewn neatly together, until one foggy afternoon he comes across the body of the owner of the super yacht in a derelict house.

Author Pauline Rowson has provided the reader with a very convoluted tale.  Her protagonist, Andy Horton, works hard to develop a solution to the crimes in the story, yet he is unable to unwrap his own mystery.  A very good read.

Limestone Cowboy

Ebola virus has broken out at Heckley General Hospital, and it is in quarantine!  Fortunately it turns out to be a false alarm.  However, it appears that the patient may be a victim of attempted murder.  His bleeding was the result of ingesting a large amount of Warfarin - that is, rat poison!  DI Charlie Priest and DS Dave Sparkington visit the victim in the hospital to get the lowdown.

The investigation of the victim's home turns up a tin of pineapples that has been tampered with.  Priest and Sparkington turn their investigation to supermarkets and they find that there have been complaints of mouldy fruit and dyed beans.  Obviously a nutter is at work.

Meantime life intervenes for Charlie in the form of his goddaughter and a potential girlfriend.  How is he to mange these things while handling a murder investigation?

By the end of the novel, Priest's team has solved a couple of mysteries, yet author Stuart Pawson provides a huge surprise right at the end of this  police thriller, which is totally unexpected.  A very good, quick read.

Dead on Cue

Vicar Nick Lawrence has been convinced to take a minor role in a play being put on in nearby Fulke Castle.  Unfortunately the man who was to direct it has suddenly passed away.  On the other hand, fortunately, an actor from Hollywood and recent immigrant to the area, Gerry Harlington, steps in to take on the fole of director.

On the first night of the production, Harlington dies as the result of a fall from the battlements of the castle.  Inspector Dominic Tennant, and his DS, Mark Potter investigate what now appears to be a murder.

One of the cast members, Jonquil Charmwood, confesses to Nick that she actually didn't act in the first performance; a friend had taken her role, and now she is missing.  Nick calls Tennant who now has a missing person to contend with as well as a murder investigation.  Or is it two murder investigations?

Author Deryn Lake presents a few potential killers in the lead up to the conclusion of this little murder mystery, finally narrowing it down to the culprit in the dying pages.  A quick, but good little read.

Four Below

DI McLusky, and DS Austin have been called out to Leigh Woods because a woman has reported seeing a fox carrying part of a human head.  In the cold and mist the search team isn't having any luck when McLusky and Austin are called to an automobile accident.  There are several suspicious things related to the accident.

Meantime, DI Kat Fairfield has been called to a shopping centre where the body of a man has been found in the toilets.  The pathologist wants an immediate post-mortem, and his suspicions turn out correct.  The victim is a heroin addict, but his heroin has been laced with anthrax!  Other users are at risk, too.

A few days later, a body is found in a shallow grave in Leigh Woods.  It isn't long before the body is identified as someone from the drug world.  Is it a case of out with the old as a new gang tries to take over?  Also the MO of the murder is strange, indeed.  It isn't long before a second body is found in the woods.  The bodies of junkies are piling up for DI Fairfield, too.

Author Peter Helton neatly ties the two cases together and provides an exciting conclusion to this thriller.  This the second murder mystery I have read in the DI McLusky series, and I am looking forward to the next.

The Cipher Garden

Chief inspector Hannah Scarlett and her cold case team have been sent a note about the murder of Warren Howe, accusing his wife of being the culprit.  Is there enough evidence to reopen the case?  DS Nick Lowther, who had been in on the initial investigation, feels that the case isn't worth re-opening.

It is years on and now, quite suddenly, the family of the victim are getting anonymous hate letters.  Thrown into the mix is historian Daniel Kind, a friend of Scarlett's.  Once he learns of the investigation, he decides to surreptitiously help the chief inspector.  Kind is also trying to organise the garden of the cottage he and his partner, Miranda, recently purchased.  There is a mystery in the garden that the historian/detective in Daniel would like to solve.

A suicide in the community throws everyone for a loop.  Is it tied to the original murder?  As the investigation progresses, DS Lowther throws a spanner in the works.  This isn't the only surprise author Martin Edwards has in store for the reader before drawing this murder mystery to a conclusion.  A thoroughly good read.

Masaryk Station

It is now 1948 and John Russell is now employed by the Brits and Yanks to translate Russian for them in Trieste.  Russell is still employed by both the Soviets and the Yanks as a double agent.  Shchepkin is still his Soviet contact.   Effi, Russell's wife and their adopted daughter, Rosa, are in Berlin where Effi is working on another film and Rosa is attending school.

In Berlin the Soviets have decided to step up the restrictions on travel for the allies in the western zone.  Both have things to do while the western allies set up a new currency plan for western Germany and the allied section of Berlin.  It will cause problems as the Soviets establish a blockade of Berlin.  What will it mean for the future of the pair and their daughter?

Author David Downing has developed a story that leads wonderfully into the Cold War and all the issues that developed as a result of the issues between the USA and the Soviet Union.  Downing's 'Station' series provide fans of spy thrillers excellent reads.

Death of a Wine Merchant

Lord Francis Powerscourt has been called upon to help with the defense of a man who is charged with murdering his brother, a wine merchant.  Prior to the reading of the will, Powerscourt learns that apparently half the victim's fortune seems to have disappeared.  Powerscourt engages his friend Johnny Fitzgerald to help him.  In addition, Powerscourt gets a wine expert to investigate the wines of the victim.

Unfortunately Powerscourt is unable to get the accused to speak.  The court case would begin in three weeks.  Is that enough time to find the evidence?  What about the new concept of fingerprints?  Would that help?  Powerscourt also learns from a former employee that money was disappearing from the accounts of the firm.  He had been fired when he reported it to the late merchant.

Powerscourt and his wife, Lucy, travel to France in order to further his investigation. There he comes across a surprising discovery.

Author David Dickinson provides the reader with a novel full of blackmail, conspiracy, subterfuge and a surprising end.  A thoroughly good read.

The Pagan Lord

While away from home, castising his son, Uthred's home is attacked by Cnut Longsword, and his woman, Sigunn, is taken.  Cnut demands a meeting, at which he tells Uthred that men under his banner had raided into his territory, kidnapping his wife and children.  While meeting with Cnut, his home is once again attacked, and Uthred is forced to flee.

Uthred decides his only course is to capture Bebbanburg, which is rightfully his, but for many years held by his uncle.  Unfortunately he is unable to capture the fortress despite avenging its loss.  He takes his cousin's wife and son hostage.  But what to do now?  His cousin's wife provides him with information that leads Uthred on a new gambit.

Uthred decides to influence future battles, and to do that he needs to draw Cnut from the destructive track the Dane is on.  Uthred hopes Edward and Aethelred will join forces the defeat the Danes, thereby saving England.

Author Bernard Cornwell has written an excellent historical thriller.  His battle scenes are bar none, and the historical events are well researched.  A very good read for fans of historical novels.

Midnight at Marble Arch

It is 1896 and Thomas Pitt has recently been appointed head of Britain's Special Branch.  The former head, Lord Narraway, has become involved in the investigation of a rape and murder of a young socialite.

A short time later while at a party Pitt's wife is amongst a group who sees a young man terrify a young woman so much that she accidentally falls out a two storey window to her death. Charlotte's Aunt Vespasia has a feeling that the two events might be tied together.  She sets about a quiet inquiry, and determines in her own mind that the young man who had terrified the dead girl had raped her at an earlier party.

The father of the young girl asks Pitt to investigate his daughter's death.   Narraway comes to Pitt for advice on the course he needs to take.  Pitt contacts a lawyer and discovers how difficult it is to prosecute a rape case.  The woman is humiliated even more.  He is also concerned that the perpetrator could repeat his crime.  He isn't wrong, because another young woman is raped and murdered shortly afterwards.  When a third girl is raped, Pitt has a name confirmed, but there is no evidence to put forward to prosecute.  How can he do it?

Author Anne Perry sets a struggle for both Pitt and Narraway, plus the legal team to prove both the innocence of one man and the guilt of another in this Victorian murder mystery.  A good, quick read.

Little Girl Lost

DS Lucy Black has been called out on a snowy night to search for a little lost girl who was reportedly seen by a milkman.  It turns out that the child she finds is not the one that was reported to be missing.  Who is the missing, but now found child? Her pyjamas have the name 'Alice' on them.  Black will have to wait until the sedation given to the child wears off.

Meantime the police are investigating the disappearance of 16 year old Kate McLaughlin, which Black wants to be involved with.  However, she is transferred to the Public Protection Unit, under Inspector Tom Fleming.  There, the forensics officer, PC Tony Clarke informs her that the child's pyjamas have blood on them.  He also discovers blood on her hands later when they are coated with luminal.

Because of Kate's age, PPU still has a connection to the case.  Black is later informed by Clarke that hairs containing DNA of Kate have been discovered on Alice!  A public announcement leads to the discovery of who Alice is, but now it appears that her mother is missing.  Fortunately Black discovers that the mother was away on holiday, having left her daughter with her estranged husband.  When they get to the father's home they find him dead, and evidence that Kate had been held in the house.

Author Brian McGilloway builds up tension in this thriller leading to a surprising conclusion.  All-in-all a very good, quick read.

Just One Evil Act

DI Thomas Lynley has been called by his DS Barbara Havers, informing him that her friend's daughter has been taken his lover, and the mother of the child.  Because there is no legal marriage, there is nothing that the police can do.  Havers sets out to act as her friend's own private investigator.  Unfortunately her superintendent is not having that.

Havers hires a private detective by the name of  Dwayne Doughty.  Doughty has an unpresuming office.  However, unknown to his clients, he operates a very secretive operation.

Havers is shocked a few months later when the mother returns, accusing the father of abducting the child, who had been with her in Italy. Havers knows this is impossible because the mother had all the child's papers. Havers wants to go to Italy to help find the child.  Once again, her superintendent refuses.  However, when the story of the kidnapping hits the press, Havers gets a bollocking and Lynley is sent to Italy to intervene.

Chief Inspector Salvatore Bianco is in charge of the investigation in Lucca, Italy.  He learns, when he questions the parents that she had arranged with her sister for false emails to be sent to their daughter, purportedly from the father.  Bianco has a couple of suspects in mind, which he points out to Lynley.  He just has to figure out a connection.  Lynley and Bianco find out from the mother had another lover in London while living with the father of her daughter.

The child is found safe in Italy, but is that the end of the story?

Author Elizabeth George has provided the reader with a tangled  web, full of deception, confusion, subterfuge and a murder thrown in for good measure.  This is a read you won't want to put down.

Lehrter Station

John Russell, his girlfriend, Effi and their families are in post-war London.  Six months after the war has ended, the Soviets contact Russell, expecting him to acquiesce to their demands.  They want him back in Berlin spying for them on the Germans and the Americans.  Russell's old friend from the Soviet Union, Shchepkin, is to be his contact while Russell plays the double agent role.  Shchepkin wants out, but it is going to be difficult for the two of them to manage.  Shchepkin also warns Russell that MI6 has Russian double agents working for them.

Upon returning to Berlin, Russell and Effi plan on searching for Rosa's father, the Jewish orphan Effi took under her wing during the closing phase of the war.  Russell's first task for the Soviets is to check into the allegiance of some of the German members of the party.  It also becomes quite clear that the Americans have great influence in the western zone of Berlin.

Russell finds out that one of his friends, a private investigator, has been denounced by a black marketeer, and is languishing in a French prison.  Russell hopes to get him released, but that could put himself in jeopardy.

Russel's quest leads him across war torn Europe.  He sees the devastation left and how the people are struggling to survive.  The Americans and Soviets are in charge, and are preparing for future battles between the two nations.  Caught in between are the Germans who the Americans feel must be punished for the war and the Jews who want to create a new home in Palestine.  And throughout, the black marketeers continue to profit.

Author David Downing has written a very good thriller that is hard to put down.

Bright Hair About the Bone

Laetitia Talbot has received a postcard from the grave.  Her godfather had been murdered in Burgundy, France, yet following his death and her return from Egypt she has received the postcard from him.  It was written in a code the pair of them had devised when she was a child.  It suggests that she travel there to do some investigating.

Her father gives her permission to travel if she has a suitable bodyguard.  She plans on travelling incognito.  Unfortunately she is unaware that her travel plans are known by people who don't want her travelling to where she is going.  She does manage to get a bodyguard; William Gunning is a former chaplain who served in the Great War, therefore is acceptable to Letty's father.

Letty travels under the guise of working at an archeological dig at Fontigny.  Gunning has already earned himself a spot there as an artist of the dig.  On her first evening there Letty upsets a local nobleman.  Much to her surprise she later finds out that the nobleman knew her godfather.

A short time later a body is found in one of the archeological trenches.  Earth has collapsed on it.  It is a recent death, and Letty discovers that the watch on the body and the wallet belonged to her godfather.  She and Gunning are sure that the murder has been staged just for her as a warning.

Letty is convinced by the nobleman to continue her godfather's search amongst the papers he owns.  However, Letty continues to distrust him.  He has ideas about a group led by a persuasive man in Germany who is a threat to France.  She finds this idea chilling.

From that point, author Barbara Cleverly builds the tension in this murder mystery.  Intrigue, suspense, and treachery all play a role in developing the story. An entirely good read.

Walking into the Ocean

Chief Inspector Peter Cammon is set to investigate the murder of a woman whose body had been thrown over a cliff by her husband who then proceeded to remove his own clothes and walk into the ocean.

Although semi-retired, Cammon has once again been called in by The Yard to help out in a troublesome case.  He has his former partner, Tommy Verden to help him.  Both are confident that the case is not as it seems.  The local police force is in the midst of investigating a serial killer, so likely aren't going to be much help.  However, Cammon finds himself drawn into the other investigation.

Unsatisfied with the way his investigation is going, Cammon calls his wife, Joan, to come and give him a woman's perspective on the murder scene.  Cammon is now sure that there was no murder, rather a suicide, but can he prove it?

Meantime the serial killer continues his actions, but his last two victims live through the attack.  A mistake, or a well planned action by a callous killer?

The husband of the woman has absconded to Malta.  Cammon goes there in search of him, only to find that the man disappeared just hours before his jet touched down.  Returning to England, Cammon resumes his hunt, only to find himself tied in to the hunt for the killer.

Author David Whellams provides the reader with an exciting read, full of plenty of action.  This is a book, which is hard to put down.