First Frost

Detective Jack Frost Prequel #1

by James Henry

It's Denton, 1981. Britain is in recession, the IRA is becoming increasingly active and the country's on alert for an outbreak of rabies. Detective Sergeant Jack Frost is working under his mentor and inspiration DI Bert Williams, and coping badly with his increasingly strained marriage. Probably not helped by the fact that he never goes home...

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Detective, Procedural, British Literature, Thriller

355 pages, Hardcover

First published January 20, 2011

About the author

James Henry is the pen name for James Gurbutt. James is a publisher at Constable & Robinson, R.D. Wingfield’s original publisher back in the 1980s. Philip Wingfield, son of the late R. D. Wingfield approves; he remarked, 'The author has captured my father's style superbly. Fans and newcomers alike will not be disappointed.' That’s a good sign but how did they go about it? And just like Talking Heads, we set them up and here is the result.

Note: There are multiple authors with this name. This author has one space.
James^Henry

Reviews

[Tyrone · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always the death of an author is a sad event, doubly so when they are the author of a series of novels with a beloved charater. It must be my age but i have lost a number of authors over the last few years. RIP David Gemmell, Robert Jordan & Robert B. Parker to name a few. My relationship with R.D. Wingfield is slightly different in that i didn't really discover his books until after his death. The only disappointment I have had with them is coming to the realisation of how few Frost books were actually written.

It's always problematical, especialy mid series or where there is clear space to expand on what was written, to decide if it is better for someone to attempt to continue/ finish what the author started or just leave the work unfinished but untarnished. The suspicion always comes to mind that it is simply plundering the legacy left by the author. It's worked with Stella Gemmell finishing the Troy series and Brandon Sanderson is doing a great job of finishing the epic Wheel of Time series. I have my fingers crossed that Parker's Jesse Stone will be treated as well.

In this instance i would say that 'First Frost' is certainly more hit than miss. I think it was a sensible choice to go with Frosts early career. As such they get away from direct comparisons and avoid many possible continuity issues. What we do get is a softer version of Frost. Now there could be two explanations for this. The authors could have taken into account that Frost has not yet been through the events (the death of his wife, the shooting and the award of his George Cross) which have will shape him into the character in Wingfield books. Being less charitable you could say that they have chosen to model the Frost character after the TV version (which i love) but has many of his rough edges smoothed off. A couple of other characters (Mullet in particular) don't ring completely true either, though only by small margins. I guess only time will tell.

That leaves the plot and the quality of the writing. Wingfield is a difficult act to follow. His approach to writing gave his complex plots a rather unique narrative style. I said his plots were complex, his crimes and the lives of the criminals and the police so complex and interwoven, but his writing was so good that he did that so easily. It certainly made reading them an easy but engrossing experience. His sense of time and place (especially the weather) was also something that added great texture to his work. Well the authors (because there are two) manage to replicate his style and narrative structure really well but it doesn't seem quite as effortless as when he did it.

As I said, there is more good than bad. This is an enjoyable read, well written, almost on the nail but showing great promise that there is a future for one of my favourite literary creations.

[Deb Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all the R.D. Wingfield Jack Frost books and was certainly sorry to say goodbye to them when I finished the series. I was skeptical when I found out that James Henry had the blessing of Wingfield's son, Philip, to continue the series. Now that I've read First Frost, I'm no longer skeptical but happily surprised that Henry has captured Wingfield's style and Frost's irreverence for red tape and office politics and his total dedication to solving his investigations.

Very well done; a seamless move forward.

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written.

[Steve Chaput · Rating 4 out of 5]

My introduction to Inspector Frost and his colleagues. I’m currently hospitalized and listening to a lot of OTR and audiobooks.

Probably going to check out some more in this series.

[Vilius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kaip ir kelis pastaruosius, šiuos metus pradedu nuo Frosto serijos detektyvo. Deja originalią seriją baigiau pernai, tai šiais griebiau pirmą priešistorės knygą.
Deja teko nusivislti. Pasakojimo formatas toks pat - krūva susijusių ir nesusijusių bylų, nuolatinis darbuotojų trūkumas ir nervinantis viršininkas, kuris labiau trukdo, nei padada - ir tie patys originalios serijos veikėjai (tik jaunesni). Bet bylos kažkokios neįdomios, be didesnės intrigos ir dauguma jų tiesiog išsiriša savaime. Bet labiausiais nuvylė veikėjai. Originalioje serijoje jie buvo ryškūs, net karikatūriški, o čia jie kažkokie blankūs. Maletas ne toks nervinantis, o Frostas ne toks ciniškas. Beveik nebeliko ir tamsoko jumoro, dėl kurio originalios serijos knygos taip smagiai skaitėsi.
Manau skaitysiu ir likusias priešistorės knygas, bet didelių vilčių, kad jos prilygs originaliai serijai, nebededu.

[Fantastiškų KŽL · Rating 3 out of 5]

knyguziurkes.wordpress.com/2018/11/20...

[Dawn Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s not often that I’m happily surprised but I am indeed happy with the first Jack Frost prequel. Actually I haven’t been this charmed since I read the original Frost “Frost at Christmas”. The authors have really captured the essence of the characters and managed to build upon them. I do call this book “Frost Lite” but I don’t mean it in a disparaging way. It’s Frost as a younger, less bitter man. There were several times while reading the book that situations presented themselves where Frost just didn’t have the quip or the unsavory insight that I’d expect (and come to love) and I thought “Jack wouldn’t have let that get by.” But it occurred to me that a younger Jack might.
I also enjoyed the younger, slightly more clued in and almost chummy Mullet. I love Superintendent Mullet almost as much as Frost. Mullet became a more rounded figure in this book which you can see moving into the more standoffish figure in the original series. Mullet has always reminded me of “Doctor Who’s” Brigadier. Put horn rimmed glasses on the Brigadier and you’ve got Mullet. In fact, Frost and Mullet remind me very much of The Dr. and the Brigadier. One is holding up authority and doing everything by the book at HQ while the other is being creative, smart and rash. Grabbing his bemused companion Frost jumps into his Tardis to Denton Woods!
Gosh, I like these books and I look forward to reading more of the prequels.

[sarg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a typical British who done it. I have read the frost series by Weekfild and watched the PBS series years back. Gave this 4 stars it was as good as the original series

[Carolyn Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice job of capturing Wingfield's voice and characters and extending the series.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: In Denton in 1981, DS Jack Frost is working under his mentor DI Bert Williams, and coping badly with his increasingly strained marriage.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit it: I have a soft spot for Jack Frost; I watched all the "A Touch of Frost" TV episodes back in the old days, and again with my husband a few years ago. David Jason was a wonderful Jack Frost, and his famous "Chop chop!" has even become part of our vocabulary!

So, obviously, I was delighted to discover the prequel novels, written with the approval of the late R. D. Wingfield's family. Better still, I can actually feel the essence of Wingfield's endearing character in this novel, and even hear David Jason's voice. Set in the early 80s when Frost was still only a scruffy D.S., it is a great tribute to a brilliant author.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. I liked the idea of a prequel to R.D. Wingfield's books, of getting to know a younger, softer, less jaded Frost.

The author managed to get the characters' voices truly well, and, in fact, now I feel nostalgic and want to go back to the original books.

I'm listening to the rest of them.

[Dorian · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

Not my thing. It was a struggle to get through, since I didn't really care about anything that was happening. Two stars because it was boring, but didn't outright suck.

[Dougie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, and my favourite of the prequel books. The continuity errors are a bit annoying but there is enough of Wingfield's style here to make this book very enjoyable. I'd query the blurb when the book came out - Frost younger and greener. This was set in 1981, Frost at Christmas in 1983/84. Not that much younger or greener!

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this loved the character of frost and will move on with original series Would recommend

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the end of last year, I won a competition on Goodreads. It's the first time I can remember that I've won something, so that was exciting, and then the book came and I got very excited because honestly, who isn't excited by owning a new hardback? Especially when it's signed. If that's not exciting to you, you have no sense of adventure.

I was even more excited, because the death of RD Wingfield is one of the greatest tragedies for detective fiction that I know of. The man was a genius. I loved his writing. I loved his characters, his effortless interweaving of subplots, the fact that he didn't feel the need to go out of his way to make every single mystery related to every other mystery and shoehorning be damned. As far as I was concerned, the man could do no wrong. Frost is a fantastic character. I am a massive fan. James and Henry, I thought, I am ready to be impressed, but it's going to take a fair bit to do it. I hope you are ready for that.

By and large, I enjoyed it. It was a clever move to make a new book a prequel to the old favourites - it gives you more of a blank canvas to work with, and perhaps you have less to worry about in terms of making deliberate references to previous books. They did a lot of good things with that - although, for me, Frost didn't feel any younger. He felt like almost the same Frost, in a slightly different departmental set-up. From a prequel, I could have done with a bit more devotion to how Frost's past worked. For preference, I would have liked to see more of his wife - I always found that intriguing, but that's a personal preference. What was there, I enjoyed.

In terms of the other familiar characters - how do I love thee, Superintendent Mullett? Let me count the ways. Mullett has always been my favourite. The social order of Denton police has always been the most interesting bit. And on that, this book did not disappoint. All the old favourites were there - a bit younger, a bit thinner, no less sarky. (Is this the first instance of Frost calling Mullett 'Hornrim Henry'? I shed a small nostalgic tear.) I come to Frost books for the mystery, but I stay for the interplay between the characters. Top-notch.

As for the actual crime, and the detecting miscellaneous... I thought it was good, but not outstanding. Having an awful lot going on, and the characters being stretched very thinly, is par for the course with a Frost book, that's what makes it different from other crime novels. Honestly, it didn't have the ease and grace of Wingfield's writing. Close, but no cigar. It was as if, in some way, it was trying very hard to be like Wingfield's writing, but it marginally missed the mark. The unnecessary business with the gym teacher. There were connections, between plot strands, where there didn't need to be. Part of the genius of Wingfield, in my opinion, is that there were lots and lots of solutions, rather than one big neat one. This got that, most of the way, but not quite enough for me. The content was pretty much spot on. It got the atmosphere of Denton very well.

The whole thing took me a little while to get into, and when I did, it trundled along very well indeed. I'll be looking out for the next one - apparently there's another one? - and I'm sure I'll enjoy it. It was pretty good as a novel in its own right, but as a successor to Frost, I'm not completely convinced. However, I'm not convinced in a way that might just be teething problems - it's entirely possible that once James and Henry get into their stride, they could be onto a complete and unreserved winner. For me, they're not quite there yet. But close. Three stars.

[Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

When R.D. Wingfield was invited to write “Frost at Christmas” in 1972 by MacMillan – and then not have it published until the early 1980’s in Canada – little did we know then that Frost would become a television phenomenon spanning 18 wonderful years. Wingfield died of prostate cancer in 2007 and his final novel A Killing Frost published the following year.

With that in mind, James Henry (pseudonym for James Gurbutt and Henry Sutton) has authored a prequel to the Frost series and the first title (of two) is aptly called “First Frost”. Written on behalf of the R.D. Wingfield Estate it breathes new life into the colourful character and one of the great television detectives of the modern era.

Denton, 1981 – Shakin Stevens has already had two number one records with “This Ole House” and “Green Door”, Diana and Charles marry at St Paul’s Cathedral and the United States launch the first space shuttle – Detective Sergeant Frost meanwhile is struggling with his marriage and an Abba tune he can’t seem to escape!

Julie, a twelve year old girl, out shopping for a school uniform with her mother, disappears from the changing rooms while her mother (Mrs Hudson) browses the new lingerie section. In the background a stranger is watching, waiting for a chance to pounce – it takes her mother twenty minutes before she realises her daughter is missing.

Meanwhile back at Denton Division HQ (Eagle Lane)DI Allen is on a walking holiday and DI Bert Williams, just two weeks from retirement, is nowhere to be found. William Edward “Jack” Frost is the highest ranking officer at the station and Superintendent Mullet, just six months into his command, has no option but to begrudgingly hand the investigation to Frost.

With a spate of high end bank robberies, child abuse case, S&M (not to be confused with M&S!) and the political shenanigans at the station, there’s never a dull moment in “First Frost”.

Full review on my blog:- http://www.milorambles.com/2011/01/16...

[Grey853 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Det.Jack Frost has a series of hard cases to solve. There's the disappearance of a teen and then the attack on her mother, a possible abuse case, murder of a blind man, the death of a friend, and the death of a school teacher. There's a lot going on, and Jack works tirelessly to not only do the investigation, but to avoid dealing with the rule snob of a commanding officer.

James Henry does a very good job of recreating the voice of Frost from the original novels by Wingfield.

[Mrs. Moira McGeough · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a long time since I read the original Frost novels. James Henry has done a good job in getting the "feel" of the characters right, especially Jack and Mullet. You could be picky in comparing this novel with the originals, but why would you. I enjoyed the book and it was good to be introduced to a much liked character at an earlier stage of his career. Enjoy.

[John Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible Library (A reminder)
It's Denton, 1981. Britain is in recession, the IRA is becoming increasingly active and the country's on alert for an outbreak of rabies. Detective Sergeant Jack Frost is working under his mentor and inspiration DI Bert Williams, and coping badly with his increasingly strained marriage. Probably not helped by the fact that he never goes home.
This episode gives a slice of incidents that Frost and his colleagues investigate with various resolved outcomes although a number of tradgies are involved
1. Bert Williams, murdered, has an alcohol problem and has been known to go AWOL. This time a few weeks from retirement he is found dead in his car , a murder made to look like a road accident.

2. Sad case of the death of young Becky where the couple were dangerous. Detective Frost tried to get the little girl into social services. He had used the doomed cover story of rabies. It worked for a time but the failure of the social services and others including the accidential leaking of the rabies ruse (No cases of recent times) picked up by the media and usual concern of bosses, media appearance and involvment prevented keeping Becky away from her mother and boyfriend Simon Trench (also roped into abuse) long enough for soicial services to get their act together and thus she was returned to the lethal environment and was murdered.

3. Mrs Hudson beaten savaely by husband

4. Mr Hudson, auto trader, went on the run

5. Daughter, step daughter, Julie taken by real father from Asda's Hudson, auto trader, went on the run

5. Blind man found murdered in canal his guide dog turns up.

6. Bomb scares and misdirection

7. Bank robbies related to bomb misdirection

Newly appointed Denton police chief (6 months in the job) , Mullet, is typically motivated by appearances rather than a professionalism and care for people. Like more concerned about the how the rabies ruse would look to superiors and the media that the life of the young child. Effectively his opposing support to "real" police work contributed the death of Becky along with many other incompetence people in social services etc.
Then a new lady detective Clark is in on the action. She likes Frost

[Jeff Hare · Rating 4 out of 5]

DS William "Jack" Frost has a lot on his plate. All the Detective Inspectors in Denton CID are seemingly AWOL whilst he has to effectively take charge of a missing girl investigation. Very soon, Frost's busy week becomes even more convoluted when he has a murder of one of his own to resolve...

In 2007 R D Wingfield sadly passed with a handful of Jack Frost novels completed. Each one a worthy investment of your time and the lead character DI Jack Frost is well fleshed out from the get go with a healthy lack of respect for authority, an addiction to cheap cigarettes and a fine litany of sexist one liners. When the author passed, it seemed that would be it. However, his estate allowed for prequel novels to go ahead and this is the first one by writer James Henry.

I deliberately distanced myself from reading these so soon after I had read the original Wingfield books as I didn't want an unfair comparison and for the books to stand on their own merit. I need not have worried as the author has captured the character perfectly and the plot is engrossing from the get go.

One thing I always liked about this series - and something it shares with Stuart MacBride's books- is its not like a TV show where the detectives get one case assigned and they stick with that case alone until completion. Here, we have a CID team who have to deal with abductions, murders, thefts and bomb warnings all at the same time. Mistakes are made that have consequences and procedures are jumped to get to an outcome as, you would assume, occurs in real life. DS Frost and his team are overworked and exhausted just trying to keep track.

In terms of characterisation, Frost is a constant. Younger and more sprightly than we are used to, he is still recognisably Jack Frost. Superintendent Mullet is perhaps more combative than I remember him and the reporter Sandy Lane has not forged a chummy relationship with Frost just yet, but this is a prequel series so that is understandable.

For the first in the series, IMHO, the writer absolutely nails it perfectly. A fine continuation of Wingfield's most famous literary character.

[A.J. Blanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of the show, so I read the books it was based on and that made me appreciate the series even more. The originals by RD Wingfield were only six books, and was a unique experience to me in that it wasn't just one cop trying to solve one case. Pretty much the whole of Denton tries to destroy itself during each book, and the police were always understaffed and underfunded. Perhaps I'm not reading enough police procedurals/cop dramas, and this is more common than I think, but the premise and characters worked for me and it was bittersweet when the series ended. Now enter the prequel stories by James Henry.

Naturally, the first thing people worry about when a new author takes over a popular character is will the new person do the character justice. In this regard I can say that Jack Frost is most definitely not ruined. For the most part, he and the other regulars are practically spot on, or at the very least close enough that it didn't take me out of the story. There will of course be people who disagree with that, but I enjoyed First Frost a lot more than I thought I would. The other side of that is perhaps Henry's style was a little too close to the mark.

The only major differences for Frost that I noticed between this and the originals was that his wife is still alive (who only appeared for about three pages) and that he's a DS and not yet a DI. Everything seemed the same, right down to Frost's attitude and even Denton itself. While the setting and tone is lacking a certain level of noir grittiness that Wingfield excelled in creating, I was left wondering why the series wasn't simply continued instead of going with a six-part prequel? A very minor point, but something that crossed my mind regardless.

First Frost is a comfortable return to form in a 1981 Denton, with DS Frost allegedly taking the lead for the first time in a major case, with their new Superintendent Mullet. If you like the originals and/or TV series, or are a cop drama aficionado, I recommend giving this a shot. Cheers

[David Proffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

R D Wingfield's loveable detective DI "Jack" Frost has long been a favourite of mine, both the books and their TV adaptation. The irascible, bumbling and totally politically incorrect detective's original appearances are a great example of how this kind of stories should be. For me, Frost's irreverent ways, his disinclination for completing paperwork and his constant battles with authority present a character I can relate to. In this, the first prequel written by the team of James Gurbutt and Henry Sutton, we are transported back to 1981. Frost is a Detective Sergeant and already has a reputation as a good detective, even if his ways are sometimes unorthodox and his matter makes him difficult to work with. Superintendent Mullet has recently arrived at the Denton station and is determined to stamp his authority on the place. For him, Frost epitomises all that is worst about the place.

Keeping with the format that made Wingfield's original series so popular and successful, in First Frost, DS Frost has to deal with several unrelated crimes, including terrorists, murder, bank robberies and a missing young girl. Trying to keep track of all the separate cases, whilst covering for absent inspectors and missing paperwork, Frost and Mullet clash from the very start.

The interweaving plots ensure the pace is consistent and at times as messy as the belligerent detective trying to unravel it all. The character of Frost os maintained throughout and this peek into his pre-Inspector days is a very clever way for the two writers to resurrect the grumpy old so-and-so.

I really enjoyed the story, the characters and the uncompromising way Gurbutt and Sutton kept faith with R D Wingfield's creation. First Frost is an excellent novel in its own right, but as part of the Frost series, it is indistinguishable from the originals. A great piece of fiction very well written. 

[Will Templeton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so overall I guess I liked this. I've probably been spoiled by how engaging and delightful the originals were, and although I the writers have done their best to give us as close to the Frost we knew as they could, I feel maybe they've tried too hard. Better than not trying hard enough, granted, but, some of the characterisation felt more like a parody than a genuine attempt at a recreation. And please, ease up on the smoking references! It seems like every page had a comment about asking for a cigarette, feeling for his cigarettes, lighting a cigarette, wanting a cigarette, putting out a cigarette... I understand they wanted to give a sensation of period, hence the somewhat heavy handed mentions of brand names of the time, but when it distracts from the story then you've gone a little too far. So, yeah, a good book but trying a little too hard to be "Frost".

[Agne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made me remember why I hate reading, why I am tired of books and authors. It's dull, I didn't get it - should we like the characters and root for them and their work? Frost was rood, annoying, talked too much about his ideals, while acting as a complete jerk, not only to the criminals, oh no, it would have been ok. No. Oh no. He's a jerk to everyone around him, even if their an okay person.
The story is biased against Irish people, kin dof sexist, as even the 'important' women of the story are perceived rudely and with a sexist twist. Sjue is more of a policeman's dream - great body, talks about her own underwear with a coworker who's acomplete stranger to her, and even acts as a man, and is showed to think like one. Oh, and how can we forget that she has a big crush on someone, who we should also somehow have a crush on?
This book.... It's bad. I sciped so many pages.

[Stuart Haining · Rating 2 out of 5]

7/10 3% FPHB 7%MT. We have a saying in our house after reading an OK thriller , “good but not RDW good”…basically meaning it’s not on a par with the master of complex police thrillers R D Wingfield, especially the Christmas edition.

I can fully understand why Wingfields son Phil wanted to approve a further extension to the range of excellent books, a prequel, with new writers. This isn’t a bad effort at all but after reading a Real Frost you’re left breathless as let another case crosses Frosts desk simultaneously with loads others, and then as if by magic he solves them all at once just as a mere mortal would be breaking into a cold sweat - plus of course managing to make the bosses appear even more hapless than usual.

No surprise then that this novel didn’t quite manage that - I’ve never read another author that could.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those tribute novels, the first in a series, no doubt, like the rewriting of the Bond books. Two new guys, one named James and the other Henry, have been hired by the Wingfield estate to contrive a prequel series, showing Denton Det. Frost as a younger cop, still a Detective Sargent, not yet an inspector. It sort of succeeds, capturing the same sort of insouciant expertise of Frost, and the stuffy, career ladder-climbing buffoonery of Mullet. Several crimes weave their way through – a missing preteen, a battered two-year old, a corpse in a canal, the death of Frost’s mentor by murder. Somewhat amusing, but this is the last of this bunch I will try. If any new original Frosts turn up in the recorded book section, I will probably bite, but not this new bunch.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! If you were a fan of A Touch Of Frost, you should read this. It’s a prequel written brilliantly.

I couldn’t fault it. I loved it. The storyline was compelling and the characters spot on.

It’s funny, it’s hard to put down. And I could literally see the expressions on David Jason’s face!
The favourites are there, including Bill and Mullett. Mary is very much alive and married to Jack. It was nice to learn more about her.

I’m trying not to google the other books. If I look and they follow on beautifully.. then. .
Could they be as good as the series?
Has anyone here read any of them?

I recommend this. It made me smile.

I wonder what else James Henry has written? 🧐

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of weeks ago me and a couple of mates chatted about "comfort books". Books which you know you click with, that you can lose yourself in. The Touch of Frost books are one of my comfort books. You know where you are with Frost. It's the same set-up: under-staffed Denton CID, avoiding paperwork, winding up Superintendent Mullet, solving multiple crimes at once, full of activity right until the last page. Frost as a character is super: lots of dark humour but hardworking with his heart in the right place. I always imagine David Jason as Frost - to me, they are one and the same. James Harvey have done a wonderful job at picking up Frost from R. D. Wingfield.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

R D Wingfield, the creator of Frost died in 2007 & this book is a collaboration of two writers (James Garbutt & Henry Sutton) who I feel have captured the style & essence of Frost extremely well. Frost's trademark sarcasm & snide remarks (especially to Mullet!) are all there as well as much of the sexism & politically-incorrectness that was a part of the early 1980's - a must for all Frost fans.

Ends with a bit of a bombshell (literally!) leaving the way wide open I guess for another tale...