Missing: Presumed Dead

David Bliss #1

by James Hawkins

Detective Inspector David Bliss has been transferred from London, England to Hampshire in what appears his new subordinates and superiors as a move down the career ladder. His first day on the job begins with a murder: Jonathan Dauntsey, son of the Major, willingly confesses to murdering his father. It’s an open and shut case, until the investigation stalls when the police can’t find the body.
As the mystery of the murder begins to resolve itself, so does the mystery of Bliss’s transfer from the big city to a small town.

Genres: Mystery

411 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

James Hawkins was a police commander in the U.K. for twenty years and a Canadian private investigator for a further eight years. From 1992 to 1997, he was director of education at the Canadian Institute for Environmental Investigations. His debut mystery novel, Missing: Presumed Dead (2001), introduced his popular detective, David Bliss.

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really two stories in one. David Bliss is transferred from the big city to a small town and everyone wonders why; Jonathan Dauntsey confesses to murdering his father but there is no body and everyone wonders why. The narrative dwells on the Bliss mystery while Bliss dwells on the Dauntsey mystery. A good read that kept my attention. I do like British police procedurals and this one did not disappoint.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not really sure how to rate this book. It was a convoluted story, seemed much to long and I didn't really care about the characters or the plot. I almost gave up reading it a few times but ultimately, had to see how it would end. It kind of grew on my after awhile, not sure I'll tackle any others of the DCI Bliss series, even though I've got 3 or 4 on my bookshelf. The plot involves DCI Bliss moving from the London Police force to the Hampshire police force for misterious reasons. (read the story and it will become evident) On his arrival he is thrown into a murder investigation, a murder with no body. The story rambles between the murder and Bliss' past in London and often wanders from past to present without any indication. I did like some of the characters, Daphne and Samantha. I think there is just too much going on and it's a bit too long. Read it and decide for yourselves, of course. Didn't really do it for me.

[Darlene Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by this author. It kept my interest even though I had trouble at times keeping up with the story. I will probably try another story in the future.

[Ellinor Leonard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dave started reading it and gave up as he didn't like the style. I may or may not read it in the future.
Well, I did read and thought is a good mystery with a nice little twist.