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Monika Paniatowski #2
The Ring of Death
DCI Monkia Paniatowski has seen dozens of murder victims in her time, but nothing could have prepared her for the corpse in the woods. It is not so much that the man’s throat has been slashed that shocks her, nor even the way he is naked – it is the way he has been carefully posed.
Paniatowski has been assigned a new sergeant, who she does not entirely trust. Worse yet, an old enemy from the secret service announces he will be monitoring her every move. But why is a spy interested in a local murder?
When a second victim is found it becomes clear to Monika that whatever the murderer’s message is, he will not stop killing until she understands.
Paniatowski has been assigned a new sergeant, who she does not entirely trust. Worse yet, an old enemy from the secret service announces he will be monitoring her every move. But why is a spy interested in a local murder?
When a second victim is found it becomes clear to Monika that whatever the murderer’s message is, he will not stop killing until she understands.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
125 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Sally Spencer
80 books152 followersA pseudonym used by Alan Rustage.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.
He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.
He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.
His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.
Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.
He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.
He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.
His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.
Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 16, 2013
A disturbingly gruesome police procedural, yet also a perceptive study of human nature, filled with in-depth characterizations . . . I just wish more of the characters were a little less flawed and a lot more likeable. I would have enjoyed being able to root for someone (like I always do with Grimes' Inspector Richard Jury or Beaton's Police Constable Hamish MacBeth - I'm reserving judgment on DCI Monika Paniatowski, for now), but when I ended up siding with the insane murderer instead of with the victims or their advocates in law enforcement, you've got to believe that the "victims" had to have been pretty darn despicable. Overall, rather depressing.
March 25, 2025
Another good read from Sally Spencer. A story where DCI Paniatowski has been given another puzzling murder, along with another DS (Cousins) who has old fashioned ideas with regard to women in the Police. However during the investigation of murdered naked men, posed in a position of on their hands and knees with their throats ripped out, DCI Paniatowski and DS Cousins begin to have a mutual respect for one and other. Another 3 bodies are found, in the same position, one on the garden of a knighted gentleman and then the other two are found together, in the position but face to face. As the investigation progresses, the question of what links all these men together arises and boy what a surprise when the murderer is finally revealed!
June 15, 2013
Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God!!!!!!!! I should have know what this was ultimately about, but for some reason it totally and completely escaped my consciousness. What a blow to finally realize at the end what this was about. I almost hated this at the end.
The book was very engrossing and very interesting until I finally realized who the murderer was and why he was killing. I almost couldn't accept the final conclusion and didn't want to in a way.
I must say, the time setting of this book is really interesting. Not politically correct by any means. Interesting how times change. This was not written that long ago, but written in the sensibilities of the times. We were not as evolved then or were we just real? In any event, this is jarring in a way. Not used to such derogatory terms for nationalities, as well as the prejudice against women in positions of authority and power.
I'm really drawn into this series, despite some misgivings (the derogatory terms and the blatant prejudice against women), I find I have to go on to read more. I really like and admire the lead character - a "Pole" like me.
The book was very engrossing and very interesting until I finally realized who the murderer was and why he was killing. I almost couldn't accept the final conclusion and didn't want to in a way.
I must say, the time setting of this book is really interesting. Not politically correct by any means. Interesting how times change. This was not written that long ago, but written in the sensibilities of the times. We were not as evolved then or were we just real? In any event, this is jarring in a way. Not used to such derogatory terms for nationalities, as well as the prejudice against women in positions of authority and power.
I'm really drawn into this series, despite some misgivings (the derogatory terms and the blatant prejudice against women), I find I have to go on to read more. I really like and admire the lead character - a "Pole" like me.
December 20, 2020
DCI Monika Paniatowski, recently elevated to the head of homicide in the small English city of Whitebridge, is faced with the task of solving a series of bizarre murders in which the naked bodies are posed. She must establish a connection between the victims, while negotiating the male hierarchy in her department and the mysterious interest of an agent of the British spy service.
This is a very good continuation of the Charlie Woodend series, updated to the 1970s era. Good mystery, although it is a bit heavy on the political machinations in the department. A nice touch is letting the reader know what the characters are thinking, even if they don't stars it out loud. Monika is still learning on the job and takes up a significant part of the book. Recommended for all mystery fans.
This is a very good continuation of the Charlie Woodend series, updated to the 1970s era. Good mystery, although it is a bit heavy on the political machinations in the department. A nice touch is letting the reader know what the characters are thinking, even if they don't stars it out loud. Monika is still learning on the job and takes up a significant part of the book. Recommended for all mystery fans.
August 15, 2019
The story is good and the characters are interesting. The writing style is difficult though. The characters’ thought are put in quotation marks, as though they were part of the dialogue, so you have to reads carefully to differentiate between what they’re saying out loud and what they’re just thinking. Sometimes it is also hard to determine if they are simply thinking of doing an action or actually doing that action. Will have to see if this style bothers me enough to make me discontinue reading the rest of the series.
July 18, 2023
Another great storyline but would have given 5 stars if it wasn't for the inconsistent use of speech marks when someone is thinking rather than speaking. It detracted from the story and I had to keep reading passages again because I thought they'd been speaking. Great twist to the end - really didn't see that coming!
March 4, 2021
Excellent mystery with an ending I did not see happening. A string of gruesome and bizarre murders. The ending leaves you with no doubt as to why the men were murdered. The cruelty of men against animals. Sally Spencer is an excellent author.
April 15, 2022
Monika somehow knew long before she should have known who the killer was.
This story in a lot of ways is gross and disgusting with several triggers for those who’ve been abused or seen others abused.
This story in a lot of ways is gross and disgusting with several triggers for those who’ve been abused or seen others abused.
August 5, 2022
This early entry in an excellent series is a must read for fans. I love the short format of this series & a number of other British police procedurals. They are focused & offer the reader a lot of engaging, quick moving plots.
January 20, 2023
The Ring of Death
Great book with well developed interesting characters, lots of action, and a great story line. I love the change of pace from mysteries all set in the US. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries. 2012
Great book with well developed interesting characters, lots of action, and a great story line. I love the change of pace from mysteries all set in the US. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries. 2012
February 6, 2024
A good second book in the series. Finding out more about Monika and her team. A good plot, fast moving. The ending was a bit fast and loose and could have used a bit more detail...but still, well done and enjoyable to read when you're in the mood for crime and murder.
November 25, 2025
2.5 stars—this one gets a full point deduction for bad things happening to animals, and it’s bad enough to overshadow the good parts of the book. When the insane murderer is the only character I like by the end, that’s not a good thing.
June 14, 2017
One of the best so far, had no clue right to the last page!
March 10, 2021
Decent mystery with an unexpected twist at the end. I am still not enamored of the heroine (Monika), whose lack of self confidence seems to adversely affect relationships with colleagues.
March 29, 2022
good read
Again a very suspenseful book. This one, I think, is the best one I’ve read. I didn’t work out who the murderer was at all sand that I think, is a great “whodunnit “
Again a very suspenseful book. This one, I think, is the best one I’ve read. I didn’t work out who the murderer was at all sand that I think, is a great “whodunnit “
July 18, 2023
This is a 2.5. The typos are enough to bring down the rating. The story would have been great if not for the fast and disjointed wrap-up. Very disappointing.
November 23, 2024
Not bad, but too heavy on the political issues.
December 5, 2024
4.0 stars I enjoyed this mystery
April 27, 2025
Great new mystery series (to me)! Likable characters, spooky murders, and a story that kept me guessing until the end. Looking forward to the next in the series.
February 11, 2017
This is the most annoying series. I can't stand that the author continually has the characters "voicing" their thoughts. It's very distracting, and often I have to re-read the lines to figure out they really didn't say them out loud.
August 9, 2016
disappointing
This is the second book in a series which is a continuation of a previous detective series, using a supporting character from that one as its main character. Unfortunately, this story is even less compelling than the first one.
I think the author is trying to fashion a Jane Tennyson (Prime Suspect) and portray some of the struggles of a female chief who leads an all-male squad. Monika Paniatowski is flawed but, unfortunately, not likeable and just sounds whiny and resentful.
I was originally drawn to these books after seeing a main character with a Polish name in a Brit novel as well as a woman pioneer taking the lead in a male dominated field. It's not really enough to keep my interest.
This is the second book in a series which is a continuation of a previous detective series, using a supporting character from that one as its main character. Unfortunately, this story is even less compelling than the first one.
I think the author is trying to fashion a Jane Tennyson (Prime Suspect) and portray some of the struggles of a female chief who leads an all-male squad. Monika Paniatowski is flawed but, unfortunately, not likeable and just sounds whiny and resentful.
I was originally drawn to these books after seeing a main character with a Polish name in a Brit novel as well as a woman pioneer taking the lead in a male dominated field. It's not really enough to keep my interest.
November 17, 2011
This is one quick read--hard to put down. I do wish this series was a bit less gory, seems like TMI about some things; I prefer less description of crimes. I'm also not sure I quite buy who done it. No spoilers, but seems a bit far-fetched. Good characters overall, and a nice developing core of associates.
February 14, 2016
Very unusual, that the ending was a surprise. I usually can see the end coming from a couple of blocks away. This had an image at the end that I found particularly hard to get rid of. I suppose that makes it good in some way.
May 30, 2016
Sally Spenser brings another Monika Paniatowski novel.
I liked Monika when she was Charlie's bag man and her character development as the boss is coming along fine.
Some very graphic descriptions in the novel and a sad ending.
I liked Monika when she was Charlie's bag man and her character development as the boss is coming along fine.
Some very graphic descriptions in the novel and a sad ending.
December 4, 2021
Brilliant book
Not always pleasing subjects, but the characters are very real.
Human frailties are exposed and dealt with accordingly and the ending cannot be easily presumed. Great.
Not always pleasing subjects, but the characters are very real.
Human frailties are exposed and dealt with accordingly and the ending cannot be easily presumed. Great.
January 1, 2022
I have mixed feelings about the book. I really liked Cousins because he was a good detective and a sad man. Forsyth was creepy and I didn’t care for his part of the book. I liked the main crimes and the solving of them, but I didn’t like what happened to cause the killings or the killer. Too sad.
February 1, 2011
I don't typically read mysteries however, found this one kept my attention. Enjoyed Monica, a women, performing in a mans world.
March 7, 2013
If I knew how it ended, I would not have read it.
Spoiler.
If you like Michael Vick, you will like this book.
Spoiler.
If you like Michael Vick, you will like this book.
August 7, 2014
There was some disturbing events at the end that had I known was part of the book I would not have finished the book.
February 22, 2014
I liked this book, but I think the ending was maybe a bit rushed and a little bit silly. Up until the last chapter I was really hooked. Having said that I will read another in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews