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Inspector Frost #4
Hard Frost
Kommissær FROST er ikke elsket af sine overordnede; ja, har er evig og altid en torn i øjet på dem. Han er et rodehoved af rang, egensindig og ulydig, med en bizar form for humor, og han springer altid over, hvor gærdet er lavest. Allerhelst ville de af med ham. Det eneste problem er blot, at han altid på en eller anden besynderlig måde får arbejdet fra hånden.
Det er en høj pris, FROST kommer til at betale, da han en sen aften i sin ferie lusker ind på sin chefs kontor for at stjæle noget at ryge på: Han bliver presset til at tage sig af et modbydeligt mord på en lille dreng.
Denton politi lider af akut mandskabsmangel, da adskillige overordnede politifolk involveres i et biluheld – at politimanden, der førte bilen, havde en promille langt ud over det tilladelige, tør kun FROST snakke højt om. Og i de næste par dage hober arbejdet og problemerne sig op for FROST: En pengeafpresser, flere mord, en sexuelt perverteret galning, en vanvittig hustru, en koldblodig kidnapper og …
Det er en høj pris, FROST kommer til at betale, da han en sen aften i sin ferie lusker ind på sin chefs kontor for at stjæle noget at ryge på: Han bliver presset til at tage sig af et modbydeligt mord på en lille dreng.
Denton politi lider af akut mandskabsmangel, da adskillige overordnede politifolk involveres i et biluheld – at politimanden, der førte bilen, havde en promille langt ud over det tilladelige, tør kun FROST snakke højt om. Og i de næste par dage hober arbejdet og problemerne sig op for FROST: En pengeafpresser, flere mord, en sexuelt perverteret galning, en vanvittig hustru, en koldblodig kidnapper og …
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
98 people are currently reading
674 people want to read
About the author
R.D. Wingfield
39 books142 followersRodney David Wingfield was a prolific writer of radio crime plays and comedy scripts, some for the late Kenneth Williams, star of the Carry On films. His crime novels featuring DI Jack Frost have been successfully adapted for television as A Touch of Frost starring David Jason. Wingfield was a modest man, shunning the London publicity scene in favour of a quite life in Basildon, Essex, with his wife of 52 years (died 2004) and only son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
August 1, 2019
This UK hardcover is signed by R.D. Wingfield .
November 13, 2018
It's a shame Winfield wrote as little as he did in the Frost series. I have read all of them now and liked each. Frost is such an interesting character: slovenly, cynical, not afraid to bend the rules if it serves to benefit the less fortunate. And his responses to Mullet, his Superintendent, are often laugh-out-loud funny. Listened as an audiobook. Very entertaining.
March 31, 2019
I'm reading R.D. Wingfield's Inspector Frost series of books in order. I've enjoyed each of them, but this one is the highlight of the first four offerings. It is Frost at his best, eschewing rules and his superiors' commands when they stand in his way of solving a crime, particularly when there are lives at stake. Even so, or perhaps due to his unorthodoxy, Frost is respected by those of lesser ranks. While his methods may be outside the rule book, it is difficult to argue with his success rate -- even though he often lets others take credit for those solutions.
This is a tightly plotted story that is very much character-driven.
This is a tightly plotted story that is very much character-driven.
April 16, 2013
For a town with so much crime, they certainly have a hard time staffing their police force. This time around, Denton is subject to some gruesome occurrences. Detectives are trying to track down a missing child believed to be the bait in a blackmail scam while elsewhere, infants are being stabbed in the comfort of their own cribs. If that wasn’t bad enough, a deranged mother has murdered her three children and then leaped to her death in front of an oncoming train.
Just like in previous Inspector Frost novels, Wingfield has Frost doing the work of many. This could be due to the fact that the Denton Police Department is so wretchedly understaffed or it could be that Frost simply has nothing better to do. For a man that seems to hate most of the people he works with, he can rarely be found doing anything else. The brief amount of time he does designate to himself are mainly just to sleep and even when he’s done that, he’s right back at his desk.
In the first three books, Frost was insufferable to say the least. He disliked most of his co-workers and worked hard to make life miserable for his boss, Chief Superintendent Mullett. This time around, he not only annoys all of those around him but he also succeeded in irritating me.
I understand that Frost is written in such a way to come across as abrasive and short with both those he works with and those he investigates but I’m starting to wonder why Mullet even keeps him around. Sure, he eventually gets the job done but is the aggravation worth it in the end? I’ve got to think it isn’t. In today’s day and age, Frost probably couldn’t get away with half of his comments or even a portion of his actions. He’d have so many sexual harassment lawsuits thrown his way he wouldn’t know what to do with himself.
I don’t want it to seem like I suddenly have an issue with the character. Frankly, he’s always been crass. I just can’t understand why Wingfield decided to turn him up to eleven this time around. Hopefully in the next 3 books he isn’t so ridiculous and returns to his drier, more subtle style of humour that originally brought out his charm.
Cross posted on Every Read Thing
Just like in previous Inspector Frost novels, Wingfield has Frost doing the work of many. This could be due to the fact that the Denton Police Department is so wretchedly understaffed or it could be that Frost simply has nothing better to do. For a man that seems to hate most of the people he works with, he can rarely be found doing anything else. The brief amount of time he does designate to himself are mainly just to sleep and even when he’s done that, he’s right back at his desk.
In the first three books, Frost was insufferable to say the least. He disliked most of his co-workers and worked hard to make life miserable for his boss, Chief Superintendent Mullett. This time around, he not only annoys all of those around him but he also succeeded in irritating me.
I understand that Frost is written in such a way to come across as abrasive and short with both those he works with and those he investigates but I’m starting to wonder why Mullet even keeps him around. Sure, he eventually gets the job done but is the aggravation worth it in the end? I’ve got to think it isn’t. In today’s day and age, Frost probably couldn’t get away with half of his comments or even a portion of his actions. He’d have so many sexual harassment lawsuits thrown his way he wouldn’t know what to do with himself.
I don’t want it to seem like I suddenly have an issue with the character. Frankly, he’s always been crass. I just can’t understand why Wingfield decided to turn him up to eleven this time around. Hopefully in the next 3 books he isn’t so ridiculous and returns to his drier, more subtle style of humour that originally brought out his charm.
Cross posted on Every Read Thing
May 15, 2024
The awkward investigator is back on the case when a boy is found in a garbage bag on Halloween/Guy Fawkes Day. A psycho is stabbing kids in their cribs, a missing boy seems to be kidnapped, a teen girl also seems to have been kidnapped by someone else, and a petty criminal is found murdered.
Administration has no clue what to do, so they reluctantly let Frost loose. He starts investigating and offending pretty much everybody. This time, his partner in crime is the usual 1980's type policewoman, who probably looks like Stefanie Kramer from the TV show Hunter.
It all makes sense in the end.
Administration has no clue what to do, so they reluctantly let Frost loose. He starts investigating and offending pretty much everybody. This time, his partner in crime is the usual 1980's type policewoman, who probably looks like Stefanie Kramer from the TV show Hunter.
It all makes sense in the end.
July 25, 2022
Senas geras Frostas.
June 28, 2014
I've now read three books in the DI Frost series and have enjoyed them all very much. Frost is a bit of an anachronism, a throwback who relies on his gut-instinct more than fancy technological investigative techniques. His boss, Mr Mullet, who is shallow and sychophantic, hates Frost, hates his scruffiness, his off-colour humour and his laziness towards doing paperwork and his habit of bending the rules, will do anything to get rid of Frost. But Frost has this habit of coming out on top each and every time, seeming to stumble into the solutions to his cases. And Frost is well-loved by the rank and file in the Denton police station. In Hard Frost, Frost is supposed to be on vacation. But he comes in to the station to steal some of Mullet's fancy cigarettes and due to various circumstances ends up deeply involved in a number of cases occurring at the same time; a kidnapping, breaking and enterings, a missing boy. Due to manning shortages he must also cope with an Acting DI who is brought in from another division, a man with a deep grudge against Frost. But through it all, Frost stumbles on, working every case, getting no sleep, offending Mullet and in the end.. well, you'll have to read to find out in the end.. Excellent story. I will have to find the remaining books in this series, it's been most enjoyable.
April 24, 2015
I love me some Mr Frost. What a shame there were so few books completed before Wingfield passed away. Frost is a most enjoyable character. He's like a raunchy Columbo from England.
This time there seemed less mysteries and murders to solve but somehow he manages it. It must be partly due to his excellent team. And partly to dumb luck.
On a different note, I swear the baby picture on this cover is used in the beginning cast roll call for Call The Midwife.
This time there seemed less mysteries and murders to solve but somehow he manages it. It must be partly due to his excellent team. And partly to dumb luck.
On a different note, I swear the baby picture on this cover is used in the beginning cast roll call for Call The Midwife.
April 1, 2023
2,5, ale z bólem
Dopusczam do wiadomości fakt, że książka byla pisana w innych czasach więc pewne granice były dalej postawione, nie zmienia to faktu że często czytając mega sprośne, obrzydliwe nawiązania do kobiet lub części intymnych lub ogolem nadmierna seksualizacja (w tym czasem nieletnich 💀) po prostu zalewała mnie fala obrzydzenia lub zazenowania (lub obu), a niestety domena głównego bohatera były właśnie takie teksty 💀
Ale pomijając ten aspekt to książka jest napisana super językiem, w prawdzie wiele akcji wydawała mi się nielogiczna lub było zbyt wiele zbiegów okoliczności ale naprawdę gdyby nie te teksty to może bym i 3,5 gwiazdki dala za sam fakt jak wciągała i jak mnie te sprawy rozwiazywane pochłonęły
Dopusczam do wiadomości fakt, że książka byla pisana w innych czasach więc pewne granice były dalej postawione, nie zmienia to faktu że często czytając mega sprośne, obrzydliwe nawiązania do kobiet lub części intymnych lub ogolem nadmierna seksualizacja (w tym czasem nieletnich 💀) po prostu zalewała mnie fala obrzydzenia lub zazenowania (lub obu), a niestety domena głównego bohatera były właśnie takie teksty 💀
Ale pomijając ten aspekt to książka jest napisana super językiem, w prawdzie wiele akcji wydawała mi się nielogiczna lub było zbyt wiele zbiegów okoliczności ale naprawdę gdyby nie te teksty to może bym i 3,5 gwiazdki dala za sam fakt jak wciągała i jak mnie te sprawy rozwiazywane pochłonęły
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2016
Inspector Frost is much disliked by his boss Commander Mullett who would be very pleased to see him transferred elsewhere. But the crude, insubordinate Frost solves the crimes - not that Mullett would like to openly give him the credit for. In Hard Frost, Frost investigates the murder of three children, apparently by their mother, who then kills herself. But is this what really happened?
November 18, 2024
You know from the prologue that this is not going to be an easy read, the crimes being committed are of the most degenerate kind. A young boy is found dead underneath a stack of bin bags, another boy is missing, a psychopath is stabbing sleeping babies, another boy is abducted and later found dead… and in the centre of all this is Jack Frost. Foulmouthed, scruffy, disobedient, staggering from one crisis to another in the middle of a nightmare, but with incredible powers of deduction and unrelenting in his pursuit of the criminals.
Hard Frost is the 4th novel by R.D. Wingfield to feature Inspector Frost. It was published in 1995, Jack Frost however is a throwback to the 70’s, a no nonsense detective with little regard for rules, authority or social niceties. These books are peppered with his wry, uncouth, ribald humour, exemplified when he finds a decomposing corpse, “‘I’d hate to be one of the blokes who have to lift him out. Don’t pull him up by his arms, they might come off in your hand . . . and for the same reason, don’t lift him by his dick.’” These books aren’t for the easily offended.
All the cases piling up in Frost’s in tray seem to fall over each other becoming intertwined, hindering his chances of catching the perpetrators. And added to that he has to contend with his superior Superintendent Mullet who rather than back him is hoping he will fail and give him reason to get rid of him.
Hard Frost is a gripping, gritty, fast paced, dark, funny and highly entertaining detective novel with its fair share of red herrings dead ends and suspects.
Hard Frost is the 4th novel by R.D. Wingfield to feature Inspector Frost. It was published in 1995, Jack Frost however is a throwback to the 70’s, a no nonsense detective with little regard for rules, authority or social niceties. These books are peppered with his wry, uncouth, ribald humour, exemplified when he finds a decomposing corpse, “‘I’d hate to be one of the blokes who have to lift him out. Don’t pull him up by his arms, they might come off in your hand . . . and for the same reason, don’t lift him by his dick.’” These books aren’t for the easily offended.
All the cases piling up in Frost’s in tray seem to fall over each other becoming intertwined, hindering his chances of catching the perpetrators. And added to that he has to contend with his superior Superintendent Mullet who rather than back him is hoping he will fail and give him reason to get rid of him.
Hard Frost is a gripping, gritty, fast paced, dark, funny and highly entertaining detective novel with its fair share of red herrings dead ends and suspects.
October 3, 2020
I'm now starting to get so used to women being called "cows" I find myself reaching for it as my #1 insult.
. . .
This is not going to end well, is it? 🤐🤐🤐
Ehem. Anyway.
As it happens I watched the TV show episodes that were based on this book (Penny for the Guy and House Calls - season 5) quite recently. The differences were interesting.
I like how the TV show gave D.S. Liz "Wonder Woman" Maud a bigger role by completely erasing Cassidy from the story.
No hard feelings on my part there. Cassidy was a pain in the @$$.
Oh, and I laughed when David Jason was mentioned briefly, cutting some ribbon somewhere.
Having recently watched these cases unfurl made this book a bit less interesting in terms of police work because I knew what was coming, but it seems like the next book wasn't adapted for screen so now I'm quite curious for what's to come.
. . .
This is not going to end well, is it? 🤐🤐🤐
Ehem. Anyway.
As it happens I watched the TV show episodes that were based on this book (Penny for the Guy and House Calls - season 5) quite recently. The differences were interesting.
I like how the TV show gave D.S. Liz "Wonder Woman" Maud a bigger role by completely erasing Cassidy from the story.
No hard feelings on my part there. Cassidy was a pain in the @$$.
Oh, and I laughed when David Jason was mentioned briefly, cutting some ribbon somewhere.
Having recently watched these cases unfurl made this book a bit less interesting in terms of police work because I knew what was coming, but it seems like the next book wasn't adapted for screen so now I'm quite curious for what's to come.
December 30, 2021
I really really loved the tv show with David Jason so thought I would give some audio books a go. I cannot believe how sexist this one is. I know it’s been written some 30 years ago and that seemingly was the norm to be smutty and sexist. So pleased this didn’t carry over to the shows to the extent they are in this book.
March 29, 2023
Another brilliant book in this excellent series. Although over 450 pages long it's never boring. I think this is because of the pace of the novel and the fact that there are multiple cases being investigated at the same time. Frost is usual rude, sexist, disorganized self.
February 22, 2021
Really good subversive humour is in short supply in an overly serious, exploitative world. This is GOLD!
October 8, 2016
I'm a fan of the TV series of Frost, mainly because I love David Jason. And this book certainly lived up to my expectations in terms of the complexity of the crimes and the difficulties faced by Frost in solving them. A young boy is found murdered, a teenage girl is picked up, naked, by the side of the road after a kidnapping, a family of three children and their mother are found dead and Frost is facing the normal amount of adversity as he tries to bring each case to its conclusion.
However, there were two things I was disappointed with which I had perhaps been spoilt by with the TV series. The first was Frost himself. Although he's a bit scruffy and he doesn't follow the rules, David Jason's Frost still has something gentlemanly about him. The Frost in the novel is frankly disgusting. I know he is a product of his time, but his clothes went beyond scruffy to utterly filthy, I can only imagine how he smelt what with the amount of cigarettes he smoked (and butts he carried with him) and how little he seemed to go home and actually wash, and I thought his manners and jokes were usually offensively inappropriate. As such, although I love Frost, I didn't love this one.
Secondly, I found myself getting utterly exasperated with the back-stabbing, one-upmanship, self-aggrandisement, hatred, resentment and discord which seemed to be the daily bread and butter of the Denton police. How on earth they ever managed to solve a case is completely beyond me as most characters seemed more interested in themselves than anything else. Perhaps I'm naive, but to me, without at least a modicum of teamwork, very little is ever going to be achieved, and I don't think a single character, except perhaps Frost in a few instances, gave a damn about trying to work as a team. As such, it felt unrealistic. I don't deny that politics exists in every organisation (I defy anyone to tell me one where it doesn't) but this descended into kindergarten playground tactics more often than not.
Personally, I think I'll go back to David Jason.
However, there were two things I was disappointed with which I had perhaps been spoilt by with the TV series. The first was Frost himself. Although he's a bit scruffy and he doesn't follow the rules, David Jason's Frost still has something gentlemanly about him. The Frost in the novel is frankly disgusting. I know he is a product of his time, but his clothes went beyond scruffy to utterly filthy, I can only imagine how he smelt what with the amount of cigarettes he smoked (and butts he carried with him) and how little he seemed to go home and actually wash, and I thought his manners and jokes were usually offensively inappropriate. As such, although I love Frost, I didn't love this one.
Secondly, I found myself getting utterly exasperated with the back-stabbing, one-upmanship, self-aggrandisement, hatred, resentment and discord which seemed to be the daily bread and butter of the Denton police. How on earth they ever managed to solve a case is completely beyond me as most characters seemed more interested in themselves than anything else. Perhaps I'm naive, but to me, without at least a modicum of teamwork, very little is ever going to be achieved, and I don't think a single character, except perhaps Frost in a few instances, gave a damn about trying to work as a team. As such, it felt unrealistic. I don't deny that politics exists in every organisation (I defy anyone to tell me one where it doesn't) but this descended into kindergarten playground tactics more often than not.
Personally, I think I'll go back to David Jason.
December 29, 2010
The Denton police division is shorthanded after a car crash involving several tipsy policemen so Inspector Frost is called in early from his vacation and has to cope with, among other things, blackmail, dead bodies, and a kidnapper. I always enjoy the books in this series and while Frost is not the most likable character he does get the job done even if it takes a few tries.
April 24, 2010
This was a terrific detective novel set in England in the 90s. Definitely creepy, but the humor and wonderfully painted Inspector Jack Frost tempered the heeby-jeebies. I think I will have to lay off crime for a while because it messes with me. If you want a good thrill, check out this series!
September 22, 2014
I LOVE THE FROST BOOKS. I STARTED READING THEM AFTER WATCHING THE BRIT SERIES ON TV AND OF COURSE I OWN THEM ALL AS WELL. I LOVE THE BOOKS THE ARE RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE DVD'S. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR ANYONE THAT LOVES TO READ BRITISH MYSTERIES.
September 6, 2023
Jack Frost is an amazing character, from the tv show to the books they never fail to disappoint. This book had some of its elements put into episodes of the tv show, it was well written and believable as a true copper.
March 29, 2022
This was a marathon of a read! Not to say that it was bad, but it's my least favorite of the series thus far. Hard Frost (HF) was twice as long as all the previous books, and I'm sure this book was made into at least three episodes; possibly four or five. One thing I find refreshingly realistic is that Frost isn't working on just one case at a time like most police procedurals, he does several because criminals aren't that accommodating.
As per usual, the city of Denton tries to kill Frost by throwing every crime at him to solve and part of the force is out, this time due to a car crash. I'd give this book a 3.5 star because although the actual police work was still great, I ended the book thinking there was little reason Mullett would keep Frost around. Jack doesn't want or need the recognition of closing high profile cases, but it would be nice if just one of the other officers (particularly Cassidy) would have the integrity to let Mullett know about Jack's role on every case, just not making the final arrest. Frost was thrown under the bus and stayed there pretty much the entire book; not out of character by any means, just frustrating.
There was also a return of overused D jokes. As I said a couple books ago; I'm not opposed to having them, the frequency just made them feel lazy and unfunny. Why not mix it up with other terms? I think the show does a pretty good job of fleshing these stories and characters out while staying true to the books, so I'm on the fence about continuing the series in book form. Having said that, if you're a fan of the character and police dramas, I'd recommend this series.
As per usual, the city of Denton tries to kill Frost by throwing every crime at him to solve and part of the force is out, this time due to a car crash. I'd give this book a 3.5 star because although the actual police work was still great, I ended the book thinking there was little reason Mullett would keep Frost around. Jack doesn't want or need the recognition of closing high profile cases, but it would be nice if just one of the other officers (particularly Cassidy) would have the integrity to let Mullett know about Jack's role on every case, just not making the final arrest. Frost was thrown under the bus and stayed there pretty much the entire book; not out of character by any means, just frustrating.
There was also a return of overused D jokes. As I said a couple books ago; I'm not opposed to having them, the frequency just made them feel lazy and unfunny. Why not mix it up with other terms? I think the show does a pretty good job of fleshing these stories and characters out while staying true to the books, so I'm on the fence about continuing the series in book form. Having said that, if you're a fan of the character and police dramas, I'd recommend this series.
May 12, 2020
I'm new to the R. D. Wingfield novels and of the four I have read (all of which I have enjoyed) this just about pips the last one. Frost and his new sergeant (yes, another one) Liz Maud have to cope with the death of a young boy and a subsequent kidnapping of another, the death of a blackmailing thief and a very suspicious kidnap and ransom of another kind. All the while an old work colleague with resentments has returned and Mullet is, as ever, the same self effacing senior you never want on your team.
The Frost novels have been a revelation - never went for the TV series in a big way, but the novels have been utterly enjoyable from start to finish.
The addition of a female sergeant is an interesting touch and Frost does not adapt; his sexist, constant smoking and ill judged humour still in place.
The character of Mullet proves a constant irritation as far as I am concerned. Reading the novel I was constantly hoping Frost would bite back at his idiot superior and spare us the pithy jokes, but it never came. Mullet really is a character you love to hate in the novels and its a credit to the author that is he is both a realistic antagonist and a pain in the backside at the same time. Great novel. Onto Book #5...
The Frost novels have been a revelation - never went for the TV series in a big way, but the novels have been utterly enjoyable from start to finish.
The addition of a female sergeant is an interesting touch and Frost does not adapt; his sexist, constant smoking and ill judged humour still in place.
The character of Mullet proves a constant irritation as far as I am concerned. Reading the novel I was constantly hoping Frost would bite back at his idiot superior and spare us the pithy jokes, but it never came. Mullet really is a character you love to hate in the novels and its a credit to the author that is he is both a realistic antagonist and a pain in the backside at the same time. Great novel. Onto Book #5...
October 28, 2023
When i bought this book I didn’t realise it was an Inspector Frost novel. I didn’t know they existed & i didn’t watch the tv series, except for seeing trailers. The characters were all new to me but i pictured Frost as David Jason which is to be expected!
I really enjoyed the way Wingfield writes & makes the characters come alive.
Frost works in an haphazard way but is a wonderful detective who solves crimes but often is not given the acclaim he deserves. He cuts corners, he lies, he ‘loses’ things if it suits him, and works crazy hours, along with the staff at the fictitious Denton police station. Frost hates his superior, Superintendent Mullett, & works hard at finding opportunities to outwit or humiliate him!
There are multiple crimes to solve for the exhausted detectives, and Frost always gets involved with cases that aren’t his, he then solves them & the others take the glory & he shrugs it off!
The novel is cleverly written. I really enjoyed the twists & turns & the humour, which is often dark. Frost is sexist, and the book is dated by his thoughts of, comments to, and observations of, women. I think it could offend some these days.
This is a great detective novel & I intend to read the rest. If you like a gritty, well written detective novel, this is for you!
I really enjoyed the way Wingfield writes & makes the characters come alive.
Frost works in an haphazard way but is a wonderful detective who solves crimes but often is not given the acclaim he deserves. He cuts corners, he lies, he ‘loses’ things if it suits him, and works crazy hours, along with the staff at the fictitious Denton police station. Frost hates his superior, Superintendent Mullett, & works hard at finding opportunities to outwit or humiliate him!
There are multiple crimes to solve for the exhausted detectives, and Frost always gets involved with cases that aren’t his, he then solves them & the others take the glory & he shrugs it off!
The novel is cleverly written. I really enjoyed the twists & turns & the humour, which is often dark. Frost is sexist, and the book is dated by his thoughts of, comments to, and observations of, women. I think it could offend some these days.
This is a great detective novel & I intend to read the rest. If you like a gritty, well written detective novel, this is for you!
March 30, 2022
Inspector Frost would not be employed as a member of the police force if this were a story in the now. He is brash, and crude, and sexually harasses everyone he meets, nearly. Nevertheless, the story is good and the characters are well developed, and Frost always seems to somehow solve the cases. There are always multiple cases in each of these books, and there are always characters who want the credit and then there's Frost....he would like a chance to sleep. And he just wants to find a missing boy, alive, in one of the cases. There are always twists, and in the main, Frost is actually a good guy, in spite of his bad habits. The only woman working in his office is basically hated by everyone except Frost, who treats her with respect. In the end, she is up for promotion, and since that happens at the very end of the story, I wonder if she'll actually get it. Fast paced, with lots going on, good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2021
Frost throwing the rulebook out as usual. The Frost books are usually set in shifts though this one was in chapters but as usual a lot going on at the same time. I think I read somewhere that that was what made Wingfields books so much more like the real thing and of course with all that's in the news at the moment about the Met you do have to wonder how close is close and how much of what Frost did in "bending the rules" is still happening today! Perhaps breaking the rules would be a more apt expression at times with Frost too.
David Jason's Frost is a much cleaned up version of the books and I can see why Wingfield didn't see him as Frost in the TV series though I would be hard put to think of an actor who would have suited better.... I look forward to the next one in the series though Wingfield didn't write very many so I may have to put that pleasure off for a bit.
David Jason's Frost is a much cleaned up version of the books and I can see why Wingfield didn't see him as Frost in the TV series though I would be hard put to think of an actor who would have suited better.... I look forward to the next one in the series though Wingfield didn't write very many so I may have to put that pleasure off for a bit.
October 6, 2022
It's Halloween and Frost has his hands full.
A little boy is found suffocated in a rubbish sack, another little boy is missing, feared dead, someone is stabbing babies as they sleep, a teen girl is abducted and later found naked by the side of the road.
Then there is the carpet fitter whose wife has gone missing and his three children dead in their beads, a local petty criminal is found dead and a supermarket owner is sent a ransom note for the boy who is missing.
This is shaping up to be a Halloween to remember as he tries to untangle all, these crimes and fit the pieces of the jigsaw together.
This was exciting with a multi layered set of crimes within the tale.
I adore Frost, his wry, smutty and downright inappropriate humour is hilarious and I laughed out loud a lot.
Second one I have read and thoroughly enjoyed.
A little boy is found suffocated in a rubbish sack, another little boy is missing, feared dead, someone is stabbing babies as they sleep, a teen girl is abducted and later found naked by the side of the road.
Then there is the carpet fitter whose wife has gone missing and his three children dead in their beads, a local petty criminal is found dead and a supermarket owner is sent a ransom note for the boy who is missing.
This is shaping up to be a Halloween to remember as he tries to untangle all, these crimes and fit the pieces of the jigsaw together.
This was exciting with a multi layered set of crimes within the tale.
I adore Frost, his wry, smutty and downright inappropriate humour is hilarious and I laughed out loud a lot.
Second one I have read and thoroughly enjoyed.
January 27, 2025
(( Format : Audiobook )
"He's dead, love."
Read by David Jason, who also plays Frost in the TV series, Frost is a lonely, single minded man who wants to be left alone to enjoy simple pleasures like folding his expenses and watching the match on TV. He gets on with most people, though not with his superior officer who he avoids when he can and stands up to if he thinks he's being a prat. The dislike is mutual. The body of a youth is found outside of a shop, and Frost's heart goes out to the poor little lad, so when another boy goes missing...
A police procedural, set in Denton, which has a feel of reality about it. Frost is not ambitious, attractive, clean cut, pretty cynical - but he is dedicated to help those being damaged by crime not of their making. For them he will do all he can.
A great read, recommended.
"He's dead, love."
Read by David Jason, who also plays Frost in the TV series, Frost is a lonely, single minded man who wants to be left alone to enjoy simple pleasures like folding his expenses and watching the match on TV. He gets on with most people, though not with his superior officer who he avoids when he can and stands up to if he thinks he's being a prat. The dislike is mutual. The body of a youth is found outside of a shop, and Frost's heart goes out to the poor little lad, so when another boy goes missing...
A police procedural, set in Denton, which has a feel of reality about it. Frost is not ambitious, attractive, clean cut, pretty cynical - but he is dedicated to help those being damaged by crime not of their making. For them he will do all he can.
A great read, recommended.
October 13, 2018
This novel would have been improved with some serious editing, especially where Frost is being a pervert and he and other characters sexist. Set in the 1990s you may expect this, but Wingfield over eggs the pudding and it becomes boring and distracting.
The book's saving grace is the plot which has many strands, from murder to child kidnap and shows how the police don't just work one case at a time how overworked and short of man power they can be.
There is tension between various police officers and departments and I kept asking, why don't they work together?
Gritty in tone it shows there are more ways to get results than by the book, as a character Frost isn't likable but that doesn't mean he isn't developed.
The book's saving grace is the plot which has many strands, from murder to child kidnap and shows how the police don't just work one case at a time how overworked and short of man power they can be.
There is tension between various police officers and departments and I kept asking, why don't they work together?
Gritty in tone it shows there are more ways to get results than by the book, as a character Frost isn't likable but that doesn't mean he isn't developed.
May 1, 2023
Too darn good by far, this book is responsible for me ignoring my other hobbies, and other books. Inspector Frost is so screwed up, but he always manages to fumble through anyway. He usually has one colleague that you feel sympathy for, in this one its Detective sergeant Maud, and a couple you hate, with Superintendent Mullett being the butt of Frost’s awful jokes. Always tasteless, but often very funny. Frost has a running feud with the Superintendent; in this one he’s pilfering cigarettes from the boss’s office, which is fairly mild by Frost’s standards. These are good solid detective stories, well written and with wonderful characters, before my rating reform I’d have given it a five, but I don’t like detective stories anyway, so that’s my excuse for a four.
June 1, 2024
I’m about halfway through this, my first Frost book, after enjoying the tv series, and I really don’t like the character at all. TV frost came over as flawed but decent. The book character is far more laviscious, offensively so.
I know this was written a few years ago, when such things were more acceptable, but as a female reader, I find it off putting when he’s making slimy remarks about women, for example, of a female colleague “let that flaming tart do some work for a change, instead of painting her lousy fingernails.” (P.9)
“As the door closed, Mullet heard a startled cry from his secretary and a raucous laugh from Frost. ‘Caught you bending there, Ida!’” (P.45)
Not for me. I can’t enjoy a book when it annoys me.
I know this was written a few years ago, when such things were more acceptable, but as a female reader, I find it off putting when he’s making slimy remarks about women, for example, of a female colleague “let that flaming tart do some work for a change, instead of painting her lousy fingernails.” (P.9)
“As the door closed, Mullet heard a startled cry from his secretary and a raucous laugh from Frost. ‘Caught you bending there, Ida!’” (P.45)
Not for me. I can’t enjoy a book when it annoys me.
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