After Effects

Inspector Sloan #16

by Catherine Aird

When D.I. Sloan learns that Mrs. Galloway had been a part of a dangerous drug trial, he assumes that her death may not have been entirely from natural causes, and when he learns of the suicide of a doctor also involved in the trial, Sloan sets out to learn more

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British Literature, Audiobook, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller

206 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 1996

About the author

Kinn Hamilton McIntosh, known professionally as Catherine Aird, was an English novelist. She was the author of more than twenty crime fiction novels and several collections of short stories. Her witty, literate, and deftly plotted novels straddle the "cozy" and "police procedural" genres and are somewhat similar in flavour to those of Martha Grimes, Caroline Graham, M.C. Beaton, Margaret Yorke, and Pauline Bell. Aird was inducted into the prestigious Detection Club in 1981, and is a recipient of the 2015 Cartier Diamond Dagger award.

Reviews

[Yibbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This particular Inspector Sloan story was just not all that good. Oh, it wasn't that I didn't get completely befuddled, or gripped at the climax. It was just that the first half or so of the book had such a disjointed feeling. The sentences, and especially, the dialogue felt fragmented and disorienting. I felt that I had to guess at half of what was being said, or rather not said.
Once that changed, I rather liked it. The setting was certainly unique and extremely complicated. It all starts out simply enough, with a sad, but rather predictable, death in a hospital. Then surprise after surprise makes us guess at every development. Is that suicide as simple as it appears? Which woman is more than she appears? What is big-pharma hiding? Could this all be an elaborate attempt to free a few monkeys? Why are people still dying?
There were a few curse words, both British and American. There was also some 'mild' profanity.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit confusing with doctors and patients, drug tests and animal protection protests, and a future wedding that will leave a daughter out in the cold. Plenty of suspects everywhere. Sloan continues to interview and search for clues until he finally gets on the right track, which I never did.

[Deanna]

DNF

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

An elderly woman dies in hospital of heart failure. The death isn't unexpected but she was part of a drugs trial and her son receives an anonymous call suggesting that maybe her death was a little premature. Sloan and Crosby are clutching at straws and not getting any sort of help with their investigations when the doctor overseeing the drugs trials is found dead in his car - an apparent suicide. But, the pathologist, Dr Dabbe believes he was murdered.

As more patients at local hospitals die unexpectedly, Sloan and Crosby are involved in a race against time to prevent further deaths of doctors and patients. This is a well plotted and intriguing mystery with plenty of suspects and victims and a nail biting finish. This is an enjoyable read with plenty of humour and some likeable characters. I recommend this series to anyone who likes crime novels which concentrate on who done it and why. The series can be read in any order.

[R.L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried hard to love this novel. I did enjoy the setting and the Inspector was okay. I felt like as a first time reader of the series, a bit more effort to add color and setting to the novel wouldn't have gone unnoticed. For me, this was very put-downable. I did in fact put it down, arguing with myself on whether I should finish it as I was bored with all the talking heads. I meandered on and didn't find anything outstanding. The bad drug tests, the secret report, the doctor with a conscience, the bad doctor with none, all culminated into a story that could have been much shorter with perhaps some action showing. But I haven't read any of the others in the series so perhaps it was just me.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Gallagher's son is upset she's dead. But it's not the fact that her physician was young, female, not-English, or wearing jeans that spurs the police to investigate. It's the anonymous phone call saying she's dead as a result of a study that's happening.
That alone is worrying. So is the fact that her primary physician, Paul Meggy (sp?), the man in charge of the drug trial, is missing. And another one of his patients is dead.
This book is not fairly clued and might be a bit more meandering if you are trying to read it but was fun as a quick little audio book.

[Nichola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun! I really liked the characters and for a change the doctors all felt unique.

Mostly I feel like Aird is making an effort to engage with a more multiracial England. It is still seriously racist and problematic but Infeel like given time she would be pretty decent at writing a more multicultural set of characters.

I liked the mystery and the way Sloane made a point of resolving all the final bits and pieces at the end.

[Jan C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Double blind experiments/tests at hospitals. Only the drug company knows who gets the real drugs and who gets the placebo. Patient who agrees to such a drug is rolling the dice for their life. In this case most had nothing to lose because they were knocking at death's door anyway. So, why not give it a shot!

I like the Calleshire Chronicles, CD Sloan and young constable Crosby. I even like Dr. Dabbe. And, here, we find out that he is a sailing enthusiast.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit confusing, since you are in a hospital setting for some part and then a variety of other places. But this is used the murderer’s advantage. You have to look at it all to know what to see.

A quick read, filled with all sorts of interesting characters and emotions.

Won’t describe the story there’s a blurb that does that well. Good luck.

[KimbeReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this book, but I just never got into it. I normally enjoy the Sloan and Crosby mysteries much more than this one. If you're starting out, pick another one in the series...this one just rambled, and while the writing was good it just wasn't as good as I'm used to with this author. I'm giving it 3.25 stars.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This didn't seem quite as good as earlier books in the series; some of the humor seemed to me to be lacking. I was also confused as to what exactly the mystery was for the majority of the book. Drug trials, animal activists, and a missing doctor come to the attention of the police, ruining Sloan's plans for the weekend.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have thought before that Aird must not have a very high opinion of doctors and hospitals and it definitely shows here. I am relatively sure this is the highest body count I have ever read for an Aird mystery, but are they all murders? Some clever plotting here and I felt proud of myself for figuring it out just before Sloan.

[Melissa Lindberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A medical mystery - a patient dies, her family complains; but then the supervising doctor dies too, near the site of a second patient's death. Was the drug trail harmful to them? Was it something else entirely? Why was the doctor murdered? Did the patients really die of natural causes?

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started the book, I almost didn't continue. But then it got interesting with various goings on, some deaths and I enjoyed reading because I wanted to see how it turned out. There were 2 short stories at the end that I thought were good.

[David Navratil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery set in England, I had a difficult time understanding what was going on (I'm American). I think the reader must be familiar with British slang. I'm sure if the reader reads enough British books they would have no trouble with this! David N.

[Lyn Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do so enjoy Inspector Sloane - but I must make an effort to enter the books more often on Good Reads than I do. I remember I enjoyed a book but it is so long after I have finished it that I usually cannot remember what the book was about.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent -

Doctors playing games - which ones? Other doctors trying to help or hinder - which ones?
Two policemen trying to understand what is going on and a great many people dying - murder or natural causes?

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, fine prose and a good, twisty mystery. This one wrapped up rather quickly, so I felt breathless at the end. Also, there were no hints, so the perp was a surprise.

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Topical.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and exciting story.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pharmaceutical company is willing to pay high for doctors to test their new drugs on patients who are going to die anyway. The deaths of a few healthy participants are suitably camouflaged.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great entry in this very clever, humorous mystery series. A surprise ending. Loved it

[Conniegull · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her books start slow for me so that I'm not sure I'll enjoy them, but somehow she always turns them around and makes them interesting. Creative mind, with good red herrings.

[Teri Am · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series and the author's imagination. Always surprised as to the circumstances and the solution.

[Jane Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will try more by this author but I think it takes a bit to get into the storyline.

[Holly Mcclain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously though, who KNEW that many adverbs EXISTED?

[Jill Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Very clever. Prescient considering the way the covid injections were foisted on us.

[KWink]

A little convoluted. Hit especially close to home as I read most of this book at work in the hospital

[Kathleen Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars