The Empire Club Murders

Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard #1

by C. K. Harewood

March 1930. The tranquillity of suburban Craynebrook is disturbed when a lifeless and nameless body is found dumped on the local common.

Enter newly promoted Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard, a policeman with a reputation that precedes him and which threatens to drag him down.

As Matthew embarks on his investigation, an another, more sinister plot demands his attention. One by one, members of an esteemed social club are meeting an untimely demise, leaving their community in a state of panic that they might be next. With the stakes higher than ever before, Matthew is under immense pressure from above to solve the case before the killer strikes again.

As the bodies pile up, Matthew's career and reputation hang in the balance. Will he be able to catch the killer and restore his standing in the force or will this case be his downfall?

Genres: British Literature

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 8, 2023

Reviews

[Les Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can’t truly say I enjoyed it. That’s my opinion. Others will find it more so!

[Christy Mattoon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author has no clue to write golden age mystery

Harewood should read some classic golden age mysteries begotten he claims to emulated them. His use of language is much too modern, the setting might be 1929 but you would never know it, and when I read the piece about the waiter being bullied I shut the book. Mr Harewood, read Punshon, or Christopher Bush or Margery Allingham, and then try again.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matthew has been promoted to DI so his demeanour towards the case before him changes. There is a sense of urgency after the second killing as he realises the case is more sinister than he expected when it was just one body. The mystery story is plot-driven and descriptive, and pleasant to read.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[barryid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and I thought it was well plotted and a nice start to what I think will be an enjoyable-ish series. The characters are well drawn and somewhat realistic. The somewhat is what took away one star. The superintendent is over the top. almost a characterture. The heroo's family leaves me thinking of my family and we were not a remarkable family. The sergeant is too too sergeantily and the other inspector is too oafishly. The other missing star is because of the missing background. The story is set in the 1930s, but there is nothing 1930ish about it. Maybe the author will flesh it out more as the series progresses. I will be reading.

[JJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of nasty people in this. As members of the Empire Club, The Five, who are noted members of society are boors who are both disliked and admired by other members. Apparently upstanding citizens their disgraceful behaviour is tolerated because of the influence they wield.
Enter DI Stannard, a newly promoted young man who gained unwanted notoriety after he caught a serial killer. He still smarts at the fact that so many people have now heard of him. He is the new man at Craynebrook and he is no sooner in than door when a body is found.
Stannard investigations are hampered at every turn by his boss, Superintendent Mullinger who takes an instant dislike to him, firstly because Stannard’s previous case gave him press coverage and secondly because Mullinger wants to move up in Craynebrook society by whatever means.
This book really holds your attention. An interesting read. I hope there will be more books in the future.

[Shelly Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Empire Club Murders is the first Book of DI Matthew Stannard mystery series written by C. K. Harewood. This intriguing murder mystery story is very plot-driven and rather descriptive, however nicely pleasant to read. I have rather enjoyed this first in the series book, it was cleverly written with well developed characters, and overall developed enough in many cases to make me really despised some of them! Really exciting and intriguing, I will certainly be recommending this read and patiently wait for the second book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[John Hinchliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have listened to the audio version of this book.
This is the first CK Harewood I've had the pleasure of listening to and it won't be the last. Matthew Stannard, a newly promoted D.I is moved to a small area where he has to make his own mark. The resident police don't like him from the start as he is an action man and they just want an easy life. The story is well written with more grit than most of the police procedurals set in that era and it is well paced with unexpected twists and turns. Mike Langan's narration is spot on and really helps make the book flow. Highly Recommended. I am already at 90 percent in the second of the series, just had to keep up with the D.I.

[Janet Farnham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this is a well written book, I can not bring myself to give it a high rating-in fact, I'd like to give it a 1 star but I know that would be unfair. I do not like books-of any kind-that leave me feeling angry. Hopefully this will not be a spoiler but for a supervisor to commit unethical, perhaps even illegal, acts and go unpunished is a deal breaker for my continuing patronage. I am starting on the second in this series and if this theme repeats, I will be out...

[Lillian Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow What a Great Story!!

When I started to read this book I just knew that it was going to be a great mystery. So many things happened that made me look forward to the next chapter. I highly recommend this story to all who love a great mystery. I look forward to reading the next story in this series.

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was well written and I like Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard and the way he finds evidence and how he questions possible suspects. I very much dislike his chief, who is a pompous a$$ and thinks he wants and ideas are more important than the truth. Narrator does a Good job with the various characters voices and the entire storyline.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Guys Were Very Bad

Characters extremely well drawn. Suspense & intensity kept me turning pages. Though not graphic crimes & violent deaths were Bad.

[Kat Walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this type of novel, I award 4 stars; in general, I would give 3. Start to a new series and I will eventually read the next.

[Jan256 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a pleasant surprise. I'm hoping the sequel won't be too long in coming.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new-to-me author with an interesting blurb so I took a chance and requested the ARC and I am very glad that I did so. Matthew Stannard, newly promoted to Detective Inspector due to his success in a previous case, is sent out to Craynebrook, a quiet suburban town, only to find murder is hot on his heels. It didn't help that there is a very active old boy's network at large, hindering his every move.

I have enjoyed this first in the series, cleverly written with well developed characters, well developed enough in many cases to make me really detest some of them! Exciting and intriguing, I will certainly be recommending this read.