What do you think?
Rate this book
Monika Paniatowski #1-7
The Complete Detective Monika Books 1–7
In this seven-book box set:
Book 1: THE DEAD HAND OF HISTORY
On Monika’s first day as detective chief inspector, a woman’s severed hand is found in a leafy park. Now the clock is ticking to catch a ruthless killer. But is Monika’s powerful chemistry with the prime suspect leading her off track?
Book 2: THE RING OF DEATH
Detective Monika thought she’d seen it all. But nothing could prepare her for this. A naked body out on the wild and windswept Lancashire moors. Posed on all fours with his throat slit. Whatever the killer’s twisted message, he won’t stop until he’s understood.
Book 3: ECHOES OF THE DEAD
Years ago, Fred Howerd murdered an innocent teen girl. Now he’s saying his confession was a lie, forced out of him by two bent coppers — one of whom is Monika’s mentor and the only man she ever trusted.
Book 4: BACKLASH
Monika has a bitter history with Chief Superintendent Kershaw. But now his wife is missing and he wants her back at any cost. Even if that means Monika leading the case.
Book 5: LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER
When a retired miner is found bludgeoned to death in his outside lavatory, Detective Monika must solve the case. And it’s her daughter’s life on the line should she fail . . .
Book 6: A WALK WITH THE DEAD
Concerned Monika spots a teenage girl, alone and distressed at a wedding. She wants to go over and speak to the girl. She never gets the chance. Next morning, the girl’s battered body is found in a park. Strangled.
Book 7: DEATH’S DARK SHADOW
A victim without a name. A killer without a motive. A detective facing her darkest hour. When divers pull a body from the waters of a murky canal, everyone looks to Detective Monika for answers.
Book 1: THE DEAD HAND OF HISTORY
On Monika’s first day as detective chief inspector, a woman’s severed hand is found in a leafy park. Now the clock is ticking to catch a ruthless killer. But is Monika’s powerful chemistry with the prime suspect leading her off track?
Book 2: THE RING OF DEATH
Detective Monika thought she’d seen it all. But nothing could prepare her for this. A naked body out on the wild and windswept Lancashire moors. Posed on all fours with his throat slit. Whatever the killer’s twisted message, he won’t stop until he’s understood.
Book 3: ECHOES OF THE DEAD
Years ago, Fred Howerd murdered an innocent teen girl. Now he’s saying his confession was a lie, forced out of him by two bent coppers — one of whom is Monika’s mentor and the only man she ever trusted.
Book 4: BACKLASH
Monika has a bitter history with Chief Superintendent Kershaw. But now his wife is missing and he wants her back at any cost. Even if that means Monika leading the case.
Book 5: LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER
When a retired miner is found bludgeoned to death in his outside lavatory, Detective Monika must solve the case. And it’s her daughter’s life on the line should she fail . . .
Book 6: A WALK WITH THE DEAD
Concerned Monika spots a teenage girl, alone and distressed at a wedding. She wants to go over and speak to the girl. She never gets the chance. Next morning, the girl’s battered body is found in a park. Strangled.
Book 7: DEATH’S DARK SHADOW
A victim without a name. A killer without a motive. A detective facing her darkest hour. When divers pull a body from the waters of a murky canal, everyone looks to Detective Monika for answers.
- GenresFiction
1967 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 19, 2023
1022 people are currently reading
58 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 18, 2023
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
I read or listened 🎶 to these individually. Each story is different with Monika Paniatowski moving up in the police force. Each story is interesting with well developed characters lots of action, misdirection, and violence leading to each conclusion. I would recommend this series and author to 👍readers of British 🏰👑 mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡😮
If you are a fan of mysteries I would recommend this series. Happy reading and have fun 🌙😀 William
I read or listened 🎶 to these individually. Each story is different with Monika Paniatowski moving up in the police force. Each story is interesting with well developed characters lots of action, misdirection, and violence leading to each conclusion. I would recommend this series and author to 👍readers of British 🏰👑 mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡😮
If you are a fan of mysteries I would recommend this series. Happy reading and have fun 🌙😀 William
November 1, 2023
These books are very cleverly written with painstakingly thought out plots and left me with a sense of “Well I enjoyed them”.
What is unusual and so interesting are the stories are based in the early seventies and the team of a CDI, a DI, a DS and a DC hadn’t the modern technology to solve crimes. Technology such as mobile phones, the internet, digital forensic science and widespread cctv. Monika Paniatowski is the CDI therefore has to solve the crimes the old fashioned way and in some of the books she brings into play her old boss who is retired living in Spain. The books also bring into play actual real events in history such as the miners strikes and three day weeks of the seventies as well as events from the Spanish civil war and the subsequent death of Franco and the repercussions from this event.
I have only just found out that Sally is a pseudonym for Brian and so I will continue to read further crime novels from this ‘pair’.
Recommended.
What is unusual and so interesting are the stories are based in the early seventies and the team of a CDI, a DI, a DS and a DC hadn’t the modern technology to solve crimes. Technology such as mobile phones, the internet, digital forensic science and widespread cctv. Monika Paniatowski is the CDI therefore has to solve the crimes the old fashioned way and in some of the books she brings into play her old boss who is retired living in Spain. The books also bring into play actual real events in history such as the miners strikes and three day weeks of the seventies as well as events from the Spanish civil war and the subsequent death of Franco and the repercussions from this event.
I have only just found out that Sally is a pseudonym for Brian and so I will continue to read further crime novels from this ‘pair’.
Recommended.
July 29, 2024
What a lovely pleasure to read.
It's funny that so.e reasons for reading a book, or in this case 7... For me it was the fact that the stories were about the timing and the place.
I'm 1973 I was newly married, lived in the Lancashire, Cheshire and Derbyshire area, and so I felt a connection as soon as I picked this series. I remembered what life was like then, the simplicity of living in a small village and the innocence that came with it.
It was a sheer joy just to read and remember how different life was, and the respect that had been drummed into us by our parents.
The only question I had was why the moors murders were not in the background but that's down to me going past where Brady lived everyday going to school.
It's been an enjoyable week reading these stories and look forward to finding any other books from Sally Spencer.
It's funny that so.e reasons for reading a book, or in this case 7... For me it was the fact that the stories were about the timing and the place.
I'm 1973 I was newly married, lived in the Lancashire, Cheshire and Derbyshire area, and so I felt a connection as soon as I picked this series. I remembered what life was like then, the simplicity of living in a small village and the innocence that came with it.
It was a sheer joy just to read and remember how different life was, and the respect that had been drummed into us by our parents.
The only question I had was why the moors murders were not in the background but that's down to me going past where Brady lived everyday going to school.
It's been an enjoyable week reading these stories and look forward to finding any other books from Sally Spencer.
June 14, 2023
what is the point
Read two of the first seven thinking I would give this author a chance but she appears to have decided to set the, in the 1970s simply to be able to be misogynistic, prejudiced and using what is now accepted as abhorrent language not to mention celebrating some of the behaviour of those days. I wonder if the author is missing those times and that’s why she is recreating the period. To be it is unnecessary and completely detracts from the potential.
Read two of the first seven thinking I would give this author a chance but she appears to have decided to set the, in the 1970s simply to be able to be misogynistic, prejudiced and using what is now accepted as abhorrent language not to mention celebrating some of the behaviour of those days. I wonder if the author is missing those times and that’s why she is recreating the period. To be it is unnecessary and completely detracts from the potential.
August 1, 2023
The Complete Detective Monika Books 1-7 (Crime Thriller Box Sets)
What a wonderful set of books to read. If you have a holiday coming up or are retired and love reading like I do, I thoroughly recommend you reading this Box Set. I think the writing the description and the lovely way all the characters blend together and support each other will have you glued to the words. I couldn’t put the books down. They were so compelling. Thank you Sally Spencer.
What a wonderful set of books to read. If you have a holiday coming up or are retired and love reading like I do, I thoroughly recommend you reading this Box Set. I think the writing the description and the lovely way all the characters blend together and support each other will have you glued to the words. I couldn’t put the books down. They were so compelling. Thank you Sally Spencer.
October 10, 2024
I am at a loss to explain - why this series leaves me cold -I don't like the protagonist -and find her slightly obnoxious -wilful -and not empathetic. Her behaviour is not relatable to this reader-slightly off putting. I took offence to the violent nature of the story dealing with dog fighting. This was definitely a complete turn off for this reader. For this reason I will likely not finish this series.
August 2, 2023
Very interesting read.
Book 1 and books 3 to 7 were quite good - an enjoyable, easy read. But, I was disappointed in book 2. There was such a build-up regarding Thursday nights that I expected something quite drastic and significantly more important than what it ended up being. The other thing that bothered me was that the books have not been proofread.
Book 1 and books 3 to 7 were quite good - an enjoyable, easy read. But, I was disappointed in book 2. There was such a build-up regarding Thursday nights that I expected something quite drastic and significantly more important than what it ended up being. The other thing that bothered me was that the books have not been proofread.
November 23, 2023
books you can’t put down
From the start of book 1 I realised just how gripping these books e. Monika has you enthralled all the way through.
The twists and turns have you really guessing.
I can’t wait to read more stories by Sally Spencer and cases by Monika and her team.
I thoroughly recommend these books
From the start of book 1 I realised just how gripping these books e. Monika has you enthralled all the way through.
The twists and turns have you really guessing.
I can’t wait to read more stories by Sally Spencer and cases by Monika and her team.
I thoroughly recommend these books
May 20, 2023
Really enjoyed the series
The team was
believable, good characters. Interesting stories in each book and the characters developed over the series. I enjoyed
reading it. Great that it was set in Lancashire, too.
The team was
believable, good characters. Interesting stories in each book and the characters developed over the series. I enjoyed
reading it. Great that it was set in Lancashire, too.
July 21, 2023
Good mix of varying characters a good story lines.
Much enjoyed. Usually the twists were right at the end and would have been impossible for the reader to suss. First time reading Sally Spencer and well worth while.
Much enjoyed. Usually the twists were right at the end and would have been impossible for the reader to suss. First time reading Sally Spencer and well worth while.
Read
August 9, 2023Great stories
I'd recommend Sally Spencer's books to anyone who enjoys English detective stories. They are well written with a great storyline. She brings the characters to life.ies
I'd recommend Sally Spencer's books to anyone who enjoys English detective stories. They are well written with a great storyline. She brings the characters to life.ies
August 21, 2023
Unputdownable,
Fantastic fun and set at a good pace. I read the seven books in the box set one after the other. Often reading until late into the night. A great series of crime busters.
Fantastic fun and set at a good pace. I read the seven books in the box set one after the other. Often reading until late into the night. A great series of crime busters.
September 23, 2023
Worth the cost!!!
This series is easy reading but not pageturner. Monika lacks confidence in her abilities, however she is a good detective and leader. She shows her feelings easily and yet gets everything right in the end. Her team has her back and prevail in the end.
This series is easy reading but not pageturner. Monika lacks confidence in her abilities, however she is a good detective and leader. She shows her feelings easily and yet gets everything right in the end. Her team has her back and prevail in the end.
October 4, 2023
Exceptional female detective
The life of a polish woman in charge of cases in whitebridge police department.and her cases she solved with the help of her team of detective s .and nearly ends up in Britain with a Spanish murderer still that's so called love I guess.
The life of a polish woman in charge of cases in whitebridge police department.and her cases she solved with the help of her team of detective s .and nearly ends up in Britain with a Spanish murderer still that's so called love I guess.
February 17, 2024
Not superheros... Human!
I enjoyed reading these books one right after another. I truly enjoyed the fact that these characters were not perfect but flawed human characters. I would recommend this series!!!!
I enjoyed reading these books one right after another. I truly enjoyed the fact that these characters were not perfect but flawed human characters. I would recommend this series!!!!
May 23, 2024
Very good gripping series
These books (series of eight) are non stopping action. Although some areas are repitious making it boring. Those areas are in to make a new reader aware of who is who. Example: you started
reading at book four and not book one.
These books (series of eight) are non stopping action. Although some areas are repitious making it boring. Those areas are in to make a new reader aware of who is who. Example: you started
reading at book four and not book one.
September 27, 2025
Monika's adventures
After finishing all 7 books I have liked the twists and mysteries being solved in unconventional ways. I think Sally Spencer is an awesome author in this genre.
After finishing all 7 books I have liked the twists and mysteries being solved in unconventional ways. I think Sally Spencer is an awesome author in this genre.
July 31, 2023
Awesome Books
These books were incredible. The twists and turns made them hard to put down. I highly recommend this series to all crime -thriller readers.
These books were incredible. The twists and turns made them hard to put down. I highly recommend this series to all crime -thriller readers.
September 29, 2023
Monika
She is brilliant I read all these books straight through I could not put them down highly recommend to anyone
She is brilliant I read all these books straight through I could not put them down highly recommend to anyone
January 27, 2024
Excellent Series!
This series was riveting. Character development and mystery was active throughout. The only negative was the excessive smoking due to the timeframe.
This series was riveting. Character development and mystery was active throughout. The only negative was the excessive smoking due to the timeframe.
June 6, 2024
Brilliant
I particularly liked the characters emerge from behind their masks.
And Charlie always in the background. Nothing more to say
I particularly liked the characters emerge from behind their masks.
And Charlie always in the background. Nothing more to say
June 19, 2024
Love a great mystery
I loved how each book flowed so well into the next. I didn’t want to stop reading but when I did it was easy to pick up and continue reading.
I loved how each book flowed so well into the next. I didn’t want to stop reading but when I did it was easy to pick up and continue reading.
June 27, 2024
Got into this series.
Wow, set back in the 1970s when it was a different world. Took a little while for me to get into this series and when I did, it has been an enjoyable read.
When policing was down to pure determination without all the modern aids of today. Team meetings in a pub and smoking everywhere. Oh yes, and 7 stories with a good tale in their own rights. Great fun!
Wow, set back in the 1970s when it was a different world. Took a little while for me to get into this series and when I did, it has been an enjoyable read.
When policing was down to pure determination without all the modern aids of today. Team meetings in a pub and smoking everywhere. Oh yes, and 7 stories with a good tale in their own rights. Great fun!
September 20, 2024
The best series I have read
This was a delight to experience. The characterisation was impeccable and the outcomes always unexpected. I wish there were another 7 .
This was a delight to experience. The characterisation was impeccable and the outcomes always unexpected. I wish there were another 7 .
May 29, 2025
a different magnificent seven
These seven books were written by an astonishing person. Well scripted, well reasoned and totally
I will recommend them to everyone
These seven books were written by an astonishing person. Well scripted, well reasoned and totally
I will recommend them to everyone
October 30, 2025
Was ok but predictable.
August 18, 2024
Good solid detective series, lots of suspense and action, a bit gruesome at times. Detective Monica Paniatowski fights on two fronts: dealing brilliantly with crime, but also fighting the prejudices of her bigoted fellow officers.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews