What do you think?
Rate this book
The Falconer Files #3
Inkier than the Sword
`A mischievously entertaining crime novel' SIMON BRETTThe third instalment in The Falconer Files, Andrea Frazer's insanely grippingvillage detective series with a delightful slice of humour. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Lillian Jackson Braun and Midsomer Murders.READER'S CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF ANDREA'S QUIRKY CRIME NOVELS!***** 'Excellent read.... love Andrea Frazer's work and style - clever, creative and fun. Falconer and Carmichael become addictive!' Reader Review***** '...each book in the series is better than the one before & they started out as 5* in my opinion... the plots are well thought out & you're kept guessing until the end. I am hooked' Reader Review***** 'A good old fashioned English murder mystery of the sort I will never tire of. Would wholeheartedly recommend it to all rural murder mystery fans' Reader Review***** 'I do love these DCI Falconer books they're funny but really enjoyable. The plot never slackens and you get a great read' Reader Review___________In the quiet village of Steynham St Michael there is an anonymous letter writer at work, jabbing and stabbing at the past's Achilles' heels of many of the upright citizens living there.After one resident is driven to extreme measures to escape exposure, another is driven to murder.In the village cards club, which meets once a week, tongues begin to wag, not only about the identities of the murderer and the poison pen letter-writer, but also about who exactly has received a letter.There are also changes afoot at Market Darley Police Headquarters, as the national economy dictates that it accepts the straitened circumstances planned for it, and complies with recommendations for change.And before any of this even happens, Harry Falconer drifts up from unconsciousness to find himself in complete darkness and barely able to move, the only sound being that of someone moaning in pain...
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2012
53 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Frazer
226 books83 followersAn ex-member of Mensa (bored!),Andrea Frazer is married, with four grown-up children, and lives in the Dordogne with her husband Tony and their seven cats. She has wanted to write since she first began to read at the age of five, but has been a little busy raising a family and working as a lecturer in Greek (she has a Fellowship Diploma in Greek), and teaching music.
Apart from writing, Andrea continues to teach music, and now also teaches French to ex-pats.
Her interests include playing several instruments (but not all at the same time!), reading, and choral singing (she sings with two choirs in a nearby town). In her spare time, she breathes!
Apart from writing, Andrea continues to teach music, and now also teaches French to ex-pats.
Her interests include playing several instruments (but not all at the same time!), reading, and choral singing (she sings with two choirs in a nearby town). In her spare time, she breathes!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 13, 2023
This is the third book in the series and the main characters, Falconer and Carmichael, are still a strange and odd pair. But not in a good and interesting way. Their characters are not consistent, especially Falconer, and they are still bad police detectives. If not for someone else writing the book I don't they would ever solve a murder.
Could be much better but it's just a very lighthearted murder mystery, with a bit of poison pen letter thrown in.
Could be much better but it's just a very lighthearted murder mystery, with a bit of poison pen letter thrown in.
December 27, 2018
In a village of Steynham St. Michael someone is writing poison pen anonymous letters. Falconer and Carmichael are called by one of the receivers. But then someone is killed. Can they figure out what is really going on?
Nice little mystery.
Nice little mystery.
May 14, 2019
I enjoy the two main characters. The only problem with these books is that I have a hard time remembering all the village characters in the current murders. Too many suspects. I almost need to take notes. but I still enjoyed it.
November 20, 2018
It’s a 3.5, nice gentle “golden age” book set in 2010, I suspect the series is going to go off the boil as there are only so many village murders and funny names you can think of while limiting yourself to a golden age theme in modern times.
But for now it’s pleasant, the policemen are nice and for once without some Character Flaw or Dark Past. The dialogue between characters can be a little basic but not enough to make me roll my eyes, and I didn’t guess who did it, reminiscent of Wentworth but without that trick of deliberately making you hate the characters.
But for now it’s pleasant, the policemen are nice and for once without some Character Flaw or Dark Past. The dialogue between characters can be a little basic but not enough to make me roll my eyes, and I didn’t guess who did it, reminiscent of Wentworth but without that trick of deliberately making you hate the characters.
January 14, 2023
Bought this whole series on a whim in 2017 but am just now getting to book number 3. The two detectives are hitting their stride in working together and the humor is just right. As usual we are introduced to the various characters living in another small village. There are so many that it can be hard to keep track but yet most have such vivid personalities that it’s not too hard. This time there are poison pen letters and a murder. I’ll be getting to the rest of the series much faster now.
April 22, 2025
Actually, 3.5 or 3.75 Stars
A lighthearted story, with a good many amusing scenes and dialogue. I had no problem at all in discerning who the murderer was, however; it seemed totally obvious, and the detectives were almost like Keystone Cops caricatures when it came to discovering that for themselves. The book isn't badly written, and the characters all seem very well-rounded and three-dimensional. However, I did have a real problem with the constant snide, ageist remarks bandied about with regard to the woman in the novel!
A lighthearted story, with a good many amusing scenes and dialogue. I had no problem at all in discerning who the murderer was, however; it seemed totally obvious, and the detectives were almost like Keystone Cops caricatures when it came to discovering that for themselves. The book isn't badly written, and the characters all seem very well-rounded and three-dimensional. However, I did have a real problem with the constant snide, ageist remarks bandied about with regard to the woman in the novel!
September 21, 2025
Falcon and Carmichael are settling into their relationship now Carmichael is now a fully fledged member of CID. A spate of poison pen letters in a nearby village leads to a suspected suicide and a murder.
March 27, 2020
another great installment with the detective team of Falconer and Carmichael
July 9, 2013
These village mysteries by Andrea Frazer are light-hearted summer reads. They don't take a lot of intellectual thought or bother, and to an extent they are a bit predictable in that she writes about people who live in an area their entire lives and so they know everyone around them. They tend to gossip a lot about each other, and know each others good and bad qualities. When several members of the community start getting nasty letters about past indiscretions, many of them are looking for whoever is sending them. One of them actually sends for the police about the letters, hence, Falconer and Carmichael are already familiar with the village before the murder takes place.
Eventually a well-liked and well-known author turns up dead with a nasty letter about herself on her own typewriter...which seems to indicate she is the writer of the letters and was murdered for them.
Falconer and Carmichael not only work together to find the murderer, but work together to become partners. Carmichael is growing on Falconer, even in the odd way he dresses...his human decency is endearing him to his boss even more so. In the process, Falconer is becoming more likeable. There is a lot of humor in these books which is enjoyable. The books are a nice break from my more serious reading...
Eventually a well-liked and well-known author turns up dead with a nasty letter about herself on her own typewriter...which seems to indicate she is the writer of the letters and was murdered for them.
Falconer and Carmichael not only work together to find the murderer, but work together to become partners. Carmichael is growing on Falconer, even in the odd way he dresses...his human decency is endearing him to his boss even more so. In the process, Falconer is becoming more likeable. There is a lot of humor in these books which is enjoyable. The books are a nice break from my more serious reading...
June 11, 2016
This is the third book in the Falconer Files series of cosy mysteries set in quintessential English villages somewhere towards the West Country. DI Harry Falconer and DS Davey Carmichael are working over the New Year period and so far all it has produced is a poison pen letter and a couple who went to A&E with suspicious injuries. What is strange is that both incidents are from the same village.
Steynham St Michael seems much like the other villages which the duo have visited in their cases so far but there is clearly something going on. Soon there is a suspicious death and the two card clubs are full of people discussing the poison pen letters and the death. What is going on?
I enjoyed this well written and humorous mystery story and I didn't work out who was behind all the problems though the clues are there. This book could be read as a standalone story as there is enough background information about the two main characters for the reader to understand the references to previous cases. If you like relatively light crime novels then this series will probably appeal to you.
Steynham St Michael seems much like the other villages which the duo have visited in their cases so far but there is clearly something going on. Soon there is a suspicious death and the two card clubs are full of people discussing the poison pen letters and the death. What is going on?
I enjoyed this well written and humorous mystery story and I didn't work out who was behind all the problems though the clues are there. This book could be read as a standalone story as there is enough background information about the two main characters for the reader to understand the references to previous cases. If you like relatively light crime novels then this series will probably appeal to you.
May 18, 2012
I jumped on this book as soon as it was published as I have read her other Falconer Files books and loved them!
Well, I have not been disappointed! She crafts her characters so well that you almost feel you know them (and hate some of them!)and the village just comes to life. We get more insight into the characters of DI Falconer and DS Carmichael and don't you just love them! The story marches along and engages you from the start and the twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing until the end. When it is all explained you can see the cunningly inserted clues and could kick yourself for not seeing them earlier. I love the level of humour this author uses amidst the murder and mayhem. A jolly good read and thoroughly recommended.
Well, I have not been disappointed! She crafts her characters so well that you almost feel you know them (and hate some of them!)and the village just comes to life. We get more insight into the characters of DI Falconer and DS Carmichael and don't you just love them! The story marches along and engages you from the start and the twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing until the end. When it is all explained you can see the cunningly inserted clues and could kick yourself for not seeing them earlier. I love the level of humour this author uses amidst the murder and mayhem. A jolly good read and thoroughly recommended.
September 6, 2014
What a surprise, received a free copy of this book today from Accent Press Ltd. Looking forward to reading. Thank you.
Loved this series, enjoyed the characters, especially Detective Inspector Harry Falconer and his detective Sergeant Carmichael.
Poison pen letters start to arrive in a little village, first a suicide and then a murder. People in the village are being driven by a vindictive person. But who done it,
was it really the author, who was viciously murdered who wrote the letters?
The reader is taken into the life of the Inspector and his detective and enjoys seeing every day life in small English villages. Yes, I shall get more in the series.
Loved this series, enjoyed the characters, especially Detective Inspector Harry Falconer and his detective Sergeant Carmichael.
Poison pen letters start to arrive in a little village, first a suicide and then a murder. People in the village are being driven by a vindictive person. But who done it,
was it really the author, who was viciously murdered who wrote the letters?
The reader is taken into the life of the Inspector and his detective and enjoys seeing every day life in small English villages. Yes, I shall get more in the series.
August 1, 2015
I enjoy the Falconer series and will have to buy the rest once I've finished the next 3 I have. However, I find the last 20 or so pages rushed. Conclusions are made with no prior information and it seems the author gets so far in and then realises she has to end in a short amount of pages.
Anyway I loved this book, I like the relationship between Falconer and Carmichael and how it's developed. Good story line and I guessed the ending but it's all part of the fun!
Anyway I loved this book, I like the relationship between Falconer and Carmichael and how it's developed. Good story line and I guessed the ending but it's all part of the fun!
February 2, 2017
I love Andrea Frazer's mysteries that take place in a little town in England called Market Darley and the surrounding villages. Detective Harry Falconer
and his sidekick Carmichael find themselves in a web of old friends with grudges. And... A murder! The lightheartedness of these stories contrasts well with the suspense. So much fun. If I could have given it a 3.60, I would have.
and his sidekick Carmichael find themselves in a web of old friends with grudges. And... A murder! The lightheartedness of these stories contrasts well with the suspense. So much fun. If I could have given it a 3.60, I would have.
May 12, 2013
Poison Pen letters lead to death in a small village that is idyllic in every way. Inspector Falconer and sidekick Carmichael have to weed through a bunch of characters that epitomize small town inhabitants. Falconer and partner continue to grow on me.
February 20, 2015
Inkier Than the Sword
This book seemed very short to me. Without giving anything away, I don't think the reason for the murder made sense. I did like the deepening understanding between Carmichael and Falconer.
I
This book seemed very short to me. Without giving anything away, I don't think the reason for the murder made sense. I did like the deepening understanding between Carmichael and Falconer.
I
April 7, 2016
Light reading
I like the characters, but they are becoming a little cartoonist. Small village England seems to be the home of secrets and murderers just waiting to have their revenge.
I like the characters, but they are becoming a little cartoonist. Small village England seems to be the home of secrets and murderers just waiting to have their revenge.
June 23, 2013
Another good holiday read.
January 4, 2014
another village, another murder...
July 4, 2014
A little predictable. Fun main characters. Great description of the English countryside. A very Agatha Christie styled story.
March 11, 2015
3rd time is a charm!
I really enjoyed reading this last book in this series it kinda tied all the books together!! I liked the relationship between Falconer and Carmichael..
I really enjoyed reading this last book in this series it kinda tied all the books together!! I liked the relationship between Falconer and Carmichael..
January 9, 2016
enjoying the series
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews