The Case of the Fallen Hero: An Inspector David Graham Cozy Mystery (Inspector David Graham Cozy Mysteries) (Volume 3) by Alison Golden

Inspector David Graham #3

by Alison Golden

An historic castle. A beautiful wedding. A dead groom. Former big city cop, Inspector David Graham, is now leading a small group of officers in the tiny coastal village of Gorey. One Sunday morning, as he walks around the imposing Orgueil castle, Graham’s peaceful life comes to a shuddering halt when he finds a woman kneeling beside the body of a stricken man. As the woman’s screams ring out, Graham is there to assist – and to start gathering clues. Was it suicide? An accident? Or something far more nefarious? Questions lead to trails that send the team digging through the history of not only the affected families, but the castle itself where a quartet of talented musicians have seemingly vanished. Monolithic in size and secrets, Orgueil Castle may reveal answers in the strangest…. and deepest ways possible. With one dead, four missing, and many long-buried family secrets, Inspector David Graham wonders if there is enough tea to see him through it all. Interview with the Author of the Series Q – So, what makes the Inspector David Graham series special? A – When I set out to write these books, I wanted to create something that played like a movie in the reader’s mind. They are books with action, but also soul. They are ensemble pieces containing regular characters that are well drawn with strong personalities, humor and some tragedy. The Inspector David Graham books feel, to me, like good friends that never let me down. Every time we sit down to plan the books, I love to find out what the characters are going to get up to next! The Inspector David Graham books are a great mix of genres. They sit firmly in the cozy mystery category and are set on the beautiful island of Jersey in the English Channel between Britain and France. They feature a British detective who is part-Sherlock Holmes, part-Poirot, and, of course, uniquely himself. Q - In what order should I read the books? A – The Inspector David Graham cozy mysteries can be read, and enjoyed, in any order. The Case of the Screaming Beauty is a prequel to the other books in the series and, unlike the later books, is set on the mainland. All the books are complete mysteries. I’ve made sure not to include any spoilers for those who are new to the characters and any existing fans of Graham’s adventures will still find plenty of fresh action and mystery as well as perhaps a few answers. All in all, there is something for everyone. If you do want to read them in order, I'd suggest the following – The Case of the Screaming Beauty (prequel) – The Case of the Hidden Flame – The Case of the Fallen Hero Q – Why should readers give these books a try? A – Because the Inspector Graham series is a gentle, but colorful romp through the wealthy but isolated English island, a place that is picturesque and peaceful but one filled with amoral and snobbish eccentrics with all kinds of vices. Graham is a complex character who is intriguing from the get-go and yet evolves throughout the series while his sidekicks are worthy, interesting characters in their own right. We feature many English countryside rituals, institutions and customs in these stories. Ultimately, readers who enjoy gentle pacing with a plot that twists and turns, features much fun, drama, quintessential British-ness, and, of course, small town murder all the way to the end will get a kick out of this

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Amazon, Audiobook, Crime

Paperback

First published May 20, 2016

About the author

Alison Golden is the USA Today bestselling author of the Inspector David Graham mysteries, a traditional British detective series, and two cozy mystery series featuring main characters Reverend Annabelle Dixon and Roxy Reinhardt. As A. J. Golden, she writes the Diana Hunter thriller series.

Alison was raised in Bedfordshire, England. Her aim is to write stories that are designed to entertain, amuse, and calm. Her approach is to combine creative ideas with excellent writing and edit, edit, edit. Alison’s mission is simple: To write excellent books that have readers clamoring for more.

Alison is based in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and twin sons. She splits her time between London and San Francisco.

To receive three free books, updates about new releases, exclusive promotions, and other insider information, sign up at: http://www.alisongolden.com.

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Graham raised a cautioning hand. “Let’s not jump to any conclusions,” he said, grimacing inwardly at the unfortunate turn of phrase. “We are trained to observe the facts and then allow the prevailing circumstances to tell us what the body cannot.

Graham is an interesting character. Chief Inspector, now relocated to the Isle of Jersey, and (as with most fictional investigators) troubled by events in his past.

Two things that I want to note about this entertaining “cozy” mystery:

The venue (a castle) is interesting because of its history and for the fact that the victim falls from the heights of the centuries-old fortification that is the major tourist attraction. Jersey is located off the shore of Normandy and the “suspects” include a French family.

Second, the author does use the venue to open a discussion about the rights of citizens within the context of a police investigation, which is quite unusual for this “type” of mystery.

"They were keenly aware of the stark unpleasantness of life down here for those who’d been unlucky enough to find themselves incarcerated, centuries before. “You’ve got to be thankful,” Barnwell observed, shining his flashlight into every dark corner, “for advances in the justice system.” “You mean,” Roach replied, “that we no longer string people up and burn off their toenails because they won’t give us a confession straight away?” “Yeah, like that. I’m sure it got the job done, mind you.” “Cut down on paperwork, I’d imagine.”"

There is a subplot involving a string quartet that adds a few twists. The diversion to the fine arts was not too distracting.

This was my first read in the Inspector Graham series. I would be happy to read another but I feel no urgency to do so.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mystery, the Inspector, and the musicians. Each aspect of this book was fun, interesting, and entertaining.
I did not figure out the mystery until it was revealed. The families were so bizarre and the sisters were just crazy. I liked the castle and the adventure that took place there. The musicians that were trying to escape danger was such a great adventure.
This is another fun book by Alison Golden. I really like the Inspector. He is clever and I like how he interacts with his police officers.

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 2 books in this series were ok but I really enjoyed this one and have no problem in recommending it.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Inspector Graham has just begun to hit his stride in his new post on Jersey. Sargent Harding, Constable Roach and Constable Barnwell are becoming more fleshed out as they each have a part to play in this story that has more than one mystery to be solved.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one! Really enjoying the characters and the mystery twists keep you guessing!

[Richa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The language is good. The prose is effortless. You get two stories for one. My main issue with this one was the absence of clues throughout the book. Graham magically solves the case with the murderer almost seemed desperate to confess. There wasn't much work or effort put in by the investigators. Too convenient end.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Case of the Fallen Hero - a review by Rosemary Kenny

This clever book by the inventive and talented Alison Golden, has several themes - vanishing musicians, a disturbed amnesiac bride, a dead bridegroom, stolen artworks, a cold-case murder and of course the vital sleuthing skills of Detective Inspector Graham - which will provide something for every discerning reader, whatever their particular favourite topic.

Was George pushed or did he jump - and why? What are the old family secrets hidden by the bride's family - do they have any bearing on the current investigation? How and where did the musicians vanish from the wedding venue and what do they find in their 'subterranean world'?

You won't want to put down this book from the time you open the cover until the minute the killer [or killers] are unmasked at the end. I also appreciated the summary of what happened to the 'incidental' (but still very interesting), characters, bringing this novel to a satisfying conclusion...I loved it!

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. This is book three in the series and the stories just get better and better. When you think of a Jersey detective most people immediately think of Bergerac but not for much longer, there is a new Inspector on the island. One who can tackle the most unusual cases and suspects. This story is longer than the previous cases because it has a lot more going on with inspector Graham and his Sergeant solving a murder and even a cold case and his Constables looking for four missing people. This means the story does jump around giving you perspective from the different people involved but I think it works and keeps the story entertaining as you wonder what is going to happen. It was well done and even though not connected, it does have bearing on each other. I like the round up at the end of the book telling you what happened to the characters after the cases were solved. I like the characters and hope they have a lot more cases to solve.
inspector Graham is looking forward to his day off, giving him time to explore Orgueil castle. Instead he comes across a woman leaning over a dead body. The couple only married the day before and instead of enjoying there honeymoon Graham is investigating there past. Was it an accident? suicide? Or even murder? The family has a strange past and a long history of tragedy that he will have to unravel. At the same time the quartet that played at the wedding have gone missing and Graham assigns his constables to find them while he finds a killer.
I liked the narrator, he is very talented and gives each character there own voice. He even had to do some french accents to bring the story alive.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and easy read, and still quite enjoyable. Nice and light.

Inspector Graham is looking forward to a relaxing Sunday exploring the local castle before the busloads of tourists show up. But his rambling is disturbed by a woman's scream -- and he finds her kneeling beside the body of a young man who'd apparently fallen from the battlements. She flees before he can question her and the investigation is on.

Meanwhile, a quartet of musicians who'd played at a wedding at the castle the evening before, have returned for a formal tour -- entering just before the grounds are closed for the police investigation. When the local manager realizes that's the last anyone has seen of them, the search is on.

There's nothing too deep here. The inspector's second in command is eager to learn from him, even as she laments his reliance on old school technology. And his two constables are a bit put out at being on 'missing persons' duty when there's a possible murder investigation going on, but they're willing to do their jobs as best they can.

The narrative shifts between the investigation and the quartet -- the reader knows from early on where they are and what's happened to them. And of course the question is whether/when the two story lines will tie together. No spoilers, but, in the end, everything is resolved satisfactorily.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit that I read this book out of order, but it did not have any impact on my enjoyment of the location and main characters. Taking a leisurely Sunday stroll towards Orgueil Castle, Inspector Graham hears a scream and rushes toward the source. There he discovers a woman cradling a bleeding body, with injuries consistent with a devastating fall. The woman runs away, leaving Graham with the body and a mystery...one that only deepens when he learns that the victim was the groom at yesterday's wedding celebration at the castle. Trying to get to learn whether the fall was accidental or deliberate proves to be more difficult for Graham and his second-in-command, Janice Harding, when they encounter a truly unique cast of potential suspects. In the meantime, the other two members of his team are looking to solve another mystery: the disappearance of a group of four musicians on the Castle site. I really enjoyed this story and love the character interactions. I can't wait for book 5 in this series.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graham is becoming ever more comfortable in his new position and more satisfied with the members of his Constabulary. It's only been a couple of weeks but he is enjoying the area and Mrs. Taylor's (the proprietor of the Inn)amenability to expand her selection of teas. He's established a welcome friendship with Marcus Wilkinson, the coroner, who marvels at the man's ability to relish Thai chiles in his curry.

On a visit to Orgueil Castle, Graham suddenly finds himself first on the scene when a wife finds her husband has fallen from the battlements, the morning after their sumptuous wedding. Faced with a mentally ill newlywed, her secretive French parents and no clear evidence as ot what made the man fall, Graham must also assign his constables to find the members of the missing string quartet on their own.

This gets four stars since it was fairly clear to me who was responsible for what. Still the read was extremely satisfying and I couldn't stop.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historic castle in the small coastal town of Gorey becomes the scene of two mysteries that push Detective Inspector David Graham and his team into action. As Graham investigates the dead groom's strange connection to his new wife's family, his officers search for the four talented musicians who played at the wedding and have not been seen since entering the castle.

Third book in the series and I enjoyed it, although not as much as the first two in the series. The characters are engaging. I especially like Graham, who has sought solace in the small town, away from the big city and the painful memories it harbored. His experience and quiet, intellectual way inspire Gorey's current officers to rediscover their sense of pride, duty, and professionalism. I was unable to name the murderer, which was quite a surprise.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Police procedural with bloody murders & professional cops, so not a cozy

I enjoyed the police procedural storyline which has a complex and very clever plot. A newly wed bridegroom is found on a stone walkway with fatal head injuries and numerous fractures—after falling, jumping or being pushed from the battlements of a castle. The second storyline features four musicians who go missing in Orgueil Castle. I expected the musicians’ storyline to intersect with that of the fallen bridegroom. But no joy. The storylines are completely unrelated, almost as though I were reading two novellas mashed into one. Unfortunately, the lost musicians didn’t interest me, so I ignored their storyline.

2.5 stars bumped up to 3 star, because I enjoyed reading the Inspector Graham storyline.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: I was entertained by book 3 of the "Inspector David Graham Mysteries" series. While Inspector David Graham was walking around the grounds of Orgueil Castle, he heard a woman's scream. Inspector Graham rushed to her side to find a dead body. This was one of Inspector Graham's most difficult cases as there was no sign of a struggle, so it was hard to determine whether it was a suicide or murder. I liked the unexpected twists in the plot. I appreciated the secondary mystery regarding the missing people. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Matt Jamie's narration was skillful, and his performance provided the proper ambiance. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.

[Kathie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The morning after a wedding at a huge old castle on Jersey, the groom falls to this death and the bride is seen fleeing from the scene. Meanwhile, four musicians who performed at the wedding, go exploring through the castle basement and get trapped when a wall collapses. Inspector Graham and his team need to unravel the mysteries surrounding a very chaotic family and, at the same time, search for the missing musicians.
Graham again uses the "gather them all together" strategy in order to pull out the solution to the murder, and, of course he does. But his investigative technique is getting a bit worn for me. The story of the four musicians and their astounding find was the more interesting part of the book.

[Emme · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 3rd book in the Inspector David Graham series was good, I preferred the other two better. While I enjoyed changing who I thought was the murderer, I never expected the ending in this book….definitely a shocking twist. The story seemed to drag a bit, plus I’m not sure why the quartet’s story line was even in the book. I am enjoying the interactions between Graham and his sergeant, and seeing the other two officers in Jersey constabulary office. I’m hoping the next book in this series returns to the style of the first two books, but all in all, it still had me anxious to know who the actual killer was.

[Lisa Denn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Inspecter David Graham is back!

DI Graham continues to employ what some would consider "old fashion" police work to solve the death of recently wed George Ross who it appears took a mysterious tumble from the battlements at Gorey Castle the morning after saying "I do" to wife number two who coincidentally happens to be the sister of wife number one.

Lots of suspects, lots of unanswered questions, a few red herrings combined with the shady and crazy (the emotionally unstable kind of crazy) past of the bride and her family prove to be quite challenging for DI Graham and the book's readers.

Highly recommend.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard To Put Down

I thoroughly enjoyed The Case of the Fallen Hero. It was even better than the last two books, and i really liked those.

D.I. Graham has a distinct method to his investigations. He relies on his entire team, but once Graham gathers the suspects and starts asking the hard questions, you know someone will be confessing to murder. I

For a short book, The Case of the Fallen Hero is not lacking for anything. It seems condensed in only that it just gets to the point without having to suffer through a lot of the extra filler, non-essential to the story. This was very intriguing. I didn't want to put the book down.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspector David Graham is settling in to his role as head of the police in Gorey on Jersey Island. He's out for a walk on a Sunday morning by a local castle when he finds a man who had fallen to his death from the castle. His new wife is hysterical and runs away when Inspector David Graham arrives. At the same time, the four musicians who played at the wedding go missing in the castle. Inspector Graham is more aggressive in this book in how he questions the potential suspects. Of course he is able to figure it out. The mystery was interesting but what I liked most was the development of Graham's staff on the island.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not great literature, but it is a well-done British cozy. For those not part of the Illuminati, a British cozy is a murder mystery set in a small town. Not violent. The characters are all nice (except the murderer, of course). There's usually a good bit of humor. Think "Murder, She Wrote" or the BBC series "Midsomer Murders" or "Rosemary & Thyme." We have two main plots here--the dead man, apparently having fallen from the high walls of the castle the morning after his wedding; and the string quartet that played for the wedding trapped in the castle. A quick, light read. Enjoyable.

[Ruby McDemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this and following along with this twisty story. Following the police of Gorey around to find the missing musician's and to figure out whodunit was awesome. I loved how Graham didn't discount something just because someone else would. Then his finding the truth in the past and the present just made it a great story. I loved how it kept you wanting to turn the pages and find out more, but it wasn't scary or dreadful, but you just get so into the story you didn't want to stop reading for anything. I can't wait to see what other cases Inspector Graham gets into.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy and quick to read, with easy-to solve mysteries, a haunted detective who has recovered from alcoholism to become an obsessive tea drinker (he sets a timer for steeping), and a pleasant crew of sergeants and constables who keep learning how to solve crimes under his training. The Jersey background is an asset. The only argument I have is with the French, which would have benefited from a read through by a native or near-native speaker. It's understandable that the British transplants say things like "Attendez-vous", but native French speakers should not make "fautes de français."

[Jennifer Kepesh]

This was a particularly far-fetched book. The main suspect, a just-married woman, is mentally ill, perhaps undone by her husband's death. But her husband's first wife happens to be the bride's sister. And the husband grew up next door to the girls' family, who just happened to be the people he and his sister ran to when they found their parents dead of an apparent murder-suicide. Gothic is one thing, but this was quite a mish-mash. Oh, and a group of musicians, hired to play for the wedding, get trapped in an ancient castle....

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. The story is about two different groups of people - the suspects in the murder case and a musical quartet who go where they shouldn’t. Many chapters alternate between these two groups. Initially I wasn’t sure why the quartet received so much attention but as their story unfolded I found myself engaged with their situation. The murder case unfolded slowly but the conclusion was a real surprise. I’m very much enjoying this series. Although the main characters are police officers the style of the series has the feel of a cozy mystery.

[Sharon M. Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fall from a roof.

D I David Graham again has a death to figure out. A wedding in a century's old castle is the scene of this story. The outcome will be a real surprise in the end. Add to it a missing quartet that played for the wedding, a group of odd suspects, and a huge old castle. This is well written and part of a series of stories about the great detective. Worth the read.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The death of the bridegroom on the morning after his wedding has Inspector David Graham and his small team investigating the crime in The Castle on the island of Jersey. What he finds is a fleeing bride, reluctant parents of the bride and an ex-wife. Complicating the investigation is the disappearance of the musical quartet who had been hired to play at the wedding. A long ago murder suicide factors into the investigation. An excellent, well plotted mystery

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third in the series and I loved it. DI Graham is ready to wander around an old castle by his home when he hears a heart-stopping scream and find a woman cradling the body of a man who fell to his death . Before he can figure out the guy is dead, the woman bolts. Now he is left to solve the murder and at the spend time 4 people are lost in the underground area of the castle but where no one knows. It was a real page turner. Can't wait to see what DI Graham does next.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

We learn about Graham and how well he is settling in, taking time for a cup of tea and visiting the local historic sites. The castle while he was exploring proved to be a place of murder, the man was just married and he fell off, with the widow running away. Something very odd, the bridal suite hadn’t been used, or suitcases even unpacked. What follow leads him to a family with many skeletons in it, and who is telling the truth. A good case to try to figure out, and very well done.

[Alonza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the adventures of DI Graham and his crew. The description of the castle, the land scape and marina is easily imagined. Two mysteries in RN story. The string quartet adventure, mishap and rescue paralleled the murder of the groom. The craziness of the bride and groom’s families was believable, even if far fetched. The continues are endearing young men. Detective Janice adds a wonderful female perspective. I am continuing the series and DI Graham’s adventures.

[Maureen Donovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in a series and the third that I've read. I enjoyed the story (ies), but the author brought in a secondary story this time, while somewhat interesting in it's own right, lead me to ask, why bring this in at all? Also, DI Graham solved the mystery "all of a sudden". I felt that I missed a chapter. I plan to read the rest of the series and hope that I'm not disappointed. It seems like there is so much potential for a really good read.