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Brock & Kolla #5
Silvermeadow
Following up a sighting of bank robber Gregory "Upper" North at Silvermeadow shopping mall, Brock and Kolla discover that another investigation, into the disappearance of a waitress, is already under way. Later, the body of the missing girl is found, crushed in the mall's rubbish compactor.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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228 people want to read
About the author
Barry Maitland
44 books185 followersBarry Maitland is the author of the acclaimed Brock and Kolla series of crime mystery novels, which are set in London, where Barry grew up after his family moved there.
His books have been described as whydunits as much as whodunits, concerned with the devious histories and motivations of their characters. Barry's background in architecture drew him to the structured character of the mystery novel, and his books are notable for their ingenious plots as well as for their atmospheric settings, each in a different intriguing corner of London.
Barry studied architecture at Cambridge University, and went on to work as an architect in the UK, then took a PhD in urban design at the University of Sheffield, where he also taught and wrote a number of books on architecture and urban design. In 1984 he moved to Australia to head the architecture school at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, and held that position until 2000. He now writes fiction full time, and lives in the Hunter Valley, Australia.
His books have been described as whydunits as much as whodunits, concerned with the devious histories and motivations of their characters. Barry's background in architecture drew him to the structured character of the mystery novel, and his books are notable for their ingenious plots as well as for their atmospheric settings, each in a different intriguing corner of London.
Barry studied architecture at Cambridge University, and went on to work as an architect in the UK, then took a PhD in urban design at the University of Sheffield, where he also taught and wrote a number of books on architecture and urban design. In 1984 he moved to Australia to head the architecture school at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, and held that position until 2000. He now writes fiction full time, and lives in the Hunter Valley, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 17, 2023
The 5th book in the DCI David Brock and DS Kathy Kolla police procedural series carefully intertwines two investigations together. The hunt for a violent criminal and the investigation of a murdered girl centre around a huge shopping mall on the outskirts of London. Brock and Kolla, as part of Scotland Yard's Serious Crimes Branch are called in for another tense investigation. Barry Maitland has continued his popular series with another solid mystery that re-establishes Brock and Kolla as a highly effective team.
Silvermeadow is the big new shopping mall outside of London that promises a grand new shopping experience. But the rumour being passed around by some of the locals and the children at school is that it's a place from where some of the local girls have gone missing.
When Kerri Vlasich disappears her concerned mother mentions these stories to the police adding that Kerri had a part-time job at Silvermeadow and the two could be connected. The police, who have also heard the rumour but have never had a case that was connected to the shopping mall, assure the distraught mother that the stories were nonsense. Then a body is discovered in a dumpster that had originated at the Silvermeadow shopping mall and the body is wearing a ring that looks very similar to the ring worn by Kerri Vlasich.
DCI Brock finds himself roped into the murder investigation due to his presence while following up the reported sighting of 'Upper' North an extremely violent criminal who had gone to until sighted at the mall. His expertise is seized upon by Detective Chief Superintendent Forbes, an incompetent pen-pusher with no field experience who was given the case and was clearly out of his depth. His proposal is for Brock to use the murder investigation as a kind of cover while tracking down North.
So Brock's team, including DS Kathy Kolla descend on the Silvermeadow shopping mall where they set up base and commence their murder investigation. Their first job is to try to confirm that Kerri was at the mall to begin with, after that begins the tedious task of working out who would want to murder her.
The team is also fighting the impatience of the shopping mall's management who aren't too impressed with a bunch of coppers prowling the floors disturbing their tenants and customers.
Being a police procedural and starting with a case with very few clues, the pace is slow and methodical as statements are gathered, suspects are considered and forensic evidence is examined. Eventually though, pieces begin to fall into place and as they do the speed of the story accelerates with it until we are hurtling towards a frantic showdown of an ending.
Spicing things up while the investigation runs its course is a relationship that has been building over the last few books of the series finally blossoms between Kathy and forensic technician Leon Desai. At last, it looks as though Kathy is going to have some sort of outside distraction from the job, the only question remains is whether the new affair will distract her too much from her job. As a special treat, it appears that even the enigmatic DCI Brock is having a little luck in the romance game, just to liven proceedings a little.
Now, it may have sounded as though I thought the book was rather slow and boring, but it's really anything but. There are all sorts of weird and wonderful characters who pass through in the course of the investigation, regulars who lurk at the mall, sleazy men with grimy pasts, know-all boors who love to stick their noses in and your usual juvenile delinquent types. They add up to an amusing passing parade, not all of whom will survive. The huge array of people also means that there is any number of possible suspects to choose from.
The main strength of the book, and this is largely the case with the earlier 4 books, too, is Kathy Kolla's highly developed detective's instinct. She asks the right questions, knows when to back off from a suspect and is able to make the all important leap in logic once enough clues have been laid out before her. It's on the back of her detective work that we find ourselves making most progress and it's also where we, the readers, get the opportunity to try to work out who the murderer is.
Silvermeadow is probably the most slowly paced of the Brock and Kolla books but thanks to the more unusual setting of the shopping mall, an interesting array of people plus a highly charged ending I still found it a very engrossing story. I'd say it could be best enjoyed after reading the earlier books in the series, although those who haven't yet read the earlier books can still enjoy it as a stand-alone.
Silvermeadow is the big new shopping mall outside of London that promises a grand new shopping experience. But the rumour being passed around by some of the locals and the children at school is that it's a place from where some of the local girls have gone missing.
When Kerri Vlasich disappears her concerned mother mentions these stories to the police adding that Kerri had a part-time job at Silvermeadow and the two could be connected. The police, who have also heard the rumour but have never had a case that was connected to the shopping mall, assure the distraught mother that the stories were nonsense. Then a body is discovered in a dumpster that had originated at the Silvermeadow shopping mall and the body is wearing a ring that looks very similar to the ring worn by Kerri Vlasich.
DCI Brock finds himself roped into the murder investigation due to his presence while following up the reported sighting of 'Upper' North an extremely violent criminal who had gone to until sighted at the mall. His expertise is seized upon by Detective Chief Superintendent Forbes, an incompetent pen-pusher with no field experience who was given the case and was clearly out of his depth. His proposal is for Brock to use the murder investigation as a kind of cover while tracking down North.
So Brock's team, including DS Kathy Kolla descend on the Silvermeadow shopping mall where they set up base and commence their murder investigation. Their first job is to try to confirm that Kerri was at the mall to begin with, after that begins the tedious task of working out who would want to murder her.
The team is also fighting the impatience of the shopping mall's management who aren't too impressed with a bunch of coppers prowling the floors disturbing their tenants and customers.
Being a police procedural and starting with a case with very few clues, the pace is slow and methodical as statements are gathered, suspects are considered and forensic evidence is examined. Eventually though, pieces begin to fall into place and as they do the speed of the story accelerates with it until we are hurtling towards a frantic showdown of an ending.
Spicing things up while the investigation runs its course is a relationship that has been building over the last few books of the series finally blossoms between Kathy and forensic technician Leon Desai. At last, it looks as though Kathy is going to have some sort of outside distraction from the job, the only question remains is whether the new affair will distract her too much from her job. As a special treat, it appears that even the enigmatic DCI Brock is having a little luck in the romance game, just to liven proceedings a little.
Now, it may have sounded as though I thought the book was rather slow and boring, but it's really anything but. There are all sorts of weird and wonderful characters who pass through in the course of the investigation, regulars who lurk at the mall, sleazy men with grimy pasts, know-all boors who love to stick their noses in and your usual juvenile delinquent types. They add up to an amusing passing parade, not all of whom will survive. The huge array of people also means that there is any number of possible suspects to choose from.
The main strength of the book, and this is largely the case with the earlier 4 books, too, is Kathy Kolla's highly developed detective's instinct. She asks the right questions, knows when to back off from a suspect and is able to make the all important leap in logic once enough clues have been laid out before her. It's on the back of her detective work that we find ourselves making most progress and it's also where we, the readers, get the opportunity to try to work out who the murderer is.
Silvermeadow is probably the most slowly paced of the Brock and Kolla books but thanks to the more unusual setting of the shopping mall, an interesting array of people plus a highly charged ending I still found it a very engrossing story. I'd say it could be best enjoyed after reading the earlier books in the series, although those who haven't yet read the earlier books can still enjoy it as a stand-alone.
August 6, 2013
While investigating the return of a sociopathic bank robber to England, Detective Chief Inspector David Brock and Sergeant Kathy Kolla are bamboozled into also looking into the disappearance of a 14-year-old schoolgirl. Both of the otherwise unconnected crimes do have one commonality: Both have a connection to Silvermeadow, a state-of-the-art enclosed mall that boasts over 1 million square feet of retail space and 26 food courts. One character calls it the third-largest mall in Europe, making it clear that author Barry Maitland modeled the fictional Silvermeadow on Meadowhall in Yorkshire or Intu Lakeside in Essex. To say anymore than that is to give the game away.
How suspenseful is Silvermeadow? Using the audio version, I meant to listen to a few moments just to get to sleep; instead, I had to stay with the novel until past 3 p.m. so that I could listen to the very last word. Mysteries in the Brock and Kathy series always capture readers; however, this one proved to be the most riveting yet. I'd recommend this novel to anyone. (While I've enjoyed the novels in order, Silvermeadow could be appreciated even by readers who begin with it, the fifth in the series.)
How suspenseful is Silvermeadow? Using the audio version, I meant to listen to a few moments just to get to sleep; instead, I had to stay with the novel until past 3 p.m. so that I could listen to the very last word. Mysteries in the Brock and Kathy series always capture readers; however, this one proved to be the most riveting yet. I'd recommend this novel to anyone. (While I've enjoyed the novels in order, Silvermeadow could be appreciated even by readers who begin with it, the fifth in the series.)
February 12, 2022
Of the five books in the series that I've read, this is probably my least favorite so far, but there is still much to recommend it, like the characters and the mystery itself. I'm not sure if it was the nature of the crimes in this one or the setting of a large-scale shopping mall (I'm not a shopper), but I didn't click with it the way I have the others. Maitland's knowledge of architecture and engineering shines through once again and why not? He's written non-fiction books on it, in this case one about the design of shopping malls. I read the Kindle version which was badly formatted, with typos and sloppy, missing punctuation. Nevertheless, something kept drawing me back every day to continue reading. And there were times I didn't want to put it down.
August 2, 2021
I'm fascinated by malls--not as a place to visit, but their design and their impact on their surroundings, as well as on how we consume. Maitland explores some of that in making the titular mall the setting of his mystery. A bit baggy and overlong, perhaps.
July 11, 2024
Good, solid police procedural. Unusual setting in a luxury mall (so vintage). Returning characters with good back stories. Not high octane pace.
August 22, 2018
A perfectly serviceable mystery about a girl who is missing from a super mall in Essex, and the return of the nemesis of the detectives in this series. The mall is as much a character as any person in the story. The characters are well drawn and there is some story outside of the mystery but ultimately my feeling was, "meh..." I will try another book by the author to see if this one was an anomaly.
May 3, 2021
My first book by this author and I enjoyed it. I was surprised to see it was set in a shopping mall - enjoyed this use of venue to set and surround the storyline. Used the ‘venue’ to great effect and made us look behind the facade of the ‘mall’ to see what really lies behind and beneath these shiny centres.
July 12, 2022
First of Maitland's books I have read. Didn't realize it was part 5 of a series when I picked it up. Can be read alone but there are references to previous cases and relationships that would make more sense if the other books had been read first.
Overall the story and characters kept me interested enough to finish the book.
Overall the story and characters kept me interested enough to finish the book.
July 9, 2017
Poor ending
I enjoyed the book until the end which I found unrealistic. Not the best of this series. If you intend to read the series recommend you star at the first book.
I enjoyed the book until the end which I found unrealistic. Not the best of this series. If you intend to read the series recommend you star at the first book.
October 31, 2017
I've been reading the Brock and Kolla series while waiting for some other books to become available at the library. The plots are pretty good, but I find the characters to be a bit flat. Kathy Kolla, in particular, just doesn't quite make it to three dimensions for me. I get that she is supposed to be a bit lacking in interpersonal skills, but sometimes I feel like if she were a real person, I'd be waving a hand in front of her face to test for a reaction. It seems strange that the least interesting character in the books is also the lead character. I guess she's meant to be the straight man?
There are also some pretty egregious editing errors they seem to increase as the series goes along--missing words, sentences that have run together, etc. I don't know why so many Kindle books have these issues!
All that said, I've found the series to be perfectly good light reading, and the plots are engaging enough to make me want to finish the books. In fact, the plots are getting better as they go along, so I'll probably read them all--eventually.
There are also some pretty egregious editing errors they seem to increase as the series goes along--missing words, sentences that have run together, etc. I don't know why so many Kindle books have these issues!
All that said, I've found the series to be perfectly good light reading, and the plots are engaging enough to make me want to finish the books. In fact, the plots are getting better as they go along, so I'll probably read them all--eventually.
December 28, 2019
This may be my favorite book in this series so far. A shopping mall with 1 million square feet of retail space and 26 food courts becomes the center of a search for a missing teenager. Rumor has it that other young girls have "disappeared" from this same mall but few have heard the stories. Finding a body in the debris from one of the mall's trash compactors makes Brock & Kolla more apt to wonder about these rumors. Between attempting to find out what is happening in the underbelly (fascinating to learn so much about the parts of the mall that the general public never sees) of the mall and having a reappearance of a former nemisis...they are being kept particularly busy. Kathy Kolla can't even find the time to spend with her new love interest. Overall, I enjoyed this mystery very much.
November 13, 2024
I'm not sure why "Silvermeadow" pulled me in more fully than some of the other entries in this series, but it sure held my interest. Maybe because the setting is one most of us encounter in everyday life which made the book very relatable.
I'm happy to see Kathy and Leon finally get together. And I hope they can smooth over any problems in upcoming books. Also, nice to see more of Brock's personal life. Barry Maitland does a nice job of balancing the mystery with the main characters personal lives. I look forward to the next book.
This is the last of four books read while on vacation.
I'm happy to see Kathy and Leon finally get together. And I hope they can smooth over any problems in upcoming books. Also, nice to see more of Brock's personal life. Barry Maitland does a nice job of balancing the mystery with the main characters personal lives. I look forward to the next book.
This is the last of four books read while on vacation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2023
A very interesting police procedural, revolving around two different cases. One case is about a missing teen girl, who worked part time at Silvermeadow, a megamoll. The second case is about a sighting at the same mall of a notorious bank robber/murderer. Scotland Yard/major case detectives join local law enforcement, ostensibly to investigate the missing person case, while a few work discreetly on the other case. I liked the writing, the characters, the whodunit. Definitely will read more from this author.
April 9, 2019
I am reading this out of order, because I read on in the series while I waited for this book to arrive.
I thought this had the most coherent plot of all the instalments I have read so far, although Bren's part of the plot (looking for North) is largely forgotten about for most of the story. Thankfully Kathy's ordeal at the end (and there always is one!) was not as horrific to read about as the next book made it sound in retrospect.
I thought this had the most coherent plot of all the instalments I have read so far, although Bren's part of the plot (looking for North) is largely forgotten about for most of the story. Thankfully Kathy's ordeal at the end (and there always is one!) was not as horrific to read about as the next book made it sound in retrospect.
October 27, 2022
I've discovered Barry Maitland only fairly recently but am very impressed with his crime fiction. The body of a young woman found in a rubbish compactor in a huge British shopping complex leads into a complex plot which also exposes the 'Gruen transfer' philosophy behind the design of such super-malls. Something of an expose of commercial manipulation.
October 15, 2024
A girl's body is discovered wrapped in plastic and compressed by an industrial size trash compactor, which has been traced to a nearby mega mall. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard inspector Brock is hunting down a violent thief and murderer, who has been seen at the same mall. It's a twisty tale with lots of suspects, but it's not really a cozy read.
March 27, 2023
Only sort of half-listened to this on Audible.com. The parts I paid attention to seemed well written and interesting enough, but I am not sure I can write a review of the plot! (Senior citizen problems).
August 13, 2018
I didn't find this book in the series as interesting as the ones before it. Kathy seemed to have lost her edge.
September 6, 2018
A 350 page police procedural that could have been told in 200 pages - and would have made a better book.
August 31, 2020
So I guess I'm a Barry Maitland fan. There was some really beautiful writing, although I felt the ending was rushed and a bit incomprehensible. But, yeah, I guess I like crime fiction now!
December 23, 2021
A workmanlike police procedural. It was very well done of its type. It was set in a huge shopping mall in the days before Christmas, so a very seasonal read/ listen. Everyone comes to a fitting end.
December 21, 2022
Well told mystery. The use of a mall as a character was interesting. It was kind of spooky. I liked the character development too.
March 29, 2023
I would like to meet this author. What kind of person can think up stories like this? ..and write it in such way as to engage my emotions.
August 21, 2015
Some day, some day a crime novel will end with "Well, we'll never know exactly how he/she did it." In the meantime, we'll just have unbelievable conversations where the perp explains exactly how and why he/she dunnit. Or here's another idea: "Don't you want to know how I did it before you die horribly?" Detective faints dead away from loss of blood or just stress and never gets to hear.
Maitland is a good writer (it's just so hard to explain everything at the end without looking like ... like you're just explaining everything) and the plots are interesting. I learned a teeny bit more about malls than I wanted, but at least it wasn't stamps again.
Now, I'm going into serious spoiler territory. I mean it.
No, I really do.
I guessed the culprit again - in the face of everything. I refused to believe any of the stunning revelations about Harry and Bruno. I clung to Harry as the main villain. He had all the access. He was too helpful. He was a former cop and we all "know" that they're bent. Why didn't Kathy make more of the missing page? I had Harry pegged before she even found it. I knew a page would be missing. Hurry up and find that out, Kathy!
Gavin was too overtly manipulative to be it (and eventually I felt sorry for him). Bruno actually was a baddie, but there was no way he could be involved with the robbery. The "hidden room" that three people knew about was unbelievable, especially under the faux volcano. And it's nice to know that when you've run out of albinos, there are multi-plegics in wheelchairs to be villainous. No, I mean that. Really, there was no one nice in this book, not even children (who are unrepentant herbicides). [I have actually been in Brock's situation. A five year old resented me for splitting up his parents, although I wasn't aware of the family until they had already split. And, actually, I was just a "beard" for the father until the divorce was final. The five year old asked me what I would prefer, "A broken leg or a broken back?" I told him I'd already had a broken leg and that a broken back might be interesting "for a change." Later I told his father to have a talk with the kid. "Oh, he just likes to ask questions." No, something's up. And it was. The father did have the conversation with the kid and discovered that I was resented for the reason stated above. "I straightened it out," I was told. Oh sure.]
Maitland is a good writer (it's just so hard to explain everything at the end without looking like ... like you're just explaining everything) and the plots are interesting. I learned a teeny bit more about malls than I wanted, but at least it wasn't stamps again.
Now, I'm going into serious spoiler territory. I mean it.
No, I really do.
I guessed the culprit again - in the face of everything. I refused to believe any of the stunning revelations about Harry and Bruno. I clung to Harry as the main villain. He had all the access. He was too helpful. He was a former cop and we all "know" that they're bent. Why didn't Kathy make more of the missing page? I had Harry pegged before she even found it. I knew a page would be missing. Hurry up and find that out, Kathy!
Gavin was too overtly manipulative to be it (and eventually I felt sorry for him). Bruno actually was a baddie, but there was no way he could be involved with the robbery. The "hidden room" that three people knew about was unbelievable, especially under the faux volcano. And it's nice to know that when you've run out of albinos, there are multi-plegics in wheelchairs to be villainous. No, I mean that. Really, there was no one nice in this book, not even children (who are unrepentant herbicides). [I have actually been in Brock's situation. A five year old resented me for splitting up his parents, although I wasn't aware of the family until they had already split. And, actually, I was just a "beard" for the father until the divorce was final. The five year old asked me what I would prefer, "A broken leg or a broken back?" I told him I'd already had a broken leg and that a broken back might be interesting "for a change." Later I told his father to have a talk with the kid. "Oh, he just likes to ask questions." No, something's up. And it was. The father did have the conversation with the kid and discovered that I was resented for the reason stated above. "I straightened it out," I was told. Oh sure.]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2013
Great series that always reminds me of Elizabeth George's series. I just discovered Maitland a few months ago, and what a find!
This one takes place primarily in a mega-mall outside of London called "Silvermeadow." There are two real investigations going on at the mall: a missing teenage girl who turns up dead in a box compacter (ugh!), and a sighting of a notorious bank robber and murderer. The only part of the book that was just too facile was that of course both investigations are related; they have to be or the book just wouldn't work. And Kathy does a lot of talking herself into that fact, when the reader already knows, as soon as both stories are mentioned. Otherwise, the story progresses very appropriately, with good character development. We do get to see behind Brock and Kathy's face-saving walls into their personal lives this time.
Really, though, this is a book delving into mall culture, "lost" people (including teens), and what we may have lost in our culture by giving completely over to consumerism. Of course, there is the obligatory climax scene where the bad guys are confronted -- and I have to say that I was somewhat blindsided by who it turns out to be -- but again, it seemed natural and literate.
This one takes place primarily in a mega-mall outside of London called "Silvermeadow." There are two real investigations going on at the mall: a missing teenage girl who turns up dead in a box compacter (ugh!), and a sighting of a notorious bank robber and murderer. The only part of the book that was just too facile was that of course both investigations are related; they have to be or the book just wouldn't work. And Kathy does a lot of talking herself into that fact, when the reader already knows, as soon as both stories are mentioned. Otherwise, the story progresses very appropriately, with good character development. We do get to see behind Brock and Kathy's face-saving walls into their personal lives this time.
Really, though, this is a book delving into mall culture, "lost" people (including teens), and what we may have lost in our culture by giving completely over to consumerism. Of course, there is the obligatory climax scene where the bad guys are confronted -- and I have to say that I was somewhat blindsided by who it turns out to be -- but again, it seemed natural and literate.
Long aside: I'm happy to now be on the side of "right" in this book, having lived in mall culture for the first 15 years of my life: every Saturday afternoon as early as I can remember until I went off to college--and possibly over summer vacations as well--Mom and I went to the library and the mall and bought something. What could we have been shopping for every week?! As an adult, I am apparently the only woman on Planet Earth who loathes shopping. At least the wandering about through store after store looking for just that perfect dress...or whatever. I'm more of a "boy" shopper: list in hand, I go directly to the store that sells what I need. I buy. I leave. If the first store doesn't have what I want, I go one (ONE!) other place, then give up: who needs it anyway? Wandering with my mom all those years through (at that point) the largest mall in the world cured me for the rest of my life.Anyway. I can't wait till the next Kathy & Brock book appears.
September 2, 2016
‘On a bleak December morning, the east wind gusting in across the Essex marshes and dousing the city in cold rain, Alison Vlasic decided, finally, to go to the police.’
In ‘Silvermeadow’, two separate crimes intersect. Detective Chief Inspector David Brock is still searching for Gregory North, a cold blooded killer who killed two guards during a bank robbery in Ilford four years ago. Several days after her mother reports her missing, Kerri Vlasich’s shattered body is found. It seems possible that Kerri Vlasich was murdered at Silvermeadow, a huge shopping mall in Essex where Kerri had a job. When a witness to the Ilford robbery claims to have seen North in a shop in Silvermeadow, and the local police station request help from Scotland Yard in relation to Kerri’s murder, David Brock seizes the opportunity to look for North while investigating Kerri’s murder. He puts Detective Sergeant Kathy Kolla on the murder investigation.
The investigations are difficult. Kerri’s family life is complicated, and her protective friends keep some important information from police. In addition, there are rumours that Kerri is not the first person to have gone missing at Silvermeadow. Silvermeadow itself is problematic. It’s a huge sprawling mall, with kilometres of tunnels and some interesting (in the loosest sense) security staff. And what about Gregory North?
The investigations progress slowly, which seems realistic. In the meantime, we have glimpses into the personal lives of both Kathy Kolla and David Brock and their developing relationships with Leon Desai and Suzanne Chambers.
This is the fifth novel in Mr Maitland’s Brock and Kolla series, and was published in 2000. I’ve read six of the twelve or so novels published so far, and I’ve enjoyed each one. While I’m reading them out of order, I’m not finding that a problem as each novel stands alone. However, the disadvantage of reading out of order is missing aspects of the character development and backstory of the main characters.
If you enjoy reading police procedurals, I recommend this series highly.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In ‘Silvermeadow’, two separate crimes intersect. Detective Chief Inspector David Brock is still searching for Gregory North, a cold blooded killer who killed two guards during a bank robbery in Ilford four years ago. Several days after her mother reports her missing, Kerri Vlasich’s shattered body is found. It seems possible that Kerri Vlasich was murdered at Silvermeadow, a huge shopping mall in Essex where Kerri had a job. When a witness to the Ilford robbery claims to have seen North in a shop in Silvermeadow, and the local police station request help from Scotland Yard in relation to Kerri’s murder, David Brock seizes the opportunity to look for North while investigating Kerri’s murder. He puts Detective Sergeant Kathy Kolla on the murder investigation.
The investigations are difficult. Kerri’s family life is complicated, and her protective friends keep some important information from police. In addition, there are rumours that Kerri is not the first person to have gone missing at Silvermeadow. Silvermeadow itself is problematic. It’s a huge sprawling mall, with kilometres of tunnels and some interesting (in the loosest sense) security staff. And what about Gregory North?
The investigations progress slowly, which seems realistic. In the meantime, we have glimpses into the personal lives of both Kathy Kolla and David Brock and their developing relationships with Leon Desai and Suzanne Chambers.
This is the fifth novel in Mr Maitland’s Brock and Kolla series, and was published in 2000. I’ve read six of the twelve or so novels published so far, and I’ve enjoyed each one. While I’m reading them out of order, I’m not finding that a problem as each novel stands alone. However, the disadvantage of reading out of order is missing aspects of the character development and backstory of the main characters.
If you enjoy reading police procedurals, I recommend this series highly.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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December 7, 2010(Holiday reading so my comments are a bit minimal)
Another excellent episode in this series. Silvermeadow is a huge shopping centre outside London (I guess the real life counterpart is Bluewater though the name had me thinking of Meadowhall all the way through) and Kathy Kolla and David Brock are trying to solve a murser at the same time as trying to apprehend an armed robber who has been spotted there.
The continuity with the first book in this series is lovely (this is the fifth) as are the developments in the main characters private lives.
My only niggle is that Maitland writes about Britain from Australia and has characters driving Opel cars when that brand is still sold in the UK under the Vauxhall name and though you do see the odd Opel around I think it's far more likely that the character in question had a Vauxhall Astra. Minor but it kept dragging me from the story.
February 15, 2014
A good friend knows I enjoy reading procedural mysteries, especially those set in Great Britain, so she shared her collection of Barry Maitland's Brock and Kolla series. They feature David Brock, a seasoned male detective chief inspector, who mentors Kathy Kolla, a younger female detective sergeant. I also like Deborah Crombie's Kincaid and James series for the male-female duo, however, Maitland's series is much darker and the style of writing is very different. The reader is often on the edge of one's seat as Brock and Kolla face physical assault and emotional upheaval on a regular basis. Silvermeadow, the mega shopping mall featured in this 5th book in the series, provides for interesting turns and twists in the story line and is a "character" itself.
January 17, 2016
Yet another great good Brock and Koala
Barry Maitland is a very good practitioner of the police procedural. The writing style is very good and the plot convoluted and not predictable.
Despite my gloomy "spoiler" I own the rest of the series and can't wait to begin Babel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews