A Mediocre Man

by A.K. Hill

Francis James Humbleton, quiet and reserved, a simple man submerged in order and schedule that others could, and did, set their watches by is murdered. Detective Inspector Johnson an ageing jaded detective, and Detective Constable Smith a young man eager to learn the ropes, delve headfirst into the world of Mr Humbleton; learning the truth about the man as they investigate his life in an effort to get to the reality of his death.
The pressure to solve the crime intensifies day by day as a more melodramatic and sensational account of the life of Mr Humbleton appears in the press and quickly escalates as the story grips the nation; turning him from the politest and sweetest of men, into a man that is despised and loathed, before disappearing back into the oblivion that comes from such notoriety.
Leading the two Detectives to find that truth can indeed be stranger than fiction, a murder can just be a pointless act with no ulterior motive, and sometimes a humbug is just a humbug.

94 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 16, 2012

About the author

Welcome to the goodreads page for A.K. Hill, an up and coming author whose interest spans a wide range of genres and formats. To read previews, get the news from my blog and buy books please visit:
www.akhill-author.com

Reviews

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy heart-warming read about a reserved caring character. I found some of the interactions to be unrealistic, mostly surrounding Tommy being open to philosophy and reading in general.
Overall I liked the two detectives as they worked the case through to its completion.

[Ghayth Lattouf · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The life of Mr Humbleton appears in the press and quickly escalates as the story grips the nation; turning him from the politest and sweetest of men, into a man that is despised and loathed, before disappearing back into the oblivion that comes from such notoriety”. An awesome short story.

[Dexter Morgenstern · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel follows two detectives as they investigate the untimely murder of Francis Humbleton; a very punctual, almost minimalistic man. By all accounts, Francis is "mediocre," as the book puts it, and with no family, the detectives have to pay visits to everyone he was known to associate with, including his coworker, drinking partner, and an elderly woman from his church to find out who could have possibly done it. They come to find that although Francis seemed normal, he was praised as extraordinary by most of the people that knew him, which gives the detectives a hard time finding the motive for his death. During their investigation, the police are tailed by media reporters who pay visits to the people they've spoken to and deliver the worst possible allegations about Francis to the public, which puts increasing pressure on the two detectives from the people, press, and their superiors. There's not really a 'climax' or building suspense to the story. After a while, the mystery just gets solved, but I didn't find that disappointing. The ending did fit well with the rest of the book.

So you have the plot, it's an easy read, not too cryptic and not too predictable a mystery. The characters in the book all have interesting backgrounds involving their ties to Francis which helps add to the interest level of the story. As each story is told to the detectives, you learn not necessarily 'more' about Francis' nature, but your assumptions about him generally get reaffirmed with each addition. The book is well written too. The author's prose is not at all overdone and reads pretty easily.

So all-in-all, I believe this is a good book. If you're looking for a fast and entertaining read that's not too involved or overwritten, this is the book for you.

[Stephanie Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Francis Humbleton was a plain, ordinary man who was very precise and punctual. He lived his life very simply but on a schedule that he did not veer from. “Friends”, if you could call them that, were few, and enemies did not exist. So why would someone murder him?

Detectives Smith and Johnson were going to find out. Each chapter is written as a day, what the detectives did each day, trying to solve the case. Chapter One, day one, they went to the back where a meticulous Mr. Humbleton worked and met his colleague Fiona, who told them what she knew about him.

The story continues on each day, learning more about him with each passing day and each new person they met.

For a murder mystery, you would not expect the bit of humor that is written in, but that is what makes it unique. Quite the mix of characters that will tug at your heart for Mr. Humbleton and his ways. A quick read but worth it.

[Betsy-Gay Kraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often sit in the subway on the way to work and think that the life of the person opposite me could be a novel if someone would just write it. Here is a story about a man who appears to be very ordinary--to be a nobody, but when his story is told, we see how extraordinary he really was. It is also about how the media are apt to fall in the trap of the deadline and the scoop and make up stories if there are no facts to report.

It is a cautionary tale--don't judge someone by appearances and don't believe everything you read and hear.

It was great fun to read and I hope A.K. Hill will write more.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever think that the news blows everything put of proportion? Then maybe this is the book for you.

It looks at the way the press sometimes report fiction for the sake of higher ratings, readers or watchers. This well written book will leave you wanting more from this great new author.

[GlenK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely plotted English police procedural. The characters are well drawn and the dialogue reads true.