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Chief Inspector Woodend #1
The Salton Killings
When the strangled body of teenager Diane Thorburn is found buried in the salt store, Chief Inspector Woodend is drafted in from London to investigate. An outspoken Northerner, he does his policing the old-fashioned way, and he is convinced that Margie Poole, Diane's best friend, knows more about Diane's last movements than she is prepared to tell. Then Woodend's inquiry turns up the death of another young girl a generation before. The similarities in the two cases begin to look more sinister than mere coincidence. Could there be a serial killer on the loose . . .?
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1998
129 people are currently reading
391 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
July 6, 2012
First Sentence: The rain, driven by a relentless wind, clawed mercilessly at her face.
Chief Inspector Woodend is sent from London to a village in Cheshire. The strangled body of a teenage girl has been found buried in the salt store. Working with the local police and intuition, Woodend believes the victim’s best friend knows more than she’s saying. He also believes there is a connection to a similar murder a generation earlier.
Who knows why I’ve only just discovered this series, but who cares. I read for character and have now found new characters to love: Inspector Woodend and his second, Sgt. Bob Rutter. The two are a wonderful contrast; Woodend being an old-school, shoe leather investigator and Rutter being an armchair detective who believes in solving crimes through science. There’s a wonderful scene where Woodend tells Rutter that, in addition to read Sherlock Holmes, t-he should read Dickens as “its people that matter”.
Spencer provides and excellent sense of place that puts you within the story and dialogue that makes the characters come to life. We learn who Woodend is through very naturally placed bits in the story, rather than one long exposition. We are given another fascinating character who imparts an interesting perspective and observation on civilization and life. Any author who makes me contemplate his views, is an author worth my reading.
One criticism—to me there was an incredibly weak plot point which should have been obvious, or accounted for much earlier, in the investigation. However, there was also a well-done plot twist which somewhat balanced it out.
“The Salton Killings” was a book I very much enjoyed. Happily, this was the first in the series, so I look forward to reading more about CI Woodend.
THE SALTON KILLINGS (Pol Proc-England-CI Charlie Woodend-Contemporary) – Good
Spencer, Sally (aka Alan Rustage) – 1st in series
Severn House, 1998
Chief Inspector Woodend is sent from London to a village in Cheshire. The strangled body of a teenage girl has been found buried in the salt store. Working with the local police and intuition, Woodend believes the victim’s best friend knows more than she’s saying. He also believes there is a connection to a similar murder a generation earlier.
Who knows why I’ve only just discovered this series, but who cares. I read for character and have now found new characters to love: Inspector Woodend and his second, Sgt. Bob Rutter. The two are a wonderful contrast; Woodend being an old-school, shoe leather investigator and Rutter being an armchair detective who believes in solving crimes through science. There’s a wonderful scene where Woodend tells Rutter that, in addition to read Sherlock Holmes, t-he should read Dickens as “its people that matter”.
Spencer provides and excellent sense of place that puts you within the story and dialogue that makes the characters come to life. We learn who Woodend is through very naturally placed bits in the story, rather than one long exposition. We are given another fascinating character who imparts an interesting perspective and observation on civilization and life. Any author who makes me contemplate his views, is an author worth my reading.
One criticism—to me there was an incredibly weak plot point which should have been obvious, or accounted for much earlier, in the investigation. However, there was also a well-done plot twist which somewhat balanced it out.
“The Salton Killings” was a book I very much enjoyed. Happily, this was the first in the series, so I look forward to reading more about CI Woodend.
THE SALTON KILLINGS (Pol Proc-England-CI Charlie Woodend-Contemporary) – Good
Spencer, Sally (aka Alan Rustage) – 1st in series
Severn House, 1998
May 15, 2017
This is the first book in the Inspector Charlie Woodend series, and is set in a small village in Cheshire, England. Chief Inspector Woodend has been sent from London to investigate the murder of a teenage girl, found strangled and buried in a salt storeroom. He's teamed up with a new partner, Sgt. Bob Rutter, who wants to do a good job but is perplexed by Woodend and his manner of investigation. Before too long, they discover that another girl died sixteen years ago, and the manner of death seems remarkably similar to the one they are investigating now.
It took me a little while to realize this book is set in the 50s. Several of the characters are still talking about “the war”. I really liked the characters and thought the author did a great job of atmospheric writing. I thought the book was a little slow in the beginning but eventually the dialogue and characters drew me in. This is apparently the first in series that currently has twenty books. I found it notable that I hadn't ever heard of it before because I do enjoy British crime novels. I will definitely try another sometime in the future.
It took me a little while to realize this book is set in the 50s. Several of the characters are still talking about “the war”. I really liked the characters and thought the author did a great job of atmospheric writing. I thought the book was a little slow in the beginning but eventually the dialogue and characters drew me in. This is apparently the first in series that currently has twenty books. I found it notable that I hadn't ever heard of it before because I do enjoy British crime novels. I will definitely try another sometime in the future.
February 14, 2014
A decent enough procedural detective story.
It's really impossible to avoid comparisons when reviewing stuff so if you like the Wexford books by Ruth Rendell, you'll probably like this.
There are a couple of howlers that made me stop in my tracks (there's a really obvious forensic problem with a body that gets found early on - I don't think I'm spoiling the plot to tell you there's a murder ;) ) and a couple of false notes in the prose.
But it's a quick read detective story. I'll try more Sally Spencers.
It's really impossible to avoid comparisons when reviewing stuff so if you like the Wexford books by Ruth Rendell, you'll probably like this.
There are a couple of howlers that made me stop in my tracks (there's a really obvious forensic problem with a body that gets found early on - I don't think I'm spoiling the plot to tell you there's a murder ;) ) and a couple of false notes in the prose.
But it's a quick read detective story. I'll try more Sally Spencers.
May 19, 2016
Chief Inspector Woodend is the main character in this series. This novel revolves around a serial killer that has been around for a while. I love the way it was written. I wouldn't call it a comedy by any means but I did laugh out loud quite a few times. I'm looking forward to reading the whole series.
March 2, 2019
I thought I was going to give only 4 stars but then I read the epilogue, mind blown
I enjoyed this murder mystery and look forward to reading the other books in this series. I recommend this to other murder mystery fans.
I enjoyed this murder mystery and look forward to reading the other books in this series. I recommend this to other murder mystery fans.
October 17, 2014
A good mystery with an ending I didn't expect.
October 5, 2017
This was, well, just alright. Quite a clever twist.
May 18, 2024
Another good read from Sally Spencer. A DCI from Scotland Yard of Northern England birth returns to a Northern Town to solve the murder of young teenage girl, which in turn, links to a cold case murder during WW2 and then to two "accidental" deaths of young teenage girls in the interim, with a murderer I never saw coming!
June 30, 2024
Chief Inspector Woodend is brought in from Scotland Yard to help solve a murder in a small northern English town. A 15 year old girl has been strangled. When Woodend starts to investigate, he learns that several other young girls have died in this small town over the past few years. Local police didn't seem to find any connection between the deaths, deeming them accidental for the most part. Woodend is a no-nonsense man, and he will stop at nothing to find the person who took these young lives.
April 27, 2025
Solid British village mystery
April 5, 2021
I was looking for a new series to start reading. This is the first in a series featuring Chief Inspector Woodend. Just starting to get to know him, but he seems pretty likeable so far. I especially appreciate the fact that he is experienced but not infallible, and he admits it. Gives credit where credit is due. Be sure to read the entire book though - no spoilers. I also found it interesting that Sally Spencer is a pen name for a male author, since it's often the other way around.
June 11, 2018
I really enjoyed it. And it had an interesting twist at the end. I didn't even have the perpetrator in my sights!
This is my first read of Chief Inspector Woodend books.
I have read a few of the Blackstone series and I enjoyed them immensely, so I was looking forward to reading a Woodend book.
I love historical crimes the most. Especially set around the World War dates. I am a bit reluctant to read more current crimes series. But I was not disappointed in this instance.
I love quirky Chief Inspectors or Commanders of the police or from Scotland Yard. I love the ones that enjoy sticking their nose up their 'higher ups' but still get the 'crime solved' even in their unconventional manner.
This is my first read of Chief Inspector Woodend books.
I have read a few of the Blackstone series and I enjoyed them immensely, so I was looking forward to reading a Woodend book.
I love historical crimes the most. Especially set around the World War dates. I am a bit reluctant to read more current crimes series. But I was not disappointed in this instance.
I love quirky Chief Inspectors or Commanders of the police or from Scotland Yard. I love the ones that enjoy sticking their nose up their 'higher ups' but still get the 'crime solved' even in their unconventional manner.
March 30, 2019
One of the best mysteries that I have read in a long time. You never know who the murder is until the very end of the book, though you are given three suspects and enough evidence to believe it is any one of them. This is a true arm chair mystery. Agatha Christie would be proud.
October 15, 2019
Okay, maybe not amazing--but I did totally miss two major clues. I just read right over them even though I know I have to pay attention to everything Woodend is told. I felt as stupid as the village bobby. Nicely written, focused, good characters.
June 7, 2022
Salt!
Diane Thornburn is a girl of fifteen. Her lifeless body has been uncovered in a pile of salt in the salt warehouse of the mining hamlet of Salton by children playing where they were not supposed to be playing. The Chief Constable has decided to call in Scotland Yard, and Chief Inspector Woodend is dispatched from London to his familiar northern England to solve the case and catch the murderer. Detective Sergeant Rutter is sent to assist him. The story is set in the 1950s, probably about 1958. In any event, the War is still fresh in the minds of villagers.
When the two detectives arrive in the small village, they are joined in the investigation by Police Constable Davenport and Police Cadet Phillip Black. During the course of the investigation, we learn that sixteen years earlier, another girl was killed, this time by drowning in the canal. Her father is a religious fanatic, and he had refused to allow a Post Mortem of the girl’s remains. Woodend is very curious as to why that was.
There is no shortage of suspects, but the killer has left a clue in the salt pile on which the murder took place. He must find it before the police do. Unfortunately for him, Chief Inspector Woodend catches him before he can dispose of the incriminating evidence.
The ending is a surprise, but the writing is a bit stilted, rating no more than three stars.
Diane Thornburn is a girl of fifteen. Her lifeless body has been uncovered in a pile of salt in the salt warehouse of the mining hamlet of Salton by children playing where they were not supposed to be playing. The Chief Constable has decided to call in Scotland Yard, and Chief Inspector Woodend is dispatched from London to his familiar northern England to solve the case and catch the murderer. Detective Sergeant Rutter is sent to assist him. The story is set in the 1950s, probably about 1958. In any event, the War is still fresh in the minds of villagers.
When the two detectives arrive in the small village, they are joined in the investigation by Police Constable Davenport and Police Cadet Phillip Black. During the course of the investigation, we learn that sixteen years earlier, another girl was killed, this time by drowning in the canal. Her father is a religious fanatic, and he had refused to allow a Post Mortem of the girl’s remains. Woodend is very curious as to why that was.
There is no shortage of suspects, but the killer has left a clue in the salt pile on which the murder took place. He must find it before the police do. Unfortunately for him, Chief Inspector Woodend catches him before he can dispose of the incriminating evidence.
The ending is a surprise, but the writing is a bit stilted, rating no more than three stars.
September 20, 2023
"The Salton Killings" is the first novel in a series by Sally Spencer. It is a fine police procedural, written in crisp and often poetic prose with an appropriate sense of life in the post war Britain of the 1950's. The characters are well drawn and the psychological insights have the ring of truth, especially with respect to adolescent behaviour. As a puzzle, this 'cozy mystery' does not disappoint, keeping its secrets until the very end.
January 28, 2021
I thought the apostrophes used to convey Woodend’s northern accent totally unnecessary and distracting. It’s set in 1958 and written in 1998 but seems very dated. The local police constables are not very bright. I read one review which said the series is only good at the beginning. I wouldn’t go that far! No more for me thank you!
May 26, 2023
Pretty good story. Flowed well. The lead character is interesting enough that I will go back for more. The epilogue is very creepy and gives you a glimpse beyond the story that you don't typically find.
January 23, 2025
Great mystery
Nicely written. I never suspected the outcome of the main killer. Great variety of characters. Being f as military with the can as l boats, it was nice to have some activity with the boats and canal locks. Reminded of my trip to England years ago. Thanks
Nicely written. I never suspected the outcome of the main killer. Great variety of characters. Being f as military with the can as l boats, it was nice to have some activity with the boats and canal locks. Reminded of my trip to England years ago. Thanks
August 7, 2017
A good old-fashioned who-dun-it set in a small English village in 1958.
October 25, 2017
an easy read with likeable characters
August 7, 2018
The start of a great series!
What a great story, with a twist you will never see coming! Looking forward to the rest of this series.
What a great story, with a twist you will never see coming! Looking forward to the rest of this series.
April 2, 2019
I enjoyed the book and it was a quick read. I like the main character Chief Inspector Woodend. Probably read Sally Spencer again.
April 24, 2019
A typical beach type book...an easy read and nothing taxing. Have now read a few more in this series and they are typical of the genre
May 1, 2019
A real mystery with a great ending.
I really enjoyed the characters. They were fully developed and interesting as was the plot. Bet you can’t guess who did it.
I really enjoyed the characters. They were fully developed and interesting as was the plot. Bet you can’t guess who did it.
August 31, 2019
A good mystery with an unexpected ending. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series.
January 31, 2020
A solid British mystery that evokes the time period very well.
July 11, 2020
Short book but very interesting. Shocked by the reveal! Did not see it coming! I will read more by this author.
September 30, 2020
Enjoyed the entire Chief Insoector Woodend series
November 10, 2020
Workmanlike. Useful under certain circumstances.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews