Last Reminder

Charlie Priest #4

by Stuart Pawson

Detective Inspector Charlie Priest’s day hasn’t got off to a good start. Late for work for the first time in twenty years, thanks to a sloe gin hangover, he’s faced with the rather grisly evidence of a crime in the local park before a call comes in to say that one of his new constables has discovered a body. Hartley Goodrich has been found dead in his armchair, right beside the flowerpot that caused the gaping gash in his head. There’s little doubt that this was murder, and when Charlie discovers that Hartley’s financial advice had lost his clients a small fortune, there’s no shortage of murder suspects either. But is the case all it seems? The enquiry re-opens an investigation involving diamonds, drugs and stolen gold bullion . . . and plenty of danger to boot.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British Literature, Procedural

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2005

About the author

Stuart Pawson lived in Fairburn, Yorkshire, with his wife, Doreen.

After a career as a mining electrical engineer, he worked part-time for the probation service for five years, mediating between offenders and their victims. This gave him a good insight into the criminal justice system, and it was during this period that he started to write his first book, The Picasso Scam.

Stuart believed he must have some cowboy genes somewhere in his genome because he always had a strong affinity for the American West. His first visit to the USA was to work for a month at a Wyoming coalmine, and he holidayed over there many times. Although tone-deaf (some would say stone-deaf) he always thought it would be good fun to be a songwriter. The thought of composing a three-minute song as opposed to a 300-page book had a certain attraction. He managed to combine the two themes - song writing and the West - in the opening chapters of Laughing Boy, and he enjoyed writing that one immensely.

Reviews

[Polly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What’s not to like when a police procedural produces a good chuckle almost every page?! Stuart Pawson dishes up inventive dialogue between D. I. Priest and his side kicks, Sparky, Nigel and Maggie. Between that and a plot involving a fraudulent investment scheme, diamonds, gold bars and even a loyal parrot, Last Reminder is a fun ride to the end.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this series featuring DI Charlie Priest as the main character. It strikes just the right balance of police procedural, imaginative mystery story, and the main character's personal life such that Charlie is (I swear!) as real as you or I. The author has a knack for being super-descriptive where it's needed and glossing over things when it's not. The prose flows smoothly and is simply a joy to read.

My only fear is that I'm reading through them too fast. I am in the midst of so many different series that I typically rotate them and it's often four to six months, if not longer, between series books. However, I've been visiting Charlie every other month or so, and sadly (because the author has since passed away) I know there are a limited number of these ahead of me.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this English police procedural series and this entry was no exception. The lead character, DI Charlie Priest, is a very likable, humorous, and well adjusted guy who gets along with the his co-workers. The first person narration flowed nicely and the plot had a number of twists and turns.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: DI Charlie Priest
SETTING: Yorkshire, England
SERIES: #4
RATING: 3.5
WHY: Hartley Goodrich, a financial advisor, is found dead in his armchair with a potted plant nearby which was used to bash him in the head. There’s not shortage of suspects, as many of his clients were victims of his financial malfeasance. When someone confesses to the flower pot incident, DI Charlie Priest feels there’s more to the story. His investigation leads him into the world of diamond trading, drug dealing and hidden gold. The book is entertaining, with lots of little jokes thrown in for amusement—perhaps a few too many? Charlie is a likeable character. I enjoy the interaction between him and his Detective Constable, “Sparky”, as well as his love interest, Annabelle Wilberforce.

[Wendy]

Enjoyed this

[Trawets · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of Stuart Pawson's I've read. It features one DI Charlie Priest a policeman with a sense of humour, jokes and quips pepper this entertaining who-dun-it However there is serious crime novel here as well as the humour, which makes the characters all the more believeable. I'll be looking out for more of Stuart Pawson's books.

[David]

I've read most of Pawson's Charlie Priest books now... WARNING - the 'Books In Order' lists you'll find on the Internet are WRONG. If that matters to you - beware this 'Last Reminder' book shows here as #4 - but it's listed as #10 on many of the 'In Order' lists.... totally out of line.

Pawson is a pretty good writer - if you like a sort of laid-back English cop-procedurals, this is your thing. Well plotted, good characterizations, sympathetic characters, good dialog, and pretty good pacing - my complaint about that is that Pawson doesn't know how to 'Chapter' - and his publisher/editor hasn't helped him at all. Most Fiction is chaptered at around 10-12 pages. Pawson doesn't know when to stop... his 'chapters' are 30-32 pages long. I read in bed... I'm waiting for a good break to put the book down... I look up, it's 2AM...grrrr... just my peeve, not really a biggie.

The other thing is that he thinks he's a 'card' and makes 'jokes' that are pretty damned lame - and uses some obscure 'English' jargon that is pretty obscure to American readers...

Enjoy!!

[Neville · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and it was great that DI Charlie Priest is so politically incorrect. It just made the story all that much better to read and lots of laughs.

1.5 tons of gold was stolen a number of years back and Charlie seems to think that they may be links with one of his current cases. He needs to work out how a killer of a woman may be linked to the gold heist and how to separate lies from the truth.

[Ruth Kittner · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great read!!

This feels more like police work. Several crimes to solve at once, lots of distractions and plenty of squabbling, teasing and general banter. The main man, Charlie, does have a wicked and occasionally teenage-boy sense of humor. Again, interesting story and we find out who killed the swans

[Jean Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked to read this series in order but haven't come across them that way and I can live with an out of order read though what's happening in Charlie; personal life though this one gives you an insight into it might not be as good as he thinks it is. He's doing better with his working life, solving a couple of cases and not getting shot.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book,and the ones preceeding, had me at times giggling or so caught up in the story that I couldn't put it down! The book is witty and absorbing with some serious crime involved but Charlie usually comes out on top. A great read.

[Brian Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoy Pawson’s books have started from his first Charlie Priest book and am reading them in order. Really good reads, always a good storyline and lots of humour.

[Andrea Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely little quick read with a believable DI and his team. Can’t wait to read some more.

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second Charlie Priest book that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Entertaining, amusing, and well written, it was very enjoyable.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read and good descriptions of places nearby. Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a lovely place parking charges excepted.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in typical Pawson fashion. Easy read.

[MR R K ROBERTS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

A very entertaining read, once you pick it up, hard to put down until finished, can't wait to read the next story.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminder

Charlie Priest is always my favorite detective. I particularly like the story in first person, as if he’s speaking directly to me. Mr. Pawson was a great storyteller.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author was recommended to me by the owner of Callan's Bookstore in Stratford, Ontario, Canada this past summer. I brought it along for something to read while we enjoyed a month in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The paperback's cover reads, "Perfect for a long winter afternoon with the rain beating down on the windows" (Independent on Sunday). Unfortunately it was in the 70s and sunny although it is February and the surf pounding might substitute for rain. Didn't make a bit of difference. I loved the book. Mostly I love Detective Inspector Charlie Priest. His sense of the what is appropriate and his sense of humor are a delight. Here finally is a new series that makes me want to read all the entries.

[Virginia Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

Local financial adviser broker Hartley Goodrich is found dead in his armchair with a gaping gash in his head and beside him a flowerpot. Clearly murder, and when DI Charlie Priest starts to investigate it quickly becomes clear that a lot of people want Hartley dead after his advice had lost his clients a small fortune. But is the case as simple as it seems? Soon Charlie finds himself with a case involving diamonds, drugs and stolen gold bullion.

[Carol Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book it only took me so long as I have been ill.
DI Charlie Priest has to investigate a murder in which the victim has been hit over the head with a flowerpot. Charlie knows this as the flowerpot is next to the body, however all is not as it seems and is it in fact a murder at ll?. A very enjoyable story.

[Alistair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pawson does his best not to time date his books. Sadly including 'Filofax' and 'Princess Diana' put it firmly in the 1990's. To be fair that does not really detract from the plot and I am only being picky.
This is my fourth Pawson and won't be my last.
Recommended.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. A bit pedestrian and lots of things happening, which, really had nothing to do with the plot. Probably read another of Stuart Pawsons books, but probably no more after that if written in the same style

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of this author or series before reading this book. I received it from a friend in a swap, and really enjoyed it. It was jokey without being over the top, and was neither too cozy nor too dark. I'll probably look for more by Stuart Pawson after I finish off some of my TBR pile.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another entertaining read from this author.

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Stuart Pawson/Charlie Priest novel and I hope that it wont be the last. I soon picked up on the charactors and enjoyed the pace and style of the story.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good read by Stuart Pawson. A bit of humour interspersed throughout, some of the sayings make you stop and think about what he's trying to convey, but well written.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read built around good characters and descriptions of place.

[Mworia Ituriu · Rating 5 out of 5]

DI Priest is great company at any time. I really enjoyed this one.

[Srabcatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most enjoyable like his other books...