Less Than Kind

John Munroe #2

by David Armstrong

1968, and Charles Somerville, son of impoverished landowner Philip Somerville, is on the run from drug dealers in the Welsh Borders. In nearby Llantrisilli, newcomers James and Suzie find their sylvan idyll brutally and shockingly shattered by the voyeurism of their farming neighbor. Also in Border country is Birmingham policeman John Munroe, liaising with Welsh colleagues on a routine inquiry. But a mysterious death in the area draws him inexorably into an investigation that is to uncover a tangle of dangerous passions running beneath the outwardly calm rural scene.

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

David Armstrong was born in Birmingham and now lives in Shropshire. He left secondary school without qualifications but later went on to read English at university in Cardiff. His first novel was short-listed for the Crime Writers' Association Best First Crime Novel and since then his work has continued to receive critical acclaim. Small Vices is his fifth novel.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with Night’s Black Agents this is a slight but very engaging story, set in late 1960s Britain where Birmingham Inspector Munroe investigates a few apparent murders in Wales after being sent there to assist on a sheep-rustling issue. Charles Somerville is a wealthy young student running from a drug debt, James and Susie are hippies occupying a run-down country cottage, all central to Munroe’s sometimes hard-to-believe inquiries. Still, a satisfying read with, apart from the last page, realistic and credible relationships.

[Shell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birmingham policeman John Munroe, is sent to a Welsh farming community on a routine enquiry. Whilst he is there a man is murdered and once John starts to dig he finds that a lot of the locals have secrets to hide.
A great start to a series, John Munroe is a likeable character. The book finished very abruptly though catching me a bit off-guard. One of those books where lots of people have a motive so it's just plump for one of the unlikely ones. Not a great book, but did have merrit.