Separated at Death

Lakeland Murders #1

by J.J. Salkeld

The teenage daughter of a wealthy Kendal family is found strangled in Serpentine Woods. This DI Andy Hall's third ever murder case and leads are hard to come by, and his personal life is in crisis. Meanwhile, his Sergeant, ex-Marine Ian Mann is faced with a very puzzling case, involving a local bad lad who suddenly seems to be scaling the ladder of criminality. Are the two cases connected? Can Hall and his team crack the murder case, and offer the very coldest of comfort to the bereaved family?

Separated at Death is the first in The Lakeland Murders Police procedural novel series, set in and around England's beautiful Lake District, and introduces the team of DI Hall, DS Mann and DC Jane Francis, a former research scientist and the newest member of Kendal CID.

Mat Coward's review of Separated at Death appeared in the Morning Star on the 19th of June 2013:

"If you like your police procedurals to be thoroughly British - and stuffed cover to cover with them - then I recommend Separated At Death by JJ Salkeld (currently only available as an e-book, £1.53).

The beautiful Lake District has plenty of problems the tourists don't see but even so Kendal CID's Andy Hall is rarely called upon to investigate a murder.

When the teenage daughter of a leading local businessman is found killed, with no evidence of a sexual motive for her death, DI Hall and his team look closely at her family and friends.

With the police suffering from austerity budgets and merger threats, Hall is painfully aware that the resources he spends on this investigation could mean job losses next year.

Separated At Death is a solidly plotted, well-peopled and a very enjoyable start to what looks like a most promising series."

And readers have enjoyed it too:

' I genuinely couldn't put it down. Roll on number 2.'

'I found the book to be well written with a distinct feeling of being set in the here-and-now and with flashes of wry humour.
I'm looking forward to the second of the Lakeland Murders series."

'Found it difficult to put the book down towards the end, and very much look forward to the second installment.'

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2013

About the author

J.J. Salkeld (Richard Simpson's pen-name) worked as a journalist and documentary photographer, based in Cumbria, before beginning the Lakeland Murders series of detective novels.

Reviews

[Mary Quann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of grammatical errors and substituted words (to in place of for, like unedited OCR) were distracting. Pace was slow for my taste. Characters and plot were ok, although the culprit was identified 3/4 of the way in and there were no twists or surprises.

[Mr Kenneth L Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Introduction

A great first book and introduction to the Lakeland Murders series. Good strong characters and a well crafted story line. Looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good series and love how the characters are fleshed out

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent crime book, i liked the characters, and the way the pace picked up. However it was ruined by poor proofreading

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

I really enjoyed this story, the characters are already being fleshed out. I'm looking forward to reading more! Highly recommend!

[P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read. The characters aren't deep and while you do learn a bit about the home life none of it is riveting. The plot is solid, although you get your suspicions before the cops do. The best character is Ryan, who is a petty criminal. He seems to have the best brain in the book and is, despite his tendencies, likeable.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is set in Kendal, where I went to school and lived for a number of years afterwards, so the attraction was reading about places I am familiar with in a genre which I very much enjoy reading. The series and the author had been mentioned in the local newspaper and was recommended by a former town mayor so I was expecting great things, especially as the author is a former journalist. It's a pleasant enough story that is pretty much reflective of the place itself - life moves at a slow comfortable pace in Kendal anyhow! But I was frustrated by parts of it, including the use of the word "chipper" whenever the local fish and chip shop was referred to - locals call them "chippies" - although I have been told that Bristolians call them chippers, but it's a fair way from Kendal to Bristol. The book would definitely have benefited from a decent proofreader and a bit of constructive editing. As a first book it has potential and I do like the idea of a crime series set in Kendal, so I will persevere with book 2 in the hope that things improve.

[Becky Almon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok procedural

This is an ok British police procedural mystery where the killer is obvious rather early, and it becomes a matter of how the case unfolds.
The lead inspector's marriage is falling apart as he begins the investigation into the murder of a young girl. His older daughter is about the same age, and her parents are divorced. DI Hall has to deal with his own personal problems and the typical Superintendent who seems to care mostly about costs and how the crime statistics look than whether a quick arrest means that the right person is charged.
It isn't a bad story, although I found the details of Hall's dreams to be rather pointless. There is some fleshing out of the characters of Hall and his team members. Somehow I just couldn't find myself that interested in any of them.
This is the first of a series, and as a voracious reader of mysteries I will try at least one more as they are inexpensive. However, if you are looking for a good procedural I would recommend Peter Grainger's three DC Smith books over this one.

[Jina Howell-Forbes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a British procedural current day detective series. It's the only one I know of that takes place in the Lakes District that is NOT a cozy (which I'm not fond of). It wasn't the best detective story I've read. but it was interesting, and well worth the read. There was a fair bit of interpersonal stuff (which is an essential element for me). The main detective is going through a marriage break-up initiated by his wife, and the teenaged daughters are to live with him. That makes enough future interest to have me willing to check out the next book.

[Erin Matthiessen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit slow but it becomes more involving. I like the characters, and the author's humane treatment of them. Well-written but nothing showy. If you like thrills in your crime novels, I'm sure you won't like this. But if you want to know a bit more about how humans work, how a crime happens, how it ripples out to involve others. what the consequences are, then I think you will enjoy Separated at Death.
It's the first of a series. The Kindle edition is only 1.99 US dollars. So you won't be gambling much if you give this a try.

[Cindy D. Harn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good balance of plot and character development

Well paced and interesting, switching between story lines with a satisfying rhythm and throwing in some twists. Will continue to explore the series and look forward to getting to know the characters.

[Dottie Gariti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not finish this book. It is not long but it seemed interminable. I would put it down and then pick it up and couldn't remember anything that had gone before.

[Mark Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read.

[Deborah Midanek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A satisfying whole

Characters, plot, context flow together well. And of course is it lovely to enjoy Windermere and surrounds. On to the next.

[Michael]

Good Story, let down by poor editing.

[John Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another recommendation from the wife and as I had spent several years living close to the Lakes, I added it to my shelves.

The story was OK but I didn't think that there was anything about it that would set it apart - or above, the many other books of this genre.

I don't think that this is a spoiler because it doesn't concern the main plot but I thought the portrayal of D I Andy Hall was seriously flawed. As he saw his home life disintegrating because he thought that his wife was having an affair , surely if he was concerned about his children, he should have been trying to spend more time with them. Yet, the only reference we got to them was his leaving the house before they got up or arriving home after they were put to bed. He seemed pleased when his wife was happy to leave the children with him. He has a massive shock coming when he realises how much more time and effort he is going to have to focus away from the Police station and on to the children and home.

Whenever there is a who-done-it element to a story, I realise that there is a fine line to be drawn , as to where the reader should have the plot solved. I am afraid that in this story, I had the plot sussed before the half way stage , all but a minor point which I missed. I thought that this was too early and I was left waiting for a final twist that never came. It didn't give me the smug 'got it' feeling but rather a bit let down.

I don't think that I will be continuing the series. Sorry.