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Brock & Kolla #2
The Malcontenta
Barry Maitland's first mystery, The Marx Sisters, won fans with its intricate plotting and charming characters, Kathy and Brock. Now, in The Malcontenta, Maitland has honed his mystery-weaving skills and created a nuanced, complex new thriller. Kathy has been reassigned to Family and Juvenile Crime and sent by her new boss to investigate an apparent suicide at a local "naturopath" spa. She can tell right away that there is a cover-up in process and calls on Brock for help. When Brock checks himself in as a patient, they both learn that spas are not always beneficial for one's health -- especially if you're a target for murder.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
23 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Barry Maitland
44 books185 followersBarry Maitland is the author of the acclaimed Brock and Kolla series of crime mystery novels, which are set in London, where Barry grew up after his family moved there.
His books have been described as whydunits as much as whodunits, concerned with the devious histories and motivations of their characters. Barry's background in architecture drew him to the structured character of the mystery novel, and his books are notable for their ingenious plots as well as for their atmospheric settings, each in a different intriguing corner of London.
Barry studied architecture at Cambridge University, and went on to work as an architect in the UK, then took a PhD in urban design at the University of Sheffield, where he also taught and wrote a number of books on architecture and urban design. In 1984 he moved to Australia to head the architecture school at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, and held that position until 2000. He now writes fiction full time, and lives in the Hunter Valley, Australia.
His books have been described as whydunits as much as whodunits, concerned with the devious histories and motivations of their characters. Barry's background in architecture drew him to the structured character of the mystery novel, and his books are notable for their ingenious plots as well as for their atmospheric settings, each in a different intriguing corner of London.
Barry studied architecture at Cambridge University, and went on to work as an architect in the UK, then took a PhD in urban design at the University of Sheffield, where he also taught and wrote a number of books on architecture and urban design. In 1984 he moved to Australia to head the architecture school at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, and held that position until 2000. He now writes fiction full time, and lives in the Hunter Valley, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
March 22, 2023
Detective Sergeant Kathy Kolla and Detective Chief Inspector David Brock made a wonderful team when they worked on their first case together in The Marx Sisters. They had a synergy that allowed them to combine efficiently while working on the case. They return in another tense police procedural and that good relationship will be required again in The Malcontenta as Kolla faces a particularly frustrating case.
The story opens with a very perturbed Kathy Kolla making her way to DCI Brock's house to seek his advice. Brock, who is a highly regarded Scotland Yard detective, has been on leave as he prepares a paper for a conference in Rome and so is removed from the day to day police-work. DS Kolla usually works at the London Met but has been sent to the Southern Counties for a year's secondment possibly as a punishment for the events detailed in The Marx Sisters.
The case in question is the apparent suicide of a man employed at Stanhope Naturopath Clinic, a health farm style complex that basks in its isolation. The director of the clinic seems particularly reluctant to help with providing any information and in fact, even hinders the case. This is annoying and perhaps even a little suspicious but she receives a shock to be confronted and berated by the Deputy Chief Constable who happened to be staying at the clinic.
The Deputy Chief Constable's wrath notwithstanding, she carries on and begins to make progress on the case, suspecting strongly that the suicide is in fact a murder. Just when real breakthroughs are being made she and the constable she is working with are hauled into their superior's office, taken off the case and warned to leave the people from the clinic alone.
Sensing that there is some sort of cover-up going on and determined to find out what it is, it's at this point that she turns to Brock to see if he could come up with a plan. He can, an undercover operation, completely unofficial and against the rules, where he would pose as a patient and enter Stanhope himself. The results are not exactly what Kolla or Brock would have hoped for, but their actions certainly stir things into a delightful frenzy.
Starting off slowly as many police procedurals tend to do, the story builds in intensity developing a distinct us versus them feeling. Once the initial crime has been laid out for us and the main characters (suspects) are introduced, they are almost disregarded as the more troubling interference and discipline from within the police force takes over.
As readers we are kept in the dark during most of The Malcontenta just as the protagonists are. We are just as confused as Kolla and Brock when the case goes spinning out of control and there is a continuing sense of injustice about the events, even a feeling of outrage at the treatment that's being handed out. Barry Maitland has done a superb job of drawing me into the story by playing upon my own emotions, putting me in Kathy Kolla's predicament and effectively asking how I would feel in the same situation. It's a style that gave me the feeling that I held a stake in the outcome.
The Malcontenta is a strong follow-up to The Marx Sisters firmly establishing the partnership that was formed between DS Kolla and DCI Brock. We are given the benefit of learning a little more about both of them although the character development is probably the least strong aspect of the book. At this point I think they are still far from fully formed characters with the concentration placed more on their handling of the case. In particular it seems to me that Brock is yet to reach his full potential.
Insightful detective work while facing possibly career destroying opposition carries the story and is made consistently interesting by changing the lead character, first Kathy Kolla and then David Brock. Barry Maitland is definitely an author to follow for those who enjoy strong police procedurals.
The story opens with a very perturbed Kathy Kolla making her way to DCI Brock's house to seek his advice. Brock, who is a highly regarded Scotland Yard detective, has been on leave as he prepares a paper for a conference in Rome and so is removed from the day to day police-work. DS Kolla usually works at the London Met but has been sent to the Southern Counties for a year's secondment possibly as a punishment for the events detailed in The Marx Sisters.
The case in question is the apparent suicide of a man employed at Stanhope Naturopath Clinic, a health farm style complex that basks in its isolation. The director of the clinic seems particularly reluctant to help with providing any information and in fact, even hinders the case. This is annoying and perhaps even a little suspicious but she receives a shock to be confronted and berated by the Deputy Chief Constable who happened to be staying at the clinic.
The Deputy Chief Constable's wrath notwithstanding, she carries on and begins to make progress on the case, suspecting strongly that the suicide is in fact a murder. Just when real breakthroughs are being made she and the constable she is working with are hauled into their superior's office, taken off the case and warned to leave the people from the clinic alone.
Sensing that there is some sort of cover-up going on and determined to find out what it is, it's at this point that she turns to Brock to see if he could come up with a plan. He can, an undercover operation, completely unofficial and against the rules, where he would pose as a patient and enter Stanhope himself. The results are not exactly what Kolla or Brock would have hoped for, but their actions certainly stir things into a delightful frenzy.
Starting off slowly as many police procedurals tend to do, the story builds in intensity developing a distinct us versus them feeling. Once the initial crime has been laid out for us and the main characters (suspects) are introduced, they are almost disregarded as the more troubling interference and discipline from within the police force takes over.
As readers we are kept in the dark during most of The Malcontenta just as the protagonists are. We are just as confused as Kolla and Brock when the case goes spinning out of control and there is a continuing sense of injustice about the events, even a feeling of outrage at the treatment that's being handed out. Barry Maitland has done a superb job of drawing me into the story by playing upon my own emotions, putting me in Kathy Kolla's predicament and effectively asking how I would feel in the same situation. It's a style that gave me the feeling that I held a stake in the outcome.
The Malcontenta is a strong follow-up to The Marx Sisters firmly establishing the partnership that was formed between DS Kolla and DCI Brock. We are given the benefit of learning a little more about both of them although the character development is probably the least strong aspect of the book. At this point I think they are still far from fully formed characters with the concentration placed more on their handling of the case. In particular it seems to me that Brock is yet to reach his full potential.
Insightful detective work while facing possibly career destroying opposition carries the story and is made consistently interesting by changing the lead character, first Kathy Kolla and then David Brock. Barry Maitland is definitely an author to follow for those who enjoy strong police procedurals.
April 28, 2019
First off, didn't like this one nearly as much as Book #1. (However, I will continue in the series as I do like the two main MC's, Cathy Kolla and David Brock.)
Kolla has been sort-of-demoted - 'seconded' - and pushed off to a rural area while those above her decide her fate. She's stepped on, pushed aside, insulted, patronized and condescended to by her superiors at every possible moment. Okay, whatever. But she just lets it happen? And complains, but only to those who don't matter. So at the very start I was: What's up with this??
(Has she no union? No lawyer? No worker's representative of some kind? I've never seen a police officer be so shoved and pushed around; she barely nudges back. Am I too American? Nope, nope, nope. We women haven't been laying down and letting men-folk walk all over us until the year 2012 or so. I was a young woman teacher in 1974 and let me tell you...)
Anyhow, her strategy is to lay low, let things happen, she'll recover, somehow, some time. So when she's sent to investigate a possible suicide at a health-type weird resort out in the British sticks, and quickly sees signs that this is MORE than a possible suicide...
She does what she's trained to do, sees inconsistencies in the 'official conclusion' that the young man in question did kill himself. When she brings this up, all sort of sh-- falls on her. Mostly from her superiors. So she takes the case to Kevin Brock - who's not officially involved in any of this - and tells him all about it
Then even more sh-- hits the proverbial fans. I did like the part where Brock goes undercover at the health resort but all the way through this book I'm thinking, What? WHAT? Who treats cops that way? (The ordinary public, that's who, but it seems like every high-ranking inspector or administrator, and I forget all their titles, is a first-class jackass.) Nobody listens to Kolla. Nobody much cares what happens to Brock.
The story itself is also a bit convoluted, the kind where some readers may want to re-read sections, and I was left with a dozen unanswered questions at the end. If I were living in England maybe I'd say, yeah, yeah, they're all like that. (They = high ranking officials of any and all kinds.) But maybe not. I just felt let down after the first book, which was exemplary in almost every way. Plus, there are too many coincidences, including one involving a woman living in Italy who just happens to know so much about so much, and the fact that Brock just happens to be going to Rome to deliver a speech at a conference. Yeah, okay.
Anyhow, three stars, a fair read.
Kolla has been sort-of-demoted - 'seconded' - and pushed off to a rural area while those above her decide her fate. She's stepped on, pushed aside, insulted, patronized and condescended to by her superiors at every possible moment. Okay, whatever. But she just lets it happen? And complains, but only to those who don't matter. So at the very start I was: What's up with this??
(Has she no union? No lawyer? No worker's representative of some kind? I've never seen a police officer be so shoved and pushed around; she barely nudges back. Am I too American? Nope, nope, nope. We women haven't been laying down and letting men-folk walk all over us until the year 2012 or so. I was a young woman teacher in 1974 and let me tell you...)
Anyhow, her strategy is to lay low, let things happen, she'll recover, somehow, some time. So when she's sent to investigate a possible suicide at a health-type weird resort out in the British sticks, and quickly sees signs that this is MORE than a possible suicide...
She does what she's trained to do, sees inconsistencies in the 'official conclusion' that the young man in question did kill himself. When she brings this up, all sort of sh-- falls on her. Mostly from her superiors. So she takes the case to Kevin Brock - who's not officially involved in any of this - and tells him all about it
Then even more sh-- hits the proverbial fans. I did like the part where Brock goes undercover at the health resort but all the way through this book I'm thinking, What? WHAT? Who treats cops that way? (The ordinary public, that's who, but it seems like every high-ranking inspector or administrator, and I forget all their titles, is a first-class jackass.) Nobody listens to Kolla. Nobody much cares what happens to Brock.
The story itself is also a bit convoluted, the kind where some readers may want to re-read sections, and I was left with a dozen unanswered questions at the end. If I were living in England maybe I'd say, yeah, yeah, they're all like that. (They = high ranking officials of any and all kinds.) But maybe not. I just felt let down after the first book, which was exemplary in almost every way. Plus, there are too many coincidences, including one involving a woman living in Italy who just happens to know so much about so much, and the fact that Brock just happens to be going to Rome to deliver a speech at a conference. Yeah, okay.
Anyhow, three stars, a fair read.
July 22, 2013
Author Barry Maitland simply possesses too much talent. Thanks to him, I completely neglected so much that I had to accomplish over the two days that it took me to devour the 348 pages of The Malcontenta.
The suspense builds from the first few pages. Sergeant Kathy Kolla, physically if not mentally recovered from her experience in The Marx Sisters, visits Detective Chief Inspector David Brock of Scotland Yard at his London home. Kolla, spending a year on special assignment in an unspecified county in English's South, reveals to Brock the details of an investigation into a suicide at a health farm. She's certain that the death was no suicide, and that her superiors -- for some reason(s) -- have launched a cover-up. On the sly, Kolla and Brock continue looking into the death. The suspense will keep you glued to the book -- while everything and everyone else -- must wait till you savor the last page.
You won't want to miss The Malcontenta; just tackle the novel when it won't disrupt your life too much! And be sure to have the next novel in the series, All My Enemies, near at hand. If you're like me, you won't want to wait long before catching up with Kathy and David again.
A special thanks to my Goodreads friend from Down Under, Magda, who provided me a list of Australian authors that aren't to be missed. Maitland is a jewel I likely would not have experienced without you!
The suspense builds from the first few pages. Sergeant Kathy Kolla, physically if not mentally recovered from her experience in The Marx Sisters, visits Detective Chief Inspector David Brock of Scotland Yard at his London home. Kolla, spending a year on special assignment in an unspecified county in English's South, reveals to Brock the details of an investigation into a suicide at a health farm. She's certain that the death was no suicide, and that her superiors -- for some reason(s) -- have launched a cover-up. On the sly, Kolla and Brock continue looking into the death. The suspense will keep you glued to the book -- while everything and everyone else -- must wait till you savor the last page.
You won't want to miss The Malcontenta; just tackle the novel when it won't disrupt your life too much! And be sure to have the next novel in the series, All My Enemies, near at hand. If you're like me, you won't want to wait long before catching up with Kathy and David again.
A special thanks to my Goodreads friend from Down Under, Magda, who provided me a list of Australian authors that aren't to be missed. Maitland is a jewel I likely would not have experienced without you!
Want to read
October 6, 2019Synopsis: Kathy is investigating an apparent suicide at a local naturopath spa. She finds a cover-up and Brock checks himself in as a patient.
March 6, 2021
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the first book in this series until I started this one. This time the action revolves around a naturopathic spa, where Detective Kathy Kolla is sent to investigate an apparent suicide. What she finds there arouses her suspicions, and sends her off to visit David Brock of Scotland Yard, seeking his opinion and guidance, and pulling him into the investigation. The author does a good job building suspense and adding layers to the story.
January 8, 2024
Good read. British police procedural. At a health spa in an old mansion. Likable detectives.
May 26, 2014
The last time I read about a naturopathic spa, it was in Thunderball. I guess naturopathic spas are like a thing in mystery novels? Who knew?
In this spa, an employee has been killed and Detective Chief Inspector David Brock goes undercover to the spa where they deprive him of, well, everything in order to release the toxins from his system. There's not as much involving Sergeant Kathy Kolla in this book, which was interesting since the first book, The Marx Sisters, featured her so predominantly. (I still picture Brock as Bobby Goren.) When we do see Kolla in this one, she's primarily stuffing food in her mouth.
The story is told in a sort of backwards chronology, which took me a bit to figure out. At first I just thought I was having difficulty getting into the story. I can't say the characters were really fleshed out well, but then again, who reads these books for the character development? In fact, there is some development, we start to kind of get an idea of what makes Brock tick, so that's something. But the supporting cast of characters are all pretty one-dimensional (except when convenient for plot enhancement) and I admit to getting a few names confused in my head. Because I'm a lazy reader, I guess.
Still, fun. Bloodier than Thunderball. So if you like a little blood in your naturopathic spa settings, then I recommend this one.
In this spa, an employee has been killed and Detective Chief Inspector David Brock goes undercover to the spa where they deprive him of, well, everything in order to release the toxins from his system. There's not as much involving Sergeant Kathy Kolla in this book, which was interesting since the first book, The Marx Sisters, featured her so predominantly. (I still picture Brock as Bobby Goren.) When we do see Kolla in this one, she's primarily stuffing food in her mouth.
The story is told in a sort of backwards chronology, which took me a bit to figure out. At first I just thought I was having difficulty getting into the story. I can't say the characters were really fleshed out well, but then again, who reads these books for the character development? In fact, there is some development, we start to kind of get an idea of what makes Brock tick, so that's something. But the supporting cast of characters are all pretty one-dimensional (except when convenient for plot enhancement) and I admit to getting a few names confused in my head. Because I'm a lazy reader, I guess.
Still, fun. Bloodier than Thunderball. So if you like a little blood in your naturopathic spa settings, then I recommend this one.
November 30, 2017
Rating is rounded up from an actual 2 & 1/2 stars due to good writing which kept me turning the pages, despite many serious flaws in the plot and action. Point #1: No cause of death ever definitively given for physio-trainer, who "officially" committed suicide. (The cause is finally revealed months later, but no reason is given for why the pathologist would have connived at the cover-up.) Point #2: The psychopathic killer would not have left Brock alive while he was in the same room with the second victim as the murder was committed, even if he was unconscious. Point 3: The atmosphere of dread in the house, grounds and Temple of Apollo is never adequately explained. And that's just three points; there are several more.
Just as an aside, what is up with Brits being so into S&M? I have read at least three novels where that forms the background of several extremely grotesque murders. I wish they'd move on to something less revolting!
The story followed many rabbits down the hole which always turned out to be a dead end. Ultimately, I was surprised by the actual killer, but dissatisfied by the conclusion because it came after so many alternative choices.
Also, the clunky technology available just 20 or so years ago was amusing to recall, even by me, a techno-idiot!
Just as an aside, what is up with Brits being so into S&M? I have read at least three novels where that forms the background of several extremely grotesque murders. I wish they'd move on to something less revolting!
The story followed many rabbits down the hole which always turned out to be a dead end. Ultimately, I was surprised by the actual killer, but dissatisfied by the conclusion because it came after so many alternative choices.
Also, the clunky technology available just 20 or so years ago was amusing to recall, even by me, a techno-idiot!
May 26, 2018
I really enjoy this series. Brock and Kolla make a formidable team.
March 13, 2025
The 2nd of Barry Maitland's Brock & Kolla series, 'The Malcontenta' is a fairly tidy Brit procedural with likeable main characters. It begins with DS Kathy Kolla, on loan to a rural force from Metro London, calling on her old boss David Brock for some help. It seems she'd been assigned by her ball-buster of a temporary leader to investigate what seemed to be an open & shut suicide case at a nearby health resort. She'd discovered some anomalies but had been banished from the case for unknown (to her) reasons. Brock, himself temporarily on leave in order to prepare for an upcoming presentation at an international policing conference in Rome, takes on a voluntary, unauthorized undercover assignment, checking into the health farm to poke around.
The more that Brock investigates and the more Kolla discovers, the blurrier the victim, a Greek immigrant working as a 'physio' at the facility, becomes. He'd been found hung in a spooky room in an old building with odd injuries, strange leather clothing, and evidence that he didn't die there. Who was he? Straight? Gay? Who was he friends with? Were drugs involved? Adding to the confusion was the imperious nature of the lead physician on-site, his ice-queen wife, and the squirrelly behavior of several of the staff members and other patients. Dogged police work as well as a bit of luck Brock experiences during his Italian getaway eventually nails the killer, and it's not one that was an obvious suspect.
I've bounced around in the B&K series and enjoy the writing, the pace of the stories, and the characters. You won't see a lot of violence, sex, car chases, and so forth but you'll get a taste of solid police procedures, teamwork, and one thing I always look for: differences between US and English police work. I docked this a star for my lack of belief in some of Brock's actions during the investigation, but otherwise it's a fine entry in the series.
The more that Brock investigates and the more Kolla discovers, the blurrier the victim, a Greek immigrant working as a 'physio' at the facility, becomes. He'd been found hung in a spooky room in an old building with odd injuries, strange leather clothing, and evidence that he didn't die there. Who was he? Straight? Gay? Who was he friends with? Were drugs involved? Adding to the confusion was the imperious nature of the lead physician on-site, his ice-queen wife, and the squirrelly behavior of several of the staff members and other patients. Dogged police work as well as a bit of luck Brock experiences during his Italian getaway eventually nails the killer, and it's not one that was an obvious suspect.
I've bounced around in the B&K series and enjoy the writing, the pace of the stories, and the characters. You won't see a lot of violence, sex, car chases, and so forth but you'll get a taste of solid police procedures, teamwork, and one thing I always look for: differences between US and English police work. I docked this a star for my lack of belief in some of Brock's actions during the investigation, but otherwise it's a fine entry in the series.
June 15, 2024
A 3, barely. More like a 2.5.
I just didn't care for the setup of the book, but I'm guessing the author did not frame the story in chronological order because then Brock would not make an appearance until halfway through the book.
I began to enjoy the book better when reaching the point where Brock was at the health facility. Despite the seriousness of the story, the character always finds spots to make the reader smile or laugh. I really enjoy his character more than Kathy who seems to radiate negativity. And I definitely like when Brock and Kathy are working together best, so, for me, the story improves again from the Italy section onward.
Is Kathy going to be seriously injured at the end of every book? I hope not because then author is in serious danger of turning the series into a farce. I also hope the author isn't compelled to push her into a relationship. Patrick seemed like a nice guy, but I detected no real spark between him and Kathy. And the architect from the first book was just plain awful. In fact, the person Kathy gels with perfectly is Brock. I'm not convinced, however, that Barry Maitland would risk messing up their partnership. Too bad, because Brock definitely has feelings for Kathy. He's always wishing he were twenty years younger. So if Maitland avoids the Brock/Kathy route, I just hope he doesn't muck up Kathy's personal life too badly.
I'd like to get to know Brock better outside of work. We've gotten glimpses of Kathy's life, but not much of Brock.
I'll keep reading the series and hope the next entry involves a more interesting setting, like book one. The whole health clinic and cult-like characters were a turn off for me. I'm also hopeful Kathy will be back in London and working with Brock in an official capacity in the next book.
I just didn't care for the setup of the book, but I'm guessing the author did not frame the story in chronological order because then Brock would not make an appearance until halfway through the book.
I began to enjoy the book better when reaching the point where Brock was at the health facility. Despite the seriousness of the story, the character always finds spots to make the reader smile or laugh. I really enjoy his character more than Kathy who seems to radiate negativity. And I definitely like when Brock and Kathy are working together best, so, for me, the story improves again from the Italy section onward.
Is Kathy going to be seriously injured at the end of every book? I hope not because then author is in serious danger of turning the series into a farce. I also hope the author isn't compelled to push her into a relationship. Patrick seemed like a nice guy, but I detected no real spark between him and Kathy. And the architect from the first book was just plain awful. In fact, the person Kathy gels with perfectly is Brock. I'm not convinced, however, that Barry Maitland would risk messing up their partnership. Too bad, because Brock definitely has feelings for Kathy. He's always wishing he were twenty years younger. So if Maitland avoids the Brock/Kathy route, I just hope he doesn't muck up Kathy's personal life too badly.
I'd like to get to know Brock better outside of work. We've gotten glimpses of Kathy's life, but not much of Brock.
I'll keep reading the series and hope the next entry involves a more interesting setting, like book one. The whole health clinic and cult-like characters were a turn off for me. I'm also hopeful Kathy will be back in London and working with Brock in an official capacity in the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2024
Il romanzo è sostanzialmente diviso in tre parti: l’inizio dell’indagine del sergente Kolla in una clinica alternativa situata in una bellissima villa palladiana, le investigazioni da infiltrato dell’ispettore capo Brock, e infine, insieme, arrivano alla spiegazione dei fatti con l’epilogo. Senza l’ultima parte avrei dato un ottimo voto: descrizioni belle senza essere prolisse, un’indagine che fin da subito si rivela essere più complicata del previsto, buona caratterizzazione dei personaggi, alcune scene ad effetto. Poi crolla tutto, crolla in moventi e azioni poco sensati, confessioni strampalate, senza veri motivi che spingano alla confessione stessa (e allora perché non tacere invece di confessare tutto?), cattivi sempre più cattivi quando già si intuiva che potessero essere cattivi perché già si comportavano da cattivi…. L’ultimo capitolo, per ragioni differenti ma non voglio spoilerare, è al tempo stesso prevedibile e improbabile; la festa? Boh, a me non sembravano belle persone.
September 9, 2019
After reading Mr. Maitland's first book, The Marx Sisters, I decided I wanted to read more of this series. This second book, to me, was just as compelling as the first. I particularly like the characters of Detective Kathy Kolla and Chief Inspector David Brock but I think that all his characters are well drawn and interesting. In this particular case, the death of a young man who seems to be a favorite of many at the naturopath spa where he worked doesn't seem to be quite the simple suicide that everyone wants them to believe. When Detective Kolla pushes for more investigation she is thrown off the case. When she talks to her friend Brock, they come up with a plan to let him do a little undercover work to find out what's really going on. Great read...on to the 3rd book!
January 7, 2020
I quite like DS Kolla and DCI Brock. Good story and style. I read #1 (The Marx Sisters) awhile ago and liked it, but now I have renewed interest and I have the whole series to wade through ...bought from the library’s withdrawn sale because they hadn’t been checking out. Some British authors move well here in the U.S. but others who are just as good don’t...possibly due to publicity given or not given. Also he hadn’t added to the series since 2013 and now I just found that a new one finally came out in 2019!
So, if you are into British police procedurals and are not familiar with Maitland, give him a try.
So, if you are into British police procedurals and are not familiar with Maitland, give him a try.
November 5, 2017
Kathy Kolla was assigned to investigate a suicide at Stanhope Clinic - it when she arrives she realises this suicide may in fact be a murder. The victim, Alex Petrou, was a physiotherapist at the clinic and his character received a mixed review from the patients. But during the investigation Kathy did something which has landed her in trouble and so she seeks David Brock’s advice on how to proceed. This is where this book opens and as always you can never tell how it will end.
I like this series. The books are easy to read yet engaging. I will definitely continue to read this series.
I like this series. The books are easy to read yet engaging. I will definitely continue to read this series.
January 24, 2018
This very solid police procedural has a pair of likable protagonists and an interesting plot. I highly recommend it, and the only reason I didn't give it a fourth star is that the plot twists aren't quite enough to prevent you from easily guessing who did it based on first impressions and personality types. Although this is #2 in the series, knowledge of the first story isn't needed to enjoy this one. (My local library didn't have #1.)
October 4, 2019
I loved The Marx Sisters, the first Brock and Kolla mystery. The malcontenta lacks the wonderful sense of place that Maitland applied in the first novel. I found the plot a bit convoluted, and I needed to suspend disbelief with a few plot twists. I certainly will not be checking into any health spas in the near future!
However, I love the two lead characters and their mutual respect and work ethic. Brock and Kolla are fine companions and I will continue to read their further adventures.
However, I love the two lead characters and their mutual respect and work ethic. Brock and Kolla are fine companions and I will continue to read their further adventures.
June 28, 2024
A body is discovered at a health resort, and Detective Sergeant Kathy Kolla is assigned the case. It looks like a suicide by hanging, but it also looks staged. For some reason, her supervisor becomes very antagonistic when she wants to pursue the possibility that this is a murder.
Lots of potential suspects, red herrings, and clues. The main characters are pretty average humans and don't especially stand out, but it's still a pretty good murder mystery nonetheless.
Lots of potential suspects, red herrings, and clues. The main characters are pretty average humans and don't especially stand out, but it's still a pretty good murder mystery nonetheless.
March 29, 2019
Lots of twists and variety as Kathy conducts an initial police investigation into a suspicious death at a clinic, and then Brock goes undercover unofficially as a patient, together with a section set in Italy. I'm keen to keep reading these. My only quibble? Brock didn't complain anything like as much as he should have about his three day fast.
March 17, 2020
Just finished this thriller of a story, and although it was quite dark (for me) it built up in the suspense before the final ending. This would not be a plot I would normally read, but once you get into the story it is hard to put down. I will continue with this series because it is that good.
October 7, 2017
Deliciously tangled plot, with a surprise ending. I was kept guessing right to the end. I loved it and will be looking for more from Barry Maitland.
September 6, 2018
The second in BMs series and every bit as good as the first, perhaps better.
May 3, 2021
It's been a while since I read a plain old mystery. I liked this one pretty well. I want to read more of the series.
March 14, 2022
Brilliant twists and turns
January 13, 2023
It is pretty good.
February 29, 2024
Intriguing, excellent writing and plot, lots of clever twists, resulting in a hard-to-put-down book!
February 22, 2025
An excellent police procedural, which almost had a hint of cozy-mystery with the section set in a health spa, but the number of murders put paid to that idea! Good pace and a gripping ending.
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December 7, 2010[My comments are taken from a mailing list discussion and as such contain spoilers!]
[on the characters]
I may be forgetting something essential but I don't remember there being any recurring characters other than Kolla and Brock.
I thought Brock was better developed in this book because he had a bigger role to play and more of the book was written from his point of view. In _The Marx Sisters_ Brock was quite sketchy and here we learnt more about his past and his home. I think everything here was consistent with what we knew before though I'm wondering about the woman in the red sports car who was seen with Brock in the first book as I don't think there was any hint of her here.
I also thought what we saw of Kathy was consistent with what we already knew too. I didn't think the rest of the cast were quite as interesting as the people in the first investigation, I read the book last week and I've already forgotten most of them which didn't happen so fast with the first book. I liked the characters round the edges of the investigation better than the ones in the middle of it.
It's not a character as such but I liked the way architecture played a role just as it did in the first book, I hope that's a recurring theme throughout the rest of the series. (I think the bio in the front says that Maitland is an professor of architecture?)
[on the plot]
This is one of those books where I find myself nodding at everyone else's replies about how implausible parts of the plot were but at the same time feel that it worked for me. I liked Kolla and Brock going out on their own and thought Dowling's role was worked in pretty well.
Yes, David in particular did numerous things that weren't exactly becoming to his rank but I could believe in his actions because he was bored with the work he was doing and detached from his regualr policework. I thought Kathy's behaviour fit with what we've seen before. Tanner handing the investigation off to Kolla is probably the most implausible part of the book for me though I think he was just being arrogant and faced with an investigation that *had* to be screwed up thought he could take an out of area detective sergeant that he disliked down with it.
The moment where I thought the plot was losing it was at the conclusion of Act One when Kathy is told to close down the investigation. This was so similar to what happened in the first book in the series that I wondered if Maitland was running out of plot devices already. It was done differently and for entirely different reasons but the echo of the first book was a bit loud for me.
I liked the resolution on the whole. I was glad it was Brock who walked into danger and not Kolla and also glad that it wasn't deliberate as Kolla's actions in the first book were.
[on the setting]
I did like the setting and found the hospital quite a believable place. It wasn't as outstanding as scenery as Jerusalem Lane was but I thought it had a lot going for it, especially the temple and the links to The Malcontenta.
I'm not very good at remembering individual scenes but a few that stand out to me are: The part of the book where Kathy and David were in Italy and David introduces her as his niece - I thought that was a neat way of showing the age difference between them and the attraction between them at the same time; The scenes where Kathy was taken off the case by Tanner - partially I thought this was too reminiscent of book one but mainly I was seething for Kathy; I liked the parts with Kathy's housemates, the way that Brock knew her neighbours before she did reminded me far too much of places that I've known; The final part with Kathy having to kill Tanner was a little over the top, I thought a lower key ending would have been more plausible.
[compared to the previous book]
I liked it just as much as the first book, I thought it was stronger in some areas and weaker in others. The setting wasn't as overpowering in this book and the investigated characters weren't as strongly drawn but I think that gave this book a chance to be more balanced and to develop the two main characters more.
I like the architecture theme a lot, I probably prefered it for being a bit more backgrounded in this book though.
[in summary]
Overall I really liked this book. I'm definitely looking forward to the next two books and expect that I will go on to read the others too. I'm not sure that I'd recommend the series to anyone who would be concerned about plausibility but I'm really enjoying it.
October 16, 2011
Somewhat odd approach in this book considering where the series eventually goes. The book is in three parts, with the first being Kathy narrating to Brock the difficulties encountered in the murder case so far, the second Brock alone going undercover (with only mixed success) while another crime is committed, and finally Part III is Brock and Kathy working together to tie things up. You can tell in this book (#2 in the series) the author is still trying to figure out his characters and their relationship to each other. Brock seems to be a bit older here than in some later books, and Kathy is living in surprisingly spartan conditions for a Detective Sergeant, but both points play nicely into this particular tale. It is a very good, enjoyable mystery, unusually told.
April 28, 2011
This was a light, fun, absorbing mystery. The crime takes place in a large estate that has been converted to an alternative medicine center that patrons check into for weeks or months at a time. The author admits it's the perfect setting for an Agatha Christie story, though in this case the butler did not do it. I enjoyed reading about detectives whose work is thwarted by their superiors because they're involved in the crime. It seems fitting given my current situation, working for gasbags who don't understand or value best practices. I also happen to be restricting certain foods right now as part of a healing protocol, so I read with solidarity of the deprivations (lemon water, no food!) the characters were enduring.
I will seek out other books by Barry Maitland.
I will seek out other books by Barry Maitland.
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