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Kate Power #2
Staying Power
Detective Sergeant Kate Power of Birmingham CID has had bad luck with romance, so when a polite stranger flirts with her on an airline trip home from Florence, she's more than a little suspicious. She gives the man her business card and forgets all about him. Two days later he's found hanging from a canal bridge-with Kate's card in his pocket the only means of identification.
The easy conclusion for the investigating officers is suicide, but Kate isn't convinced. As her subsequent investigations prove, the cause of Alan Grafton's death-and it's consequences-are more serious than she and her colleagues could have imagined. Still regarded as a newcomer in the Birmingham police force, still battling against prejudice and intimidation among the ranks, still fighting to prove that she's got what it takes, Kate is determined to stick to her guns until she finally uncovers the shocking truth.
Judith Cutler's keen insight into the contemporary police force and her winning sleuth Kate Power are a recipe for excellent crime fiction, and Staying Power is the second compelling novel in a gritty modern cop series that's been praised by critics and fans alike.
The easy conclusion for the investigating officers is suicide, but Kate isn't convinced. As her subsequent investigations prove, the cause of Alan Grafton's death-and it's consequences-are more serious than she and her colleagues could have imagined. Still regarded as a newcomer in the Birmingham police force, still battling against prejudice and intimidation among the ranks, still fighting to prove that she's got what it takes, Kate is determined to stick to her guns until she finally uncovers the shocking truth.
Judith Cutler's keen insight into the contemporary police force and her winning sleuth Kate Power are a recipe for excellent crime fiction, and Staying Power is the second compelling novel in a gritty modern cop series that's been praised by critics and fans alike.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
945 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Judith Cutler
87 books93 followersJudith Cutler was born and bred in the Midlands, and revels in using her birthplace, with its rich cultural life, as a background for her novels. After a long stint as an English lecturer at a run-down college of further education, Judith, a prize-winning short-story writer, has taught Creative Writing at Birmingham University, has run occasional writing course elsewhere (from a maximum security prison to an idyltic Greek island) and ministered to needy colleagues in her role as Secretary of the Crime Writers' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 6, 2020
Please note this book was first published as “STAYING POWER”
Detective Kate Power is called to investigate a man's body hanging from a bridge. The man is not unknown to her and her business card is found in his pocket .. it's the only identification found.
She had met the victim on a plane bringing her home from a holiday. He seemed to be quite pleasant and they spent the time in getting-to-know-you conversation.
A few days later, he left a message for her at police headquarters ... a message that she never received. Was the message to be an invitation to dinner .. or something more sinister?
Meanwhile, the bullying continues to rear its ugly head, although it has lessened somewhat. These days the target is another woman ... a new member of the team ... a Pakistani. Karen is amassing proof of the one man's shenanigans and hopefully plans to have him ousted.
This is second in the series, following MURDER THE BOYS. While I always recommend starting at the beginning of a series, this one is easily read as a stand alone. A well written plot with deftly defined characters, along with a few baffling twists leading to a surprising conclusion makes this a compelling read.
Many thanks to Jill Burkinshaw / Books 'n All Book Promotions for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 21, 2020
"Unconvinced"
This must have been published some years ago. Dialogue and attitudes felt very dated. I kept getting distracted from the story line by the formatting. A line space between conversations or events that didn't occur in the same place, or at the same time would have been a simple fix. I was left scratching my head more than once.
The publisher's hype is in evidence on the product page and that always puts me on my guard. No doubt these books did very well twenty years ago in pre-Kindle days, but there are plenty of British female writers around today who write books in this genre a great deal better.
This must have been published some years ago. Dialogue and attitudes felt very dated. I kept getting distracted from the story line by the formatting. A line space between conversations or events that didn't occur in the same place, or at the same time would have been a simple fix. I was left scratching my head more than once.
The publisher's hype is in evidence on the product page and that always puts me on my guard. No doubt these books did very well twenty years ago in pre-Kindle days, but there are plenty of British female writers around today who write books in this genre a great deal better.
January 8, 2021
This second adventure in policing following Kate Power as she continues to adjust to her new environs and workmates finds her assigned to Fraud temporarily to follow up a line of inquiry stemming from her meeting a man on her return flight from Florence after a vacation. Notice how I packed that sentence? Hah. Well, the author teased us well and good throughout the action, making us wonder if Kate would find a love interest and zinged us with hilarious ending after a lot of stress throughout the book.
Kate displays her compassion for others in several challenging situations that should endear the reader to read and demand more books featuring Kate Power.
Kindle Unlimited
Kate displays her compassion for others in several challenging situations that should endear the reader to read and demand more books featuring Kate Power.
Kindle Unlimited
October 9, 2020
Kate Power – DS in West Midlands CID based in Birmingham – takes a short holiday in Florence to recover from some pretty traumatic events in her private life and at work. She meets a man on the plane back and they exchange phone numbers.
When Alan Grafton is found dead in suspicious circumstances with Kate’s business card in his pocket things start to look very tricky for her. Then there’s some particularly nasty racial and sexual abuse going on at work so that a temporary secondment to the Fraud Squad starts to look like just what Kate needed.
This is a fast paced and interesting crime novel firmly rooted in everyday life. Kate still has to do the shopping and the housework and keep up with friends and relatives however busy she is at work. I find this a refreshing change from nay police procedurals where day to day living tends to be forgotten.
Crime is part of everyday life and this sort of background really brings it home to the reader. This is the second book in this author’s Kate Power series and I find them absorbing reading so I shall definitely be looking out for the rest of the series which currently are not available in e-book format.
When Alan Grafton is found dead in suspicious circumstances with Kate’s business card in his pocket things start to look very tricky for her. Then there’s some particularly nasty racial and sexual abuse going on at work so that a temporary secondment to the Fraud Squad starts to look like just what Kate needed.
This is a fast paced and interesting crime novel firmly rooted in everyday life. Kate still has to do the shopping and the housework and keep up with friends and relatives however busy she is at work. I find this a refreshing change from nay police procedurals where day to day living tends to be forgotten.
Crime is part of everyday life and this sort of background really brings it home to the reader. This is the second book in this author’s Kate Power series and I find them absorbing reading so I shall definitely be looking out for the rest of the series which currently are not available in e-book format.
August 9, 2024
This book just wasn’t for me, I tried to give it a go after rating the first book in the series as a 3/5 because it was just kind of average to me.
My issue with this book is due to the lack of direction in my opinion.
Firstly we start with Kate Powers on a plane and she meets a man who eventually gets killed. We never really get any resolution to this, where you think this would be the main plot point but we divert to a fraud case somehow where the man’s death is ruled as a suicide “just because” it feels like.
Character development in this book is also quite small, Graham Harvey still explodes when he’s unhappy, Kate comes across as a caring person who wants to be put people before herself but never really does because she knows it’s not professional of her, we don’t really learn much about Colin and somehow Cope is now a racist which we only learn at the end in a throwaway line.
The introduction of new characters doesn’t really help the book that much as Lizzie comes across as bitter and hating humanity and Fatima seems to only have been introduced as a way to show how awful Selby is which 1) we already knew from book one and 2) he’s not even a major part of this story here so it just seems to just want to solidify he’s not a good person randomly.
Despite my views on the characters, and they did make me feel things which a good book makes in my opinion, my biggest gripe is just that there doesn’t seem to be any sort of conclusion to the book. We never find out what happens to Isobel and Nigel, just that they have been moved to a safe house to get away from Howard. When we found out that Howard is an abusive controlling manipulative husband it felt like the book was just beginning and then it just ended with Howard being taken in by police. That’s it, no real conclusion.
Overall I give this book a 2/5 as I enjoyed the start but there didn’t feel like there was much of an end. I don’t think I’ll be coming back to see more of what Kate Powers has to offer as I was left unsatisfied and I can’t see it getting much better
My issue with this book is due to the lack of direction in my opinion.
Firstly we start with Kate Powers on a plane and she meets a man who eventually gets killed. We never really get any resolution to this, where you think this would be the main plot point but we divert to a fraud case somehow where the man’s death is ruled as a suicide “just because” it feels like.
Character development in this book is also quite small, Graham Harvey still explodes when he’s unhappy, Kate comes across as a caring person who wants to be put people before herself but never really does because she knows it’s not professional of her, we don’t really learn much about Colin and somehow Cope is now a racist which we only learn at the end in a throwaway line.
The introduction of new characters doesn’t really help the book that much as Lizzie comes across as bitter and hating humanity and Fatima seems to only have been introduced as a way to show how awful Selby is which 1) we already knew from book one and 2) he’s not even a major part of this story here so it just seems to just want to solidify he’s not a good person randomly.
Despite my views on the characters, and they did make me feel things which a good book makes in my opinion, my biggest gripe is just that there doesn’t seem to be any sort of conclusion to the book. We never find out what happens to Isobel and Nigel, just that they have been moved to a safe house to get away from Howard. When we found out that Howard is an abusive controlling manipulative husband it felt like the book was just beginning and then it just ended with Howard being taken in by police. That’s it, no real conclusion.
Overall I give this book a 2/5 as I enjoyed the start but there didn’t feel like there was much of an end. I don’t think I’ll be coming back to see more of what Kate Powers has to offer as I was left unsatisfied and I can’t see it getting much better
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2020
A brief acquaintance with a businessman on a flight ends up with Kate giving him her card and agreeing to perhaps have dinner sometime.
When Alan Grafton is found dead of an apparent suicide, Kate is shocked. She is also angry as a message intended for her that Grafton left was "mislaid." Was it suicide or murder and could Kate have prevented his death if she had gotten the message?
The bullying continues with an additional target, a young Pakistani woman who has recently joined the team.
I'm still uneasy about Graham Harvey, Kate's boss. He's married, but is attracted to Kate. He also is a little ambiguous in his responses. Sometimes supportive, sometimes harsh. And again, unhappily married.
Kindle Unlimited
Police Procedural. 1999/2020
When Alan Grafton is found dead of an apparent suicide, Kate is shocked. She is also angry as a message intended for her that Grafton left was "mislaid." Was it suicide or murder and could Kate have prevented his death if she had gotten the message?
The bullying continues with an additional target, a young Pakistani woman who has recently joined the team.
I'm still uneasy about Graham Harvey, Kate's boss. He's married, but is attracted to Kate. He also is a little ambiguous in his responses. Sometimes supportive, sometimes harsh. And again, unhappily married.
Kindle Unlimited
Police Procedural. 1999/2020
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October 12, 2020 4.08 · Rating details · 695 ratings · 21 reviews
Flying home from Florence, DS Kate Power of Birmingham CID engages in a pleasant but trivial conversation with the businessman sitting next to her. Two days later he's found hanging from a canal bridge--"with Kate's card in his pocket the only means of identification. It looks like a clear-cut case of suicide--"but Kate is not so sure. And, as her subsequent investigation proves, the cause of Alan Grafton's death--"and its consequences--"are much more serious than she her colleagues could ever have imagined.
Bullied woman and son.
Good series.
Flying home from Florence, DS Kate Power of Birmingham CID engages in a pleasant but trivial conversation with the businessman sitting next to her. Two days later he's found hanging from a canal bridge--"with Kate's card in his pocket the only means of identification. It looks like a clear-cut case of suicide--"but Kate is not so sure. And, as her subsequent investigation proves, the cause of Alan Grafton's death--"and its consequences--"are much more serious than she her colleagues could ever have imagined.
Bullied woman and son.
Good series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2020
Murder by the Canal
On a flight from Florence to Birmingham Kate meets Alan, a businessman. A few days later he is found hanging from a bridge over the canal.
Soon Mate finds herself working in Fraud trying to unravel what led to Alan's death and who was behind it.
I'm this second Kate Power book Judith Cutler strengthens the characters from the previous book and brings in some interesting new ones. The story is well written and moved forward at a good pace.
Highly recommended.
On a flight from Florence to Birmingham Kate meets Alan, a businessman. A few days later he is found hanging from a bridge over the canal.
Soon Mate finds herself working in Fraud trying to unravel what led to Alan's death and who was behind it.
I'm this second Kate Power book Judith Cutler strengthens the characters from the previous book and brings in some interesting new ones. The story is well written and moved forward at a good pace.
Highly recommended.
May 1, 2025
I enjoyed this second Kate Power story in the box set I have, where she isn't convinced a death is suicide.
Set in the 90s, this British crime drama evolves the history of policing, though I am not convinced male attitudes have changed much. I don't like the toxic atmosphere.
However, overall, it was a good complex tale and I liked the sarcastic writing style. Some disturbing themes such as bullying, rascism, sexism and domestic abuse. The characters suited the multiple plots.
Worth reading.
Set in the 90s, this British crime drama evolves the history of policing, though I am not convinced male attitudes have changed much. I don't like the toxic atmosphere.
However, overall, it was a good complex tale and I liked the sarcastic writing style. Some disturbing themes such as bullying, rascism, sexism and domestic abuse. The characters suited the multiple plots.
Worth reading.
July 6, 2020
Yearning for the next in the series
I am a creature of habit. I know what I like in books. I like a strong female protagonist written by a woman. These two books by Judith Cutler got the bill. Kate Power is driven and human. Her heart is broken but she can open it to others. The supporting cast is interesting, imperfect, not always available . I would like to sit down with a proper G&T and begin the next one, oh there is not one. I want one!
I am a creature of habit. I know what I like in books. I like a strong female protagonist written by a woman. These two books by Judith Cutler got the bill. Kate Power is driven and human. Her heart is broken but she can open it to others. The supporting cast is interesting, imperfect, not always available . I would like to sit down with a proper G&T and begin the next one, oh there is not one. I want one!
August 24, 2020
Another Good Read
This is the second of the Kate Power mystery books that I have read and it was as good as the first one. In all honesty though I wouldn’t call these mysteries. More police crime books. That being said it definitely keeps your interest. I was glad to see that several of the insufferable characters in the unit got what was coming to them. I am looking forward to the third in this series.
This is the second of the Kate Power mystery books that I have read and it was as good as the first one. In all honesty though I wouldn’t call these mysteries. More police crime books. That being said it definitely keeps your interest. I was glad to see that several of the insufferable characters in the unit got what was coming to them. I am looking forward to the third in this series.
October 5, 2020
My 2nd read of this set. I find the main character interesting. Not the usual woman fighting for the same spots as men. But a university graduate on the fast track and not sure it is where she wants to be. Being pushed by higher ups and HR to remain on track.
She has a troubled personal life, the usual, not really. Her lover died. He was married with kids, who she got on with. However she changed tack and moved from the Met up North.
Enjoying her journey so far.
She has a troubled personal life, the usual, not really. Her lover died. He was married with kids, who she got on with. However she changed tack and moved from the Met up North.
Enjoying her journey so far.
November 4, 2020
A compelling story
Reading this i felt I was gently being lead along a journey, slowly unravelling the facts behind a strange existence for a DS. Many different aspects to this tale, some of which link, an involve harassment, abuse, fraud and suspected murder. Kate's life in Birmingham develops and she progresses with the team. An unexpected twist at the end that Kate manages to avoid.
Reading this i felt I was gently being lead along a journey, slowly unravelling the facts behind a strange existence for a DS. Many different aspects to this tale, some of which link, an involve harassment, abuse, fraud and suspected murder. Kate's life in Birmingham develops and she progresses with the team. An unexpected twist at the end that Kate manages to avoid.
June 5, 2021
Compassionate, wise, well-written. I like detective stories not thrillers. While this is not the best plot in the world, nor is the end entirely satisfying (I like ends that are neatly tied up precisely because they almost never are in real life, that’s why I read fiction at all) I think it’s worth reading. And I think I’ll read another Kate Power book. I’m sorry there are only six, I think, given time, this could have been a really good series.
August 15, 2024
Too much politics.
The plot was extremely convoluted and sometimes confusing. Several crimes (or suspected crimes) were woven together with frequent sudden changes of direction. The main problem, however, was the author’s frequent (very frequent) injection of politics - whining, self-pitying politics - into the narrative. Please. Just write an engaging story and leave the social engineering for another forum.
The plot was extremely convoluted and sometimes confusing. Several crimes (or suspected crimes) were woven together with frequent sudden changes of direction. The main problem, however, was the author’s frequent (very frequent) injection of politics - whining, self-pitying politics - into the narrative. Please. Just write an engaging story and leave the social engineering for another forum.
July 13, 2020
Enjoyable thriller
Another great read featuring Kate. She is settling in and getting used to the life in Birmingham. There are very good characters, which allow Kate to have relationships with some of them. Kate is a complex character, with some hang ups that she is dealing with.
Another great read featuring Kate. She is settling in and getting used to the life in Birmingham. There are very good characters, which allow Kate to have relationships with some of them. Kate is a complex character, with some hang ups that she is dealing with.
July 25, 2020
Sad tale, yet hopeful at the end
Some relationship drama and trauma amidst the untimely death and mayhem, neatly wrapped up except for how and why young Simon was attacked! Judith Cutler spins a decent tale, and maybe (like the last one I read) I just missed a sentence or two of exposition?
Enjoying these forays into Birmingham.
Some relationship drama and trauma amidst the untimely death and mayhem, neatly wrapped up except for how and why young Simon was attacked! Judith Cutler spins a decent tale, and maybe (like the last one I read) I just missed a sentence or two of exposition?
Enjoying these forays into Birmingham.
August 14, 2020
Lots going on in this book, keeps you on your toes
Definitely full of twists. Lots of aspects refreshingly and realistically covered, in work and domestic areas. Crimes and mysteries, suspicions. (Absolutely loved the very ending tho, real lol)
Definitely full of twists. Lots of aspects refreshingly and realistically covered, in work and domestic areas. Crimes and mysteries, suspicions. (Absolutely loved the very ending tho, real lol)
October 3, 2020
Another great story
Another great story by Judith Butler and a good follow on to murder the boys. Kate is now starting to style into her new role and really establishing herself. I am looking forward to reading more in the series.
Another great story by Judith Butler and a good follow on to murder the boys. Kate is now starting to style into her new role and really establishing herself. I am looking forward to reading more in the series.
April 21, 2021
Sorry to say but this really didn’t grip me, seemed to be all over the place and all I wanted to do was finish it so I could move onto something else. Will always persevere and never abandon a book but came close to it in this case. I won’t be reading an others in the series.
October 15, 2021
Read on kindle. As there were lots of pages of explanations probably for foreign readers I was totally unprepared for the end when it came. Looking forward to seeing the characters in the next one in the series.
August 17, 2024
Read these in order
So much better if you start with the first book!! If you are reading this review and haven't read the first book yet, then I would advise you to. I read the second book first then went back to it and read it again after reading the first, so much better!!!😊
So much better if you start with the first book!! If you are reading this review and haven't read the first book yet, then I would advise you to. I read the second book first then went back to it and read it again after reading the first, so much better!!!😊
September 30, 2024
Not sure why I am still reading these books , prob curious to see how they finish, am really not enjoying how they end !!!! Loads loose ends ! But will see how # 3 goes and decide wether to read all 6 .!
January 9, 2025
good read
Good murder case with lots of twist. Showed women detectives dealing with harassment from fellow officers and the way it was dealt with reflects the time period. But I dare to say not much has changed
Good murder case with lots of twist. Showed women detectives dealing with harassment from fellow officers and the way it was dealt with reflects the time period. But I dare to say not much has changed
July 5, 2020
I dont often give up on a book but I did on this .It was going nowhere with a rambling storyline hence the one star if deserving of any .
July 17, 2020
This series is very different to most crime books I’ve recently read I can’t put my finger on what it is but it’s mankind me continue with the others in the series
July 25, 2020
Brilliant
Fantastic absolutely loving this series so far. Could not stop laughing at the end of the last chapter. Brilliant. Looking forward to the next one
Fantastic absolutely loving this series so far. Could not stop laughing at the end of the last chapter. Brilliant. Looking forward to the next one
July 28, 2020
What?
I am from the US but enjoy reading books by English authors. However, I didn’t enjoy the writing style of this book AT ALL!
I am from the US but enjoy reading books by English authors. However, I didn’t enjoy the writing style of this book AT ALL!
August 11, 2020
3.5 stars. One of the problems with this book is that the full names and positions of the police characters aren't repeated enough.
August 19, 2020
Excellent
Another good read from this author. I could not put this book! . I look forward to reading her next book .
Another good read from this author. I could not put this book! . I look forward to reading her next book .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews