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Wilson & McLeish #5
A FATAL CHOICE an absolutely gripping classic British whodunnit
INTRODUCING A CLASSIC BRITISH WHODUNNIT FEATURING SCOTTISH DETECTIVE JOHN McLEISH AND SPARKY CIVIL SERVANT FRANCESCA WILSON.
‘A mastery worthy of P.D. James’ warm heart and cold eye.’ Kirkus
Shady businessman William Price is already well known to the Fraud Squad. But when his body is discovered hanging at his home he also becomes the focus of DSI John McLeish and Francesca Wilson.
Price had been dead for days. But no one had reported him missing.
His business dealings were ruthless — swindling pensioners out of their money. At home he was a violent husband. He would not be missed.
The investigation takes both McLeish and Wilson in different directions. But delving into Price’s private life places Wilson in a situation that threatens her own marriage.
McLeish digs deeper into Price’s business dealings, helped by an old flame. He finds the dead man had not just been defrauding clients. His death left his business partner and his wife with mounting debts and unpaid bills.
There is no shortage of suspects but who would resort to murder?
As the investigation becomes more complex, both McLeish and Wilson must unravel a dangerous web of violence, greed and corruption to find a killer.
Before their marriage becomes the next casualty.
Fans of P.D. James, Robert Galbraith, Ngaio Marsh and Agatha Christie will devour this classic crime series full of twists.
Please note this was previously published as A Timely Death
***A FATAL BLOW WAS WINNER OF THE JOHN CREASY NEW BLOOD DAGGER 1988***
PRAISE FOR JANET NEEL’S WILSON AND McLEISH
‘An outstandingly good first novel.’ Times Literary Supplement
‘A stylish debut by a literate and witty writer.’ Washington Post
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Ten Stars.’ Christine S
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fascinating stories with well developed characters.’ Suzanne
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I would recommend this to lovers of mysteries.’ Caroline
⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A captivating set of central and peripheral characters in tales of murder deftly told by a master storyteller.’ Michael H
MEET THE DETECTIVES
DETECTIVE INSPECTOR JOHN McLEISH may have been brought up in the south of England, but he is very much a Scotsman through and through. Having worked his way up through the ranks of London’s finest, he fervently believes that the Met, like the armies at Waterloo, could not function without the Scots in its ranks. Standing at six feet four — and with the physique of a rugby forward — he cuts a striking figure, but is every inch the gentleman.
Bright young FRANCESCA WILSON worked her way up through the man’s world of the civil service to become a much-respected figure in the Department of Trade and Industry. But don’t be fooled by her dazzling eyes and snappy haircut — her sharp mind and photographic memory mean she is more than a match for her male counterparts.
‘A mastery worthy of P.D. James’ warm heart and cold eye.’ Kirkus
Shady businessman William Price is already well known to the Fraud Squad. But when his body is discovered hanging at his home he also becomes the focus of DSI John McLeish and Francesca Wilson.
Price had been dead for days. But no one had reported him missing.
His business dealings were ruthless — swindling pensioners out of their money. At home he was a violent husband. He would not be missed.
The investigation takes both McLeish and Wilson in different directions. But delving into Price’s private life places Wilson in a situation that threatens her own marriage.
McLeish digs deeper into Price’s business dealings, helped by an old flame. He finds the dead man had not just been defrauding clients. His death left his business partner and his wife with mounting debts and unpaid bills.
There is no shortage of suspects but who would resort to murder?
As the investigation becomes more complex, both McLeish and Wilson must unravel a dangerous web of violence, greed and corruption to find a killer.
Before their marriage becomes the next casualty.
Fans of P.D. James, Robert Galbraith, Ngaio Marsh and Agatha Christie will devour this classic crime series full of twists.
Please note this was previously published as A Timely Death
***A FATAL BLOW WAS WINNER OF THE JOHN CREASY NEW BLOOD DAGGER 1988***
PRAISE FOR JANET NEEL’S WILSON AND McLEISH
‘An outstandingly good first novel.’ Times Literary Supplement
‘A stylish debut by a literate and witty writer.’ Washington Post
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Ten Stars.’ Christine S
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fascinating stories with well developed characters.’ Suzanne
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I would recommend this to lovers of mysteries.’ Caroline
⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A captivating set of central and peripheral characters in tales of murder deftly told by a master storyteller.’ Michael H
MEET THE DETECTIVES
DETECTIVE INSPECTOR JOHN McLEISH may have been brought up in the south of England, but he is very much a Scotsman through and through. Having worked his way up through the ranks of London’s finest, he fervently believes that the Met, like the armies at Waterloo, could not function without the Scots in its ranks. Standing at six feet four — and with the physique of a rugby forward — he cuts a striking figure, but is every inch the gentleman.
Bright young FRANCESCA WILSON worked her way up through the man’s world of the civil service to become a much-respected figure in the Department of Trade and Industry. But don’t be fooled by her dazzling eyes and snappy haircut — her sharp mind and photographic memory mean she is more than a match for her male counterparts.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1996
86 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Janet Neel
18 books10 followersAka Janet Cohen
Janet Neel Cohen, Baroness Cohen of Pimlico is a British lawyer and crime fiction writer. She was educated at South Hampstead High School, Hampstead, London, England and graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Honours, Law.
She started to work as a practising solicitor in 1965. She married James Lionel Cohen, son of Dr. Richard Henry Lionel Cohen, on 18 December 1971. She was a Governor of the BBC between 1994 and 1999. She was created Baroness Cohen of Pimlico, in the City of Westminster (life peer), on 3 May 2000 and sits as a Labour peer in the House of Lords.
As Janet Neel and Janet Cohen she is the author of crime fiction novels.
Janet Neel Cohen, Baroness Cohen of Pimlico is a British lawyer and crime fiction writer. She was educated at South Hampstead High School, Hampstead, London, England and graduated from Newnham College, Cambridge University in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Honours, Law.
She started to work as a practising solicitor in 1965. She married James Lionel Cohen, son of Dr. Richard Henry Lionel Cohen, on 18 December 1971. She was a Governor of the BBC between 1994 and 1999. She was created Baroness Cohen of Pimlico, in the City of Westminster (life peer), on 3 May 2000 and sits as a Labour peer in the House of Lords.
As Janet Neel and Janet Cohen she is the author of crime fiction novels.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 1, 2012
Another in the Francesca Wilson/John McLeish series. I enjoyed the story but I wasn't sure how much I was liking either of the protagonists in this. The background detail of the case and the daily life of Francesca and McLeish all felt very believable and Matthew was an interesting character but I felt Francesca's affair with him came a bit out of the blue. Good puzzle but the main characters were irritating rather than enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2021
It was somehow unsatisfying to encounter McLeish and Wilson this time: and Francesca's actions are not somehow in character. The plot of the crime is credible, as are its characters (altho' unusually for me, I worked out at quite an early stage who had dunnit).
Not one of her best.
Not one of her best.
March 24, 2020
I read all these years ago and enjoyed Francesca. A little dated now but worth revisiting.
September 21, 2023
Disappointing read.
May 11, 2024
Excellent
Another very well written episode from the Wilson and McLeish series, can be read as a stand alone or as part of the series.
Another very well written episode from the Wilson and McLeish series, can be read as a stand alone or as part of the series.
July 2, 2024
Started this series enthusiastically, but giving up now. I like the police work but the main characters have an affair every time they're annoyed with their partner. Getting a bit tiresome.
March 31, 2011
Downgraded for infidelity; I don't like that in good guys
April 30, 2011
This series is moving more towards the personal lives of the main characters. The mystery of this one was very complicated, though.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews