What do you think?
Rate this book
DI Ted Stratton #4
A Willing Victim
nan
432 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2012
10 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Laura Wilson
156 books76 followersThere is more than one author with this name
Laura Wilson is an English crime-writer based in London, where she was born and raised. She has degrees in English Literature form Somerville College, Oxford, and University College London, and has worked as a teacher and editor of non-fiction.
Many of her novels have either a historical setting or a distinct historical connection, and often have split or dual narratives. Her first novel, A Little Death was shortlsited for a CWA Dagger award, and her fifth, The Lover was short listed for both the CWA Gold Dagger and the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger.
Laura Wilson is an English crime-writer based in London, where she was born and raised. She has degrees in English Literature form Somerville College, Oxford, and University College London, and has worked as a teacher and editor of non-fiction.
Many of her novels have either a historical setting or a distinct historical connection, and often have split or dual narratives. Her first novel, A Little Death was shortlsited for a CWA Dagger award, and her fifth, The Lover was short listed for both the CWA Gold Dagger and the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 31, 2018
This novel did not really grab me. I think Laura WILSON was grasping at straws when she wrote it; i.e. trying desperately to write a thriller. However, she failed.
The plot and its characters are too unbelievable.
Not recommended.
The plot and its characters are too unbelievable.
Not recommended.
August 29, 2018
Clever plotting, writing flows well, never sure of the outcome. I got totally hooked into the wide assortment of characters, some weird. Stratton is laid back but persistent and likeable. I particularly liked the post World War setting and the quieter, slower lifestyle. I will read more of this author's work and more featuring DI Stratton.
July 6, 2017
Very, very well written, but on the whole my least favourite in this series so far.
Still a good read, but not as good as the previous three.
Still a good read, but not as good as the previous three.
December 19, 2017
Quite a disappointing book... I post a review about this book in my blog. Will leave the link once I;m done reviewing.
January 21, 2020
Weakest in the series I've enjoyed all the authors other books in this series and the narration by Sean Barrett except this one. I found it's slow, ponderous and boring. Hope the next ones better.
August 31, 2012
‘A Willing Victim’ by Laura Wilson
Published by Quercus, May 2012. ISBN: 978-1-84916-311-8
It is 1956. Inspector Stratton has come through the war, as have his son and daughter, but his wife Jenny was unlawfully killed many years ago, and despite the passing of years Stratton has yet to come to terms with it.
The discovery of the body of Jeremy Lloyd in his Soho lodgings takes Stratton to a cult in Suffolk masquerading as the Foundation for Spiritual Understanding set up in a house reputed to be haunted. Interviewing the members of the cult he is met with smiles but a wall of silence. He does meet Michael, a twelve year-old boy said to have been immaculately conceived, and to be the next incarnation stretching back to Christ and Buddha. But Michael’s mother has disappeared.
For Stratton a down-to-earth policeman, the creator of the foundation, Mr Roth is an enigma. But Stratton is like a dog with a bone and he is determined to uncover the secrets of this mysterious cult, which he is sure is related to the death of Jeremy Lloyd. The discovery of a woman’s body in the wood close to the Foundation confirms his suspicions.
In his personal life Stratton is at odds with himself, both with his relationships with his two children and himself. The most touching part in the book was with his extended family. In everyone’s family there are the bores, the ones at every family gathering we try to avoid, and in this book we face the passage of time which can throw a different light on someone we would have thought that we knew well. Insightful and moving.
The strength of this book lies in the amazing recreation of the period. I personally lived through the 1950’s, I was a teenager and this book took me back. In a way it was scary I had to look up from reading to reassure myself I wasn’t back in the 1950’s. I know that with the Internet research is easy, but this book was so brilliantly written that I was back there. Although a book that stands alone as an interesting and complex mystery, much insight will be gleaned by the reader who invests in the earlier books.
-----
Lizzie Hayes
Published by Quercus, May 2012. ISBN: 978-1-84916-311-8
It is 1956. Inspector Stratton has come through the war, as have his son and daughter, but his wife Jenny was unlawfully killed many years ago, and despite the passing of years Stratton has yet to come to terms with it.
The discovery of the body of Jeremy Lloyd in his Soho lodgings takes Stratton to a cult in Suffolk masquerading as the Foundation for Spiritual Understanding set up in a house reputed to be haunted. Interviewing the members of the cult he is met with smiles but a wall of silence. He does meet Michael, a twelve year-old boy said to have been immaculately conceived, and to be the next incarnation stretching back to Christ and Buddha. But Michael’s mother has disappeared.
For Stratton a down-to-earth policeman, the creator of the foundation, Mr Roth is an enigma. But Stratton is like a dog with a bone and he is determined to uncover the secrets of this mysterious cult, which he is sure is related to the death of Jeremy Lloyd. The discovery of a woman’s body in the wood close to the Foundation confirms his suspicions.
In his personal life Stratton is at odds with himself, both with his relationships with his two children and himself. The most touching part in the book was with his extended family. In everyone’s family there are the bores, the ones at every family gathering we try to avoid, and in this book we face the passage of time which can throw a different light on someone we would have thought that we knew well. Insightful and moving.
The strength of this book lies in the amazing recreation of the period. I personally lived through the 1950’s, I was a teenager and this book took me back. In a way it was scary I had to look up from reading to reassure myself I wasn’t back in the 1950’s. I know that with the Internet research is easy, but this book was so brilliantly written that I was back there. Although a book that stands alone as an interesting and complex mystery, much insight will be gleaned by the reader who invests in the earlier books.
-----
Lizzie Hayes
June 22, 2015
A Willing Victim is the fourth (of five)of the DI Ted Stratton series of novels and is at least the equal of its predecessors. The action switches from London to East Anglia which, as in other novels set there like those of Dorothy L Sayers and PD James, provides a sinister backdrop to an enthralling tale.
The focal point is a religious community. The author herself has had some experience of a similar set-up and this has clearly helped her nail down the frustrations that Stratton and his colleagues had in trying to determine the reasons behind a series of crimes.
The great strengths of Laura Wilson's novels is that the reader knows just what is going through the principal characters' minds. Coupled with, as ever, immaculate period detail including dialogue which is authentic 1950s in which the tale is set, A Willing Victim is a dark and enthralling tale with a sadness and incompleteness which leaves the reader looking forward to the return of Stratton in The Riot.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen and Two Families at War - all published by Sacristy Press.
The focal point is a religious community. The author herself has had some experience of a similar set-up and this has clearly helped her nail down the frustrations that Stratton and his colleagues had in trying to determine the reasons behind a series of crimes.
The great strengths of Laura Wilson's novels is that the reader knows just what is going through the principal characters' minds. Coupled with, as ever, immaculate period detail including dialogue which is authentic 1950s in which the tale is set, A Willing Victim is a dark and enthralling tale with a sadness and incompleteness which leaves the reader looking forward to the return of Stratton in The Riot.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen and Two Families at War - all published by Sacristy Press.
December 14, 2014
A Willing Victim is the fourth book in Laura Wilson’s historical police procedural series set in and around London the 1940s and 50s. In this outing, Stratton is investigating the death of a strange young man in a Soho bedsit who is obsessed with spirituality, the trail leading him to a Suffolk village and a secretive, cultist sect. It’s an engaging story that is nicely contextualised with respect to the religious foundation (drawing on Wilson’s own experiences of being raised in such an environment) and the period, has a strong sense of place, and has well drawn characters, especially DI Stratton, the charismatic Mary Milburn, and author Ambrose Tynan. The plot is well constructed, with plenty of intrigue, blinds and feints and has a credible and gripping denouement that doesn’t slip into melodrama. The narrative is a little over-elaborated in places, especially in the sub-plots, but overall it proved an thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read.
January 17, 2014
I love Laura Wilson's DI Stratton series and the fourth in the series didn't disappoint. Laura evokes the 1950s era perfectly, so much so I felt as if I were right there. Laura Wilson's exploration of 'New Age' cults and their misguided spiritual gurus/leaders is fascinating and very much of its time. I was therefore fascinated to learn once I'd finished the book that her parents belonged to a similar 'foundation' and that Laura had been brought up in one of these New Age institutions. The down-to-earth Stratton and his side-kick Ballard highlight the eccentric and flawed characters who bring about murder and mayhem. I enjoy following Stratton's personal story and seeing how his relationships, particularly with the women in his life, develop.
May 28, 2012
1956 London: Detectibe Ted Stratton gets involved with murder surrounding a religious cult in the countryside. Secrets, lies and deceit abound with the pious spiritual group. This series starts with World War II London and all the books are great fun, extremely well written with interesting, complex characters and situations. Well worth the time.
July 3, 2012
Not the best of the DI Stratton stories but a good read nonetheless
August 7, 2014
Always enjoy Laura Wilson.
May 21, 2014
A tiresome awful crime novel based on a weird 1950's religious cult not up to the other novel of hers that I read " Sratton's War " . All told the story was ridiculous and the characters dull .
February 12, 2015
I loved it! Is there anything more exciting than finding a new author to love?
December 11, 2016
This is the 4th book I've read in this series and I have enjoyed them all
July 30, 2015
Really like this series!
December 11, 2015
not the best of the Stratton books so far but still an interesting plot with strong characters
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews