One is One and All Alone

David Webb #13

by Anthea Fraser

Detective Bennett’s new wife is not a hit with his family. Cold, private and mysterious, Una Bennett is the opposite of her well-liked husband.

Detective Webb doesn’t like her either. He can see how unhappily married his friend is.

Then Detective Bennett is found murdered in his own home. Bludgeoned to death as he watched the football on television.

Webb is put in charge of the case and all leads point to Una.

Bennett’s family are sure she killed him. But could one of them be the killer?

Then Webb uncovers a link to the spate of local shop raids that both he and Bennett were investigating before the murder.

Is Una really a cold-hearted killer or has she been framed?

When another Bennett family member is stabbed to death, Webb is in a race against time before the killer strikes again.

Genres: Mystery

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

aka Vanessa Graham

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

DCI Malcolm Bennett is killed in his own home while his second wife is away at a concert. But by whom and why. The police also have to contend with a series of shop robberies by a gang of four. DCI David Webb is put in charge of the murder investigation.
An entertaining modern mystery

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more than three stars but a little less than four. It's the first I have read of Anthea Fraser but I'll read more.

It is nicely written - the prose flows smoothly and the narrative engages the reader and maintains interest. I suspect that there is a bit of an ongoing theme in her books about women who don't make the conventional efforts to be caring and considerate. I found that interesting and would like to see if it recurs in other books in the series.

I like the interaction of human failings with loyalties, 'decency' and crime - and the establishment of a boundary. I'm hoping this proves to be an ongoing exploration.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

DCI David Webb is concerned about his old friend DCI Malcolm Bennett as he doesn't seem to be happy in his second marriage. In addition he has a difficult case to deal with concerning raids on local shops. The shop raids become more serious when someone is injured and then murder affects Bennett and his family and DCI Webb is called in to investigate. The evidence seems to lead nowhere and Webb feels he is getting little co-operation while the media are putting pressure on the police to solve both cases.

The book is well written and thought provoking. It raises issues around how difficult marriage can be for strong minded people and especially how difficult second marriages can be. As ever with this series the characters are interesting and well drawn and the book is tightly plotted with several interweaving strands. I did work out who was responsible before the end but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story.

If you enjoy crime novels with little on the page violence and no bad language then you may enjoy this book and this series. Each book can be read as a standalone novel but I think they are best read in the order in which they were published.

[Doug Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel DCI David Webb faces the difficult task of investigating the murder of an old friend and fellow detective. It is natural to search for suspects among former criminals with a possible grudge against the victim. On the other hand, there are tensions within the victim's family. In particular, the victim is a widower who had fairly recently remarried, and his second wife (the one referred to in the title), has lived alone for most of her life and is not particularly friendly. Could she be the murderer?

This novel has an absorbing plot and well-drawn characters, as is typical for this series.
The author makes the unusual decision of including three scenes from the point of view of the murderer, giving away important information about the murderer's identity. I think the novel would have been even stronger without those scenes.

[Lexine · Rating 4 out of 5]

One is One: Great Theme

This is another of Fraser’s DCI Webb series. The main character, Una, is very well drawn. Is she destined to be alone? The search for her husband’s murderer provides a twisted path, with family secrets and ties throughout. The characters are interesting, the plot is well developed, and clues are plentiful. Most importantly, Fraser has again found a way to write a solid ending, completing the exploration of the theme—One is One. This is an enjoyable and quick read.

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

A police friend of DC I David Webb is murdered and Webb is in charge of the case. Old friends and old memories intrude frequently in his attempt to solve the murder and a string of robberies that might be connected. Another great adventure in police methods and dogged determination in order to solve this puzzling murder of a friend and fellow policeman!

[Mystic Miraflores · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was enjoying this book until all of a sudden about three-quarters through the book, the author let us into the murderer’s mind. Then I realized who he was and who else was involved. So at the end, I wasn’t surprised at all at the arrests. I don’t understand why the author didn’t keep us in suspense a while longer, close to the end of the book ! This reader felt rather cheated.

[Margaret Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder

Twists and turns keep the storyline fresh. Never even thought it would go the way it did but really enjoyed it.

[Bonnye Reed]

MuNextRead

[Shirley]

DCI Webb Book 13

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the odd one of these many years ago and just recently I decided to read them in order. I have enjoyed this gentle series and the development of the characters

[Ann Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great suspense.

English novels are usually well written and very interesting. I hadn't read any of the. DCI Webb stories before, so when I get through my current list I can fall back these.

[A.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good old-fashioned British mystery. I enjoyed the story, well-plotted, and relatable characters. The story: a policeman is murdered and the question is was it work related or personal? The suspects include the dead man’s wife of two years, a prickly, hard woman who seems to rub everyone the wrong way and a selfish son-in-law whose recent request for money was met with rejection. But the clues are misleading and DCI Webb is on the case, until another murder throws him a curve.

The story held my interest and was written well.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Anthea Fraser book with DCI Webb. In this one, he has to figure out if family dynamics come into the horrifying death of his colleague. The title comes in relation to his colleague's wife, Una, who is universally disliked by the family she becomes a part of and is considered cold and better off alone.

Well worth the read.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malcolm, a police officer, has remarried, and his new wife, Una, is supremely unlikable. When he is murdered, there seems to be no motive, since he was a kind man. Could the culprit be his son in law, who keeps trying to borrow money? Or Una, to escape the marriage? And is this death somehow related to a series of local robberies? A well plotted British police procedural.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one from Anthea Fraser. Summers I often enjoy running through series by authors, and this summer no exception. Interesting perspective of a life with no real ties, except career. (This one of her Inspector Webb's series.)

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

British police detective story, apparently fifth in the series. A quick, light read.

[Elizabeth Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm new to DCI Webb, and to Anthea Fraser, but I love the couple I've read and have earmarked them for the future. Just the kind of English crime police procedural I love.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good thriller with believable characters and you find yourself embroiled.

[Libby King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but I was able to figure out who did it fairly early on!