Classic in the Barn

Jack Colby, Car Detective #1

by Amy Myers

A Case for Jack Colby, Car Detective - first in a new mystery series featuring classic cars - When Jack Colby glimpses a 1938 Lagonda V12 lying uncared for in a Kentish country barn, he has to have a closer look - which brings him face to face with its angry owner, Polly Davis. Is it the car or Polly that captivates his heart? He decides to find out more about both, but his enquiries are abruptly cut short when Polly is murdered. Convinced that the Lagonda is somehow involved, he is determined to bring her killer to justice, even at the expense of his own safety . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

aka Laura Daniels, Harriet Hudson

Amy Myers was born in Kent, where she still lives, although she has now ventured to the far side of the Medway. For many years a director of a London publishing company, she is now a full-time writer. Married to an American, she lived for some years in Paris, where, surrounded by food, she first dreamed up her Victorian chef detective Auguste Didier. Currently she is writing her contemporary crime series starring Jack Colby, car detective, and in between his adventures continuing her Marsh & Daughter series and her Victorian chimnney sweep Tom Wasp novels.

Series:
* Peter and Georgia March
* Auguste Didier
* Tom Wasp

Anthologies edited:
* After Midnight Stories

Reviews

[Cathy Cole]

Believe it or not, you can add an interest in classic cars to my resume along with a passion for crime fiction. To my eyes even a Model T-- the old Tin Lizzie-- is sexier than today's plastic and aluminum contraptions. And don't get me started on Stutz Bearcats or the Hispano-Suiza Boulogne! When I learned about Amy Myer's car detective series, I knew I had to take it out for a test drive.

Even non-car enthusiasts should enjoy this book because the talk never becomes unduly technical. I may like classic cars, but I don't necessarily want to be put to sleep by too much car jargon. Besides, the information Myers gives about car theft rings and the like is truly interesting and fits in with any normal crime fiction fan's education. The mystery and the car fit together well with the list of people wanting to buy the car turning into an excellent suspect list for the woman's murder.

There's only one thing that left me cold about Classic in the Barn: Its main character. Be warned-- my reasons are much more subjective than objective, so your mileage may well indeed vary. Colby is a bit of a lad, although he's not as suave and sophisticated as he likes to think, and his charm and banter need a bit of a brush and polish. All in all Jack Colby reminded me of another lad that I do not care for-- Jonathan Gash's Lovejoy. Always on the lookout for the next great thing that will save the business, forever short of cash, and giving the impression-- whether it's true or not-- that his interpretation of the law changes from day to day. The type of man who only notices a woman if she's well-dressed and beautiful and can do something for him.

Amy Myers' car detective series is a good one if you like the main character. Unfortunately I never could get over my distaste, and it seriously dulled my enjoyment of the book.

[Amy]

This book is written in the first person, with the point of view main character being a forty something man who spends the first three chapters rambling like a horny teenager. Also, book is overflowing with metaphors, and I found it quite tiresome. I had to force myself to finish the book.

[Katherine Decker]

Interesting, but a bit wordy/rambling at times.

[Matthew Galloway]

It was an okay mystery. I think the protagonist was supposed to come across as very suave, but he definitely seemed to dip into smarmy at some points... So that was a bit off-putting.

[Julie]

I didn't get too far. The MC came off as offputtingly drooly/stalkery after having met a woman once for just a few minutes. Just no.

[The Honest Book Reviewer]

This was an okay mystery. Not thrilling, but it had the ingredients for a cosy mystery. We don't really get to see a lot of car detective work going on, which sort of made me wonder about the concept of the series. The car detective angle seemed to play second fiddle to the real mystery, which plays second fiddle most of the time to the relationships between the characters.

There are a lot of characters in this novel, and I'm wondering if there are too many for the first novel in the series. It served a purpose of introducing a number of possible suspects, but also made the novel a little busy.

The main protagonist comes across a little heavy at times with his chasing after a woman he just met called Polly, who ends up being the victim (it's on the cover). I think the author made him too desperate, even stalker-like, with how he chases after Polly. It was a little off putting when reading. I think police in real life would probably take more of an interest in somebody with that character trait a murder investigation.

Overall, not bad. I think there was an overuse of car metaphors throughout the novel, which also put me off a little, but on the whole I think it was enjoyable. I probably enjoyed some of the supporting cast more than the main protagonist.

[Kaye]

2.5

[Linda Smatzny]

This story is set in England and features Jack Colby as the main character. He is described as a car detective and he becomes involved in a murder investigation when he discovers a dead body.

[Susan]

Jack Colby restores classic cars, so when he sees a rare Lagonda in a rundown barn, he falls in love with it. He's also attracted to widowed Polly, who owns the car, although she refuses to sell it to him. When Polly is found dead, Jack becomes a suspect. He knows he's innocent, but there is a whole crew of people involved with cars who are sinister in varying degrees. Probably this book would be more appealing to those who also love classic cars, especially British and European marques.

[Chi Dubinski]

For car detective Jack Colby, nothing beats the thrill of finding a pre-war Lagonda abandoned in a barn. In Amy Meyers’ “Classic in the Barn” Jack’s discovery sets in motion of chain of events that leads to murder. All the stuff you love in a good British mystery, but no cats or knitting octogenarians on the scene.

[Ruth Ellen]

another eventful book about Classic cars and murder in the Kent countryside. as Jack Colby searches out the murder of Polly Davis and hunts for stolen cars. Great read.

[Glenda]

Mystery series about an English car detective. It was ok..a little slow going.

[Marie (UK)]

Lacking in real content and drive.