Double Fault

DCS Fran Harman #5

by Judith Cutler

When a child goes missing at the local tennis club on the day when several skeletons are unearthed on an Ashford building site, Fran Harman finds her caseload heavier than ever at a time when the force is cripplingly short-staffed and she has a less than supportive new Chief Constable to contend with.
Enjoying a game of tennis with his fellow Golden Oldies when the girl disappeared, Fran's partner Mark can't help blaming himself for not keeping a closer eye on her. Sucked into the kind of desperate police search he thought he'd left behind on retirement, Mark enlists the help of the Oldies to find young Livvie before it's too late.
Meanwhile, a further shocking discovery in the skeleton case suggests that a serial killer may be lurking rather closer than Fran would wish.

Genres: Mystery, Ebooks, Crime, British Literature, Fiction

ebook

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Judith 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.

Reviews

[Cathy Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I think of the best crime fiction series that combine British police procedurals with the domestic lives of a wonderful cast of characters, Judith Cutler's Fran Harman series is one of the first two that come to mind. (The other is Deborah Crombie's Kincaid and James series.) If you're the type of reader who likes all the plot threads to be knotted and tied off by book's end, you may want to give Fran Harman a pass. Since her life is every bit as important as the cases she solves, some of those plot threads can take two or three books to resolve themselves. But if you're like me and love to bury yourselves in marvelous, nuanced characters and their lives-- as well as solve intriguing mysteries-- you're going to love this series. (It would be a good idea to read them in order, too.)

Fran's fiance Mark has retired from the police force, and one of the ways he's found to decompress and get some exercise is by joining the local tennis club. His expertise is badly needed when the little girl goes missing. For Fran, this case is of primary importance, and she purposely sets the case of the possible serial killer on the back burner while all stops are pulled to find the little girl before it's too late. One of the most interesting points made in Double Fault is how Mark's presence is both blessing and curse because, since he's retired, some of the officers on the force consider him some sort of traitor. (Oh, that wonderful office politics!) There's a sense of urgency and foreboding in the little girl's disappearance that really increases the suspense and makes the pages turn faster and faster.

Of course Fran gives all her considerable talents to both cases, which have become mired in those budget cuts, staffing problems, and wranglings for promotion. Cutler does an excellent job of showing how the odds are increasingly stacked against officers who want to keep people safe. Many crime fiction authors who write police procedurals seem to stick with obnoxious superiors and leave the difficulties at that, but Cutler digs much deeper to show readers what all the problems are-- without once bogging down the plot.

From Fran, who can bring you out of your chair with one brusk command, make you laugh with one of her observations, freeze you with an icy glare, or wrap you in a hug; to Mark, who's dealing with family issues and the problems of the newly retired; to the women like Caffy Tyler who renovated their cottage and became honorary family; and on to suspenseful and absorbing investigations, I was completely wrapped up in this book. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.

[Clare Coffey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was alright; not as good as I thought that it was going to be. I do not really want to comment further as people might think that I am being mean but I was surprised that the book got published.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Fran Harman crime novel has all the faults of its predecessors and is less buoyed along by the merits. The location doesn't feature as well as it could and should and the crimes take such a back seat here that the whole thing is too much of a soap opera.

I did want to like it... Judith Cutler's decision to make her detectives higher ranking than usual for crime novels is a brave one and sometimes adds new perspectives although rather less so here. In this novel she has her lovebirds now on either side of the civilian/police divide, with Mark retired. He finds himself personally involved, being the first to notice a child is missing from his tennis club, whilst trying to support Fran as she carries on being overworked and not fully recovered from physical injuries. I had trouble working out who was who, possibly because it was a while since I'd spent time with Cutler's crew here.

[Nancy]

When a child goes missing at the local tennis club on the day when several skeletons are unearthed on an Ashford building site, Fran Harman finds her caseload heavier than ever at a time when the force is cripplingly short-staffed and she has a less than supportive new Chief Constable to contend with.

Enjoying a game of tennis with his fellow Golden Oldies when the girl disappeared, Fran's partner Mark can't help blaming himself for not keeping a closer eye on her. Sucked into the kind of desperate police search he thought he'd left behind on retirement, Mark enlists the help of the Oldies to find young Livvie before it's too late.

Meanwhile, a further shocking discovery in the skeleton case suggests that a serial killer may be lurking rather closer than Fran would wish.

Great.

[Mrs Susan J Bociek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of action

Fascinating plot with two high profile cases running at the same time for Fran. Just when she thought that the most important item in her diary would be her upcoming wedding to Mark, her recently retired ex-ACC fiance, fate throws a curveball. Very enjoyable book with a truly nail biting scene at a derelict cottage. If I was to give one criticism, it would be that I feel the book lacks quite a few answers. Often as a reader I would be wondering 'why?'. I still don't know!

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story in the box set I have. This time, Mark features little more and shows more determination than usual.

A child is missing, several skeletons are unearthed... As usual, Fran is forced to do the work of many while those above throw orders. These stories have highlighted the incompetent interference of the Home Office and others in power. How the police service is supposed to be effective when there is no support and not enough officers seems bizarre.

However, this story was engaging and filled with action, tension and suspense.

Recommended.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Well Deserved 5 Stars

After my slight disappointment with book 4, I am glad to say I really enjoyed this one. Mark, now retired, belongs to a tennis club but while he was there he was the first to notice the tennis coach's little girl was missing. A massive search is organised but Mark finds it hard to take a back seat. Fran is quickly involved but will they find the child in time?

[John Hardy]

Another DNF that lay open for two weeks from where I got sick of it. No rating, does not count towards my reading goal. The dialogue is cringe-worthy, the premise of a retired senior officer helping an investigation is from Mars, and his pathetic wife, also a senior police officer, working while under a crippling injury and getting injured again and again - I ask you!
This series is a complete dog.

[Barbara Birchall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting very interesting

Too much hand wringing. Too much police budget cuts. Too much else going on. Do all police forces have this much sick leave, injuries, policies meetings, stupid people, and so on.

[Liz Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, enjoyed the book

[Marie (UK) · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was an easy read in a series that i would red more of I seemed to have missed some important facts about the characters by starting mid series but this only mildly detracted from my enjoyment

[Robert F. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Best Yet

Great story, good subplots. I hope Wren flies the coop soon. I hope Tom & Caffey get together sooner rather than later.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fran

This series as far as I'm concerned is the best I have ever read.
Fran is an inspiring character I wish the series could go on for ever!

[Tracy Enright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the fifth in the Fran Harmon series. A young child is abducted and, on the same day, a number of skeletons are found buried behind an old wall. It's a busy time for Detective Chief Superintendent Fran Harmon who has to solve both cases in this police procedural, that is pretty heavy on the procedural part.

This book has some strong characterisation and the author manages to give them plenty of challenges, not just solving the crime, but dealing with the effects of funding cuts. It was readable in that respect, with a clear indication of how funding can impact on policing decisions with one jarring technical error. Several references, almost plot points, were made to police officers being made redundant which is not something that can happen to police officers under police regulations (at most they can enforce mandatory retirement at a certain point). To be fair, this is only likely to bug those who know about this aspect of police terms and conditions.

Despite this, I enjoyed the story and look forward to the next in the series.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fran Harman is recovering from a broken leg and struggling with budget cuts, staff off sick, new staff she doesn't like and a chief constable she isn't at all sure she trusts. Her fiancé Mark Turner - former ACC - is adjusting to retirement when he suddenly finds himself in the middle of a search for a missing child. Fran herself has to deal with some skeletons discovered cricked up inside a wall and her newest DCI has gone AWOL.

This is an exciting and well plotted mystery story with plenty going on. The characters are likeable and interesting and not always on their best behaviour so no one is too perfect. I thought the atmosphere surrounding the missing child case was very well done with people suddenly getting suspicious of even the most innocent situations.

I thought the ending was especially tense and it kept me turning the pages faster and faster to make sure everyone was going to be all right. Altogether an enjoyable and well written read.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is a truly superb mystery! While it could be categorized as a police procedural, it is also a commentary on personalities and their interactions, and how different people react to different realities. The wonderful relationship that the author has created between Fran and the now retired Mark, along with their adopted extended family members, is an amazing piece of writing that is the heart of this book and series. Double Fault is a mystery with multiple plot lines to solve but it is also a love story, and it was hard to put it down for both reasons.

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. Loved the interaction between Fran and Mark. However, the story ends with Fran retiring so it appears that I started with the last one first in the series ... that won't stop me; I will go back and read the ones I missed.

[Amyem]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12738467