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Brock and Poole Mystery #14

by Graham Ison

Detective Chief Inspector Brock investigates the murder of a well-known actor

When the body of Lancelot Foley, a well-known actor, is discovered in an excavation in a fashionable Chelsea street one snowy February morning, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Brock is assigned the case.

Is the dead man’s wife, fellow actress Vanessa Drummond, as innocent as she would like the police to believe? As Brock – aided by Detective Sergeant Dave Poole and Kate Ebdon, his Australian-born detective inspector – investigates, the case takes him from London to Paris, and there will be more than one death before the shocking case is solved.

204 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2015

About the author

During Graham Ison's thirty-year career in Scotland Yard's Special Branch he was involved in several espionage cases and the investigation into the escape of the spy George Blake. He spent four years at 10 Downing Street as Protection Officer to two Prime Ministers and also served as second-in-command of the Diplomatic Protection Group.

Reviews

[Laura Knaapen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The series might get better but this one was very "just the facts, ma'am". And the ending was a fooly that I didn't entirely care for.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It was okay. I am wondering if it is because I am reading a book so late in the series but I don't think so. This one came highly recommended but it really wasn't much of a mystery, even with the "twist" in the end. And there were no characters of any worth in the book. Nothing of any redeeming value, I was actually glad about everyone who died. I guess I have to go back to my "cozy mysteries".

[Soozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good whodunnit, and kept my attention. The characters were well formed and believable. The setting in London's theatre-world was interesting, and provided a gritty backdrop. The final denouement was a little clumsy, but overall it was a good read and I'll be looking out for more.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Little British police murder mystery. Nice little plot twist at the end. All in all not a bad book.

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one. The plot did not unfold until the last couple of chapters and the villain completely hidden until the end. Excellent.

[Marie (UK) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters in this book much more than the storyline which seemed very tame

[Damaskcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Chief Inspector Harry Brock is called to a building site because the workmen have discovered a body which turns out to be that of Laurence Foley, an actor. It seems to have been the work of a hitman as the victim's neck has been broken and he has no other injuries.

The investigation will lead DI Brock and his team through the wilder aspects of the victim's private life and the private lives of those connected with him in any way. It will also lead him to Paris to follow up leads.

I found this an entertaining read with some interesting and likeable characters, some good dialogue and well constructed plot. Just when you think you've worked out who did it there's another twist and turn of the plot and things change so it kept me guessing almost to the last page. I think I shall be reading more of this series.

There is little on the page violence or swearing and there are plenty of touches of humour. The interaction between the police characters is well done and the narration - most of which is by Brock himself - is well done in a dead pan, laconic style. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes.

[Dianne Landry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 14th book in the series but it is the first one I have read. Fortunately, it is written so well that I didn't feel I was missing anything at.

A famous stage actor is murdered on his way to his mistress' flat after a performance. In come the detectives of the Murder Squad, DCI Brock and his various associates who include a rather large, black detective who deflects possible racism by saying things first, and a saucy Aussie detective who calls it like it is and speaks with a slang a lot of people don't understand.

The murder gets complicated because it appears that almost everyone, including the man's widow, hated him.

The weave is tangled but well written and very well woven together. I will definitely read more in this series. I realty enjoyed it.