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Monika Paniatowski #6
A Walk with the Dead
A killer who can’t be classified – a killer who can’t be profiled...
When a young girl, Jill Harris, is murdered, the case soon becomes personal for Monika Paniatowski. She saw the victim looking distressed only hours before she was killed, and Jill was the same age as her own daughter, Louisa.
Driven by guilt and pity, Monika throws herself into the investigation, but both the chief constable, who is away, and Colin Beresford – her right-hand man – think she is too emotionally involved to handle it. What none of them know is that the killer is planning to strike again...
When a young girl, Jill Harris, is murdered, the case soon becomes personal for Monika Paniatowski. She saw the victim looking distressed only hours before she was killed, and Jill was the same age as her own daughter, Louisa.
Driven by guilt and pity, Monika throws herself into the investigation, but both the chief constable, who is away, and Colin Beresford – her right-hand man – think she is too emotionally involved to handle it. What none of them know is that the killer is planning to strike again...
CD-ROM
First published March 1, 2013
116 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Sally Spencer
79 books151 followersA pseudonym used by Alan Rustage.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.
He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.
He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.
His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.
Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.
He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.
He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.
His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.
Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 18, 2023
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
A man 🚹 hangs himself in prison. Baxter is sent to investigate the hanging. He and Monika Paniatowski are part of the police force. Monika and the rest of the team are assigned to investigate the murder of a young girl 👧 in the park. Then there is another murder and another. Who is the killer? Why? The answer is discovered by both leading to arrest. I would highly recommend this British 🏰 series and author to 👍 readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡🏡
Sally Spencer is one of my favorite authors. Happy reading 📚 and have fun 🌙😀
A man 🚹 hangs himself in prison. Baxter is sent to investigate the hanging. He and Monika Paniatowski are part of the police force. Monika and the rest of the team are assigned to investigate the murder of a young girl 👧 in the park. Then there is another murder and another. Who is the killer? Why? The answer is discovered by both leading to arrest. I would highly recommend this British 🏰 series and author to 👍 readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡🏡
Sally Spencer is one of my favorite authors. Happy reading 📚 and have fun 🌙😀
August 12, 2021
When a young girl is murdered the case is assigned to DCI Monika Paniatowski, who has recently suffered a less serious but still emotionally troubling similar event. Her Chief Constable and her right hand man Colin Beresford are concerned she’s too emotionally involved in the case, which annoys her and makes her throw herself into the case in order to prove herself. She also feels guilty because she saw the victim looking distressed only hours before she was killed.
There is a suspicious suicide in a prison, which causes the police to question the competence of the prison staff. Then another murdered girl is discovered. Paniatowski and her team (DC Crane and DS Meadows) operate on the assumption that the events are all connected, even though they defy the rules of normal profiling. Paniatowski’s guilt, pity and resentment push the team to lie and skirt the edge of legal procedure to solve the murders. They are all afraid that the killer will strike again.
The story is a bit of a muddle, the characters are mostly unlikable and the ending is silly. There are long passages of conversations, interviews and interrogations that are real tests of patience for the reader. The story is heavily weighted in favour of the front line police officers and against senior management and administration, which is so familiar a cliché that I got the feeling I’d read this book before. It often had me rooting for the criminals over the cops. It’s as if it was written to a template and is predictable and tiresome. The book is well enough written but isn’t special or distinctive in any way. It’s okay as an airplane read if you don't have anything else but it's pretty routine stuff.
There is a suspicious suicide in a prison, which causes the police to question the competence of the prison staff. Then another murdered girl is discovered. Paniatowski and her team (DC Crane and DS Meadows) operate on the assumption that the events are all connected, even though they defy the rules of normal profiling. Paniatowski’s guilt, pity and resentment push the team to lie and skirt the edge of legal procedure to solve the murders. They are all afraid that the killer will strike again.
The story is a bit of a muddle, the characters are mostly unlikable and the ending is silly. There are long passages of conversations, interviews and interrogations that are real tests of patience for the reader. The story is heavily weighted in favour of the front line police officers and against senior management and administration, which is so familiar a cliché that I got the feeling I’d read this book before. It often had me rooting for the criminals over the cops. It’s as if it was written to a template and is predictable and tiresome. The book is well enough written but isn’t special or distinctive in any way. It’s okay as an airplane read if you don't have anything else but it's pretty routine stuff.
April 8, 2020
A serial rapist is jailed. He finally was caught for his horrendous deeds. However, jail proved to be unhealthy for him. Several attacks by his prison mates caused him more problems. He knew these attacks would continue. His solution commit suicide.
Meanwhile, in the civilian world a young 13 year old girl is murdered in the park after attending a family wedding. Monika Paniatowski had just observed the young girl brooding at the wedding both were obliged to attend.
Monika's boss was told to investigate the prison suicide. Monika covered the 13 year girl's death.
Since Monika's 11 year old daughter was recently kidnapped not to long ago, there was some question about her ability to handle this case. Her daughter had been found safe, however, Monika took it very hard.
If you enjoy mysteries that twist and turn not making sense until the pieces fall into place, you will enjoy this book in the Monika Paniatowski series.
I read this book without starting at the beginning of the series. Starting with book one may give you more insight into the history of the characters. But I enjoyed this book and the pace.
Meanwhile, in the civilian world a young 13 year old girl is murdered in the park after attending a family wedding. Monika Paniatowski had just observed the young girl brooding at the wedding both were obliged to attend.
Monika's boss was told to investigate the prison suicide. Monika covered the 13 year girl's death.
Since Monika's 11 year old daughter was recently kidnapped not to long ago, there was some question about her ability to handle this case. Her daughter had been found safe, however, Monika took it very hard.
If you enjoy mysteries that twist and turn not making sense until the pieces fall into place, you will enjoy this book in the Monika Paniatowski series.
I read this book without starting at the beginning of the series. Starting with book one may give you more insight into the history of the characters. But I enjoyed this book and the pace.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2017
[library audiobook, plot summary elsewhere]
As number 6 in a series, there's clearly some backstory I didn't get. DCI Monika Paniatowski - there's a whole lot of space given over to British police ranking was an interesting, hard bitten, cigarette smoking cop who slogs through to the end. Seemed like each of the women in the story had been molested by a father while a child. It was a little sketchy how the plot tied up, and the identity of the killer (and even the killer's compulsions) couldn't be inferred from the text.
Probably read another.
As number 6 in a series, there's clearly some backstory I didn't get. DCI Monika Paniatowski - there's a whole lot of space given over to British police ranking was an interesting, hard bitten, cigarette smoking cop who slogs through to the end. Seemed like each of the women in the story had been molested by a father while a child. It was a little sketchy how the plot tied up, and the identity of the killer (and even the killer's compulsions) couldn't be inferred from the text.
Probably read another.
June 11, 2022
Intriguing, brooding &surprising
I read a TON of mysteries & love true crime but I never saw the ending coming in this book.
I love all of depth & breadth of the charts Sally Spencer creates they are real people not cardboard.
The setting feel real & the atmosphere true to life
Give me MORE!!
I read a TON of mysteries & love true crime but I never saw the ending coming in this book.
I love all of depth & breadth of the charts Sally Spencer creates they are real people not cardboard.
The setting feel real & the atmosphere true to life
Give me MORE!!
June 23, 2024
Best book yet in this series...so much happens to several of the main characters, life changing events, and then the murders are solved in a way I was not expecting at all. The murder mystery itself is solid, writing is getting better for me with each book. A fast read and another hard-to-put-down book.
June 4, 2023
Interesting story with two plots that overlap and intersect. One involves the murder of young women at a particular park. The other one involves the suicide of a prisoner under unusual circumstances. The personal stories of some of the detectives are wrapped up also.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2023
Love the twists!
I love this series. The detective is a complex woman and tough as nails! The story is never repetitive and always riveting. Glad there are many more to follow in this series!
I love this series. The detective is a complex woman and tough as nails! The story is never repetitive and always riveting. Glad there are many more to follow in this series!
September 2, 2017
for teenagers....
October 15, 2019
How does Monica keep going with all her emotional crises? This one is very intense, which is saying a lot for an intense series. I like the way SS portrays her team as 3D characters.
Read
March 7, 2020Not a fan of the guilty party coming out of left field at end of book.
April 25, 2021
I love Monika, her life is so complicated. I also like the way Sally puts two stories into the one book. Bravo. More please.
August 29, 2021
Loved this book. Back on track. Could not put it down
April 19, 2022
Good read thanks !
August 9, 2023
Pretty average mystery. I couldn’t get involved emotionally with any character. I thought the ending was kind of lame.
October 21, 2016
Excellent as ever
February 23, 2022
Brilliant
A really brilliant read,sucks you in more and more,marvellous characters first-class plot believable characters splendid quirky ending book terrific storey
A really brilliant read,sucks you in more and more,marvellous characters first-class plot believable characters splendid quirky ending book terrific storey
June 15, 2013
This was not what I was expecting. How I read the jacket was that the officer saw this girl at a wedding reception, but she was the only one that could see her (i scanned it quickly at the library, my fault), but once I started reading it I realized that this girl was "alive", though not for long. I also didn't realize that it was set in England. That's not a bad thing, just have to wrap my head around the verbiage sometimes.
It was OK as a mystery goes, the killer was not who I expected. Sally Spencer was able to keep the killer secret until she wanted them seen. Several people are killed off, and unless this is part of a series, I don't understand what they brought to the the book other than filler.
Some very good suspense but a lot of waiting for something to happen.
It was OK as a mystery goes, the killer was not who I expected. Sally Spencer was able to keep the killer secret until she wanted them seen. Several people are killed off, and unless this is part of a series, I don't understand what they brought to the the book other than filler.
Some very good suspense but a lot of waiting for something to happen.
May 17, 2013
This is another outstanding book in the DCI Monika Paniatowski mysteries. These books can be read as stand-alones, but you will miss the character development and the continuing subplots that you will find if you read the series in order. Because of her experiences as a child, Paniatowski relates to police work and the people she encounters in a different way than most cops. This book is particularly dark, I think, and I would recommend reading it when you are going to do something fun afterwards! But I would definitely recommend reading it not only as an outstanding mystery, but as a reminder of the many aspects (good and bad) of being a woman.
February 6, 2017
Well I may have to read more of this series. I found it by accident on Overdrive. Not too deep--good bedtime reading. Well, except for the whole 'children in trouble' part and the very end. Don't do as I did and read the last chapter at 2 a.m. if you expect to sleep soundly thereafter.
I loved the combination of prison investigation and police investigation into killings.
I didn't love that the publication date shows 2012, but all of a sudden 2/3 through the book we find out that a teenager in the story was born in 1959.
Still I could read more of these characters.
I loved the combination of prison investigation and police investigation into killings.
I didn't love that the publication date shows 2012, but all of a sudden 2/3 through the book we find out that a teenager in the story was born in 1959.
Still I could read more of these characters.
August 20, 2013
I like Sally Spencer, and this is her Mia series--very competently written. It opens with the death of a girl that Mia has noticed at a wedding. The plot rolls out with another death that shares almost no characteristics, as well as the suicide of an inmate, all end up more or less tied together--a bit too neatly for my taste, but I enjoyed the book.
May 13, 2015
I liked the book but was disappointed with the denouement, as I feel the writer didn't play fairly and give us all the facts. Or at least a hint. I like to sieve the red herrings from the real clues - but there really weren't many relevant clues. I did enjoy the characterisation.
March 25, 2013
I always enjoy Sally Spencer. Her stories are not particularly memorable, but the characters are interesting, and provide some pleasant escapism.
April 25, 2013
A solid series, always enjoyable and well written.
July 19, 2013
Very good book!
March 30, 2014
Classic British procedural where there is always something a little depressing.
April 6, 2016
A slightly old fashioned murder mystery in tone as well as period (1970s) but with an unpredicted twist.
January 27, 2023
Good early entry into a great police procedural series!
I think I was only half reading this last time…very wicked plot!
I think I was only half reading this last time…very wicked plot!
December 5, 2013
love this series
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews