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Charlie Priest #11
Shooting Elvis
A tangled past. A shocking murder. A copper on the hunt for answers.
When Alfred Armitage, a lonely pensioner, is found electrocuted in his dingy flat, it initially appears to be self-inflicted. But something about the scene doesn't sit right with Detective Priest.
Alfred's body is slumped in an armchair, an orange electric cable wrapped around his thumbs. An empty whisky bottle and his dentures are discarded carelessly nearby.
The set-up is too elaborate, the scene too staged. Why buy fresh groceries and then kill yourself?
The deeper Priest digs into the past of the unassuming former factory storeman with no close friends, the stranger it becomes.
An anonymous white van spotted near Alfred’s home, a shadowy figure with polished shoes, and unsettling whispers from former colleagues raise more questions than answers.
Priest discovers that the truth is more electrifying — and more dangerous — than anyone imagined.
When Alfred Armitage, a lonely pensioner, is found electrocuted in his dingy flat, it initially appears to be self-inflicted. But something about the scene doesn't sit right with Detective Priest.
Alfred's body is slumped in an armchair, an orange electric cable wrapped around his thumbs. An empty whisky bottle and his dentures are discarded carelessly nearby.
The set-up is too elaborate, the scene too staged. Why buy fresh groceries and then kill yourself?
The deeper Priest digs into the past of the unassuming former factory storeman with no close friends, the stranger it becomes.
An anonymous white van spotted near Alfred’s home, a shadowy figure with polished shoes, and unsettling whispers from former colleagues raise more questions than answers.
Priest discovers that the truth is more electrifying — and more dangerous — than anyone imagined.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2006
About the author
Stuart Pawson
33 books39 followersStuart Pawson lived in Fairburn, Yorkshire, with his wife, Doreen.
After a career as a mining electrical engineer, he worked part-time for the probation service for five years, mediating between offenders and their victims. This gave him a good insight into the criminal justice system, and it was during this period that he started to write his first book, The Picasso Scam.
Stuart believed he must have some cowboy genes somewhere in his genome because he always had a strong affinity for the American West. His first visit to the USA was to work for a month at a Wyoming coalmine, and he holidayed over there many times. Although tone-deaf (some would say stone-deaf) he always thought it would be good fun to be a songwriter. The thought of composing a three-minute song as opposed to a 300-page book had a certain attraction. He managed to combine the two themes - song writing and the West - in the opening chapters of Laughing Boy, and he enjoyed writing that one immensely.
After a career as a mining electrical engineer, he worked part-time for the probation service for five years, mediating between offenders and their victims. This gave him a good insight into the criminal justice system, and it was during this period that he started to write his first book, The Picasso Scam.
Stuart believed he must have some cowboy genes somewhere in his genome because he always had a strong affinity for the American West. His first visit to the USA was to work for a month at a Wyoming coalmine, and he holidayed over there many times. Although tone-deaf (some would say stone-deaf) he always thought it would be good fun to be a songwriter. The thought of composing a three-minute song as opposed to a 300-page book had a certain attraction. He managed to combine the two themes - song writing and the West - in the opening chapters of Laughing Boy, and he enjoyed writing that one immensely.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 13, 2026
Charlie's love life is looking up but his work life is challenging having been presented with particularly sadistic murder and some low tec industrial espionage. Also he has his doubts about a new team member. Such is the state of things that Charlie decides to re-train and update his firearms licence. He's not really keen on using a gun but .........
July 25, 2025
an interesting twist in this story
Thoroughly enjoyed this book despite my feeling it was a little slow paced at times. It soon became ‘unputdownable’ and I liked the twist at the end though I did have my suspicions.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book despite my feeling it was a little slow paced at times. It soon became ‘unputdownable’ and I liked the twist at the end though I did have my suspicions.
August 4, 2025
Interesting book about DI Charlie Priest who is acting DCI in this book. A sophisticated killer is murdering people accused of crimes, but purposely trying to hurt Charlie and his reputation in the process. It was a little hard to follow in the beginning but the story came together nicely.
May 22, 2017
A great book by a fine writer. He left us too soon.
March 17, 2018
This is the 1st book that I read by Stuart Pawson. I found it to be a bit boring. I'll keep an open mind and read another book by him before I make any conclusions.
April 17, 2019
Pawson is always a good read crime with a bit of humour thrown in
February 17, 2020
Another very good read as I have said before, l like the characters and the day to day living off the troops. Only two books left in the series.
August 25, 2025
Took a long time to get into it.ok.
August 12, 2026
Excellent
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of his work. I shall be recommending this author to my friends .
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of his work. I shall be recommending this author to my friends .
July 16, 2025
Enjoyable
A nice read,plot melted you guessing until the end.good characters,who develops as the storey unfolds I enjoyed reading this book
A nice read,plot melted you guessing until the end.good characters,who develops as the storey unfolds I enjoyed reading this book
December 29, 2012
Charlie Priest, early 50s, is a long-time Heckley Police (Yorkshire) murder squad DI. Temporarily named Acting DCI, he is called to the scene of the death of a retired storekeeper Alfred Armitage. It looks like a suicide, but soon a murder investigation is underway.
This is the first Stuart Pawson novel I've read, but it won't be the last. Good characterization. Interesting criminal investigation. Side story about Charlie's new girlfriend, Sonia Thornton, a former world class distance runner known as "La Gazelle" whose knee was injured in an auto accident who he is encouraging to return to competitive running is entertaining. And Pawson pulls off connecting this "diversion" to the murder investigation.
This is the first Stuart Pawson novel I've read, but it won't be the last. Good characterization. Interesting criminal investigation. Side story about Charlie's new girlfriend, Sonia Thornton, a former world class distance runner known as "La Gazelle" whose knee was injured in an auto accident who he is encouraging to return to competitive running is entertaining. And Pawson pulls off connecting this "diversion" to the murder investigation.
October 10, 2011
Another enjoyable book in an enjoyable series.
By about half way through this story I was sure that I knew the culprit and as further pieces fell into the jigsaw, I was sure that I was right. Of course, I wasnt but all the clues were there to be found.
I have another of the series on my bookshelf ready.
By about half way through this story I was sure that I knew the culprit and as further pieces fell into the jigsaw, I was sure that I was right. Of course, I wasnt but all the clues were there to be found.
I have another of the series on my bookshelf ready.
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August 2, 2010Good old Charlie priest! Light but enjoyable.
January 9, 2012
Thoroughly enjoyed this one, only 2 more to go in the D.I. Charlie Priest
series now. Hope there will be more in future.
series now. Hope there will be more in future.
June 20, 2016
An always enjoyable series
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews