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Slim Hardy Mysteries #10
Along the Old Pier
“I was only gone a half hour. When I came back, he was gone.”
Puppeteer Bob Harker has wandered the grey sands of Weston-Super-Mare for as long as anyone can remember, peddling his own brand of Punch’n’Judy to tourists and locals alike. Now, according to Reggie Bowles, his best friend, Bob Harker is dead.
The only problem is that Bob’s body has disappeared.
Convinced by Reggie to investigate both Bob’s death and subsequent disappearance, private investigator John “Slim” Hardy finds himself with a tricky case on his hands.
Not only can he find no trace of Bob Harker, but it turns out that the man’s life was almost as mysterious as his death.
If indeed Bob is even dead…
From the author of The Man by the Sea and The Clockmaker’s Secret, comes a twisting mystery that will keep you reading all night.
Puppeteer Bob Harker has wandered the grey sands of Weston-Super-Mare for as long as anyone can remember, peddling his own brand of Punch’n’Judy to tourists and locals alike. Now, according to Reggie Bowles, his best friend, Bob Harker is dead.
The only problem is that Bob’s body has disappeared.
Convinced by Reggie to investigate both Bob’s death and subsequent disappearance, private investigator John “Slim” Hardy finds himself with a tricky case on his hands.
Not only can he find no trace of Bob Harker, but it turns out that the man’s life was almost as mysterious as his death.
If indeed Bob is even dead…
From the author of The Man by the Sea and The Clockmaker’s Secret, comes a twisting mystery that will keep you reading all night.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 20, 2025
About the author
Jack Benton
60 books90 followersJack Benton is the mystery writing pen name of British science fiction writer Chris Ward.
Chris Ward is a native of Cornwall, England, but currently lives and works in Nagano, Japan. He is the author of multiple series across several speculative genres, as well as writing under pen names in several more.
He spends his time, snowboarding, writing, playing guitar in his rock band, Steampunk Unicorn (www.reverbnation/steampunkunicorn), and generally having too much to say about just about everything.
For more information, please visit www.amillionmilesfromanywhere.net/tok...
Chris Ward is a native of Cornwall, England, but currently lives and works in Nagano, Japan. He is the author of multiple series across several speculative genres, as well as writing under pen names in several more.
He spends his time, snowboarding, writing, playing guitar in his rock band, Steampunk Unicorn (www.reverbnation/steampunkunicorn), and generally having too much to say about just about everything.
For more information, please visit www.amillionmilesfromanywhere.net/tok...
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 1, 2025
Love getting into the life of John Hardy…
It doesn’t take much to stir something up inside our private investigator, John Hardy, aka “Slim”. An unsolved situation will stick to him like glue - adhering until he finds what he is looking for no matter what or how long it takes. This is the kind of read and mystery that continues to build and generate interest as you walk the walk with our lead character and discover that there has got to be more than what meets the eye despite all of the setbacks.
Slim has this uncanny instinct to know where to look and goes at it even to his own detriment. I enjoy getting into his head and seeing where things go. John Hardy is a down-to-earth kind of guy still fighting his own demons. He remains unaffected by the notoriety that follows him for having solved some big cases – he just does what he does because that is what he is made of.
As always, there are layers to this mystery and plenty of other characters to invoke one’s interest. Jack Benton’s quality and descriptive writing will draw you in and allow you to feel what Slim is experiencing. I love that these stories take place in Britain and not in the U.S. So, of course, I would highly recommend this entire series…I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and to offer my honest and voluntary review.
It doesn’t take much to stir something up inside our private investigator, John Hardy, aka “Slim”. An unsolved situation will stick to him like glue - adhering until he finds what he is looking for no matter what or how long it takes. This is the kind of read and mystery that continues to build and generate interest as you walk the walk with our lead character and discover that there has got to be more than what meets the eye despite all of the setbacks.
Slim has this uncanny instinct to know where to look and goes at it even to his own detriment. I enjoy getting into his head and seeing where things go. John Hardy is a down-to-earth kind of guy still fighting his own demons. He remains unaffected by the notoriety that follows him for having solved some big cases – he just does what he does because that is what he is made of.
As always, there are layers to this mystery and plenty of other characters to invoke one’s interest. Jack Benton’s quality and descriptive writing will draw you in and allow you to feel what Slim is experiencing. I love that these stories take place in Britain and not in the U.S. So, of course, I would highly recommend this entire series…I’m grateful for the opportunity to read and to offer my honest and voluntary review.
February 17, 2026
Another great addition to the series, in Along the Old Pier, Slim is tasked by an old man to find the corpse of his friend who he claims to have found dead at the beach.The story is mich more complex than it seemed as Slim will uncover a whole lot of different crimes related to the man who disappeared. Some credible members of society were not what they seemed to be and Slim will feel almost like he had a family again. Emotional, engaging and entertaining!
May 28, 2026
Did not disappoint
P.I. John "Slim" Hardy investigates a missing body in a seaside resort on the North Coast of Somerset. With his dubious past, and unorthodox methods of detecting, he always solves the case in the end.
I have read and enjoyed every book in this brilliantly written series, and can only hope that the author has more in the pipeline.
Extremely compelling and highly recommended.
P.I. John "Slim" Hardy investigates a missing body in a seaside resort on the North Coast of Somerset. With his dubious past, and unorthodox methods of detecting, he always solves the case in the end.
I have read and enjoyed every book in this brilliantly written series, and can only hope that the author has more in the pipeline.
Extremely compelling and highly recommended.
February 8, 2026
can’t get enough Slim Hardy
Excellent writing as always. Captivating storyline and characters. Heartbreaking in places, nail biting in others. I love Jack Benton’s Slim Hardy novels.
Next one please, I need more.
Excellent writing as always. Captivating storyline and characters. Heartbreaking in places, nail biting in others. I love Jack Benton’s Slim Hardy novels.
Next one please, I need more.
March 25, 2026
Another brilliant mystery solved by my favourite p.I can't wait for the next one
Atmospheric and twisting as is usual in a slim hardy investigation could not put it down he even managed to stay off the booze and find an unlikely sidekick. More soon please
Atmospheric and twisting as is usual in a slim hardy investigation could not put it down he even managed to stay off the booze and find an unlikely sidekick. More soon please
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews