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Forsyth and Hay #1
A Quiet Kill
The head of the Canadian High Commission’s trade section is found brutally clubbed and stabbed to death in the Official Residence in London, England. Scotland Yard’s Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Hay is called in to investigate, while Royal Canadian Mounted Police Inspector Liz Forsyth is dispatched from Ottawa. There are a number of suspects from the diplomatic community: the High Commissioner and his beautiful wife, the smarmy head of the political section, the charming military attaché, the high-strung Deputy High Commissioner, and a deeply troubled engagements secretary. After a second murder, the case takes a turn and radical environmentalist Dr. Julian Cox becomes a suspect.
A Quiet Kill is the first in a new mystery series featuring Forsyth and Hay. Paired up for the first time, the two investigators must overcome insecurities and suspicions as they find themselves wading into the murky waters of the diplomatic community and navigating through a melee of international conspiracy, nationalism, and murder.
A Quiet Kill is the first in a new mystery series featuring Forsyth and Hay. Paired up for the first time, the two investigators must overcome insecurities and suspicions as they find themselves wading into the murky waters of the diplomatic community and navigating through a melee of international conspiracy, nationalism, and murder.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2014
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58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 18, 2023
"Clubbed from behind and throat slashed. So you suspect foul play … “?
What do you get when you cross a Canadian author’s wry, sardonic and self-deprecating sketch of a female RCMP inspector, an equally obvious Canadian caricature of a stereotypical, upright, rather stuffy and proper Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector and a 21st century cozy murder mystery that is more than a tiny bit reminiscent of the closed setting drawing room mysteries that came from writers like Agatha Christie in the mid-20th century? A QUIET KILL, Janet Brons’ debut outing featuring RCMP Police Inspector Liz Forsyth and Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Hay deals with the brutal murder of the head of the Canadian High Commission’s trade section.
At first blush, as improbable as it might seem to the investigating team, the suspects are limited to the internal staff members of the High Commission. But a second murder puts an environmental political spin on things. Threatening letters from radical environmentalists to the High Commission bring in the issue of world antipathy to the annual Newfoundland seal hunt and the circle of possible suspect widens.
A QUIET KILL is not suspenseful or compelling by any means. But it IS engaging, interesting, realistic, character driven, humorous, and, most definitely, fun and enjoyable. The quietest hints that the relationship between Forsyth and Hay may blossom into something beyond professional is hardly unexpected and leaves room for character growth in future novels that I’ll most definitely be adding to my reading list. Definitely recommended for lovers of easy-going lightweight modern mysteries.
Paul Weiss
What do you get when you cross a Canadian author’s wry, sardonic and self-deprecating sketch of a female RCMP inspector, an equally obvious Canadian caricature of a stereotypical, upright, rather stuffy and proper Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector and a 21st century cozy murder mystery that is more than a tiny bit reminiscent of the closed setting drawing room mysteries that came from writers like Agatha Christie in the mid-20th century? A QUIET KILL, Janet Brons’ debut outing featuring RCMP Police Inspector Liz Forsyth and Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Hay deals with the brutal murder of the head of the Canadian High Commission’s trade section.
At first blush, as improbable as it might seem to the investigating team, the suspects are limited to the internal staff members of the High Commission. But a second murder puts an environmental political spin on things. Threatening letters from radical environmentalists to the High Commission bring in the issue of world antipathy to the annual Newfoundland seal hunt and the circle of possible suspect widens.
A QUIET KILL is not suspenseful or compelling by any means. But it IS engaging, interesting, realistic, character driven, humorous, and, most definitely, fun and enjoyable. The quietest hints that the relationship between Forsyth and Hay may blossom into something beyond professional is hardly unexpected and leaves room for character growth in future novels that I’ll most definitely be adding to my reading list. Definitely recommended for lovers of easy-going lightweight modern mysteries.
Paul Weiss
November 14, 2015
A murder has been committed at the Official Residence of the Canadian High Commissioner in London, England. Was the victim the target of someone inside or outside the High Commission’s walls?
The most interesting piece of this book isn’t the mystery, but the jurisdiction issue. The murder occurs essentially on Canadian soil, but technically in London, England. Is this a case for Scotland Yard, or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)?
For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.
Thanks to TouchWood Editions for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The most interesting piece of this book isn’t the mystery, but the jurisdiction issue. The murder occurs essentially on Canadian soil, but technically in London, England. Is this a case for Scotland Yard, or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)?
For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.
Thanks to TouchWood Editions for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2018
I like to change up my reading every now and then, and the location and subject matter of this new murder/mystery series intrigued me. A murder within the Canadian High Commission in London, England. This brings together Detective Chief Inspector Hay of Scotland Yard and Inspector Liz Forsyth of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to investigate.
I think I enjoyed the little details within this story more than trying to figure out who the murderer was. The banter between these two seasoned officers and their own mental thoughts had me chuckling. It was an added bonus when DCI Hay referenced 'Pride & Prejudice' with a comment Darcy had made about his good opinion once lost was lost forever! How can you not like the man after that! Seriously though, the descriptions of the characters as viewed by each other were also very interesting. When Inspector Forsyth describes the wife of the High Commissioner, it certainly was apt:
"I know the type. Blue-chip Toronto stock. 'Never-met-a-man-I-couldn't-use'. Pleased to preside over dinners she hasn't cooked and spend money she hasn't earned." (quote from the book)
The diplomatic aspects of the story were interesting as well. It certainly has me engaged enough to continue the series.
I think I enjoyed the little details within this story more than trying to figure out who the murderer was. The banter between these two seasoned officers and their own mental thoughts had me chuckling. It was an added bonus when DCI Hay referenced 'Pride & Prejudice' with a comment Darcy had made about his good opinion once lost was lost forever! How can you not like the man after that! Seriously though, the descriptions of the characters as viewed by each other were also very interesting. When Inspector Forsyth describes the wife of the High Commissioner, it certainly was apt:
"I know the type. Blue-chip Toronto stock. 'Never-met-a-man-I-couldn't-use'. Pleased to preside over dinners she hasn't cooked and spend money she hasn't earned." (quote from the book)
The diplomatic aspects of the story were interesting as well. It certainly has me engaged enough to continue the series.
Want to read
June 9, 2019Synopsis: murder at the Canadian High Commission in London. RCMP Inspector Liz Forsyth is dispatched from Ottawa.
August 22, 2018
I did not enjoy this book. Most of the characters were not really characters; they were so overdone that they were caricatures. At first, I was happy that there were so many female characters, but then realized that all except Liz were portrayed as neurotic, "deeply weird", over-bearing, pushy, etc., playing into all of the worst of stereotypes of women. Liz herself, while not so much any of the above list was still the stereotype gratuitously lecturing the reader about 'how she was different than other women' - e.g. she never had problems eating alone at restaurants because she tipped well - both unlike other women - as if a waiter in a strange restaurant would predict the tip before the bill came?? Liz's 'deep thoughts' about the non-issues of women is also a form of gaslighting that the world could do without right now. But then, that seems to play into Brons' worldview of women being overly-sensitive hysterics...
The men in the book do not fare much better. The suspects all seem to be cut from the same 'entitled male' cloth. Some, including Hay, also having the 'allowed to be angry but not actually have human emotions' stereotype limitations placed on them. Again, the world can do without this perpetuation of male toxicity.
Together, the caricatures in this book were also a self-serving, jealous, back-biting lot who spent much of the book griping about each other (both to themselves and to others). Worse, Brons wrote these caricatures as if this type of behaviour is normal... I can imagine how horrible it must be to work with someone who thinks this type of behaviour is normal, and am glad I do not work anywhere near Brons.
Aside from that the plot, such as it was, was so-so and was tucked in dribs and drabs amongst pages and pages of the caricatures' nastiness.
PLUS environmentalists and animal rights activists are two different groups. Yes, there is often overlap between them but they are separate entities. If an author is going to spend a book gratuitously disparaging a group of people (which is also quite tedious), then that author ought to do enough homework to put the correct label on that group. Better yet, the author should just refrain from spending a book gratuitously disparaging a group of people.
I think this whole book is just an excuse for Brons to try to forward right-wing ideals in novel form. But it all was just very tedious and ignorant.
Overall, this is a short book that took me way too much time to read. I should have put it down the second time I found myself forcing myself to read a few more pages - and that happened too many times after that. I have no interest in reading any more books from this series or this author. There are far too many good books out there waiting to be read for me to spend any more time on these writings.
The men in the book do not fare much better. The suspects all seem to be cut from the same 'entitled male' cloth. Some, including Hay, also having the 'allowed to be angry but not actually have human emotions' stereotype limitations placed on them. Again, the world can do without this perpetuation of male toxicity.
Together, the caricatures in this book were also a self-serving, jealous, back-biting lot who spent much of the book griping about each other (both to themselves and to others). Worse, Brons wrote these caricatures as if this type of behaviour is normal... I can imagine how horrible it must be to work with someone who thinks this type of behaviour is normal, and am glad I do not work anywhere near Brons.
Aside from that the plot, such as it was, was so-so and was tucked in dribs and drabs amongst pages and pages of the caricatures' nastiness.
PLUS environmentalists and animal rights activists are two different groups. Yes, there is often overlap between them but they are separate entities. If an author is going to spend a book gratuitously disparaging a group of people (which is also quite tedious), then that author ought to do enough homework to put the correct label on that group. Better yet, the author should just refrain from spending a book gratuitously disparaging a group of people.
I think this whole book is just an excuse for Brons to try to forward right-wing ideals in novel form. But it all was just very tedious and ignorant.
Overall, this is a short book that took me way too much time to read. I should have put it down the second time I found myself forcing myself to read a few more pages - and that happened too many times after that. I have no interest in reading any more books from this series or this author. There are far too many good books out there waiting to be read for me to spend any more time on these writings.
September 24, 2017
The murder of a diplomat at the Canadian High Commission in London results in a unique police investigation. Even though the High Commission property is considered to be Canadian territory, Scotland Yard is brought in to find the killer. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police team is sent from Canada to investigate too. Of course, there’s a turf war and friction between the female RCMP Inspector (Liz Forsyth) and her Scotland Yard counterpart, DCI Hay. Their strained relationship continues throughout the story. Fortunately, their second-in-commands work well together and progress the investigation.
The investigation finds the proverbial hornets’ nest at the High Commission: love affairs, professional jealousies, CYA and neurotic behaviour. There’s also the background of how diplomatic life runs: the annual Christmas reception at the High Commission plays a large role in the story.
It’s a good story and I liked it. There’s a surprizing ending – the identity of the killer is unexpected.
PS. There’s a neat one-liner saying from the RCMP inspector, Hazel, about politicians:
“If a holier-than-thou attitude were a felony offense, half the Canadian Parliament would be in jail”
The investigation finds the proverbial hornets’ nest at the High Commission: love affairs, professional jealousies, CYA and neurotic behaviour. There’s also the background of how diplomatic life runs: the annual Christmas reception at the High Commission plays a large role in the story.
It’s a good story and I liked it. There’s a surprizing ending – the identity of the killer is unexpected.
PS. There’s a neat one-liner saying from the RCMP inspector, Hazel, about politicians:
“If a holier-than-thou attitude were a felony offense, half the Canadian Parliament would be in jail”
March 14, 2017
Fun to read a book about a female RCMP officer in the UK. Some interesting characters and development in the mystery. Also did not see who done it til the end -
I also did not know that embassies between Commonwealth countries are called High Commissions - so there i learned something new by reading this book. Also causes me to question my Canadian education - or might speak to my general lack of interest in most things diplomatic/political.
Regardless. - i notice the CNIB has the next book in series so i am going to read it!
And while i am rambling random thoughts about this book - the woman RCMP officer - Liz Forsyth - was raised in Calgary - so there is that :)
I also did not know that embassies between Commonwealth countries are called High Commissions - so there i learned something new by reading this book. Also causes me to question my Canadian education - or might speak to my general lack of interest in most things diplomatic/political.
Regardless. - i notice the CNIB has the next book in series so i am going to read it!
And while i am rambling random thoughts about this book - the woman RCMP officer - Liz Forsyth - was raised in Calgary - so there is that :)
November 8, 2020
I came across the second book in this mystery series first, taking place both in London England & in Ottawa, Canada. Both involve Canadian High Commissions & consular services, and both RCMP and British police forces. I decided to go back to the origin story in the first volume, given that one gets some clues in subsequent series, but not the whole story that sets the stage for the series, now up to three volumes.
I'm glad I went back to the first book, which takes place in the late 1990's with its' global & national political events. I do recommend starting with the beginning of the series to get a better sense of the main "cast" & their development over time. I will now move on to read the third book of the series. I don't know if there are more.
I'm glad I went back to the first book, which takes place in the late 1990's with its' global & national political events. I do recommend starting with the beginning of the series to get a better sense of the main "cast" & their development over time. I will now move on to read the third book of the series. I don't know if there are more.
January 21, 2018
I’m a fan of Canadian authors and enjoyed the setting (Canadian High Commissioner office in London). I also loved how it was a British investigator and a Canadian RCMP investigator working together. So many fun nuances right there. The character development was convincing. The graphic detail wasn’t overblown. However, I found it a little predictable and stilted at times, and... well... crime novels aren’t really my thing. So... maybe more of a 2.5 stars? Or a 2.75?
April 13, 2019
The mystery was ok. However, the Point of View changes so often, sometimes in the same paragraph, that a careful reading is necessary to know who is thinking what. Which is another issue, way too much ‘telling’ in this story instead of ‘showing’.
June 29, 2017
The first Forsyth and Hay police procedural series set in London pairs a Mountie and a Scotland Yard detective tasked with unravelling a chain of brutal murders.
June 3, 2018
It was o.k. Didn’t really hold my interest. Apparently the beginning of a series, not sure how that will work out with Hay based in London and Forsyth in Canada. Hits of a romance too. Meh.
October 15, 2018
An interesting setting, interesting primary characters, and above-average writing skills. A bit too long spent at the end explaining the plot to me. I will try another in the series.
December 10, 2014
The premise behind this book is a good one -- a murder committed in the Canadian High Commission in London, triggering an investigation by both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Scotland Yard. The two detectives -- Liz Forsyth of the RCMP and the Yard's Stephen Hay -- are fairly well developed and memorable. Both are smokers, incidentally, and at times it seems that's all they have in common. The "whodunit" aspect of the story is capably constructed, with no dearth of breadcrumbs to lead the astute reader to the murderer.
My main problem with this book is the way the author handled point of view. The term "head-hopping" is totally apt. The omniscient narrator jumps from one character to another in truly dizzying fashion, especially as there is quite a large cast of characters for a book of fewer than 200 pages. I would have appreciated knowing less about some of the supporting characters and more about the two detectives, especially as this is billed as being the first of a series featuring them.
The author's personal knowledge of the Canadian foreign service is evident in many interesting details. I hope the subsequent books in the series build on this and keep the p.o.v. on a tighter leash.
My main problem with this book is the way the author handled point of view. The term "head-hopping" is totally apt. The omniscient narrator jumps from one character to another in truly dizzying fashion, especially as there is quite a large cast of characters for a book of fewer than 200 pages. I would have appreciated knowing less about some of the supporting characters and more about the two detectives, especially as this is billed as being the first of a series featuring them.
The author's personal knowledge of the Canadian foreign service is evident in many interesting details. I hope the subsequent books in the series build on this and keep the p.o.v. on a tighter leash.
August 27, 2014
As a relative newbie to the genre (mystery? crime-fiction? - that's how newbie I am!), I really enjoyed "A Quiet Kill". A nice roster of characters, and inter-connections. Felt I got to know them well, drawn through their words, thoughts & descriptions. And the plot was beautifully clever -- I truly did not "see it coming"!
As a Canadian, this book was especially fun to read! Gave me some helpful context on my own country's (recent) history and how things operate "out there", in the diplomatic & foreign affairs world beyond our own borders.
As a Canadian, this book was especially fun to read! Gave me some helpful context on my own country's (recent) history and how things operate "out there", in the diplomatic & foreign affairs world beyond our own borders.
December 8, 2015
This is a fantastic first novel. It is well written, concise, with a very fast paced plot and lots of interesting characters! And the two protagonists work well with each other. Hope the second novel in this series is to be published soon.
July 24, 2016
This book written by a Canadian, takes place in London, UK surrounding the murder of a young woman at the High Commission. Good story involving a female Mountie brought in from Ottawa and a male Chief Inspector from England. There will be some romance there in the next book!
June 11, 2014
Well developed protagonists, interesting plot - a good & enjoyable read! Looking forward to #2
November 5, 2015
A murder committed in the Canadian High Commission in London,England with a mix of English and Canadian police characters. I thought it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to book #2.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews