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Bill Slider #26
Deadly Force
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26'When it's one of your own, you pull out all the stops.'
DCI Bill Slider and his team are plunged into a city-wide manhunt when the body of a police officer is found dumped in a canal. Murder is always treated seriously, but when the victim is a serving copper, the killer is going to find the whole London force on their tail – and there will be no let up until they're caught.
Colleagues say PC Peter Bentley was a quiet bloke who kept himself to himself. But as Slider and Atherton dig deeper, it becomes clear that this likeable bobby had secrets. Was he involved in something that got out of control or had something from his past come back to bite him?
Soon, the hardships of ‘the Job’ and the office politics at play make for an intriguing mystery that, this time, feels too close to home . . .
DCI Bill Slider and his team are plunged into a city-wide manhunt when the body of a police officer is found dumped in a canal. Murder is always treated seriously, but when the victim is a serving copper, the killer is going to find the whole London force on their tail – and there will be no let up until they're caught.
Colleagues say PC Peter Bentley was a quiet bloke who kept himself to himself. But as Slider and Atherton dig deeper, it becomes clear that this likeable bobby had secrets. Was he involved in something that got out of control or had something from his past come back to bite him?
Soon, the hardships of ‘the Job’ and the office politics at play make for an intriguing mystery that, this time, feels too close to home . . .
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 5, 2026
2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
169 books496 followersCynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Deadly Force is another strong entry in Cynthia Harrod‑Eagles’ long‑running Bill Slider series—sharp, atmospheric, and grounded in the emotional realities of police work. Even for readers new to the series, this instalment is immediately engaging, offering a mystery that feels both intimate and far‑reaching.
The murder of a serving police officer sets the tone from the outset. There’s a particular weight to a case like this, and Harrod‑Eagles captures that sense of urgency and loyalty with real finesse. Slider and Atherton are at their best here: steady, perceptive, and quietly witty, navigating a case that becomes more complex the deeper they dig.
PC Peter Bentley initially appears to be an unassuming victim—a quiet man, well‑liked, seemingly without enemies. But as Slider’s team peels back the layers, the story reveals a tangle of secrets, pressures, and past choices that give the investigation real emotional depth. The procedural detail is handled with confidence, never bogging down the pace but adding authenticity to every step.
What makes the novel shine is its balance. The mystery is compelling, the stakes are high, yet Harrod‑Eagles never loses sight of the human element—grief, camaraderie, the strain of “the Job,” and the politics that simmer beneath the surface of any large organisation. The dialogue is crisp, the characters feel lived‑in, and the London setting adds a textured backdrop to the unfolding drama.
Gritty without being bleak, clever without being convoluted, Deadly Force is a thoroughly satisfying police procedural. Fans of Ann Cleeves, Catherine Aird, and Peter James will find plenty to love.
with thanks to Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The murder of a serving police officer sets the tone from the outset. There’s a particular weight to a case like this, and Harrod‑Eagles captures that sense of urgency and loyalty with real finesse. Slider and Atherton are at their best here: steady, perceptive, and quietly witty, navigating a case that becomes more complex the deeper they dig.
PC Peter Bentley initially appears to be an unassuming victim—a quiet man, well‑liked, seemingly without enemies. But as Slider’s team peels back the layers, the story reveals a tangle of secrets, pressures, and past choices that give the investigation real emotional depth. The procedural detail is handled with confidence, never bogging down the pace but adding authenticity to every step.
What makes the novel shine is its balance. The mystery is compelling, the stakes are high, yet Harrod‑Eagles never loses sight of the human element—grief, camaraderie, the strain of “the Job,” and the politics that simmer beneath the surface of any large organisation. The dialogue is crisp, the characters feel lived‑in, and the London setting adds a textured backdrop to the unfolding drama.
Gritty without being bleak, clever without being convoluted, Deadly Force is a thoroughly satisfying police procedural. Fans of Ann Cleeves, Catherine Aird, and Peter James will find plenty to love.
with thanks to Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
285 pages
5 stars
This is another brilliant entry into the Slider and Atherton series. They are such an enjoyable pair. Their easygoing camaraderie and respectful relationship is a joy to behold. Bill Slider’s relationship with his wife is very comfortable and I quite like reading about the pair.
In this story Slider and Atherton catch the brutal murder of PC Peter Bentley.
Ms. Harrod-Eagles crafts a stellar police procedural. Starting out slowly, it appears that the team has no clues. Carefully, the tension builds and clues are found, witnesses interviewed, suspicions are confirmed.
The characters in this book are made of whole cloth. I really enjoy Porson, who so often confuses his words. Chuckle-worthy. The characters are individual and interesting.
The crafting of this book is absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t ask for any more from a novel. I loved it !
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding this book to me. The opinion expressed in this review are solely my own.
5 stars
This is another brilliant entry into the Slider and Atherton series. They are such an enjoyable pair. Their easygoing camaraderie and respectful relationship is a joy to behold. Bill Slider’s relationship with his wife is very comfortable and I quite like reading about the pair.
In this story Slider and Atherton catch the brutal murder of PC Peter Bentley.
Ms. Harrod-Eagles crafts a stellar police procedural. Starting out slowly, it appears that the team has no clues. Carefully, the tension builds and clues are found, witnesses interviewed, suspicions are confirmed.
The characters in this book are made of whole cloth. I really enjoy Porson, who so often confuses his words. Chuckle-worthy. The characters are individual and interesting.
The crafting of this book is absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t ask for any more from a novel. I loved it !
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding this book to me. The opinion expressed in this review are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Slider and Atherton investigate the murder of a fellow police officer, Peter Bentley, whose body is found in a canal. It turns out that Bentley has a complicated love life and has been working a side job. Then there is the question of whether his sister is dead (as their parents believe) or alive (as Bentley has told his lover).
This was twisty and turny and held my interest well, although the big reveal at the end was made somewhat underwhelming for me as I had more or less forgotten about the character in question. Slider, I note, continues to ignore his older children completely and allow his wife and parents to bring up his younger children. Nothing changes...
Slider and Atherton investigate the murder of a fellow police officer, Peter Bentley, whose body is found in a canal. It turns out that Bentley has a complicated love life and has been working a side job. Then there is the question of whether his sister is dead (as their parents believe) or alive (as Bentley has told his lover).
This was twisty and turny and held my interest well, although the big reveal at the end was made somewhat underwhelming for me as I had more or less forgotten about the character in question. Slider, I note, continues to ignore his older children completely and allow his wife and parents to bring up his younger children. Nothing changes...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews