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Bill Slider #26
Deadly Force
'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
First published May 1, 2026
About the author
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
157 books505 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 8, 2026
One of their own!
If nothing else I’d give 5 stars for the wonderful banter between DCI Bill Slider and his sergeant Jim Atherton. Their conversations around food, marriage and life are gems. As are those between Sidler and his wife Joanna who’s an orchestral violinist.
The understatements are delicious.
One of their own, a cop, Constable Peter Bentley, has been found brutally bashed. The ‘powers that be’ are pulling out all stops to find out the whys and whats. Nothing is adding up or making sense. It’s up to Slider and his team to do so.
I’m blinking my eyes at the spoonerisms or maybe mixed metaphors of Detective Superintendent Porson.
An unexpected ending reveals all. I don’t know how I’ve missed this series but I must read more.
A jolly good British police procedural mystery with wit and insights.
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
If nothing else I’d give 5 stars for the wonderful banter between DCI Bill Slider and his sergeant Jim Atherton. Their conversations around food, marriage and life are gems. As are those between Sidler and his wife Joanna who’s an orchestral violinist.
The understatements are delicious.
One of their own, a cop, Constable Peter Bentley, has been found brutally bashed. The ‘powers that be’ are pulling out all stops to find out the whys and whats. Nothing is adding up or making sense. It’s up to Slider and his team to do so.
I’m blinking my eyes at the spoonerisms or maybe mixed metaphors of Detective Superintendent Porson.
An unexpected ending reveals all. I don’t know how I’ve missed this series but I must read more.
A jolly good British police procedural mystery with wit and insights.
A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This has long been a favorite series of mine since the first book, Orchestrated Death (1991), in which the main character, the married Detective Bill Slider, meets what turns out to be the love of his life. Joanna, who is now his wife and mother pf two of his children, is a musician, and in the first book the music is part of the story, which adds to it and gives it depth. Most of the other books are straight up police procedurals, but they are excellent ones.
This novel, the 26th in the series, is no exception to Harrod-Eagles’ excellence. Her way with language, humor, and puns is undimmed, and all you need to do is skim through her chapter titles to get a taste of her humor. Her character descriptions are as sharp and brief as any a golden age writer committed to a page and are one of the reasons I love her writing so much. This book, while late in the series, does not need to be read in order, as the story told stands well on its own. I will say that a reading of the earlier books will add to your reading enjoyment, as the characters are filled in and established throughout the series.
The book opens with a classic – a body found by a dog. The dead man turns out to have been a police officer, so it’s all hands on deck. As the detectives sort through the man’s personal life, they can find very little reason why anyone would have wanted him dead. He was in the middle of a divorce, but that appears to have been amicable. These books read very much like an extended Law & Order episode, with clues evolving from thorough police work.
Harrod-Eagles paints an excellent portrait of both Central London as well as Slider and his team, notably his second in command, Atherton, who has been a part of the series from the beginning. He’s a suave upper class answer to Slider’s more stolid middle class upbringing, and they are a nice pairing of opposites that work well together and bring out the best in one another.
Harrod-Eagles does include some personal goings on here, but they are back burner – Atherton is edging toward an engagement, and Slider’s older children with his first wife, Irene, are both having some issues she wants Bill to help address. She leaves a thread with one of the children for an obvious follow up in the next book. Life with Joanna and his younger children is perfectly happy if chaotic – they remind me a bit of Deborah Crombie’s Duncan and Gemma, whose happy family life is a solid foundation for the police work in the books.
The mystery, as it unravels, is full of good detective work, unexpected clues, honest emotion, and an emerging portrait of the dead man that is heartbreaking. Harrod-Eagles is able to bring him to life so vividly on the page that you feel his loss. As the story begins to wrap up, it’s hard to put the book down. Sharp and concise, this well told story will leave you wanting more. Luckily, there are 26 installments so far – dive in!
This novel, the 26th in the series, is no exception to Harrod-Eagles’ excellence. Her way with language, humor, and puns is undimmed, and all you need to do is skim through her chapter titles to get a taste of her humor. Her character descriptions are as sharp and brief as any a golden age writer committed to a page and are one of the reasons I love her writing so much. This book, while late in the series, does not need to be read in order, as the story told stands well on its own. I will say that a reading of the earlier books will add to your reading enjoyment, as the characters are filled in and established throughout the series.
The book opens with a classic – a body found by a dog. The dead man turns out to have been a police officer, so it’s all hands on deck. As the detectives sort through the man’s personal life, they can find very little reason why anyone would have wanted him dead. He was in the middle of a divorce, but that appears to have been amicable. These books read very much like an extended Law & Order episode, with clues evolving from thorough police work.
Harrod-Eagles paints an excellent portrait of both Central London as well as Slider and his team, notably his second in command, Atherton, who has been a part of the series from the beginning. He’s a suave upper class answer to Slider’s more stolid middle class upbringing, and they are a nice pairing of opposites that work well together and bring out the best in one another.
Harrod-Eagles does include some personal goings on here, but they are back burner – Atherton is edging toward an engagement, and Slider’s older children with his first wife, Irene, are both having some issues she wants Bill to help address. She leaves a thread with one of the children for an obvious follow up in the next book. Life with Joanna and his younger children is perfectly happy if chaotic – they remind me a bit of Deborah Crombie’s Duncan and Gemma, whose happy family life is a solid foundation for the police work in the books.
The mystery, as it unravels, is full of good detective work, unexpected clues, honest emotion, and an emerging portrait of the dead man that is heartbreaking. Harrod-Eagles is able to bring him to life so vividly on the page that you feel his loss. As the story begins to wrap up, it’s hard to put the book down. Sharp and concise, this well told story will leave you wanting more. Luckily, there are 26 installments so far – dive in!
May 14, 2026
Firstly, don’t be put off by the fact that this is the twenty-sixth book in the series. Each book deals with a separate murder investigation and while there are ongoing plotlines amongst the team – you won’t be floundering in the slightest. Harrod-Eagles is far too experienced and canny to fall into that trap.
I love that Bill Slider has a happy home life. He is on his second marriage to Joanne, who is a professional musician and they have two small children, though he is still in touch with his older children from his first marriage, too. I also really love the humour. While Harrod-Eagles never lets readers forget that a victim has lost their life through violence – Slider has worked with Mike Atherton for a long time and the snark between them is highly amusing.
When a policeman loses his life – extra effort is always taken to ensure the murderer is brought to justice and for a change, Bill Slider and his team are encouraged to ‘pull out all the stops’. That said, this is a tricky case. Peter Bentley was a loner, who kept everyone at a distance, but clearly also had things going on, including the recent disintegration of his marriage. As ever, there are a steady accumulation of clues – though far too many seem to come to a dead end.
I stayed up waaay too late to discover what is actually going on. Not many authors write such gripping murder mysteries and once again, I was completely pulled into the investigation. Though of course, I knew whodunit. Until I didn’t… The twist and subsequent denouement is brilliantly handled and nicely upped the stakes, before the perpetrator was finally brought in. Once again, an outstanding murder mystery that had me flipping the pages far too quickly. Very highly recommended for fans of excellently plotted police procedurals. While I obtained an arc of Deadly Force from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10
I love that Bill Slider has a happy home life. He is on his second marriage to Joanne, who is a professional musician and they have two small children, though he is still in touch with his older children from his first marriage, too. I also really love the humour. While Harrod-Eagles never lets readers forget that a victim has lost their life through violence – Slider has worked with Mike Atherton for a long time and the snark between them is highly amusing.
When a policeman loses his life – extra effort is always taken to ensure the murderer is brought to justice and for a change, Bill Slider and his team are encouraged to ‘pull out all the stops’. That said, this is a tricky case. Peter Bentley was a loner, who kept everyone at a distance, but clearly also had things going on, including the recent disintegration of his marriage. As ever, there are a steady accumulation of clues – though far too many seem to come to a dead end.
I stayed up waaay too late to discover what is actually going on. Not many authors write such gripping murder mysteries and once again, I was completely pulled into the investigation. Though of course, I knew whodunit. Until I didn’t… The twist and subsequent denouement is brilliantly handled and nicely upped the stakes, before the perpetrator was finally brought in. Once again, an outstanding murder mystery that had me flipping the pages far too quickly. Very highly recommended for fans of excellently plotted police procedurals. While I obtained an arc of Deadly Force from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10
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
4* Refreshing intro to a police procedural set in the UK, but some slightly irritating quirks and style - maybe those will grow on me, as I enjoyed the tale despite them.
I wasn't lost in this tale despite being new to the series. What I didn't like were the 'they work but they're made-up words' that peppered both narration and dislogue, and weren't limited to the Porson character, who I found unbelievable for a law enforcement type in 2026. The guy wasn't offensive per se but seemed to be lacking self-awareness and general awareness with some of what he came out with.
That aside, it was a decent enough tale. One where I got to quite like Slider, but thought some of the other characters, especially the female cop brought in to use - unknowingly or not - her feminine assets, inorganic and unnecessary. The storyline was sad, with a seemingly pretty decent person dying. That the guilty parties didn't fall over each other to make a deal, didn't quite seem believable. Prison was going to be hard for all concerned, so that'd have seemed the thing they'd seek to do in my book, no pun intended. I'm not sure the guilty parties were believable in these days of surveillance, clocking in, signing into systems, cameras at road junctions, Ring doorbells, cctv, dash cams, etc. Go back 15 years, and yes, I could see it happening. Just not so sure in 2026. But, it was readable and I'd read more of this series.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Severn House, an imprint of Canongate Books Ltd, for my reading pleasure.
I wasn't lost in this tale despite being new to the series. What I didn't like were the 'they work but they're made-up words' that peppered both narration and dislogue, and weren't limited to the Porson character, who I found unbelievable for a law enforcement type in 2026. The guy wasn't offensive per se but seemed to be lacking self-awareness and general awareness with some of what he came out with.
That aside, it was a decent enough tale. One where I got to quite like Slider, but thought some of the other characters, especially the female cop brought in to use - unknowingly or not - her feminine assets, inorganic and unnecessary. The storyline was sad, with a seemingly pretty decent person dying. That the guilty parties didn't fall over each other to make a deal, didn't quite seem believable. Prison was going to be hard for all concerned, so that'd have seemed the thing they'd seek to do in my book, no pun intended. I'm not sure the guilty parties were believable in these days of surveillance, clocking in, signing into systems, cameras at road junctions, Ring doorbells, cctv, dash cams, etc. Go back 15 years, and yes, I could see it happening. Just not so sure in 2026. But, it was readable and I'd read more of this series.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Severn House, an imprint of Canongate Books Ltd, for my reading pleasure.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of Deadly Force. All opinions and comments are my own.
Another rather satisfying Brit police procedural (complete with the chapter headings that are stories on their own) from Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. Readers can always count on this author (and her long-established characters, DCI Bill Slider and Sergeant Jim Atherton) to deliver investigative prowess with the entertaining dialog that the series is known for. Where else can you expect to read a scene that includes “escaped supermarket trolleys that, once free, always seemed to head for open water.”
The murder of a fellow police officer sets a high-profile inquiry in motion. And when you’re conducting such a “solve it fast” case, a diligent copper is duty-bound to find out everything there is to know. Suffice it to say that Slider and his colleagues do that, and more, in Deadly Force.
Also included, as in every book, are the “slice of life” looks at the families, like wife Joanna and the children (including the elder daughter Joy -- setting up something there for the next book) and what’s going to happen with Atherton’s girlfriend Stephanie. These scenes are subtly woven in and appreciated, for helping to bring these fictional people alive. This is Cynthia Harrod-Eagles are her finest once again, offering up a taut, suspenseful tale.
Another rather satisfying Brit police procedural (complete with the chapter headings that are stories on their own) from Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. Readers can always count on this author (and her long-established characters, DCI Bill Slider and Sergeant Jim Atherton) to deliver investigative prowess with the entertaining dialog that the series is known for. Where else can you expect to read a scene that includes “escaped supermarket trolleys that, once free, always seemed to head for open water.”
The murder of a fellow police officer sets a high-profile inquiry in motion. And when you’re conducting such a “solve it fast” case, a diligent copper is duty-bound to find out everything there is to know. Suffice it to say that Slider and his colleagues do that, and more, in Deadly Force.
Also included, as in every book, are the “slice of life” looks at the families, like wife Joanna and the children (including the elder daughter Joy -- setting up something there for the next book) and what’s going to happen with Atherton’s girlfriend Stephanie. These scenes are subtly woven in and appreciated, for helping to bring these fictional people alive. This is Cynthia Harrod-Eagles are her finest once again, offering up a taut, suspenseful tale.
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
This is book 26 in the DCI Bill Slider series, but would still work as a standalone. The pressure is on Slider and his team of detectives in London when a police officer is killed under suspicious circumstances. PC Peter Bentley seems to be a by-the-book cop who keeps to himself, but could he be hiding something? Slider and the rest of the team are determined to find out.
This is a well-written procedural series that is cleverly written with details on the investigations, fun banter and puns, and a team of detectives who work well together. There are also scenes with Slider, his wife, ex-wife, and his children. One of those scenes at the end of the book sets up an interesting situation that I assume will be addressed in the next book. This case has a few slow parts, but overall the book is another solid installment in this series. I think fans of Peter Robinson would enjoy this series.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Severn House and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
This is a well-written procedural series that is cleverly written with details on the investigations, fun banter and puns, and a team of detectives who work well together. There are also scenes with Slider, his wife, ex-wife, and his children. One of those scenes at the end of the book sets up an interesting situation that I assume will be addressed in the next book. This case has a few slow parts, but overall the book is another solid installment in this series. I think fans of Peter Robinson would enjoy this series.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Severn House and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
May 5, 2026
DCI Bill Slider and Jim Atherton have been called to a site by the canal. A body has been discovered by a dog walker. Fathom has recognized 38 year old Peter Bentley who worked in the police at Notting Hill. Bentley had recently sold an X box to a man, and a few months back had sold a TV. There are some questions on whether they were stolen goods. This turns into a very difficult case. At first, no one could figure out why someone would kill Bentley. He was going through an amicable divorce. Slider and Atherton are very good detectives in all of these books, but this case is very complicated. It isn't until almost the end of the book that we find out the very surprising culprit.
I thank Netgalley and Severn House for the ARC so that I could read this book before publication. It's a great series. I have to admit I haven't read them all, but I am working on finishing them soon.
I thank Netgalley and Severn House for the ARC so that I could read this book before publication. It's a great series. I have to admit I haven't read them all, but I am working on finishing them soon.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Severn House, NetGalley, and the author, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book in exchange for my review.
Welcome to the 26th installment of the Bill Slider police procedural novels. In this outing Bill and his team are investigating the death of one of their own. Police Constable Peter Bentley"s body was found floating in a canal. Initially it seems Peter was a quiet, reserved officer with no enemies. As Bill and his team dig in they discover there was more to this man than it first seemed.
While this book could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading earlier work to help familiarize yourself with Slider and his team. The whole series is very well crafted with witty dialogue and interesting plots. I look forward to the next outing. 4 out of 5 stars.
Welcome to the 26th installment of the Bill Slider police procedural novels. In this outing Bill and his team are investigating the death of one of their own. Police Constable Peter Bentley"s body was found floating in a canal. Initially it seems Peter was a quiet, reserved officer with no enemies. As Bill and his team dig in they discover there was more to this man than it first seemed.
While this book could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading earlier work to help familiarize yourself with Slider and his team. The whole series is very well crafted with witty dialogue and interesting plots. I look forward to the next outing. 4 out of 5 stars.
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...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
This is DI Slider no. 26, wow! I feel he and his team are part of my family now, we go back a long way!
That said, I didn't love this book as much as the previous ones, it felt a bit dry. We could have used more of Porson's malapropisms.
The team are looking into the murder of a police man, always an unenviable task for their colleagues, but of course they solve the case brilliantly as usual.
I enjoyed the book on the whole, (CH-E is a great writer) and there's an interesting ending; I can't wait to see how that pans out!
4 stars rounded up to 4.5
This is DI Slider no. 26, wow! I feel he and his team are part of my family now, we go back a long way!
That said, I didn't love this book as much as the previous ones, it felt a bit dry. We could have used more of Porson's malapropisms.
The team are looking into the murder of a police man, always an unenviable task for their colleagues, but of course they solve the case brilliantly as usual.
I enjoyed the book on the whole, (CH-E is a great writer) and there's an interesting ending; I can't wait to see how that pans out!
4 stars rounded up to 4.5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's rare that a series can continue for so long and retain both interest and quality. I love the dry humour of the characters, and Porson's continual mangling of language, but the mystery is also engaging and well thought out. You can feel the pressure to get a result, but Slider continues to dig away using the ABC of policing - assume nothing, believe no one and check everything. I never feel cheated when the villain is revealed in a Harrod-Eagles book, as the clues are there.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DCI Bill Slider and his team have a tough case in this volume as they investigate the killing of an off-duty cop found dumped in a local canal missing all identification and phone. And then his flat had been ransacked before they arrived. Was this a targeted killing? Was he involved in something shady? The team has to dig carefully when clues started laying out in strange directions. A nice addition to the series that also provides characters who change over the course of the series.
Thanks Netgalley and Severn House to read this title!
Thanks Netgalley and Severn House to read this title!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a typical thrilling Bill Slider police procedural, but for Slider and for his side kick Jim Atherton it was not. A new Bill Slider emerges when he becomes involved with his former wife and their adult children.
Problems are now manifesting in Atherton and Stephanie’s relationship.
Looking forward to see how both Slider and Atherton will react to their new situations while solving major crimes.
Thank you netgalley and Severn House for providing me with this eARC to review.
Problems are now manifesting in Atherton and Stephanie’s relationship.
Looking forward to see how both Slider and Atherton will react to their new situations while solving major crimes.
Thank you netgalley and Severn House for providing me with this eARC to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a quirky and fun read! The investigation and the characters are interesting and enjoyable to follow along with. At times I felt myself smiling and chuckling and other times were serious and down to business. The well crafted writing of the clues and the interviews keep you invested in the mystery.
Recommended to readers of police procedural, mystery and suspense. Thank you to author, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Recommended to readers of police procedural, mystery and suspense. Thank you to author, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
May 10, 2026
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles is my current favorite detective story author. The Bill Slider series is just one after the other of the most perfectly satisfying mystery stories I know of. The characters are real but also quirky, the stories are well-crafted, and the witty banter is stunning in its cleverness. I wish she could write faster, so that I could have one of these every week. They are a major contributing factor to my continued sanity, such as it is.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a really good, well written mystery in the Bill Slider series. Set in London, the characterisation is strong and believable and the plotting was very topical, a murdered police officer and a hint of more dodgy deals which I don't want to mention for fear of spoilers. Overall, it's a good detective mystery which I would recommend to lovers of the genre. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
Review of advance copy
Great to join the old Troup again.
May 13, 2026
3.5 stars Love Bill Slider cosy crime. He got his man. Nice to see the domestic side as well.
May 19, 2026
I love Bill slider books but this one was very slow. Good ending though.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It is always tough when your first introduction to a series is later in the series. Especially when you join on the 26th book of a series. There is usually a lot of “life” that has gone on for each of the main cast of characters. Some authors choose to write so anyone can join and each book can be a stand-alone novel. This didn’t feel like the case with “Deadly Force”.
“Deadly Force” is a great procedural with a bite. The titles of each of the chapters are funny, but they do matter. The titles will always refer to something that happens in the chapter. The mystery is really good and you will hang on their every decision as they find new suspects and eliminate others.
The family dynamics were weird. DI Slider doesn’t always seem like the best person when it comes to family relationships. And that may be true in previous novels. It is true in life. People are complicated. His relationship with his partner at work is good and funny.
Overall, I loved my first experience with a Cynthia Harrod-Eagles novel and it is definitely worth checking out if you have never read one before.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
“Deadly Force” is a great procedural with a bite. The titles of each of the chapters are funny, but they do matter. The titles will always refer to something that happens in the chapter. The mystery is really good and you will hang on their every decision as they find new suspects and eliminate others.
The family dynamics were weird. DI Slider doesn’t always seem like the best person when it comes to family relationships. And that may be true in previous novels. It is true in life. People are complicated. His relationship with his partner at work is good and funny.
Overall, I loved my first experience with a Cynthia Harrod-Eagles novel and it is definitely worth checking out if you have never read one before.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
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