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Forsyth and Hay #2
Not a Clue
London. Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Hay of Scotland Yard heads up the investigation into the puzzling murder of a young Canadian woman travelling alone. Her killer was meticulous, leaving behind a naked, almost serene-looking victim, and no clues.
Ottawa. Royal Canadian Mounted Police inspector Liz Forsyth is assigned to the murder of a young Chechen woman, killed by an unseen gunman at the gates of the Russian Embassy in Ottawa. No one knows who would want to kill her, except, perhaps, the Russians.
Separated by continents and responsibilities to their respective departments, Forsyth and Hay (and their loyal sergeants Ouellette and Wilkins) doggedly work their cases while still feeling the pull of their recent partnership at the Canadian High Commission in London. As Forsyth chases her case further into the complicated world of Russian and Chechen relations, Hay is at a standstill—until the murderer resurfaces.
Ottawa. Royal Canadian Mounted Police inspector Liz Forsyth is assigned to the murder of a young Chechen woman, killed by an unseen gunman at the gates of the Russian Embassy in Ottawa. No one knows who would want to kill her, except, perhaps, the Russians.
Separated by continents and responsibilities to their respective departments, Forsyth and Hay (and their loyal sergeants Ouellette and Wilkins) doggedly work their cases while still feeling the pull of their recent partnership at the Canadian High Commission in London. As Forsyth chases her case further into the complicated world of Russian and Chechen relations, Hay is at a standstill—until the murderer resurfaces.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2015
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473 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 14, 2015
The second book in the Forsyth and Hay mysteries, Not a Clue picks up where A Quiet Kill left off. What was unusual in this outing is that Ms. Brons keeps her two main characters geographically separated. Liz Forsyth has returned home to Ottawa, while Stephen Hay remains in London.
Each detective is assigned a case local to their respective force. Forsyth is investigating the assassination of a young Chechen women, who was protesting at the Russian Embassy when she was killed. Meanwhile, Hay is looking into the murder of a young Canadian woman who had been visiting London, and has few clues to go on. Hay’s investigation gives readers the chance to visit with the High Commissioner’s office again, and characters we first met in Not a Clue.
If you haven’t read A Quiet Kill (the first book in this series), I would recommend reading it before Not a Clue. I think starting with book one will give you a greater appreciation for the characters.
For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.
Many thanks to TouchWood Editions for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Each detective is assigned a case local to their respective force. Forsyth is investigating the assassination of a young Chechen women, who was protesting at the Russian Embassy when she was killed. Meanwhile, Hay is looking into the murder of a young Canadian woman who had been visiting London, and has few clues to go on. Hay’s investigation gives readers the chance to visit with the High Commissioner’s office again, and characters we first met in Not a Clue.
If you haven’t read A Quiet Kill (the first book in this series), I would recommend reading it before Not a Clue. I think starting with book one will give you a greater appreciation for the characters.
For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.
Many thanks to TouchWood Editions for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2015
A big thank you to the publisher for the Goodreads giveaway! I've never won one before... Very exciting!
I liked this mystery a lot (as you may see from the fact that I read it in a day). Good build up. I would suggest you start with the first one though. The dynamic between the main characters was very well established in "A quiet kill" and it made this book more fun to read. I bought and read the first one when I found out I had won the giveaway.
It's a great way to spend a lazy Sunday!
I liked this mystery a lot (as you may see from the fact that I read it in a day). Good build up. I would suggest you start with the first one though. The dynamic between the main characters was very well established in "A quiet kill" and it made this book more fun to read. I bought and read the first one when I found out I had won the giveaway.
It's a great way to spend a lazy Sunday!
October 21, 2018
Unfortunately Hay and Forsyth are not working together in this installment, instead working separate cases on separate continents, pining for each other and having brief awkward phone conversations. The two characters are still engaging. Forsyth's case gets tied up perhaps a bit too conveniently; Hay's not at all. The door is open hopefully for a re-connection between the two.
October 19, 2020
Not sure how I came to pick up this book, & am now finding out its the second of three books so far in a series. It takes place in 1998, with the big ice storm of that winter incorporated into the story.
My library has all 3. Canadian author who has worked in Canada's diplomatic service, & was living in Sidney BC when this book was published. She must also have lived & worked in Ottawa & metro area.
I will probably go back & read the first volume for the "origin story" & then probably the 3rd book. They seem a bit low key, but the plot & characters do move along.
My library has all 3. Canadian author who has worked in Canada's diplomatic service, & was living in Sidney BC when this book was published. She must also have lived & worked in Ottawa & metro area.
I will probably go back & read the first volume for the "origin story" & then probably the 3rd book. They seem a bit low key, but the plot & characters do move along.
November 24, 2020
Set in Ottawa/Gatineau area and London England. Liz Forsyth of the RCMP and Stephen Hay of Scotland Yard
April 2, 2023
Not a Clue is the second book in the Forsyth and Hay mysteries series by Janet Brons that began with book A Quiet Kill. Having read this second book without the benefit of reading the first one, I found Brons to have done an excellent job of drawing the reader into the back story, providing sufficient information to establish the relationship between the two main characters and detailing their history and prompting me to read the first book.
Not a Clue develops two points of view – Royal Canadian Mounted Police inspector Liz Forsyth in Ottawa and Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Hays in London. Forsyth investigates the murder of a Chechen woman integrating a foray into Canadian and Russian politics and Chechen conflict. Hays is tasked with solving a murder of a Canadian woman travelling alone in London necessitating an interface with the politics of his own agency and the Canadian consulate. Both Forsyth and Hays serve as reliable narrators offering validity to their observations and story. The author’s own diplomatic background adds to the authority of their individual perspectives and she does a good job of integrating her knowledge of the government organizations into the development of the details of their stories.
The potential relationship between Forsyth and Hays, clearly established in the first book, adds a third thread to this book. In Not a Clue, both go out of their way in their attempts to maintain and further develop their burgeoning relationship, promising more to come in the next episode of Brons’s series.
Written in the spirit of the cozy mystery, Not a Clue is free of violent descriptions and gory details and rich in clue finding, puzzle solving, and character development. I found this to be a satisfying read.
A copy of this book was received for review from the author, publisher, or publicist. I have received no other compensation.
Not a Clue develops two points of view – Royal Canadian Mounted Police inspector Liz Forsyth in Ottawa and Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Hays in London. Forsyth investigates the murder of a Chechen woman integrating a foray into Canadian and Russian politics and Chechen conflict. Hays is tasked with solving a murder of a Canadian woman travelling alone in London necessitating an interface with the politics of his own agency and the Canadian consulate. Both Forsyth and Hays serve as reliable narrators offering validity to their observations and story. The author’s own diplomatic background adds to the authority of their individual perspectives and she does a good job of integrating her knowledge of the government organizations into the development of the details of their stories.
The potential relationship between Forsyth and Hays, clearly established in the first book, adds a third thread to this book. In Not a Clue, both go out of their way in their attempts to maintain and further develop their burgeoning relationship, promising more to come in the next episode of Brons’s series.
Written in the spirit of the cozy mystery, Not a Clue is free of violent descriptions and gory details and rich in clue finding, puzzle solving, and character development. I found this to be a satisfying read.
A copy of this book was received for review from the author, publisher, or publicist. I have received no other compensation.
November 1, 2015
I very much enjoyed Not A Clue by Janet Brons. This is the second of the Forsyth and Hay mysteries and this time the action happens in parallel in Canada and the UK. The suspense is good, the characters are well drawn and there are just enough unanswered questions along the way to keep the reader wanting more. Ms. Brons has drawn on her experience in government and diplomacy to tell a compelling and realistic tale of inter-departmental rivalry, competing interests and human nature. I highly recommend this one!
May 31, 2016
A good Canadian mystery. The mystery happens in both London and Ottawa. It is about a Chenhen killing her brother-in-law and sister. Her brother thought his sister was whore because she didn't married a Moslem. It happened in the ice storm of 1998 in Ottawa at the Russian Embassy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2016
I enjoyed this second book even though Hay and Forsyth didn't get together in this one. I hope there is a third in this series. The book goes between London and Ottawa with two separate murder mysteries and nothing to connect them.
January 20, 2016
I liked both characters and both settings. It's great to read a Canadian author and a book with a Canadian setting.
September 6, 2016
Read the first book and loved it, I enjoyed Not A Clue just as much if not more!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews