What do you think?
Rate this book
Inspector Sloan #22
Losing Ground
The dramatic theft of an 18th century painting is discovered just moments before the old manor house uniquely depicted in the background of the portrait is set alight. Coincidence? Does the reputation of the Baronet, the subject of the painting, as a hell-raiser and member of the Crustacean Club have any connection to the fire?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2007
34 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Aird
68 books194 followers Kinn Hamilton McIntosh, known professionally as Catherine Aird, was an English novelist. She was the author of more than twenty crime fiction novels and several collections of short stories. Her witty, literate, and deftly plotted novels straddle the "cozy" and "police procedural" genres and are somewhat similar in flavour to those of Martha Grimes, Caroline Graham, M.C. Beaton, Margaret Yorke, and Pauline Bell. Aird was inducted into the prestigious Detection Club in 1981, and is a recipient of the 2015 Cartier Diamond Dagger award.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 24, 2014
The theft from a museum of a painting of no apparent worth together with a few small items from a display case leaves Sloan and Crosby baffled as there seems no motivation for the crime at all. Then someone sets fire to a house that used to belong to the subject of the painting and the plot thickens. The reader is taken into a dubious world of planning applications, disputed land ownership and threatened takeover bids before Sloan and Crosby manage to unravel both cases and solve the mystery.
I love this series with it's wry humour and likeable police characters and this episode is well up to the author's usual standard. The books bear re-reading as I first started reading them back in the nineteen seventies and have re-read all of them more than once. If you like cosy crime series by authors such as Veronica Heley and Hazel Holt then try Catherine Aird.
I love this series with it's wry humour and likeable police characters and this episode is well up to the author's usual standard. The books bear re-reading as I first started reading them back in the nineteen seventies and have re-read all of them more than once. If you like cosy crime series by authors such as Veronica Heley and Hazel Holt then try Catherine Aird.
September 6, 2018
This mystery had such a puzzling group of clues, all pointing to different culprits. The resolution was neat, linking the title with the plot in a way that I didn't foresee.
I continue to like this detective, Sloan, but his sidekick is just plain annoying. I get it, he's a dim bulb who occasionally comes up with something that's accidentally helpful to Sloan. Also, the chief is the stereotype of a clueless bureaucrat. As soon as these two show up, you can tell inanity will ensue. Sloan needs more intelligent and perceptive sidekicks.
That said, this was one nifty mystery.
I continue to like this detective, Sloan, but his sidekick is just plain annoying. I get it, he's a dim bulb who occasionally comes up with something that's accidentally helpful to Sloan. Also, the chief is the stereotype of a clueless bureaucrat. As soon as these two show up, you can tell inanity will ensue. Sloan needs more intelligent and perceptive sidekicks.
That said, this was one nifty mystery.
July 28, 2019
This is the first book I have read by this author and I don't think I will be looking for any more. It was a very light read (ultra light) and as another reviewer mentioned the characters are somewhat stereotyped. The clueless detective sergeant who accompanies Inspector Sloane is really annoying with his asinine comments. The plot was fairly interesting but apart from that I found nothing to recommend in this crime novel.
September 20, 2020
Suddenly an abandoned house and property is the center of machinations outside of town. Home developers, historical preservationists, and an individual who always wanted to live there - all are focused on anything to do with Tolmie Park. Theft and arson are just the beginning, and there doesn't seem to be a valid reason for any of the mayhem.
August 12, 2008
Classic style British mystery featuring DCI C.D. Sloan. Sloan begins by investigating a theft and then arson at a Stately Home, and a possible homicide is soon added to the mix. Nicely written, with a clever plot and witty dialogue. Aird is a talented mystery writer who deserves to be better known.
August 1, 2013
Slow-moving, reader has no connection to the many characters introduced. Had a hard time keeping track of everyone and every thing. Pretty soon, it was just too hard work to keep re-reading to try to figure out what I was missing for this book to flow properly.
June 30, 2014
This one took a L O N G time to get going. The police just stumbled around forever with not terribly interesting 'crimes' (or maybe not) and then all at once in the last couple of pages some excitement.
June 13, 2017
"[he was] a man experienced in picking out useful leads arising during the questioning of suspects - and a great practitioner of what was known as repetitive listening. It was surprising what an echo brought out: often enough more than a question did." (p. 62).
"But you will understand that as far as our investigations go, gentlemen, your money and your time don't come into the equation." (p. 95).
"As everyone knows, there is no such animal as complete secrecy." (p.129).
"'I still don't get you,' said the chairman, who had reached his present eminence by exhibiting an obstinate refusal to say he understood anything when he didn't. More difficult still for his subordinates to cope with was his tendency to declare that he didn't understand something when he did. Then he would sit back and listen while some poor unfortunate member of staff spelt out an untenable position." (p. 130).
"Bellamy considered the idea, well aware that Joe Public was a fickle friend at the best of times - and also at best a potentially dangerous one. A press release could turn out to be the loosest of loose cannons." (p. 167).
"In his experience back room women in cardigans were always the ones with the brains." (p. 169).
"The speaker, who lived very well on her unearned income, was touchingly naive about how this income was achieved. [He] quoted an old saw. 'Hell hath no fury like a vested interest masquerading as a principle.'" (p. 198).
"Superintendent Leeyes blew out his cheeks and pronounced something that had been a lifelong maxim in his own working life. 'When in doubt, Sloan, confuse the issue.'" (p. 202).
"In his experience frightened men did things that confident men never would." (p. 217).
"But you will understand that as far as our investigations go, gentlemen, your money and your time don't come into the equation." (p. 95).
"As everyone knows, there is no such animal as complete secrecy." (p.129).
"'I still don't get you,' said the chairman, who had reached his present eminence by exhibiting an obstinate refusal to say he understood anything when he didn't. More difficult still for his subordinates to cope with was his tendency to declare that he didn't understand something when he did. Then he would sit back and listen while some poor unfortunate member of staff spelt out an untenable position." (p. 130).
"Bellamy considered the idea, well aware that Joe Public was a fickle friend at the best of times - and also at best a potentially dangerous one. A press release could turn out to be the loosest of loose cannons." (p. 167).
"In his experience back room women in cardigans were always the ones with the brains." (p. 169).
"The speaker, who lived very well on her unearned income, was touchingly naive about how this income was achieved. [He] quoted an old saw. 'Hell hath no fury like a vested interest masquerading as a principle.'" (p. 198).
"Superintendent Leeyes blew out his cheeks and pronounced something that had been a lifelong maxim in his own working life. 'When in doubt, Sloan, confuse the issue.'" (p. 202).
"In his experience frightened men did things that confident men never would." (p. 217).
August 1, 2020
A reader can tell that this Catherine Aird book will be fun when the Berebury Preservation Society's motto is, "Rebel With a Cause." Catherine Aird has the best sense of humor and I've read her book repeatedly because I always get a chuckle from Detective Chief Inspector C D Sloan and pitiful Constable Crosby. They always get their man (or woman) but do it in such a way that much fun is had by all.
First, an 18th-century painting is purloined and then, empty Tolmie Park goes up in flames. Since Sloan hasn't joined the fire department, we find out that the reason he was called was that a pile of bones was found in the fire. Readers will find red herrings flapping around on most pages -- just to keep the plot stirring. It isn't until the very end that a solution to the wild variety of petty (and not so petty) crimes becomes clear. Another winner for Catherine Aird.
Sloan and Crosby Mystery
-- SKIPPED THE FIRST 15 NOVELS --
16. AfterEffects (1996)
17. Stiff News (1998)
18. Little Knell (2000)
19. Amendment of Life (2002)
20.A Hole in One (2005)
** 21. Losing Ground (2007)
First, an 18th-century painting is purloined and then, empty Tolmie Park goes up in flames. Since Sloan hasn't joined the fire department, we find out that the reason he was called was that a pile of bones was found in the fire. Readers will find red herrings flapping around on most pages -- just to keep the plot stirring. It isn't until the very end that a solution to the wild variety of petty (and not so petty) crimes becomes clear. Another winner for Catherine Aird.
Sloan and Crosby Mystery
-- SKIPPED THE FIRST 15 NOVELS --
16. AfterEffects (1996)
17. Stiff News (1998)
18. Little Knell (2000)
19. Amendment of Life (2002)
20.A Hole in One (2005)
** 21. Losing Ground (2007)
October 1, 2019
Quick read and another set up of strange events that end up leading to an answer... the multiple events from various angles here make this confusing for the reader at times and certainly Insp. Sloan luckily Crosby’s blunt comments help ask those pesky questions in ways that end up helping quite a bit.
I did figure out one aspect of the story by 3/4 through but could not connect the events specifically to them.... but bit by bit Sloan also followed this track and it turned out to be satisfying to watch the answers unfold.
The devil is in the details, and also the answer. Very quick read with some characters that are recognizable to us all.
I did figure out one aspect of the story by 3/4 through but could not connect the events specifically to them.... but bit by bit Sloan also followed this track and it turned out to be satisfying to watch the answers unfold.
The devil is in the details, and also the answer. Very quick read with some characters that are recognizable to us all.
Read
March 20, 2017I do wish quotes on the front of a book were more accurate. As this one was a TLS (Times Literary Supplement) quote I was incensed that the reviewer could make such a daft statement about the writer. 'As clever a detective writer as Margery Allingham'. Well, that sets up high expectations in the reader, this reader particularly. I am an Allingham fan, loved her skill with words, her clever intelligent style and oh, those plots!
This novel is a pleasant read, mildly amusing, with a nice twisty plot with lots of red herring possible villains. It is not anything like Margery Allingham's novels nor are the main characters anything like the complex characters Allingham created. We have the twit police Super, the hard done by Inspector and the idiot sidekick, a load of mildly amusing 2D characters and an intrusive narrator.
Nothing wrong with the book, it's a pleasant read for those who like entertaining light reads. Just don't compare it to an Allingham novel please!
This novel is a pleasant read, mildly amusing, with a nice twisty plot with lots of red herring possible villains. It is not anything like Margery Allingham's novels nor are the main characters anything like the complex characters Allingham created. We have the twit police Super, the hard done by Inspector and the idiot sidekick, a load of mildly amusing 2D characters and an intrusive narrator.
Nothing wrong with the book, it's a pleasant read for those who like entertaining light reads. Just don't compare it to an Allingham novel please!
April 2, 2018
Enjoyed it. Have been reading the series in order: and so often when a "builder" shows up (developer in the US) someone associated with the builder turns out to be the murderer, so I began suspecting all the builders in the story immediately. But in this story, there was no murder - an art theft starts the ball rolling, followed by a spot of arson, and at the end an attempted murder: foiled in the nick of time by Inspector CD Sloan. Not a bad plot: it took a while for me to guess.
May 14, 2025
I think I'll be reading and re-reading this series featuring Inspector C.D. Sloan by Catherine Aird for years to come. I enjoy the characters and the range of characters Aird has created and brought to life.
Her injection of wry humor from time to time throughout each story provides an appreciated relief.
In "Losing Ground," the author's disdain or dislike for bureaucracy is evident and mirrored in Sloan's difficulty in moving forward in his murder investigation.
Her injection of wry humor from time to time throughout each story provides an appreciated relief.
In "Losing Ground," the author's disdain or dislike for bureaucracy is evident and mirrored in Sloan's difficulty in moving forward in his murder investigation.
November 17, 2023
A good series, written by one of the best crime writers. I wish that more were easily available, but will enjoy all I can find. Chief Inspector C.D. Sloan and his legendarily unhelpful Constable Crosbie solve a complicated mystery this time, involving an old manor house and assorted seemingly unconnected other crimes with a witty and sometimes even Shakespearean touch.
June 14, 2023
3.5 stars. A stolen painting. Missing Anglo-Saxon antiquities. Arson. And a pile of bones atop lobster shells. These are the clues in this confusing mystery with an ingenious plot and a heavy dose of dry humor.
November 11, 2024
Dotsbooklist2019 Crosby is a constable. In 28 books he has NEVER displayed the slightest ability. Like the old football supporter joke- "we were lucky to get nil." Similarly, Crosby is lucky to be a constable.
May 23, 2025
A confusing plot. I don’t think it is worth going over again to figure it out. At least not a bloody, evil mystery. Just a matter of greed I guess.
I can’t seem to set the dates—read on May 23, 2025.
I can’t seem to set the dates—read on May 23, 2025.
November 14, 2016
Most of this book revolves around architects, builders, and planning permissions. It's not ... bad or unpleasant, but neither is it excessively engaging. Others in this series appeal to me more.
May 15, 2017
Aird mysteries are dependably good. This one isn't about a murder, though it comes close. Intricate interlocking players in a fraud/burglary/real estate deal.
October 1, 2017
Not my favorite. I love the characters, but the story was pretty low-stakes.
November 7, 2017
kept me guessing to the very end
February 18, 2019
Another enjoyable instalment in this series.
March 6, 2019
good story but not the best written book I have read
May 1, 2019
I thought this was a pretty good book.
February 13, 2022
Oh dear. Miss Marple, Morse and any other detective you can think off have nothing to worry about.
I won't be reading any more in this series. Only the last couple of pages were any good.
I won't be reading any more in this series. Only the last couple of pages were any good.
January 24, 2023
this one was complicated.
I really like the authors style, the comments re Crosby and the superintendent. And the las k of suspense and violence. My cup of English tea!
I really like the authors style, the comments re Crosby and the superintendent. And the las k of suspense and violence. My cup of English tea!
May 31, 2024
Loved the twists and turns of this book. A great read ❤️
March 9, 2025
I sort of miss a good proper murder.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2025
This was different in that it was not about a murder. I have enjoyed this series, but this one was not as interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2025
Meh. Mostly boring, and as others have noted it was only interesting at the end, but, in my opinion, not all that interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews