Persons of Interest

DC Smith #4

by Peter Grainger

In the peace and tranquillity of the woods at Pinehills on a Saturday afternoon, a mobile phone begins to ring. The phone belongs to DC Smith and it isn’t unusual that the call is from Kings Lake Central police station; what is unusual is the fact that he seems to be the subject of an investigation rather than taking part in one. What can the links be between a prisoner’s violent death in another county, the disappearance of two teenagers and the highest profile case in Kings Lake for many years? As Smith and his team begin to untangle the threads, one thing becomes clear – they are dealing with some of the most dangerous people that they have yet encountered.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Procedural, British Literature

408 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 29, 2015

About the author

A British author, the writer Peter Grainger is a well known novelist of mystery fiction, largely focused on detective lead investigations. This his been the prime focus for much of his career, as he takes much of his inspiration from that of other infamous British detectives, such as Inspector Morse. The influence is clearly evident here, as he brings his own detective, DC Smith, to life, along with other books as well. Setting his mysteries firmly within the world of British detective fiction it is clear where his tastes lie as an author of his increasingly popular stories, stories that only increase in popularity as time goes on.

Reviews

[Kim Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series. It's good, solid British crime fiction and one in which the reader does not have to wade through offensive language, gratuitous sex, or gruesome violence to enjoy the story. The main character DC Smith has a great blend of intelligence and humor The narration by Gildart Jackson is excellent! I read in an interview with Peter Grainger that he self-published his books because no literary agent was interested. I'm glad he persisted through the rejections - such enjoyable listens!

[Terence M [on a brief semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another strong 4-Stars - "I Really Liked It!"
"Last night I wasted 2.3 hours listening to a 'novella' co-authored by Karin Slaughter and Lee Child. I was so pi**ed off, I started DC Smith, #4, to re-establish my reading/listening equilibrium😒!"
- From My Listening Activity, 5 February, 2024.

While thinking about my review of Persons of Interest, I decided that I couldn't write anything as succinct or more appropriate than this review, written by GR reviewer Kim Elder on June 10, 2020:

"Love this series. It's good, solid British crime fiction and one in which the reader does not have to wade through offensive language, gratuitous sex, or gruesome violence to enjoy the story. The main character DC Smith has a great blend of intelligence and humor. The narration by Gildart Jackson is excellent! I read in an interview with Peter Grainger that he self-published his books because no literary agent was interested. I'm glad he persisted through the rejections - such enjoyable listens!"

Very well said, Kim! I am also glad that Peter Grainger persevered. He is a very fine writer of the genre and I look forward to reading all his works over time, in series order, of course!

[Kaye Stambaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series

I'm always delighted to find a new mystery/detective series with smart, witty and believable characters. After reading the first book, An Accidental Death', I was hooked.

D.C. Smith, an English police detective is short, dresses a little shabby but as you read through the series, more backstory is introduced. If you don't love him immediately for his wit (I did), the more one learns about Smith's skills and talents, so grows the respect for this police sergeant. My own tea making skills are now improved as Smith is very particular about his tea!

A number of the other recurring characters create a diverse cast. Each story line has been believable and interesting. Smith uses wit and experience to solve cases, and as he teaches the rookie, Waters, he's teaching the reader as well.

[Pat Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world as seen through the eyes of D C Smith is a far richer one than that of your average police procedural... Read all the available cases in two days, and I look forward to more! Rare intelligence, humor and great writing; you can't ask for more than that. This is the first time in a long while that I've felt compelled to write a review: Smith's cases make for great reads!

The world as seen through the eyes of D C Smith is a far richer one than that of your average police procedural... I read all of the available cases in two days, and I look forward to more! Rare intelligence, humor and great writing; you can't ask for more than that. This is the first time in a long while that I've felt compelled to write a review: Smith's cases make for great reads!

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still loving this wonderful series, but I am dreading DC's retirement 😕

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to enjoy these books. This one has a major drug bust in focus with kidnapping on the side - Smith's focus to protect the two young people who had been snatched. These self-published books do have missing words or incorrect words here and there, but the content, action, characters win the day.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I’ve reached my limit on this series. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I have the others. A lot of characters to keep up with. All the action was at the end, and that was pretty hairy. I do like the character of D.C. Smith; so I will try another of the series and see how that goes.

[Kathleen King · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book just irritated me - the bad grammar, omitted words, spelling or lack thereof and then the ridiculous long segues about nothing.

[Annery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I'm continuing with this series which I would strongly recommend but I must emphasize that it should be read/listened to in order as there are storylines threaded throughout the books that get a little nugget in each installment.

Here another circuitous case lands in Smith's lap while life continues around him: Chris going through growing pains, Jo inadvertently burrowing under his skin, Serena finding her legs among the squad. I had a few bad minutes where I thought this was going to be a heartbreaker but the author took pity on his characters & the reader.

10/10 recommend ❤️

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He said, ‘I like the autumn here – a fine, clear, still day in the early autumn. That sense of an ending, it sharpens the appreciation of what you have left, I think – makes you value every minute of it. In the spring there is almost too much still to come, so much you can sort of waste it... if that doesn’t sound too daft.’"

It was so good to get back to my new favorite philosopher detective DC Smith of the Kings Lake PD in Norfolk, England. I truly savor these books by Peter Grainger. I only wish they were better edited....quite a few missing words. But it only slightly detracted from my enjoyment of the fourth book in this police procedural series that also emphasizes and developes the familiar characters into people I would like to know.

The case took awhile to get going because, as usual, DC is more concerned with the kidnapping of two teenagers than the big picture, i.e., a large-scale drug operation which his separate investigation may jeopardize. As usual some of the "bad guys" are not all bad and have family they care about. DC understands this and is therefore trusted enough to both find out more information and put in a good word for them in the end.

As he says while looking into a murder in prison that may in some way involve him, "....the only reason he did not favour the death penalty for the worst of them was because he knew only too well that policemen themselves are fallible, that judges and juries makes mistakes, that the system never has been and never can be perfect." He has seen enough of the dregs of society, musing "...at the bottom of this heap, were the inadequate, the addicted, the homeless, the mentally ill who would all spend time here [in jail] in the end if society could find no other answers for them." As a social worker turned lawyer, I so relate to DC!

I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling read!

I have been binging on books by Peter Grainger. A wonderful time. Enjoy the Smith series. You won't regret it!

[Candida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep coming back to this series because of the humor. That's a rare thing anymore, and especially in a crime fiction series. This part of the series was odd because the department got thrown into a scenario of beat cop and it seemed like they were looking for a crime. In the end they seemingly walked write into what looked like two crimes at first but turned out to be related.
A prisoner is killed by another inmate in prison and after a search of the dead inmate's cell the police find an old phone number of DC Smith. This begins a formal investigation, which is the start of a private investigation, by Smith. Why did this inmate want to contact Smith?

[P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

More interesting than the others I've read in this series - it's less 'all about him' ie the lead DC Smith than the first few. Not that he's bad he's just a bit much really which leaves a good deal less room for the other characters to make an impression. Some of the others aren't interesting or maybe I mean believable - Serena comes to mind - but a few might be nice to get to know a bit better. Frankly, whenever Smith plugs in his guitar, I skip pages.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did it keep my interest? 4.5. I made the mistake of having an Irish whiskey, then lit a cigar while I listened. I didn’t really pay attention and had to re-listen to an hour the next day. I like DC Smith so much I listened to a chapter twice so I didn’t miss anything.

Did I enjoy the topic? 4 This one had a drug storyline. I’m particularly fussy about what I watch or read, as Jen will remind me. I don’t like stories where drugs are a main theme. I don’t like stories that are built around a lie. I don’t like science fiction where everything has a made up name. I don’t like murder mysteries where young kids are the victim. I could go on.
Other than the drug plot, this one had DC Smith doing DC Smith things with smarts and humor, and that is enough to keep me coming back.

Was the dialogue realistic? 4. More humor in this 4th book of the series. There was a very silly exchange between Hill and Smith that made me giggle. Smith said something about everyone having a purpose and Hill answered back as if he said everyone has a porpoise. It went back and forth like that.

Would I recommend to Jen (smart, discerning reader)? 5. I won’t quit recommending this series to Jen. I even ‘accidentally’ forgot to turn on my ear buds so that she could get a taste of a masterclass of a British detective series.

Would I have recommended to my Mom (read for entertainment)? 4 I’ve already given my approval for mom to read any DC Smith novel.

Quality of narrator? 5. Gildart Jackson is still at the top of this narrator game. He reads Peter Grainger’s humor brilliantly.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting very much in media res, not that Smith knows it, the murder of a prisoner near Huntingdon draws our favourite coppers into discovering that another crime has been committed but that the clock is ticking…

PG builds the tension very effectively towards the end, and we get quite a bit more action than in the previous instalments. Breathtaking bravery, too. Would that all police officers were like the best of this fine bunch.

This series is clear, unpretentious, slightly old-fashioned, clean, serious, leavened with banter (but not too much) and skilfully weaves the standalone novels into a true ongoing story.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author’s usual good work in producing an interesting, moral, and engaging work. Narrator is excellent, also his usual. Author self-published his works at first (I was told this by a hard core fan)…still hard to believe — what were the publishers thinking?!?

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Not the best in the series, maybe, but I love the audio voice of the narrator and immediately downloaded the next in the series for a car trip.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better. Gildart Jackson does a brilliant job with the narration.

[Vickie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one didn't seem to hold my interest they way the previous books did. I will still be continuing the series.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story. Love this series.

[Chesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourth book in the series and my favorite so far. Smith in all his multifaceted, intriguing, old-soul, sharp, philosophical, wry glory. 😁 Love the narration of the audiobook.

[Sue Wile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always entertaining reads, especially with the British accents.

[Rachel Steiger]

I thought I wasn't an audiobook person, but it turns out I just needed DC Smith.
Also, I really want a full tutorial from him on how to make the perfect cup of tea.

[Paula R. C. Readman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read. Brilliant writing

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more like 3.5 stars. It was harder to put down than some of the previous books in this series and interesting events in the back story to go along with the story specific to this book. Still a little edgy but one of the better ones in this series.

[Caroline Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life transitions are a good time for detective stories. I like this series!

[Quenta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these police mysteries a lot. Fun dialogue and interesting characters. But they’re not exactly memorable. I was halfway through the third in the series before I remembered I’d already read it.

[Jill Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having my nose in Les Mis for 2 weeks I wanted a quick, fun audiobook. Peter Grainger, as always, is the book! Good series, very likable detective, dry humor, an area of England I don’t know much about.
A day of driving, walking in the sunshine and making a meal means that this 10 hr audio, at 1.75 speed was a good days entertainment. ☺️

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy these so much; they're comforting, like a warm blanket! Beyond the characters, which make the series, I love that the cases are more plausible - it's refreshing not to be dragged into the mind of some depraved serial killer. And there's still plenty of excitement as the detectives work their way toward solving the crime. Looking forward to the next installment!

[Ray Melville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very tense! Not like the others in the series, this is more of a thriller than a police procedural. Excellent though.