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Lambert and Hook #3
Dead on Course
Amid the luxurious surroundings of the Wye Castle Hotel and Country Club, a man is found dead on the golf course.
Superintendent Lambert and Sergeant Hook establish fairly quickly how he died.
But discovering who killed him proves a far more difficult challenge.
The golf course and hotel are set in spectacular scenery beside one of England's most beautiful rivers, with Hereford's ancient Cathedral visible in the distance.
In May, this incomparable valley is at its best, yet it is a bizarre setting for the investigation of a brutal murder.
Gradually, over the days of their stay, Lambert unearths the secrets of the group who surrounded the dead man.
The investigation becomes ever more urgent, for even as the suspects play golf and enjoy good food and wine, there is more violence threatened within the ivy-clad walls of the old hotel…
Dead on Course is a chilling, expertly-plotted mystery story and the third book in the Lambert and Hook Detective series.
It is perfect for fans of Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson.
‘Begins with quiet observation before pouncing to murderous effect’ - Sunday Express
‘A chilling story that never flags from start to finish’ - Bolton Evening News
James Michael Gregson taught for twenty-seven years in schools, colleges and universities before concentrating on full-time writing. He has written books on subjects as diverse as golf and Shakespeare. His other crime novels include Bring Forth Your Dead , Dead on Course , Making a Killing , Stranglehold and Body Politic .
Superintendent Lambert and Sergeant Hook establish fairly quickly how he died.
But discovering who killed him proves a far more difficult challenge.
The golf course and hotel are set in spectacular scenery beside one of England's most beautiful rivers, with Hereford's ancient Cathedral visible in the distance.
In May, this incomparable valley is at its best, yet it is a bizarre setting for the investigation of a brutal murder.
Gradually, over the days of their stay, Lambert unearths the secrets of the group who surrounded the dead man.
The investigation becomes ever more urgent, for even as the suspects play golf and enjoy good food and wine, there is more violence threatened within the ivy-clad walls of the old hotel…
Dead on Course is a chilling, expertly-plotted mystery story and the third book in the Lambert and Hook Detective series.
It is perfect for fans of Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson.
‘Begins with quiet observation before pouncing to murderous effect’ - Sunday Express
‘A chilling story that never flags from start to finish’ - Bolton Evening News
James Michael Gregson taught for twenty-seven years in schools, colleges and universities before concentrating on full-time writing. He has written books on subjects as diverse as golf and Shakespeare. His other crime novels include Bring Forth Your Dead , Dead on Course , Making a Killing , Stranglehold and Body Politic .
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 1991
220 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Gregson
63 books48 followersJames Michael Gregson taught for twenty-seven years in schools, colleges and universities before concentrating on full-time writing. He has written books on subjects as diverse as golf and Shakespeare.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 3, 2024
The picture on the cover of my version reminded me of my old grammar school.
This is the third book in the omnibus of this series. My wife has read the lot and enjoyed them. My thoughts after the third are much the same as after the first. There is notihng to dislike about them and they are a very easy read.
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Set in a Country Club on a Company's Golf weekend away, the death of the Owner of the Company brought in our two Constabulary officers to investigate. They soon uncovered how unpopular the man was and that everyone could have a motive for his removal.
The exchanges between Superintendant and his sergeant that my wife had enjoyed for their humour don't feature as much in this episode.
Unusually for me, this time I had the culprit early on, possibly as soon as the motive was first mentioned.
A steady pleasant read with nothing to moan about. So steady, in fact, that it seemed to lack any suspense or excitement.
Will I continue the omnibus or do I want something more?
I'm not sure.
This is the third book in the omnibus of this series. My wife has read the lot and enjoyed them. My thoughts after the third are much the same as after the first. There is notihng to dislike about them and they are a very easy read.
.
Set in a Country Club on a Company's Golf weekend away, the death of the Owner of the Company brought in our two Constabulary officers to investigate. They soon uncovered how unpopular the man was and that everyone could have a motive for his removal.
The exchanges between Superintendant and his sergeant that my wife had enjoyed for their humour don't feature as much in this episode.
Unusually for me, this time I had the culprit early on, possibly as soon as the motive was first mentioned.
A steady pleasant read with nothing to moan about. So steady, in fact, that it seemed to lack any suspense or excitement.
Will I continue the omnibus or do I want something more?
I'm not sure.
June 29, 2016
The second Lambert & Hook novel I have read.
Not bad. I still think I prefer Gregson's Percy Peach novels. But hopefully Detective Superintendent John Lambert will grow on me.
Pleasant enough read, but found the characters too hard to warm to.
Not bad. I still think I prefer Gregson's Percy Peach novels. But hopefully Detective Superintendent John Lambert will grow on me.
Pleasant enough read, but found the characters too hard to warm to.
March 7, 2024
Four men go on a golfing vacation at the Wye Castle resort, and one of them is murdered during the vacation. The victim is the employer of two of the others, and all three of the others had reasons to despise him. It is up to Superintdent John Lambert and Sergeant Bert Hook to identify the murderer.
As in the previous two books in this series, there is a small group of suspects, and the novel concentrates on the detectives' questioning of these suspects. We continue to get to know the two detectives along with DI Rushton, another member of their smoothly functioning team.
As in the previous two books in this series, there is a small group of suspects, and the novel concentrates on the detectives' questioning of these suspects. We continue to get to know the two detectives along with DI Rushton, another member of their smoothly functioning team.
December 27, 2018
A man is found dead on a luxury golf course. Lambert and Hook are called in to investigate. It's up to them to discover which of the man's party of friends could have done it.
Interesting police procedural.
Interesting police procedural.
October 30, 2018
Liked this story. Elaborate detailing of the game shows the expertise of the author in the said game. Also, I prefer the not-so-flamboyant character of Lambert as the sleuth. The story has a good plot and is well-written.
October 30, 2020
A group of people are staying at the Wye Castle Golf and Country Club. When one of the party is discovered murdered, a man of many enemies. Superintendent Lambert and DS Hook investigate to discover the motive before another death occurs.
Originally written in 1991.
An entertaining story
Originally written in 1991.
An entertaining story
June 27, 2024
This is the third book I have now read from the Lambert and Hook mystery series. Very well conceived, written and perfectly constructed. Ready for more. I do enjoy the golf course setting at this time of year.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited
December 17, 2018
A good story and quite well put together but I couldn't get on with some of the characters.
November 14, 2023
Just couldn't get into this book.
January 5, 2025
A decent police procedural but fairly easy to spot who and why.
November 18, 2025
Murder mystery on the golf course...
January 28, 2016
A luxurious hotel and golf course just outside Hereford is the setting for a case of did he fall or was he pushed? It quickly becomes clear to Lambert and Hook that the victim was in fact pushed and they are investigating a case of murder rather than a tragic accident. Guy Harrington was disliked - even hated - by the business associates and employees with whom he was enjoying a golfing break so the police are not short of suspects. What's more they all seem to be lying about something and precisely why did the widow rush to the scene to identify the body?
This is a well written and entertaining police procedural crime novel with two likeable detectives as the main characters. I thought the rest of the characters were well drawn and I could easily see why so many people wanted to murder Harrington.
If you are looking for well written crime novels then you may well find any of the two series written by J M Gregson to be just what you're looking. Each book is part of a series but the books can be read as standalone novels and the series - Lambert and Hook and Percy Peach - can be read in any order.
This is a well written and entertaining police procedural crime novel with two likeable detectives as the main characters. I thought the rest of the characters were well drawn and I could easily see why so many people wanted to murder Harrington.
If you are looking for well written crime novels then you may well find any of the two series written by J M Gregson to be just what you're looking. Each book is part of a series but the books can be read as standalone novels and the series - Lambert and Hook and Percy Peach - can be read in any order.
November 29, 2016
3.5 stars
Dead on Course finds Lambert & Hook investigating a man found dead on the golf course of the Castle on Wye Hotel and Country Club. Once again, there are plenty of suspects and again, the plot avoids the sensational aspect of gore, concentrating instead on characters, motives, and careful plotting.
These books don't have to be read in order, each crime is conducted well within the confines of the book. The mysteries rely on astute and resourceful police work, not sensational or bizarre murders by evil or demonic characters. The guilty party may have sociopathic tendencies--or may be an ordinary individual pushed by circumstance, but the murders are not senseless or random. The killer has a reason for the murder, rather than killing simply for the pleasure of it.
Kindle Unlimited
Police Procedural. 1991/2015.
Dead on Course finds Lambert & Hook investigating a man found dead on the golf course of the Castle on Wye Hotel and Country Club. Once again, there are plenty of suspects and again, the plot avoids the sensational aspect of gore, concentrating instead on characters, motives, and careful plotting.
These books don't have to be read in order, each crime is conducted well within the confines of the book. The mysteries rely on astute and resourceful police work, not sensational or bizarre murders by evil or demonic characters. The guilty party may have sociopathic tendencies--or may be an ordinary individual pushed by circumstance, but the murders are not senseless or random. The killer has a reason for the murder, rather than killing simply for the pleasure of it.
Kindle Unlimited
Police Procedural. 1991/2015.
October 3, 2013
Added tedium of association with 1 of the least interesting of "sports" and the baddie's pretty obvious fairly early on.
December 11, 2016
First Lambert and Hook mystery for me. OK but not sure I want to pursue more of them.
May 8, 2017
The team of Lambert and Hook solve another one...these older police procedures are very well done and J. M. Gregson is definitely worth reading.
April 22, 2017
Another excellent police procedural from J. M. Gregson; well-written with believable characters. Even though the murder happens on a golfing holiday, the golfing did not intrude annoyingly and no knowledge was assumed. My only gripe is that I don't need to be told that Sgt Hook was a Barnado's boy quite as often as the author seems to think. I also was bemused by the idea of children going missing from Cheltenham - nothing that exciting happened there in my childhood (which did probably cover the time the book is set)!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews