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Inspector Peach #19
Backhand Smash
DCI Peach and DS Northcott investigate a murder at an exclusive tennis club
Detective Sergeant Clyde Northcott – DCI Peach’s tall, black, powerful protégé – has no interest in joining the snooty Birch Lane Tennis Club. So it is unfortunate for him when committee member Olive Crawshaw decides he would be the perfect talisman for the club’s new, and controversial, policy to recruit members from a wider ethnic and social background.
Clyde soon finds himself thrust into an exclusive community where his rusty tennis skills are the least of his for ‘exclusive’ does not mean moral, and while some of the club’s members sail very near the law, one or two of them go far beyond it. So when a distinguished club member is murdered, a problem how can he and Peach unveil the killer, when almost everyone seemed to want the victim dead?
Detective Sergeant Clyde Northcott – DCI Peach’s tall, black, powerful protégé – has no interest in joining the snooty Birch Lane Tennis Club. So it is unfortunate for him when committee member Olive Crawshaw decides he would be the perfect talisman for the club’s new, and controversial, policy to recruit members from a wider ethnic and social background.
Clyde soon finds himself thrust into an exclusive community where his rusty tennis skills are the least of his for ‘exclusive’ does not mean moral, and while some of the club’s members sail very near the law, one or two of them go far beyond it. So when a distinguished club member is murdered, a problem how can he and Peach unveil the killer, when almost everyone seemed to want the victim dead?
224 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2016
9 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Gregson
64 books50 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 29, 2025
It was an okay read. I don't recommend it. The mystery was somewhat interesting. Although, an Agatha Christie is better.
November 17, 2015
Chief Inspector Percy Peach's bag carrier, Clyde Northcott, is being dragooned into the local tennis club because the club committee are seeking to recruit more members from ethnic minorities. Not all the committee are in favour of his membership. When a local businessman is found dead in his car after the tennis club summer ball there are plenty of suspects.
Jason Fitton's business interests were not always on the right side of the law as they included prostitution and gambling. Did a rival decide to remove him? Or is his death the result of something in his private life. Peach and Northcott have their work cut out getting anyone to talk let alone be honest.
This is a well written mystery with plenty of interesting characters - both likeable and obnoxious. I liked Peach himself and his wife Lucy and I think I shall be reading more of this series. There is plenty of humour in the story and the plot is well constructed and all too believable and topical. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
Jason Fitton's business interests were not always on the right side of the law as they included prostitution and gambling. Did a rival decide to remove him? Or is his death the result of something in his private life. Peach and Northcott have their work cut out getting anyone to talk let alone be honest.
This is a well written mystery with plenty of interesting characters - both likeable and obnoxious. I liked Peach himself and his wife Lucy and I think I shall be reading more of this series. There is plenty of humour in the story and the plot is well constructed and all too believable and topical. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
November 2, 2024
DCI Peach #19. I note that Peach is only about 38 yo at this point. He seems to get along with his "bagman" DS Northcott, who we are constantly reminded is a "hard man". Seemingly he's a bit of a pussy when it comes to getting out of joining a tennis club, which was never going to work out well. A 6'3" black guy who is built like a brick shithouse, as we say in Oz, can't hide in a corner. At least we can be sure he has no worries about Peach, who married his last "bagman" - Lucy, and she didn't want to be called a bag lady! This we are told at least a couple of times.
On the other hand, there is a new member of the team, Elaine Brockman, a graduate entrant (they are often fast tracked for promotion, apparently). She doesn't take long to get her hooks into DS Northcott, probably working on the well-known adage that a hard man is good to find.
Unfortunately, at this stage of the series, the author seems to be working on formulaic plots and solutions. I twigged immediately when the culprit was introduced to the story, because the situation was exactly the same as in #18.
Rating 2.9.
On the other hand, there is a new member of the team, Elaine Brockman, a graduate entrant (they are often fast tracked for promotion, apparently). She doesn't take long to get her hooks into DS Northcott, probably working on the well-known adage that a hard man is good to find.
Unfortunately, at this stage of the series, the author seems to be working on formulaic plots and solutions. I twigged immediately when the culprit was introduced to the story, because the situation was exactly the same as in #18.
Rating 2.9.
August 28, 2017
If you like the dialogue you like the book. Sgt. Northcott joins a tennis club but the investigation of a murder is pretty straight forward. The ending, where the culprits are revealed was a little bit of a surprise, but only because we didn't know the results of forensics until then.
November 24, 2023
Excellent
Excellent series of Percy Peach Mysteries. Highly recommended. Not until close to the end who the murder might be. Could not put the book down until the end and then immediately started the next book. When will book 20 be released in the series
Excellent series of Percy Peach Mysteries. Highly recommended. Not until close to the end who the murder might be. Could not put the book down until the end and then immediately started the next book. When will book 20 be released in the series
February 18, 2016
Murder at the Tennis Court – “you cannot be serious!”
This is the first book I have read in the Percy Peach series by this prolific and popular author and it was an easy, light and enjoyable read.
Percy is Detective Chief Inspector at Brunton Police station where he labours under the reign of Chief Superintendent Tommy Bloody Tucker, generally considered to be incompetent! However, Percy has his own secret weapon in the form of Detective Sergeant Clyde Northcott, an impressively sized black colleague who Percy affectionately refers to as his ‘hard bugger!’ Latest to the team is newly qualified, graduate entrant Elaine Brockman who may be green but is very anxious to learn.
At the beginning, Clyde is disturbed to have fallen under the eye of the redoubtable Olive Crawshaw of the Birch Fields Tennis Club, where she is working on expanding the diversity amongst members. She is determined to sign him up, and as Elaine is already a member they are in the perfect place when one of the members is found murdered at the end of the Summer Ball.
Gregson combines a convincing plot with excellent characterisation and a good helping of humour, which makes this story fairly romp along as the police find themselves interviewing a wide section of the community. It soon becomes clear that the existing Tennis Club members are a long way from being beyond reproach in both their club and business lives. A tangled web of intrigue develops where it becomes apparent that many are less honest than they would claim, whilst others are downright crooked!
As well as this, there is developing love interest between Clyde and Elaine, whilst Percy receives some good news to brighten his life. Lots to enjoy and a satisfying ending. Four stars deserved for this light portrayal of the genre.
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
This is the first book I have read in the Percy Peach series by this prolific and popular author and it was an easy, light and enjoyable read.
Percy is Detective Chief Inspector at Brunton Police station where he labours under the reign of Chief Superintendent Tommy Bloody Tucker, generally considered to be incompetent! However, Percy has his own secret weapon in the form of Detective Sergeant Clyde Northcott, an impressively sized black colleague who Percy affectionately refers to as his ‘hard bugger!’ Latest to the team is newly qualified, graduate entrant Elaine Brockman who may be green but is very anxious to learn.
At the beginning, Clyde is disturbed to have fallen under the eye of the redoubtable Olive Crawshaw of the Birch Fields Tennis Club, where she is working on expanding the diversity amongst members. She is determined to sign him up, and as Elaine is already a member they are in the perfect place when one of the members is found murdered at the end of the Summer Ball.
Gregson combines a convincing plot with excellent characterisation and a good helping of humour, which makes this story fairly romp along as the police find themselves interviewing a wide section of the community. It soon becomes clear that the existing Tennis Club members are a long way from being beyond reproach in both their club and business lives. A tangled web of intrigue develops where it becomes apparent that many are less honest than they would claim, whilst others are downright crooked!
As well as this, there is developing love interest between Clyde and Elaine, whilst Percy receives some good news to brighten his life. Lots to enjoy and a satisfying ending. Four stars deserved for this light portrayal of the genre.
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
February 28, 2016
"Backhand Smash" is an interesting British procedural featuring Chief Inspector Percy Peach and Detective Clyde Northcott. These two main characters make this book worth reading. Peach reminds me of a toned-down Inspector Morse in that he says what he feels without considering if his remarks are politically correct. Peach is a good detective and a good person and I enjoyed seeing the rapport between him and his direct report and right-hand man, Northcott.
I enjoyed the story and watching the investigation unfold as several likely suspects emerge in the death of a dangerous man who was an established member of an exclusive tennis club that Northcott had recently joined. The victim is a businessman with several shady dealings on the side, so the two detectives have a lot to investigate to get to the truth of the murder. I was surprised at the direction the investigation took and enjoyed the ending. The story moved a bit slowly in some parts, but overall, I liked the characters and the subtle humor through the book.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Severn House. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the story and watching the investigation unfold as several likely suspects emerge in the death of a dangerous man who was an established member of an exclusive tennis club that Northcott had recently joined. The victim is a businessman with several shady dealings on the side, so the two detectives have a lot to investigate to get to the truth of the murder. I was surprised at the direction the investigation took and enjoyed the ending. The story moved a bit slowly in some parts, but overall, I liked the characters and the subtle humor through the book.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Severn House. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2016
The Birch Lane Tennis Club wants to diversify, and finds Percy Peach's assistant, DS Clyde Northcott, the perfect candidate. Clyde has no interest in being their token Black, until a charming new police recruit convinces him it would be a good idea. After the summer ball, one of the members is murdered. And this isn't a namby-pamby murder with no motive available--everybody, including the police, really disliked this victim. The trouble is in narrowing down which person with a motive actually did the deed.
February 17, 2016
Excellent addition to the Percy Peach novels.
Much of the novel circles around Clyde Northcott joining the local tennis club. It turns out he can provided some interesting insights when a prominent member is murdered in the aftermath of the annual summer ball.
The story bounces along nicely. Lots of clues and red herrings, as per usual. An excellent read.
Highly recommended.
Much of the novel circles around Clyde Northcott joining the local tennis club. It turns out he can provided some interesting insights when a prominent member is murdered in the aftermath of the annual summer ball.
The story bounces along nicely. Lots of clues and red herrings, as per usual. An excellent read.
Highly recommended.
March 21, 2016
Very good police officer book. Good teamwork between partners and ability to be honest and also get the conviction.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews