The Judas Sheep

Charlie Priest #3

by Stuart Pawson

Detective Inspector Charlie Priest of the East Pennine force is officially on sick leave, but this brief break from work comes to an abrupt end when Mrs. Marina Norris's chauffeur is found dead from unnatural causes - namely a blast to the head from a Kalashnikov. Her husband, an American tobacco tycoon, is distinctly unfazed. Meanwhile, big-time drug smugglers on the Hull to Rotterdam run demand his attention. When Charlie discovers the connection between his previous enquiry and the drug smugglers he realizes that he's on very dangerous territory indeed.

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

313 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Stuart Pawson lived in Fairburn, Yorkshire, with his wife, Doreen.

After a career as a mining electrical engineer, he worked part-time for the probation service for five years, mediating between offenders and their victims. This gave him a good insight into the criminal justice system, and it was during this period that he started to write his first book, The Picasso Scam.

Stuart believed he must have some cowboy genes somewhere in his genome because he always had a strong affinity for the American West. His first visit to the USA was to work for a month at a Wyoming coalmine, and he holidayed over there many times. Although tone-deaf (some would say stone-deaf) he always thought it would be good fun to be a songwriter. The thought of composing a three-minute song as opposed to a 300-page book had a certain attraction. He managed to combine the two themes - song writing and the West - in the opening chapters of Laughing Boy, and he enjoyed writing that one immensely.

Reviews

[Kathy]

Nothing really wrong with this police procedural but it held no appeal for me. I did not care for the characters, and the crimes were on the graphic side. It did hold my interest initially as the first victim targeted after her chauffeur was killed led a somewhat colorful life, but her kidnapping and treatment afterwards was beyond the pale for me. Russian thugs with big guns don't hold my interest. I won't feel tempted to try another.

[John Lee]

Having read a few of this series previously this was a very welcome return to Charlie Priest and the crowd at Heckley nick.
As I was about halfway through , I remember thinking that this was my kind of book; an English police drama in an area that I know, a policeman who is happy with his lot who gets on with his colleagues and more importantly his superiors and whose wife accepts his strange hours of work.
There are murders, rapes, violence and drugs but the author doesnt wollow in needless detail.
Thoroughly enjoyable and another in the series is waiting on top of my bookcase.

[Jean Walton]

Not as gripping as some of the earlier novels in this series but I still like the sense of humour portrayed in the book as it takes away some of the bleakness and horrific nature of some of the crimes that are dealt with within its pages.

[Cathy Cole]

I loved the first two Charlie Priest police procedurals by Stuart Pawson so much that it came as a shock to realize how long it had been since I'd read them. I quickly picked up this third book in the series to rectify the matter. The Judas Sheep brought me right back into the story of one of my favorite coppers.

Stuart Pawson knows how to create multi-layered mysteries with excellent pacing, and his writing style draws me right into the story, but-- as is the case with any character-driven reader-- it's Charlie Priest himself who's the shining beacon in this series. He's a good investigator with an excellent team around him, and they are all familiar with his little quirks. (Like to be called by your title? You can count on Charlie to make a point of calling you by name. Several times.) His irreverent sense of humor is a thing of beauty, and I adore Charlie's similes.

In The Judas Sheep, it's good to see Charlie taking his health scare seriously. Of course, it helps that there's a new woman in his life, so learning that there are actually perks to not living for his job comes as a pleasant surprise to him. But if there's one sure thing about Charlie, it's that he's passionate about justice, and he wants justice not only for the dead but for the living, too. Most police in search of results would not treat a dead woman's sister the way Charlie does, and I love the character all the more for it.

If you enjoy police procedurals with engrossing mysteries, a sense of humor, and a wonderful main character, you can't go wrong with Stuart Pawson's Charlie Priest series. If you want to give the series a try-- and I hope you will-- start at the beginning with The Picasso Scam. You're in for some fun.

[Alistair]

Really enjoyed this and glad I stayed with the series. I would recommend to anyone who like British police procedure and 'Englishness'.
If you like Peter Lovesy's Peter Diamond book, this series could well be for you.

[Anita]

A good read, unsure of the title's meaning in relation to the story though there are hints along the way. Will look for the next Charlie Priest book!

[Spuddie]

After the first two fabulous books featuring DI Charlie Priest, I felt that this one slipped, just a little. Probably because Charlie is not actually 'at work' in the book--he's off on sick leave, 'stressed out' from the events at the end of book two. And the story in this one seems just a little implausible, that he is working 'under cover' in a smuggling/drugs sting while being off work, for a different branch of the police force. Nothing official, but his expenses are being paid. How does that work? It seemed not only implausible, but very unwise and dangerous. The boss who asked Charlie to do this is trying to trap "the big boss" in the smuggling ring, yet Charlie is really provided very little cover, and he blows a lot of it...well, I won't spoil it for you, but I just thought that for a smart copper, he did some pretty stupid things.

Regarding the actual murder cases, he drifts in to work and then is off work again, so the cases barely skim the tips of his fingers, and yet WE are much more involved, because we're hearing part of the stories from the POV of some of the bad guys, and the victims. This book focuses quite a lot on Charlie's personal life as well and his day to day routines, such as they were. I'm hoping he's back on track at good old Heckley nick by the time the next book rolls around.

Don't get me wrong--I love this character and setting and the writing...this one just felt a bit off-kilter.

[Barbara A Renton]

Br prepared not to put down. Best if read in sequence

If you follow the character development you will be
Hooked. Few writers in this genre delineate the possible relationships between men and women with as much sensitivity and nuance. Plenty of tension and violence to satisfy some but not all.

[Christine Richmond]

Hanging about with Charlie

Another great read in this series, with many red herrings/twists to keep you guessing. An E-type Jaguar, the lovely Annabelle, leave he doesn't want, kidnap, murder, cigarette thefts all made this a wonderful story and the ending had me in stitches!

Onto the next one.....

[Carol E. Drewes]

Charlie Goes Undercover and Stops A Train

I love this series, and the way the characters develop along the way. Every case (or more usually a set of intertwined cases) is different.

[Julie Fryer]

After reading 3 in the series I think I need a break from Charlie Priest - I’m not saying the books aren’t a decent read, but maybe a bit formulaic at times.
I’ll probably come back to them and see what him and Annabelle are up to in a few months.

[Kaye Cook]

Great!

Love the new author. So hard to find. Great series,great, characters, great mysteries. About to read the next one .
Just have to say this.......NEVER kill the dog.

[John]

A good read.

[Jane Glen]

A promising series. I won't rush to the next one, but will consider reading more.

[Garry]

The humourous asides of the main character detract but otherwise an entertaining tale

[Dawn]

I’m loving this series and really look forward to each new book being published

[Sreader]

Actually 3:5 score. Good characters but messy unconvincing plot.

[Kenneth Rowley]

Charlie does it again.

Interesting book with a clever twist at the end.
Plenty of humour amid the vicious thuggery.
Policing with a difference.

[David Tutt]

The 3rd book in the Charlie Priest series once again sees the DI invetigating a number of different crimes. On this occasion they are all in some way connected.

[BEVERLEY TARRAN]

Enjoyed it but the chapters are far too long, and still too much waffle and padding not really needed

[Virginia Van]

Although officially on sick leave, DI Charlie Priest of the East Pennine force is becoming restless. When a chauffeur is found murdered and his passenger, the wife of an American tobacco tycoon disappears, Charlie is intrigued. As well, he is called in to work undercover to trap some big-time drug smugglers on. When the two cases become linked, Charlie realizes he is in dangerous territory. Although not as tightly plotted as some other titles in the series, this book is still a fast paced and suspenseful with shots of humour to balance the violence. Charlie and Annabelle are an appealing couple.

[Alan Denham]

Typical Pawson - a police procedural with some gentle dry-ish humour, not much violence (though the reader is aware that it is always a possibility) and a beautiful end to the crime story component of the book, particularly to English readers who might know some of the locations involved (Humber Bridge and its environs, and the Ribblehead Viaduct, plus a final passing mention of Kielder Forest).

[Robert Ashford]

Lite read. Too many coincidences and poor witticisms apart from one joke. detective visits west country and befriends a boy who interrupts the practice murder of an MP by a gang he also gets mixed up with on the east coast at Hull. heard about the drug addict injecting curry powder? He's now in a korma!! Would read another when wanting something not too taxing.

[Donna]

Meh. Many other good British police procedurals around. Although I like the characters in these books, I am picky about my crimes. I just don't like books that deal with the whole drug scenario. It may be a part of life and I may be burying my head in the sand but I am not interested in that seamy side of life.

[Maddy]

RATING: 4.5

[Sandi]

An agreeable English Police Procedural set in Yorkshire. The main character, DI Charlie Priest, is quite engaging with a gentle sense of humor and the plot churned along at a nice pace.

[Richard]

Enjoyed this great characters will read the others in the series. 3.8

[David]

Another newish to me series, this is the third book and is still enjoyable.

[Sandra]

The plot seems to be built on too many coincidences. Also the main character is too flippant.