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Bill Slider #2
До смърт
ЗАГАДЪЧНАТА ЧЕРВЕНОКОСА (Из разпит на свидетелка)
- Казвах му го! Казвах му, че някой ден ще го намерят мъртъв в леглото с една от курвите му,
- Курви ли, госпожо Нийл?
- А как иначе бихте ги нарекли? Видях оная да излиза от колата му. С невероятно къса пола! Малката червенокоса кучка!
0'МАФИЯ (Из съвещание при прокурора)
- Бил, помниш ли братята Ниъри?
- 0'Мафия? Кой би могъл да ги забрави? Благодарение на тях заприличахме на Чикаго. Не ми казвай, че са се върнали!
- Най-младият, Калъм, е излязъл от пандиза. Решил е да изгради цялата империя отново - рекет, хазарт, проституция - пълната гама...
- Казвах му го! Казвах му, че някой ден ще го намерят мъртъв в леглото с една от курвите му,
- Курви ли, госпожо Нийл?
- А как иначе бихте ги нарекли? Видях оная да излиза от колата му. С невероятно къса пола! Малката червенокоса кучка!
0'МАФИЯ (Из съвещание при прокурора)
- Бил, помниш ли братята Ниъри?
- 0'Мафия? Кой би могъл да ги забрави? Благодарение на тях заприличахме на Чикаго. Не ми казвай, че са се върнали!
- Най-младият, Калъм, е излязъл от пандиза. Решил е да изгради цялата империя отново - рекет, хазарт, проституция - пълната гама...
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
36 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
168 books491 followersCynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 17, 2019
I am enjoying this series of police procedurals featuring Detective Inspector Bill Slider. He is an easy protagonist to like with his even temper, detective skills, and fair-mindedness. His personal life leaves room for improvement, but has he the courage to make the change? Is it change that he's truly seeking?
June 23, 2017
The second in this series of police procedurals--and like the first, full of friendly banter among the main characters much of which is genuinely funny. All the minor characters are vividly drawn and talk with unique voices. But this one seemed to drag on for a very long time, the police hopelessly spinning their wheels with little real evidence to work on; and the solution, when it finally came, was so far fetched that I had a great deal of difficulty suspending my disbelief.
March 12, 2009
DEATH WATCH (Pol. Proc-Bill Slider-England-Cont)-Ex
Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia - 2nd in series
From Fantastic Fiction: A motor lodge fire and the body of a middle-aged businessman bring London's Detective Inspector Bill Slider to the scene. Slider's superiors hope for a ruling of anything but murder, until Slider uncovers a possible link between this death and a 20-year-old homicide.
I love British writers. I love the their wry humor. Great story, great charaacters, great plot. A definite winner.
Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia - 2nd in series
From Fantastic Fiction: A motor lodge fire and the body of a middle-aged businessman bring London's Detective Inspector Bill Slider to the scene. Slider's superiors hope for a ruling of anything but murder, until Slider uncovers a possible link between this death and a 20-year-old homicide.
I love British writers. I love the their wry humor. Great story, great charaacters, great plot. A definite winner.
February 8, 2019
A Most Nostalgic Case
On the heels of the first Bill Slider mystery, so wonderfully featuring key elements of his personal life interwoven with the unraveling of a crime, the first half or so of the second book surprisingly focuses on the latest mystery to the virtual exclusion of the ongoing personal drama.
Well, that's no good, I thought. I can read mysteries anywhere. The personal life is what makes Slider compelling.
Turns out the mystery built to a very satisfying Christie-like climax, and the denouement advanced the plot a bit on the personal life drama.
Also, one again the book is filled with poignant thoughts, highbrow humour and intelligence. Not being a Brit, I know a few things are slipping by me, but I'm getting many non-plot-related tidbits that add much enjoyment to the plot.
This investigating triggers a good deal of nostalgia in Bill, with some thoughts around how we grow disillusioned as we age and reach an ambiguous point where our thinking and expectations change. The "loss of innocence", Bill muses as he talks to a suspect. "In every life, there is a moment when the gates of the garden shut behind you, and you realised that from now on, the pleasure you had always taken for granted would have to be worked for." One of my favorite quotes in the book, besides the preceding one, was the follow-on thought Bill had along those lines: "Before, one thing wrong and the day was spoilt; afterwards, one thing right and the day is made". How true!
So yes, I shall eagerly continue to read the series, and hope for a bit more on the personal side in volume 3.
On the heels of the first Bill Slider mystery, so wonderfully featuring key elements of his personal life interwoven with the unraveling of a crime, the first half or so of the second book surprisingly focuses on the latest mystery to the virtual exclusion of the ongoing personal drama.
Well, that's no good, I thought. I can read mysteries anywhere. The personal life is what makes Slider compelling.
Turns out the mystery built to a very satisfying Christie-like climax, and the denouement advanced the plot a bit on the personal life drama.
Also, one again the book is filled with poignant thoughts, highbrow humour and intelligence. Not being a Brit, I know a few things are slipping by me, but I'm getting many non-plot-related tidbits that add much enjoyment to the plot.
This investigating triggers a good deal of nostalgia in Bill, with some thoughts around how we grow disillusioned as we age and reach an ambiguous point where our thinking and expectations change. The "loss of innocence", Bill muses as he talks to a suspect. "In every life, there is a moment when the gates of the garden shut behind you, and you realised that from now on, the pleasure you had always taken for granted would have to be worked for." One of my favorite quotes in the book, besides the preceding one, was the follow-on thought Bill had along those lines: "Before, one thing wrong and the day was spoilt; afterwards, one thing right and the day is made". How true!
So yes, I shall eagerly continue to read the series, and hope for a bit more on the personal side in volume 3.
December 16, 2020
Reading through the GoodReads reviews, I'm amazed.
A friend mentioned the Bill Slider series so I read the first one, and it was OK, so found the 2nd. This is one of the worst 'mystery-procedurals' I've ever read, and that's quite a few. My edition of this book is 280 pages long. Literally NOTHING happens in over half of the book! Just a bunch of Yak. No plot development to speak of at all - it's just yammer, and silly yammer at that. I found myself agreeing with Chief Superintendent Head, who wanted to shut the case down!
At one point, the wife of the dead guy is being questioned and she says "What's this all about?" Huh?? Uh.. it's about a murder investigation, Hon.... Really dumb dialog. The plot is weak, obvious, and could be well enough covered in a short story. The vast majority of this book is utter nonsense.
I'm also convinced now that the vast majority of GoodReads reviewers only write reviews that are 'Positive'. That makes them largely a waste of time.
A friend mentioned the Bill Slider series so I read the first one, and it was OK, so found the 2nd. This is one of the worst 'mystery-procedurals' I've ever read, and that's quite a few. My edition of this book is 280 pages long. Literally NOTHING happens in over half of the book! Just a bunch of Yak. No plot development to speak of at all - it's just yammer, and silly yammer at that. I found myself agreeing with Chief Superintendent Head, who wanted to shut the case down!
At one point, the wife of the dead guy is being questioned and she says "What's this all about?" Huh?? Uh.. it's about a murder investigation, Hon.... Really dumb dialog. The plot is weak, obvious, and could be well enough covered in a short story. The vast majority of this book is utter nonsense.
I'm also convinced now that the vast majority of GoodReads reviewers only write reviews that are 'Positive'. That makes them largely a waste of time.
June 25, 2022
I had heard good things about this series so wanted to give it a try. The library didn’t have the first book in the series, so I had to start with number two (which is hard for me!). But I gave it a try. The mystery itself was good and I enjoyed the way the inspector, Bill Slider, pulled at different threads until he was able to solve the whole mystery. However, I was bothered by some of the sexist comments among the detectives. The book was written in 1992 and maybe that’s they way it still was in 1992. But I hoped for a somehow higher standard among the members of the Met. Also the main character is an adulterer, and hasn’t the courage to tell his wife and leave her for “the other woman.” Maybe this happens in a later book in the series, but it kind of bothers me. Again, I would hope a policeman would not be a liar, which is what Bill Slider is doing every time he gives his wife a line about how he won’t be home that night. So, not sure if I’ll continue with this series or not.
March 11, 2014
The story was OK, it felt a bit disjointed in some places, however that was because my copy had so many typos it was ridiculous.
A notorious womanizer is found dead in a local hotel, as Slider begins to investigate it begins to seem impossible to find the killer - it could be any one of his many lovers, or their husbands...
Slider's own personal life is still messy - it puts me off reading more of this series, because it can only go to divorce or continued angst, neither of which really appeal to me.
A notorious womanizer is found dead in a local hotel, as Slider begins to investigate it begins to seem impossible to find the killer - it could be any one of his many lovers, or their husbands...
Slider's own personal life is still messy - it puts me off reading more of this series, because it can only go to divorce or continued angst, neither of which really appeal to me.
October 2, 2019
Far too complicated and the conclusion was unconvincing.
May 31, 2022
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to brytyjska pisarka specjalizująca się głównie w romansach i kryminałach, publikująca również pod pseudonimami Emma Woodhouse i Elizabeth Bennett. Nie ma szczęścia do polskiego rynku wydawniczego, gdyż z Dynastii Morlandów, cyklu w kanonie romansu historycznego liczącego 35 powieści, wydano u nas zaledwie dziesięć, a z kryminalnej serii Bill Slider składającej się w oryginale z 19 książek ukazały się nad Wisłą tylko cztery*. Pierwszego tematu nie ruszałem i jakoś na razie nie mam tego w planach, ale opowieści o brytyjskim policjancie Sliderze przypadły mi do gustu. Tak się złożyło, że nie czytałem ich po kolei; pominąłem część drugą pod tytułem Ognisty anioł. Nadszedł czas, by brak uzupełnić i tak oto zasiadłem do lektury.
W częściowo spalonym motelu strażacy znajdują zwłoki mężczyzny. Początkowo wszystko wskazuje na samobójstwo, a sprawa, jak się łatwo domyślić, spadnie na barki naszego protagonisty. Co i jak nie będę zdradzał, gdyż intryga kryminalna jest przyjemnie zagmatwana i nie będę psuł przyszłym czytelnikom zabawy z próbami samodzielnego znalezienia odpowiedzi na siedem złotych pytań kryminalistyki nim uzyska je Bill Slider.
Szczerze mówiąc, wątki kryminalne, choć poprawnie skonstruowane i interesujące, nie są tym, co mi się najbardziej podoba w prozie tej brytyjskiej pisarki. Szczególnie przypadła mi do gustu ciekawie skonstruowana i poprowadzona postać protagonisty; do głębi porządnego faceta, który jednak zdradza żonę i wciąż przymierza się do rozwodu. Mocnym atutem są też przekonująco oddane klimaty pracy w policji kryminalnej i w ogóle brytyjskie realia, a także różnorodność typów ludzkich zaludniających karty powieści; po równi nietuzinkowych, co przekonujących.
Autorka w Ognistym aniele pokazuje się jako bystry obserwator procesów w światku policyjnym. Ta powieść zwraca uwagę na niebezpieczeństwo jakim jest parcie na statystykę i obniżanie kosztów. Tendencje te szczególnie uderzają w sprawy, w których rozstrzygnięcie, czy przestępstwo w ogóle zaistniało, wymaga zaangażowania środków nie mniejszych niż w regularne śledztwo. Nasuwa się pytanie, ile spraw zostaje zamiecionych pod dywan nie ze względu na mafijne układy, polityczne naciski i tym podobne, w końcu zrozumiałe, a więc łatwiejsze do przełknięcia powody, a tylko z powodu lenistwa, trywialnych oszczędności i słupków na wykresach, które stają się dla policji kryterium ważniejszym nawet niż wykrywalność. Tego wyznacznika naszych czasów wiele osób zdaje się nie zauważać, więc Ognisty anioł ma swoją ważką i gorzką wymowę.
Powieść czyta się z zainteresowaniem, ale bez wodotrysków – nie wciąga tak, by się nie można było od niej oderwać. Jest taka, jak bym to powiedział, bardziej życiowa niż książkowa. Komu odpowiadają podobne klimaty, będzie bardzo zadowolony.
Nie obyło się niestety bez malutkich zgrzytów – dialogi gdzieniegdzie kuleją, ale nie na tyle, by zepsuć przyjemność z lektury, a ja nie dociekałem, czy to wina tłumaczenia, czy oryginału. W starej skali ocen dałbym całościowo czwórkę z plusem – nie must read, ale rzecz godna polecenia.
recenzja pierwotnie opublikowana na blogu klub-aa.blogspot.com dokąd zapraszam na wymianę wrażeń z lektury i nie tylko
W częściowo spalonym motelu strażacy znajdują zwłoki mężczyzny. Początkowo wszystko wskazuje na samobójstwo, a sprawa, jak się łatwo domyślić, spadnie na barki naszego protagonisty. Co i jak nie będę zdradzał, gdyż intryga kryminalna jest przyjemnie zagmatwana i nie będę psuł przyszłym czytelnikom zabawy z próbami samodzielnego znalezienia odpowiedzi na siedem złotych pytań kryminalistyki nim uzyska je Bill Slider.
Szczerze mówiąc, wątki kryminalne, choć poprawnie skonstruowane i interesujące, nie są tym, co mi się najbardziej podoba w prozie tej brytyjskiej pisarki. Szczególnie przypadła mi do gustu ciekawie skonstruowana i poprowadzona postać protagonisty; do głębi porządnego faceta, który jednak zdradza żonę i wciąż przymierza się do rozwodu. Mocnym atutem są też przekonująco oddane klimaty pracy w policji kryminalnej i w ogóle brytyjskie realia, a także różnorodność typów ludzkich zaludniających karty powieści; po równi nietuzinkowych, co przekonujących.
Autorka w Ognistym aniele pokazuje się jako bystry obserwator procesów w światku policyjnym. Ta powieść zwraca uwagę na niebezpieczeństwo jakim jest parcie na statystykę i obniżanie kosztów. Tendencje te szczególnie uderzają w sprawy, w których rozstrzygnięcie, czy przestępstwo w ogóle zaistniało, wymaga zaangażowania środków nie mniejszych niż w regularne śledztwo. Nasuwa się pytanie, ile spraw zostaje zamiecionych pod dywan nie ze względu na mafijne układy, polityczne naciski i tym podobne, w końcu zrozumiałe, a więc łatwiejsze do przełknięcia powody, a tylko z powodu lenistwa, trywialnych oszczędności i słupków na wykresach, które stają się dla policji kryterium ważniejszym nawet niż wykrywalność. Tego wyznacznika naszych czasów wiele osób zdaje się nie zauważać, więc Ognisty anioł ma swoją ważką i gorzką wymowę.
Powieść czyta się z zainteresowaniem, ale bez wodotrysków – nie wciąga tak, by się nie można było od niej oderwać. Jest taka, jak bym to powiedział, bardziej życiowa niż książkowa. Komu odpowiadają podobne klimaty, będzie bardzo zadowolony.
Nie obyło się niestety bez malutkich zgrzytów – dialogi gdzieniegdzie kuleją, ale nie na tyle, by zepsuć przyjemność z lektury, a ja nie dociekałem, czy to wina tłumaczenia, czy oryginału. W starej skali ocen dałbym całościowo czwórkę z plusem – nie must read, ale rzecz godna polecenia.
recenzja pierwotnie opublikowana na blogu klub-aa.blogspot.com dokąd zapraszam na wymianę wrażeń z lektury i nie tylko
October 28, 2025
The second book in the Bill Slider series, this is an old-fashioned Police procedural written when a book could be good without being politically correct. No cell phones or computers are mentioned, just basic police work performed by Inspector Slider and his team. This was a rather muddy story regarding a man found dead after a hotel fire with certain elements to the scene telling Slider it isn't a simple case. In tracking down the victim's activities and building a picture of the man's life, a somewhat bewildering cast of characters is unveiled, but no obvious motive. Meanwhile, Slider's personal life is at an unappealing crux; he's having an affair and is vacillating about ending his marriage. His mistress, Joanne, is portrayed as unnaturally understanding and supportive and I found myself disliking both Slider and Joanne for their deception. About two-thirds into the book the reader is able to guess who the murderer is but the motive for the murders (there are several, Slider learns) is tenuous at best. The ending seemed too hastily written and several loose ends are left dangling with no explanation. Probably my least favorite of this series to date.
May 8, 2020
Detective Bill Slider has been called to a motel fire, not because he has transferred to a fire brigade, but because a charred body is in the burned motel room. It looks like a simple suicide, but the deeper Slider dug, the less like a suicide the case looked. Ultimately, forensics determined that the man was murdered.
It turns out the murdered guy was some kind of sex addict. In addition to his marriage, the dead guy had women in various locations and had even fathered a child by one of them. Ultimately, Slider unearths past murders that look a lot like the one he investigates in this book. The final outcome is one I didn't expect. That said, of the first two books in the series, this one was the least interesting for me. I'm fascinated by the train wreck that is Slider's life, and you don't hear much about that in this book.
It turns out the murdered guy was some kind of sex addict. In addition to his marriage, the dead guy had women in various locations and had even fathered a child by one of them. Ultimately, Slider unearths past murders that look a lot like the one he investigates in this book. The final outcome is one I didn't expect. That said, of the first two books in the series, this one was the least interesting for me. I'm fascinated by the train wreck that is Slider's life, and you don't hear much about that in this book.
April 26, 2021
It starts with the asphyxiation death—that was made to look like a hanging—of a fire extinguisher salesman. It was thought by many that it was either an accident or suicide, and Slider was told to close the case but he sensed something was wrong and kept investigating. Eventually the truth was discovered by going back decades, and clever police investigative work, keen observation, and careful interrogation yielded clues that led to a link and many more possible murders. Ms Harrod-Eagles is a intelligent writer and uses language skillfully with wit and wisdom. I am enjoying this series very much, which is great because it appears there are a large number of books in the series.
November 23, 2022
Death Watch – A Detective Inspector Slider Mystery – 1992 - **** - The second book of Inspector Slider finds Bill Slider faced with an apparent suicide that doesn’t seem quite right. Slider moves through the police inspection even though the ‘Head’ thinks it is a waste of time and manpower. The ending was not a surprise, and this reader thought the inspector should have gotten there much sooner. Besides that, the procedure is good, the characters are believable, the dialogue is realistic, the setting is right. The pace encouraged a rush to the end. All good things done by a very successful mystery writer. It is a joy to find such a prolific writer to add to my ‘to read’ list.
September 16, 2017
Very well-written procedural involving the apparent murders of a group of men who had worked together as firemen some years earlier. The pieces to this puzzle only gradually came together for the solution. Unfortunately the book was marred by romantic problems of the detective involved, Bill Slider. I would hope these complications, which added nothing to the crime-solving, will be resolved and out of the way in future books in this series.
February 27, 2018
Inspector Bill Slider returns as he tries to solve a murder which has many potential suspects as the case unfolds. The people he works with are well-drawn and interesting characters. His relationship with his girlfriend, Joanna, an accomplished violinist is an important part of the story as his attempt to take the steps needed to end his marriage.
April 9, 2022
Second installment of the Bill Slider series , English policeman /detective. His newest case involves a man found in a fire, possible suicidal or murder. Intricate interactions lead to a surprise ending.
April 20, 2018
I like the intelligent, low-key characters, even though in 2018 some of this is dated ( without being historical). nice repartee.
May 22, 2019
Okay, but just didn’t capture my interest enough to continue with the series. After reading the first and second, I’m still not hooked, so will be moving on.
April 16, 2020
Not as good as the first book in the series.
February 19, 2021
Thw story is not bad, but I reckon the copy I read (part of an omnibus edition) was printed from some sort of OCR file that wasn't proofread as I have never encountered so many typos! So off putting.
August 27, 2021
An enjoyable second book in the series. I must admit it was easy to work out who did it though.
December 17, 2022
Lots of Brit jargon that went over my head but I like the characters and stories and will continue with the series. Who know, maybe I'll learn what all the inside jokes actually mean!
June 6, 2023
Surprisingly misogynistic portrayals of women, considering this is a female author. A lot of pseudo psychology at the end, which made little sense. Definitely not recommended.
August 18, 2023
Figured out the killer pretty early on. Just really reading to find out what happens in Slider's personal life.
September 25, 2024
Good story but appalling editing. So many spelling mistakes & gaps in the text. foubd myself looking for the mistakes more than concentrating on the story.
March 26, 2025
Bill Slider is paramount to the story. Bit slow in places, but I still enjoyed the book.
July 5, 2025
3.5: not sure I want to continue the series: tired of the portrayal of women and Bill’s personal life problems.
September 6, 2025
Just ok. Police procedural that drags on in spots. Typographical errors were numerous. Wondering who edited. Could’ve used more!
April 17, 2020
Really enjoying this series and characters. The story is keeping my interest and enjoy the twists and turns Would recommend
January 22, 2012
This is a re-read. I first read it sometime in the 90's and remember liking it very well.
Originally published in 1992, this was the second in the Bill Slider series, preceded by Orchestrated Deathand followed by 1995's Death to Go (AKA Necrochip).
In this book Slider is struggling personally with his disintegrating marriage even as he investigates the death of a womanizing traveling salesman, Dick Neal, whose body was discovered in a compromising position in a burning motel cabin. Murder or Suicide? His superior's superior would plump for suicide-- much cheaper and makes their crime solution numbers look better. Slider, though, has his doubts about this; and with the assistance of his boss, Dixon, he continues to investigate the dead man.
Finally the case is connected with prior cases, two definitely murder. But what is the connection between the men involved?
The book contains loads of puns-- Harrod-Eagles has a real talent for slipping them in along with sly literary allusions. The relationship between the various members of the police force is intriguing and fills the space between the detecting nicely.
If adultery by the good guys makes you twitch you might want to avoid this one, but otherwise recommended for police procedural fans and those who enjoy a good pun.
Originally published in 1992, this was the second in the Bill Slider series, preceded by Orchestrated Deathand followed by 1995's Death to Go (AKA Necrochip).
In this book Slider is struggling personally with his disintegrating marriage even as he investigates the death of a womanizing traveling salesman, Dick Neal, whose body was discovered in a compromising position in a burning motel cabin. Murder or Suicide? His superior's superior would plump for suicide-- much cheaper and makes their crime solution numbers look better. Slider, though, has his doubts about this; and with the assistance of his boss, Dixon, he continues to investigate the dead man.
Finally the case is connected with prior cases, two definitely murder. But what is the connection between the men involved?
The book contains loads of puns-- Harrod-Eagles has a real talent for slipping them in along with sly literary allusions. The relationship between the various members of the police force is intriguing and fills the space between the detecting nicely.
If adultery by the good guys makes you twitch you might want to avoid this one, but otherwise recommended for police procedural fans and those who enjoy a good pun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews