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Inspector Peckover #7
Rehearsing for Death
A spate of high-value art thefts is terrorising Europe…
For every article that has gone missing, the Sealeigh choir – a travelling choir from a small village on the Ken coast – have held a concert nearby.
Chief Inspector Henry Peckover and Detective Constable Jason Twitty are sent to become the choir’s newest recruits as part of an undercover investigation, but playing the part of professional singers and avoiding suspicion is no easy task.
The routine of rehearsals and choir gossip is challenging and Peckover struggles to manage with Twitty’s flamboyant nature, fearing he will scupper the investigation.
The entire choir is under suspicion and the two policemen cannot afford to become distracted.
A ruthless criminal is in close proximity, concealing treasured art and they must be discovered before someone realises that Peckover and Twitty are not really who they claim to be…
By the time the choir arrives in Ghent for their next concert, Peckover has discovered tantalizing information about several of its members.
The investigation is now an international operation and together with French Sergeant Pépin and Flemish Inspector Spaak, Peckover must work on the preliminary report from Scotland Yard to close the case.
But before they discover the thief, the body of one of the choir members is found in the cathedral and Peckover and Twitty find themselves heading up a murder enquiry...
Can they find the culprit before another body is discovered?
For every article that has gone missing, the Sealeigh choir – a travelling choir from a small village on the Ken coast – have held a concert nearby.
Chief Inspector Henry Peckover and Detective Constable Jason Twitty are sent to become the choir’s newest recruits as part of an undercover investigation, but playing the part of professional singers and avoiding suspicion is no easy task.
The routine of rehearsals and choir gossip is challenging and Peckover struggles to manage with Twitty’s flamboyant nature, fearing he will scupper the investigation.
The entire choir is under suspicion and the two policemen cannot afford to become distracted.
A ruthless criminal is in close proximity, concealing treasured art and they must be discovered before someone realises that Peckover and Twitty are not really who they claim to be…
By the time the choir arrives in Ghent for their next concert, Peckover has discovered tantalizing information about several of its members.
The investigation is now an international operation and together with French Sergeant Pépin and Flemish Inspector Spaak, Peckover must work on the preliminary report from Scotland Yard to close the case.
But before they discover the thief, the body of one of the choir members is found in the cathedral and Peckover and Twitty find themselves heading up a murder enquiry...
Can they find the culprit before another body is discovered?
- GenresMystery
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 26, 2023
Combine the best of dry British wit with a pair of quirky Scotland Yard detectives working undercover in an amateur choir, and you're on your way to a few hundred pages of enjoyment. The narrator of the Library of Congress recorded edition I listened to sang many of the vocal exercises and gave each character an inflection and manner of speaking that kept the large cast straight in readers' minds. The sleuthing wasn't much, but the hijinks made up for it.
Most fictional Scotland Yard inspectors are given complicated personal lives, difficult pasts, and temperaments a bit on the moody side. They're also given plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their exceptional skills at one task or another. Peckover has a lovingly tolerant wife, messy kids, and is average or below-average in every way (except perhaps for his ability to create poetry out of just about anything). Meanwhile, his partner Twitty dresses flamboyantly and goes through love interests like some other people go through pairs of socks.
Most fictional Scotland Yard inspectors are given complicated personal lives, difficult pasts, and temperaments a bit on the moody side. They're also given plenty of opportunities to demonstrate their exceptional skills at one task or another. Peckover has a lovingly tolerant wife, messy kids, and is average or below-average in every way (except perhaps for his ability to create poetry out of just about anything). Meanwhile, his partner Twitty dresses flamboyantly and goes through love interests like some other people go through pairs of socks.
June 7, 2021
Quite enjoyable
My first Michael Kenyon book with Detective Chief Inspector Peckover and I quite enjoyed it even though it got a bit silly at times. Artefacts have been stolen from churches on the continent when the Sealeigh Choir have performed in them, so Scotland Yard decide to put to policemen undercover in the choir to catch the thief red handed as the next theft occurs.
My first Michael Kenyon book with Detective Chief Inspector Peckover and I quite enjoyed it even though it got a bit silly at times. Artefacts have been stolen from churches on the continent when the Sealeigh Choir have performed in them, so Scotland Yard decide to put to policemen undercover in the choir to catch the thief red handed as the next theft occurs.
October 22, 2019
Made for Tv
This should have been a TV script for the two Ronnies. Great interest to choristers but very funny with general audience.
This should have been a TV script for the two Ronnies. Great interest to choristers but very funny with general audience.
August 5, 2016
A very good time - modern cozy-ish writing meets some light European travel. The crimes are well crafted and the characters (especially our two main policemen) are nicely drawn and the author has an obvious affection for them.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2016
Where the Sealeigh choir go, thefts occur. So Peckover and Twitty are sent in as undercover singers to catch the guilty.
The book is just not for me, didn't like anything about it.
A NetGalley book.
The book is just not for me, didn't like anything about it.
A NetGalley book.
June 26, 2016
A very witty story!
Great read!
Highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Endeavour via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
Great read!
Highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Endeavour via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews