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Gaffney and Tipper #1
The Cold Light of Dawn
As dawn breaks on the coast of Brittany, a retired colonel finds the body of an attractive young redhead washed up on the beach...
In the search for her identification the French police pass her picture to the CID at Scotland Yard, and it is from there that an enquiry spirals into action. As the facts come in slowly but surely, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Tipper and his assistant, Charlie Markham, begin to form a picture of the dead woman and her life, and it's a very strange one at that; provoking sympathy on the one hand and revulsion on the other.
When the occupation of the redhead comes to light, suddenly the case shifts to a more serious crime. As part of the enquiry, Markham spends considerable time bouncing between the people who once knew her. As the number of interviews grows, Markham finds himself getting more a more confused… leaving each interview with more questions than when he started. Surely this redhead wasn’t as complicated as she sounded?
The investigation deepens, and the enquiry eventually leads to Whitehall and the highest echelons of the Diplomatic Service, causing the CID to call upon the powers of Special Branch, and even MI5, in their bid to unravel all the strands of this compelling mystery. A few things seemed to ring common amongst those who knew she was always broke, and she was full of surprises… But one of these people had something to hide, and Markham was determined to figure out which one...
Graham Ison has produced a stunning first novel, showing the painstaking thoroughness of a murder enquiry and the logical assembly of evidence. The Cold Light of Dawn is a chillingly real tale that will absorb its readers.
Graham Ison was born and brought up in Surrey where he still lives. The son of an artist, and grandson of a composer, he served in the army for five years before joining the police. After spending some time with the CID at Scotland Yard he transferred to the Diplomatic Protection Group and between 1967 and 1971 was Personal Protection Officer to Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and Edward Heath. In 1981 he moved back to Scotland Yard as Detective Chief Superintendent. He retired at this rank in 1986.
In the search for her identification the French police pass her picture to the CID at Scotland Yard, and it is from there that an enquiry spirals into action. As the facts come in slowly but surely, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Tipper and his assistant, Charlie Markham, begin to form a picture of the dead woman and her life, and it's a very strange one at that; provoking sympathy on the one hand and revulsion on the other.
When the occupation of the redhead comes to light, suddenly the case shifts to a more serious crime. As part of the enquiry, Markham spends considerable time bouncing between the people who once knew her. As the number of interviews grows, Markham finds himself getting more a more confused… leaving each interview with more questions than when he started. Surely this redhead wasn’t as complicated as she sounded?
The investigation deepens, and the enquiry eventually leads to Whitehall and the highest echelons of the Diplomatic Service, causing the CID to call upon the powers of Special Branch, and even MI5, in their bid to unravel all the strands of this compelling mystery. A few things seemed to ring common amongst those who knew she was always broke, and she was full of surprises… But one of these people had something to hide, and Markham was determined to figure out which one...
Graham Ison has produced a stunning first novel, showing the painstaking thoroughness of a murder enquiry and the logical assembly of evidence. The Cold Light of Dawn is a chillingly real tale that will absorb its readers.
Graham Ison was born and brought up in Surrey where he still lives. The son of an artist, and grandson of a composer, he served in the army for five years before joining the police. After spending some time with the CID at Scotland Yard he transferred to the Diplomatic Protection Group and between 1967 and 1971 was Personal Protection Officer to Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and Edward Heath. In 1981 he moved back to Scotland Yard as Detective Chief Superintendent. He retired at this rank in 1986.
179 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
28 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Graham Ison
54 books20 followersDuring Graham Ison's thirty-year career in Scotland Yard's Special Branch he was involved in several espionage cases and the investigation into the escape of the spy George Blake. He spent four years at 10 Downing Street as Protection Officer to two Prime Ministers and also served as second-in-command of the Diplomatic Protection Group.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 4, 2022
I found this Scotland Yard investigation slow and methodical with the murder victim being characterized as the woman who must have deserved such a fate. I am not entirely certain I will continue to read this series, but it could happen. Perhaps I am feeling impatient today waiting for warmer temps to call me outdoors. One thing is certain, there is no humour to be found in these pages. I will probably try another further on in the series some day.
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May 8, 2020
Colonel Pierre Matthiel on his morning walk on the Brittany coast discovers the dead body of a female. The case lands on DCI Harry Tipper and DS Charlie Markhams' laps, as it turns out that she is called Penelope Lambert and works for the British Foreign Office. So maybe the case will not be as straightforward as Tipper first thinks and hopes.
An enjoyable crime story, a good solid start to the series.
An enjoyable crime story, a good solid start to the series.
May 12, 2018
Fast-paced, well plotted story that kept me up when I should have been sleeping! Action moves between Brittany and the UK. The author's experience in various fields of crime prevention shines through and his characters are fully rounded and ring true. Best of all, this is not a predictable story at any point. Great read.
October 28, 2023
I needed an ‘I’ author in the crime/thriller/mystery genre for a challenge and, unless you read something by one of the many Ians, options are rather limited. I dug through my ereader and found this title, one I must have picked up for free somewhere along the line.
The book actually had a really good premise for its main mystery plot. A woman’s body is washed ashore in France, presumably drowned but in fact murdered. The French police struggle to identify her but, when they eventually do, they find she is an English citizen, a secretary who works in the Foreign Office. The subsequent investigation from the English police, therefore, involves the M15 and the book then melds its murder mystery with an espionage thriller.
Ison focused on the plot and, unfortunately, didn’t bother as much with characterisation. I would likely not even be able to tell you who was who in the investigating team, not even who is who out of Gaffney and Tipper (whom the series is named after). The only thing I could tell you about them is that they’re homophobic, sexist and racist.
This book was written in 1988 and it did not age well. I don’t easily get offended, and usually let this type of thing wash over me, remembering often that these attitudes were the norm in society at the time. However, this book was next level and I was quite tempted to DNF it on this basis several times. Actually I think I only finished it as it was very short and I needed that ‘I’ author book…
While investigating, the police constantly imply the victim brought her death upon herself by being promiscuous, bisexual and just generally dressing in sexy attire. The list of suspects the police put all their efforts into are her ex-lovers and those ex-lovers even agree she likely had it coming, with most of them confirming they aren’t surprised by her fate, considering her bedroom activities. W.T. actual F.
There’s even a scene featuring the fictional prime minister where he stresses that being gay and employed by the British government wouldn’t happen as its employees are carefully vetted to check for such tendencies. It’s even implied that this thought would upset him much more than any of his staff being an adulterer (practically this is expected, especially amongst those in line for a knighthood - wtf), a spy, or a murderer. W.T.F.
The most disturbing thing is that Ison is an ex-police officer and this attitude was likely not as rare as I would have imagined by 1988.
1 ½ out of 5
The book actually had a really good premise for its main mystery plot. A woman’s body is washed ashore in France, presumably drowned but in fact murdered. The French police struggle to identify her but, when they eventually do, they find she is an English citizen, a secretary who works in the Foreign Office. The subsequent investigation from the English police, therefore, involves the M15 and the book then melds its murder mystery with an espionage thriller.
Ison focused on the plot and, unfortunately, didn’t bother as much with characterisation. I would likely not even be able to tell you who was who in the investigating team, not even who is who out of Gaffney and Tipper (whom the series is named after). The only thing I could tell you about them is that they’re homophobic, sexist and racist.
This book was written in 1988 and it did not age well. I don’t easily get offended, and usually let this type of thing wash over me, remembering often that these attitudes were the norm in society at the time. However, this book was next level and I was quite tempted to DNF it on this basis several times. Actually I think I only finished it as it was very short and I needed that ‘I’ author book…
While investigating, the police constantly imply the victim brought her death upon herself by being promiscuous, bisexual and just generally dressing in sexy attire. The list of suspects the police put all their efforts into are her ex-lovers and those ex-lovers even agree she likely had it coming, with most of them confirming they aren’t surprised by her fate, considering her bedroom activities. W.T. actual F.
There’s even a scene featuring the fictional prime minister where he stresses that being gay and employed by the British government wouldn’t happen as its employees are carefully vetted to check for such tendencies. It’s even implied that this thought would upset him much more than any of his staff being an adulterer (practically this is expected, especially amongst those in line for a knighthood - wtf), a spy, or a murderer. W.T.F.
The most disturbing thing is that Ison is an ex-police officer and this attitude was likely not as rare as I would have imagined by 1988.
1 ½ out of 5
December 3, 2022
For me a new author and a new series. Graham Ison, a former police officer, launches his series of Gaffney and Tipper novels. A retired Colonel walking along the beach of the Brittany coast finds the partly clothed body of a young woman. Following the postmortem, which showed that the victim was murdered and not drowned as at first thought. At first, the victim cannot be identified but is discovered to have come across the channel from England, and a manhunt ensues led by Chief Inspector Tipper of the Yard and his sidekick Charlie Markham. As the team uncovers the evidence and identifies the woman the investigation moves into the secret service and special branch territory Chief Superintendent Gaffney turns up and the investigation grinds slowly forward.
The characters are as exact as you might expect from a former officer but somehow the whole flow of the book is broken into two halves Sergeant Charlie Markham is forgotten and Tipper is assigned a minor role. This may be how it is in real life but a novel, for me, needs more of a covered plot and some twists and turns to distract the reader. Unfortunately, the perpetrator here was all too obvious from early on.
This is a passable novel and perhaps I will give the series another go in the hopes that there may be more flow to the story. 2 stars.
The characters are as exact as you might expect from a former officer but somehow the whole flow of the book is broken into two halves Sergeant Charlie Markham is forgotten and Tipper is assigned a minor role. This may be how it is in real life but a novel, for me, needs more of a covered plot and some twists and turns to distract the reader. Unfortunately, the perpetrator here was all too obvious from early on.
This is a passable novel and perhaps I will give the series another go in the hopes that there may be more flow to the story. 2 stars.
May 18, 2021
Excellent
Another excellent book by Graham Ison. A woman is found dead presumed drowned on a french beach, when the autopsy is completed it is found that she was murdered. The only problem is there is no identification on the body and dental X-rays can only say she is English. The case is passed to Scotland Yard to investigate. Excellent old fashioned policing with no mobile phones and no DNA, follow the case as the investigation unfolds.
Another excellent book by Graham Ison. A woman is found dead presumed drowned on a french beach, when the autopsy is completed it is found that she was murdered. The only problem is there is no identification on the body and dental X-rays can only say she is English. The case is passed to Scotland Yard to investigate. Excellent old fashioned policing with no mobile phones and no DNA, follow the case as the investigation unfolds.
November 21, 2017
A Lusty Murder
A very very well written novel with just a hint of British humor, a lot of British porn, and a murder most difficult to solve.
An interesting look into police procedure that becomes very complicated given many levels of departments. However, the author explains this with dry British humor.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to another.
A very very well written novel with just a hint of British humor, a lot of British porn, and a murder most difficult to solve.
An interesting look into police procedure that becomes very complicated given many levels of departments. However, the author explains this with dry British humor.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to another.
March 30, 2018
Another exciting book. Similar to "The home sec will..." Just as confusing with regard to the various branches of the met. I plotted a mind map of all the characters as they appeared and this was very help full to locate people in the plot. I speculated that Mallory was a baddie early, too smooth. A competent public servant would see thru him quickly.
November 20, 2020
Brilliant book
It is an awesome thriller. I loved the fact that various law enforcement agencies combined together to solve a complicated case involving murder, blackmail and espionage. What a wonderful book! Certainly deserves five star rating. The characters of Harry Tipper and Charlie Markham were awesome.
It is an awesome thriller. I loved the fact that various law enforcement agencies combined together to solve a complicated case involving murder, blackmail and espionage. What a wonderful book! Certainly deserves five star rating. The characters of Harry Tipper and Charlie Markham were awesome.
January 3, 2018
Good "Old Fashioned" British Mystery
What I noticed about this book was how the story dealt mostly with the crime and not with the psychological makeup of the detective(s) and her/his life(lives). I liked this book a lot. Going to read more from this author.
What I noticed about this book was how the story dealt mostly with the crime and not with the psychological makeup of the detective(s) and her/his life(lives). I liked this book a lot. Going to read more from this author.
January 3, 2018
Decently written but labyrinthine. Oddly, in this first installment of Gaffney And Tipper ie #1 Gaffney shows up at the 30% mark and has quite little to do with things. In many ways a kitchen sink read and, wisely, free on KU.
April 9, 2018
An okay book
Not exactly a page turner, but interesting enough. It is quite dated, apartheid has ceased in South Africa for some time, at least officially. The writing is like dry toast in spots, but enough action to keep you turning the pages.
Not exactly a page turner, but interesting enough. It is quite dated, apartheid has ceased in South Africa for some time, at least officially. The writing is like dry toast in spots, but enough action to keep you turning the pages.
February 25, 2024
Kept my attention. First time reading a book by him
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews