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Chief Inspector Woodend #7
The Red Herring
The discovery of the body of a young, red-haired school mistress, lying in a pig-pen with her face half-eaten away, is the beginning of a new investigation for Charlie Woodend. But it is to be an investigation he is soon ordered to abandon when Helen Dunn, the daughter of Wing Commander Dunn - and a pupil at the school where the dead woman taught - suddenly vanishes into thin air. While Woodend and Rutter race against time in the desperate hope of finding the girl alive, Woodend's bagman, Monika Paniatowski, continues to work on the murder, under the supervision of the mysterious Chief Inspector Horrocks, a Scotland Yard man who seems to have only a mild interest in finding the killer. Are the two cases connected? Woodend begins to wonder. And if they are, who is it who seems to be blocking both investigations at every turn?
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
7 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Sally Spencer
81 books152 followersA pseudonym used by Alan Rustage.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.
He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.
He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.
His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.
Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.
He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.
He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.
His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.
Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 16, 2017
The Red Herring by Sally Spencer
Inspector Woodend Series Book # 7
4 Stars
From The Book:
The discovery of the body of a young, red-haired school mistress, lying in a pig-pen with her face half-eaten away, is the beginning of a new investigation for Charlie Woodend. But it is to be an investigation he is soon ordered to abandon when Helen Dunn, the daughter of Wing Commander Dunn - and a pupil at the school where the dead woman taught - suddenly vanishes into thin air. While Woodend and Rutter race against time in the desperate hope of finding the girl alive, Woodend's bagman, Monika Paniatowski, continues to work on the murder, under the supervision of the mysterious Chief Inspector Horrocks, a Scotland Yard man who seems to have only a mild interest in finding the killer. Are the two cases connected? Woodend begins to wonder. And if they are, who is it who seems to be blocking both investigations at every turn?
My Views:
I just discovered this author and this series and must say that I find the stories really interesting with gripping, creative plots. They are not the usual types of mystery and suspense books that i usually read but they are a refreshing break. They are not "cozies" by any means and will satisfy anyone that wants a well plotted mystery with plenty of clues to help you try and solve the crime without the contents of the grittier ones.
Inspector Woodend Series Book # 7
4 Stars
From The Book:
The discovery of the body of a young, red-haired school mistress, lying in a pig-pen with her face half-eaten away, is the beginning of a new investigation for Charlie Woodend. But it is to be an investigation he is soon ordered to abandon when Helen Dunn, the daughter of Wing Commander Dunn - and a pupil at the school where the dead woman taught - suddenly vanishes into thin air. While Woodend and Rutter race against time in the desperate hope of finding the girl alive, Woodend's bagman, Monika Paniatowski, continues to work on the murder, under the supervision of the mysterious Chief Inspector Horrocks, a Scotland Yard man who seems to have only a mild interest in finding the killer. Are the two cases connected? Woodend begins to wonder. And if they are, who is it who seems to be blocking both investigations at every turn?
My Views:
I just discovered this author and this series and must say that I find the stories really interesting with gripping, creative plots. They are not the usual types of mystery and suspense books that i usually read but they are a refreshing break. They are not "cozies" by any means and will satisfy anyone that wants a well plotted mystery with plenty of clues to help you try and solve the crime without the contents of the grittier ones.
May 14, 2020
This is a fast paced read. I like the characters of Woodend and Monika Paniatowski. There are two strands with a murder and a child abduction and it is obvious there is something the power that be are holding back. I would read more from this series
November 18, 2018
A favorite mystery author and main character in Charlie Woodend! This story was one of my favorites in this series!
June 30, 2020
3.5 stars. Another good mystery story with Inspector Woodend. I love the characters in this mystery series. Very interesting side stories about Britain's viewpoint on the Cuban Missile Crisis.
March 3, 2021
Brilliant
February 23, 2023
Really hooked on this series!
December 6, 2023
Another enjoyable entry in the series. This one has Woodend dealing with a Communist Plot. Characters are what sells me on the series.
January 23, 2015
A few reviews back I expressed how I liked the series because it was unlike so many others when it came to sex, no riffs between the main character and his bosses superiors and more,and half joking I wrote 'watch not that I've gave it a thumbs up it go the opposite way'. Well it has
The plot was good but the stereo typing ruined it. The very first time Spencer/Rustage introduces the killer's character I was able to identify them as the eventual killer, not because of any clues but simply because his character types are so often shown as hypocrites, fundamentalist, etc. As he was being introduced I thought 'he's the murder, simply because he's a Christian and we all know there such hypocrites
There are others that are stereo typed too, the military is seen as programmed robots, even at the cost of family,men other Woodend and Rutter have noting better to do than and it's the only thing they do is lust after the no nonsense women, who's as good as any many man in man's world.
I'll probably keep reading Inspector Woodend because the plots tend to be good, I just hope the swing in stereo typing, sex, and the uusual overdone characters doesn't become to extreme.
Sorry, Alan Rustage but your series has turned into a big is appointment. Should stick to good plots and keep your ideology low keyed and no it's not because your one-sided against ideology, because if it was flipped I be writing pretty much the same review.
On the plot alone four 4 stars but because of the stereo typing three
The plot was good but the stereo typing ruined it. The very first time Spencer/Rustage introduces the killer's character I was able to identify them as the eventual killer, not because of any clues but simply because his character types are so often shown as hypocrites, fundamentalist, etc. As he was being introduced I thought 'he's the murder, simply because he's a Christian and we all know there such hypocrites
There are others that are stereo typed too, the military is seen as programmed robots, even at the cost of family,men other Woodend and Rutter have noting better to do than and it's the only thing they do is lust after the no nonsense women, who's as good as any many man in man's world.
I'll probably keep reading Inspector Woodend because the plots tend to be good, I just hope the swing in stereo typing, sex, and the uusual overdone characters doesn't become to extreme.
Sorry, Alan Rustage but your series has turned into a big is appointment. Should stick to good plots and keep your ideology low keyed and no it's not because your one-sided against ideology, because if it was flipped I be writing pretty much the same review.
On the plot alone four 4 stars but because of the stereo typing three
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2010
Great story line on this Inspector Woodend novel. I like how Sally Spencer weaves her stories. You may figure out part of what is going on but more than likely won't figure it all out.
August 29, 2013
Nice police procedural set in 60's Lancashire. Has some nifty twists to keep you guessing.
December 10, 2016
A fine mystery with a very good plot.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews