Future Riches

DCS Palmer & the Serial Murder Squad #1

by B.L. Faulkner

THE PALMER CASES Justin Palmer started off on the beat as a London policeman in the 1964 and is now Detective Chief Superintendent Palmer running his own serial murder squad from New Scotland Yard. Not one to pull punches, or give a hoot for political correctness if it hinders his inquiries , Palmer has gone as far as he will go in the Met. And he knows it. Master of the one line put down and slave to his sciatica he can be as nasty or as nice as he likes. The mid 1990’s was a time of re-awakening for Palmer as the Information technology revolution turned forensic science, communication and information gathering skills upside down. Realising the value of this revolution to crime solving, Palmer co-opted Detective Sergeant Gheeta Singh, a British Asian onto his team. DS Singh has a degree in IT and was given the go ahead to update Palmer’s department with all the computer hard and software she wanted . Most of which she wrote herself, and some of which is, shall we say, of a grey area when it comes to privacy laws and accessing certain databases! Together with their small team of officers and one civilian computer clerk they take on the serial killers of the UK. On the personal front Palmer has been married to his ‘princess’ , or Mrs P. as she is known to everybody, for nearly thirty years . The romance blossomed after the young DC Palmer arrested most of her family who were a bunch of South London petty villains in the 60’s. They have three children and eight grandchildren, a nice house in Dulwich and a faithful dog called Daisy. Gheeta Singh lives alone in a fourth floor Barbican apartment having arrived on these shores as part of a refugee family fleeing from Idi Amin’s Uganda . Her father and brothers have built up a good computer parts supply company in which it was assumed Gheeta would take an active role on graduating from University. She had other ideas on this, and also on the arranged marriage her mother and aunts still try to coerce her into. Gheeta has two loves, police work and technology, and thanks to Palmer she has her dream job. Combining the old ‘coppers nose’ and ‘gut feelings’ of Palmer with the modern IT skills of DS Singh the two make an unlikely, but successful team. All their cases involve multiple killings and twist and turn through red herrings and hidden clues alike keeping the reader in suspense until the very end.

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2014

About the author

Barry Faulkner was born into a family of South London petty criminals who ran with the Richardson's Crime Gang in the 60's-90's. Being the youngest his mother, a top fashion model, was determined he would not follow in the criminal footsteps of the rest of the family and enrolled him into the Morely Academy of Dramatic Art to pursue a career in acting. Sadly young Faulkner was asked to leave after three months when no acting ability had surfaced. He went onto become an advertising copywriter with the English branch of the US Agency Erwin Wasey Ruffraf and Ryan where he got lucky with some scripts he sent to the BBC TV and became a scriptwriter and editor for them and several ITV companies. During this time the DCS Palmer plots were amassed in various notebooks and three years ago Faulkner finally found time to write and publish them. His early insight into the criminal world of his family has added authenticity to the characters and plots that makes them credible and the pace keeps the reader glued to the end. His signature end twist will always surprise you. Check out his top rated crime blog at geezers2016.wordpress.com.

Reviews

[Andy Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, for a short novel this was a tricksy little beast of a book. 1st in a series with a Chief Super who isn't your regular 'me against the world' - yup, quite refreshing. Bring on book 2

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Considering this is quite a short read, it is full of twists and turns and extremely well written. I will be reading more

[Robert Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven’t discovered the Serial Murder Squad series you’re in for a treat. I discovered the series last year and immediately took to DCS Palmer and his team. As I was reading the later books in the series, it felt only right and natural to go back to the beginning.

Future Riches begins with a couple of murders in the world of TV production. As soon as the Serial Murder Squad takes charge, Justin Palmer and his colleague, Gheeta Singh, immerse themselves in the theatrical world of TV drama, actors and their agents. With Palmer’s nose for anything off key and Gheeta’s formidable IT skills, they’re soon on the trail of the killer.

The story may be short, but it’s crammed with action, a generous measure of humour and witty one-liners, internal work conflicts, and a pace that leads you breathless through a few twists and turns to the exciting climax. At the story’s core is the relationship between Palmer and Singh. Their differences complement each other and they have an understanding and respect that needs no explanation, thanks to the skill of the author. (Looking at his bio, I suspect he’s drawn heavily on his time in TV for this adventure.)

If you like honest, exciting crime fiction, delivered without frills or distractions, this is the perfect introduction to an addictive series.

[JJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know where I found this book but I’m glad I did, I really enjoyed it.
Chief (don’t forget that bit) Inspector Palmer is not one of your miserable, no home life to speak of detectives, he is witty as well as being clever. I’m guessing he is about fifty, tall, lean with a touch of sciatica, still good looking as he has a ‘killer smile’. His 2nd in command is Detective Sergeant Gheeta Singh. They get on really well together and work well as a team. She looks up to him and he knows her worth.
Palmer heads up a serial killers murder squad and the one that lands on his desk in this book involves various persons in the entertainment industry. The problem is he has to find the connection and things get quite convoluted.
There is a light-heartedness in the banter between Palmer and Singh and around Palmer’s home life but the crimes and the ending bring a bleakness.
I look forward to the next in the series.

[Grace J Reviewerlady]

I’m almost ashamed to admit these books had passed me by but a request from the author soon had me wondering why I hadn’t read this series before. I’m delighted to say I now have them all and I look forward to reading and reviewing them in order – not something a blogger often gets to enjoy!

DCS Palmer is in the midst of using some time off to attend to domestic matters when he gets the call to investigate a murder; along with his sergeant, Gheeta Singh, they begin their process. Before too long, they have a second body and then there is a connection with a third. Plenty to consider and my attention was grabbed!

Even after one novel, I can tell this is a series I am going to relish. The characters are beautifully crafter and work together because of their differences. Their personal lives are touched on but don’t take over the story – rather, they add to it. There is a hint of humour throughout, with the age difference between Palmer and Singh making me smile as the former refers to things which the latter has never heard of (I had!). I have to say that the author has a real gift for dialogue; more than once I was taken by how good the verbal exchanges were. Terrifically enjoyable in so many ways, and I look forward to the next one coming up on my list! Absolutely worth all five sparkling stars and my heartiest recommendation.

[Debbie Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always good to discover a new series that you know from the first book is going to become a habit. This short, pacy and convincing police procedural has the feel of a good tv series about it, with a strong leading character and sidekick both well drawn, with convincing dialogue, and a crime that keeps you guessing to the end. I will be reading more in this series. Very well written, with a light and balanced touch, and just enough humour to offset the darkness of the crimes, all it lacks is a quick once-over by an editor with an eye for punctuation.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 in the DCS Palmer and the Serial Murder Squad and it is a great read and I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series. Loved the title The Felt Tip Murders. We meet the very quirky and humorous characters Detective Chief Superintendent Palmer and Detective Sergeant Singh in a story which keeps you guessing throughout. Barry Faulkner is a very talented writer and has come up with a superb enjoyable plot with lots of twists and turns and great characters who you warm to instantly. I give this book a well deserved 5 stars! Highly recommended.

[Pamela Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Twisting and Turning plot!

Enjoyed this story, lovable "Chief" Superintendent and his Dectective Sergeant! Ruthless, greedy villains with just the right amount of humor. Thank you for sharing!

[Joanna Maltby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy and entertaining read

Well drawn characters, nicely convoluted plot, nothing unpleasant or complicated. Slightly retro with references to the 1970's make it best for those who remember the decade

[Mr Kenneth L Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first book

A very good first book in this series and I am looking forward to reading the rest. Really quaint and quirky characters that make themselves likeable.

[C P · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author always comes up with a good yarn. Great reading.