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Chief Inspector Woodend #8
Death of an Innocent
A man and a young woman are found blasted away by a rifle in a remote farmhouse on the Yorkshire moors. But where is the farmer, why did he have such swanky furniture in his living room, and who on earth are the victims? Charlie Woodend isn't amused with the people who are getting under his feet as he starts to grapple with these questions, but his steps are abruptly halted when the Deputy Chief Constable decides that, this time, Woodend's high-handedness has gone too far. Woodend may have been suspended but his sense of justice can't let go. And it won't let go however much resistance he encounters and from whom. But as Woodend is depressed to discover, when the people who are determined to keep you down are all-powerful, sheer will-power just isn't enough.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2002
10 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Sally Spencer
80 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 24, 2018
Great mystery and an irascible detective! Great match-up!
April 13, 2020
I started reading this book then a few chapters in decided to google Sally Spencer and find out more about her. I was absolutely stunned to find out it's really written by a man disguised as a woman. I'm not sure I've ever understood why an author hides themselves by using a pseudonym and have never felt the need to read books by authors who do that. But a man who pretends to be a woman to write a book is so over the top unacceptable it's something I can't begin to over look or enjoy any book such an author writes. I keep asking myself why on earth would a man do that? And believe me I fully understand transgender people but this man lives as a man NOT a woman so it's not one bit about him being transgender. Aside from the simple truth a man does not know how a woman thinks any more than a woman knows how a man thinks and the bit of this book I did read confirms that in spades. But more important for me is a writer must be authentic if nothing else. Without that nothing that's written is of interest to me. And man writing a book pretending to be a woman is certainly NOT authentic IMO.
December 13, 2017
I was hoping this would be a new series for me to read, but I didn't like the relationship between
Chief Inspector Woodend and his partner. I thought the dialogue was tiresome. The story line was
good enough, but overall the book was a disappointment.
Chief Inspector Woodend and his partner. I thought the dialogue was tiresome. The story line was
good enough, but overall the book was a disappointment.
October 29, 2019
It was okay. Woodend in trouble--again. The boss is a jerk--again. Woodend's team is loyal--again. Not badly written, just not exciting.
February 4, 2021
Well written, I like the characters, an interesting plot, everything I need for a good read.
December 8, 2023
Could be the best entry so far. Two murders lead Woodend to a place he never thought he’d be.
In more ways than one.
In more ways than one.
March 21, 2010
Very intricate story line that kept me wondering. Inspectory Woodend himself has problems and gets suspended. His buddies rally around and solve the mystery with Woodend's help.
October 3, 2011
this series is getting disturbing...
resorting to more distasteful crimes
resorting to more distasteful crimes
September 27, 2014
One of the best early books of this series!
January 23, 2015
The series continues to go downhill.
August 26, 2016
Like this series
I had read this before, but guess I did not follow up on series. I will read more but not in order as library does not have them in order at all times
I had read this before, but guess I did not follow up on series. I will read more but not in order as library does not have them in order at all times
May 15, 2013
Another good English mystery
Read
October 19, 2016Good police procedural.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews