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DI Susan Holden #1
Blood on the Cowley Road
MEET DETECTIVE SUSAN HOLDEN. SOLVING CRIMES IN THE OXFORD MOST PEOPLE NEVER SEE
Sarah Johnson plunges to her death from the top of the multi-storey carpark, right in front of his prying camera. Was her death the result of a sick prank by an art student?
Sarah turns out to have a history of mental ill-health, so to DI Susan Holden, it looks like a straightforward case of suicide.
Then Jake Arnold, the last person Sarah phoned on her mobile, turns up dead in the River Isis, and Holden's preconceptions are thrown into disorder.
Now she and her colleagues are plunged into a race against time to stop any more deaths.
THE DETECTIVE
DI Susan Holden is a police detective with anger management issues, a demanding mother and a searing determination to get to crack any case that comes her way in Oxford. She lives in an unprepossessing Victorian terrace, drinks too much Chardonnay and falls out with colleagues, witnesses and almost anyone who crosses her path.
THE SETTING
Her Oxford is a place where old ladies live in fear of lycra-clad cyclists, where you’re more likely to tread in a dog turd than nick a professor, and where mental health is a big an issue, but of less interest than Oxford United’s latest football game. It’s also a city where death comes with brutal finality – whether from the top of a grotty multi-storey car park, a careless care home and or on a dark wet night as Oxford’s adult learners wend their way home from their evening classes.
Sarah Johnson plunges to her death from the top of the multi-storey carpark, right in front of his prying camera. Was her death the result of a sick prank by an art student?
Sarah turns out to have a history of mental ill-health, so to DI Susan Holden, it looks like a straightforward case of suicide.
Then Jake Arnold, the last person Sarah phoned on her mobile, turns up dead in the River Isis, and Holden's preconceptions are thrown into disorder.
Now she and her colleagues are plunged into a race against time to stop any more deaths.
THE DETECTIVE
DI Susan Holden is a police detective with anger management issues, a demanding mother and a searing determination to get to crack any case that comes her way in Oxford. She lives in an unprepossessing Victorian terrace, drinks too much Chardonnay and falls out with colleagues, witnesses and almost anyone who crosses her path.
THE SETTING
Her Oxford is a place where old ladies live in fear of lycra-clad cyclists, where you’re more likely to tread in a dog turd than nick a professor, and where mental health is a big an issue, but of less interest than Oxford United’s latest football game. It’s also a city where death comes with brutal finality – whether from the top of a grotty multi-storey car park, a careless care home and or on a dark wet night as Oxford’s adult learners wend their way home from their evening classes.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
312 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 5, 2020
There were aspects of this book that I quite liked and it had the premise of a good story, but
- the characters didn’t ring true
- the main character was not very likable and actually quite rude.
- the female characters experienced ‘women’s problems’ and one spent a bit of time ‘squatting’ over the toilet!
- the epilogue ruined the whole story for me.
Not enough redeeming qualities that would make me want to keep reading this series I am afraid.
- the characters didn’t ring true
- the main character was not very likable and actually quite rude.
- the female characters experienced ‘women’s problems’ and one spent a bit of time ‘squatting’ over the toilet!
- the epilogue ruined the whole story for me.
Not enough redeeming qualities that would make me want to keep reading this series I am afraid.
November 2, 2015
This is the first book which features DI Susan Holden and her year of detectives. I liked the pace and characterisation in the novel.
The setting in Oxford is known to me and this provided a senses of reality. The geographical locations were well described.
True to the genre there is a wide range of suspects from which to choose. As the body count rises some of the suspects move from the list.
The story has a credible ending, but not all the loose ends are tied. Perhaps the DI will come across at least one of these characters again in a future novel?
The setting in Oxford is known to me and this provided a senses of reality. The geographical locations were well described.
True to the genre there is a wide range of suspects from which to choose. As the body count rises some of the suspects move from the list.
The story has a credible ending, but not all the loose ends are tied. Perhaps the DI will come across at least one of these characters again in a future novel?
May 5, 2020
This book is a good read but for some reading I just couldn’t get into it and past a few stupid little things like surnames 🙄I know it’s such a stupid thing but Wilson reminds me of the ball in the Tom hanks film cast away . Every time I seen the name it popped in my head . I did finish the book but I won’t be reading anymore I just couldn’t connect with the characters
May 7, 2015
An enjoyable read with well developed characters. I will look out for more of his books.
May 25, 2020
I thought this was a terrible book. Poorly written with a weak storyline & complety unrelatable characters. And the ending... well...
November 22, 2024
A very puzzling case
The twists were designed to drive me to distraction. I thought that I knew who did it, only to be proved wrong multiple times. I liked Detective Susan Holden, who was a very human person. Liked that she had a good team of detectives who had skills which complimented hers.
The twists were designed to drive me to distraction. I thought that I knew who did it, only to be proved wrong multiple times. I liked Detective Susan Holden, who was a very human person. Liked that she had a good team of detectives who had skills which complimented hers.
April 22, 2020
Great Story
A Great Story set in Oxford featuring a feisty female inspector. Great plot with lots of twists and turns and an interesting ending. Will looking reading more in the series.
A Great Story set in Oxford featuring a feisty female inspector. Great plot with lots of twists and turns and an interesting ending. Will looking reading more in the series.
December 12, 2024
Blood on the Cowley Road
A mystery with many twists. I felt it was slow moving. You kept thinking it was one person then another. Eventually a murderer was found for some of the people, but not enough evidence for the other. Not a very satisfactory ending.
A mystery with many twists. I felt it was slow moving. You kept thinking it was one person then another. Eventually a murderer was found for some of the people, but not enough evidence for the other. Not a very satisfactory ending.
July 10, 2025
I thought I'd read this book as I'd read other ones with DI holden in as a character alongside a PI , but I just couldn't get into this book , took me ages to read it, felt the plot was very complicated and I kept losing track of the characters ,
May 16, 2020
Good story with interesting characters but some small plot inconsistencies.
July 8, 2021
I hated the way this ended. It was different but still to end the story after everything the characters had been through... let a bad taste.
March 29, 2024
needs a better proof reader. the number of characters makes it difficult to follow at times
March 22, 2025
Not my up of tea
I found the story and characters a bit ' museum's of something. It left me feeling as if I had read half a story.
I found the story and characters a bit ' museum's of something. It left me feeling as if I had read half a story.
April 2, 2025
New author for me really enjoyed and will read more.
August 17, 2025
Really enjoyed it. Very similar to watching a BBC crime series. I liked the characters and found myself eagerly starting each new chapter. I look forward to the next book in the series.
October 18, 2019
Unimpressed
I found this book the most annoying book I have read for a long time. The ending was so inconclusive. The characters so confusing The main characters as follows: DI Holden was unbelievably rude and condescending to her team, DC Wilson such a wimp and WPC Lawson (how did she suddenly become a member of the team?) Such a smart arse. Holden's mother was also unnecessary and unbelievable.
Sorry, I read till the end because I thought something might actually happen but it just fizzled out.
I found this book the most annoying book I have read for a long time. The ending was so inconclusive. The characters so confusing The main characters as follows: DI Holden was unbelievably rude and condescending to her team, DC Wilson such a wimp and WPC Lawson (how did she suddenly become a member of the team?) Such a smart arse. Holden's mother was also unnecessary and unbelievable.
Sorry, I read till the end because I thought something might actually happen but it just fizzled out.
November 16, 2019
A new author to me. I quite enjoyed this book and the characters in it. It is a somewhat old fashioned type of crime writing with no involvement from forensics or S.O.C.O. teams but relies purely on a small team of detectives led by an acerbic DI with some input from a pathologist. Being set in Oxford comparisons to Morse are inevitable, although this is not yet in the same league. I do feel however that the characters in the investigation team can be developed and I will read further books in the series in the hope that this happens. A readable book showing potential.
October 11, 2019
A very intriguing story set in and around Oxford. I enjoyed it tremendously.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews