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DI Susan Holden
The Complete Blood in Oxford Mystery Series
IN THIS FOUR-BOOK BOXSET:
BOOK 1: BLOOD ON THE COWLEY ROAD
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?
BOOK 2: BLOOD ON GRANDPONT
A woman is stabbed to death in an Oxford car park. A steamy photo on her mobile points towards a crime of sexual passion or revenge.
BOOK 3: BLOOD ON THE MARSH
An old woman dies in a care home. This should be a gentle return to duty for Detective Holden. But the evidence of drugs misuse suggests otherwise and, as Holden investigates, cracks appear in the emotional fabric of Sunnymede Care Home.
STANDALONE BOOK 4: THE GIRL WHO STOLE THE APPLE
A little girl dressed as Snow White shoplifts an apple. Seconds later the shop blows up. One of the staff, Maggie Rogers, is conveniently out of the shop when all this happens. Maggie turns out to have a past full of secrets and betrayal, and attracts the attention of the police as well as more sinister forces. Maggie and the little girl end up on the run, not knowing who’s on their side or even what their pursuers really want.
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.
BOOK 1: BLOOD ON THE COWLEY ROAD
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?
BOOK 2: BLOOD ON GRANDPONT
A woman is stabbed to death in an Oxford car park. A steamy photo on her mobile points towards a crime of sexual passion or revenge.
BOOK 3: BLOOD ON THE MARSH
An old woman dies in a care home. This should be a gentle return to duty for Detective Holden. But the evidence of drugs misuse suggests otherwise and, as Holden investigates, cracks appear in the emotional fabric of Sunnymede Care Home.
STANDALONE BOOK 4: THE GIRL WHO STOLE THE APPLE
A little girl dressed as Snow White shoplifts an apple. Seconds later the shop blows up. One of the staff, Maggie Rogers, is conveniently out of the shop when all this happens. Maggie turns out to have a past full of secrets and betrayal, and attracts the attention of the police as well as more sinister forces. Maggie and the little girl end up on the run, not knowing who’s on their side or even what their pursuers really want.
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.
788 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2020
259 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 1, 2020
It was ok
The first three books were a series and were ok. The plot was fairly good but I personally wasn't a fan of one of the endings. The fourth book was stand alone and left me perplexed as to the purpose behind the entire story. Books three and four were riddled with typos and the fourth had continuity errors. I won't read this author again.
The first three books were a series and were ok. The plot was fairly good but I personally wasn't a fan of one of the endings. The fourth book was stand alone and left me perplexed as to the purpose behind the entire story. Books three and four were riddled with typos and the fourth had continuity errors. I won't read this author again.
June 30, 2020
Wow, excellent reads
First three books, a lovely trilogy with the same characters. Very good. The last book has a totally different style and really kept me on my toes. Another author to add to my favourites list
First three books, a lovely trilogy with the same characters. Very good. The last book has a totally different style and really kept me on my toes. Another author to add to my favourites list
June 17, 2020
Wow
What a cracking good read the characters are really well written and enjoyable to read I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories
What a cracking good read the characters are really well written and enjoyable to read I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy mystery stories
September 26, 2020
Oxford prose or is it Pro's?
Having read all four books I felt they all took a very convoluted route in reaching the climax. There seemed to be many tales within each book that simply drew the length of the book out. The first three books had the same key characters including DI Holden and despite a drawn out story were reasonably good crime stories. The 4th book was completely stand alone so not sure why it was bundled in the series? Good but not good enough I am afraid
Having read all four books I felt they all took a very convoluted route in reaching the climax. There seemed to be many tales within each book that simply drew the length of the book out. The first three books had the same key characters including DI Holden and despite a drawn out story were reasonably good crime stories. The 4th book was completely stand alone so not sure why it was bundled in the series? Good but not good enough I am afraid
July 7, 2020
Amazing Murders
This a great collection of four books with fascinating stories. Strange murders take place in each one that seem impossible to solve. The detectives never give up and finally get breakthroughs. You will be mesmerized as you read.
This a great collection of four books with fascinating stories. Strange murders take place in each one that seem impossible to solve. The detectives never give up and finally get breakthroughs. You will be mesmerized as you read.
May 22, 2023
A quite interesting collection of murder/mysteries. The first three books are a trilogy and the fourth a stand alone, which was a little unsettling as I kept wondering when the lead character fron the trilogy was going to show up and solve the case. Worth reading.
June 7, 2025
Excellent series. All the stories are quite different with interesting and well developed characters. The last one, The Girl Who Stole the Apple, differed from the usual police procedural and was more like a spy thriller with the police in the background. Recommended.
June 27, 2020
Oxford Mysteries
Good easy read. Interesting characters. Kept me interested all through. Nice reading with little stress & would recommend to anyone.
Good easy read. Interesting characters. Kept me interested all through. Nice reading with little stress & would recommend to anyone.
August 12, 2020
Wouldn’t recommend
Very disappointing story to be honest had to continue to find out how it ended. Actually all the books in this collection I wouldn’t recommend very boring.
Very disappointing story to be honest had to continue to find out how it ended. Actually all the books in this collection I wouldn’t recommend very boring.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews