Murder in Devon

Kate Power #5

by Judith Cutler

Detective Kate Power’s in Devon, but not for a fun time on the beach.

Kate Power's passed her promotion exam and won a holiday anywhere in the world.

But there’s always a snag. Kate ends up not in the Caribbean but in south Devon, cleaning toilets as she works undercover.

SOMEONE’S CHEATING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOLIDAY DREAMS

Not properly briefed, she is partnered with the volatile policeman Craig Knowles. They must live as husband and wife. And he’s not an easy man to even pretend to like.

By the time she realises that bad guys and good guys come in all shapes and sizes, Kate’s life is at risk.

PEOPLE WHO WILL MURDER TO PROTECT THEIR SECRETS

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Judith Cutler was born and bred in the Midlands, and revels in using her birthplace, with its rich cultural life, as a background for her novels. After a long stint as an English lecturer at a run-down college of further education, Judith, a prize-winning short-story writer, has taught Creative Writing at Birmingham University, has run occasional writing course elsewhere (from a maximum security prison to an idyltic Greek island) and ministered to needy colleagues in her role as Secretary of the Crime Writers' Association.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the first four books in this series but this one just wasn’t up to the same standard. It was quite tedious having long periods where nothing really happened and then the ending seemed quite rushed and somewhat incomplete.

[Kathy]

Had to abandon book due to vulgar, truly disgusting language and unseemly behavior, etc. I had the right feeling when I left the last book and should not have picked up this book 5. Why, it's a regular love hate relationship for me with this series! Sorry to say goodbye...cannot tolerate.


Kindle Unlimited

[Gary Van Cott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is a fairly good book.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed book five in the box set I have because it was different from the usual detective stories...body found, team swoop, investigation, solve...these stories build in a way that centre around Kate as she grapples with the toxic working atmosphere and being constantly moved due to the accelerated programme. This time, she is undercover...

The majority of the characters were awful, especially her supposed undercover teammate. Kate is tough though vulnerable, her heart soft, which seems to make her more vulnerable. Danger lurks but her determination pushes her not to give up.

This was an engaging, well-written British crime drama set in the 90s, where women are under fire whatever they do. The characters suited the plot.

Worth a look.

[Nancy]

Detective Kate Power’s in Devon, but not for a fun time on the beach.

Kate Power's passed her promotion exam and won a holiday anywhere in the world.

But there’s always a snag. Kate ends up not in the Caribbean but in south Devon, cleaning toilets as she works undercover.

SOMEONE’S CHEATING PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOLIDAY DREAMS

Not properly briefed, she is partnered with the volatile policeman Craig Knowles. They must live as husband and wife. And he’s not an easy man to even pretend to like.

By the time she realises that bad guys and good guys come in all shapes and sizes, Kate’s life is at risk.

Not as good as the first four books.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story. Not my favorite of the series.

This is an alright story. Not the best in the series. Too many looses ends and the ending was too rushed. I enjoyed the other books previous to this. One more in the series unless Ms Cutler decided to continue with Kate. I do hope she does. I am looking forward to reading the next/last book in this series. Overall very enjoyable. I recommend you give them a try if you enjoy this genre. You won't be disappointed.

[M R B Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real fighting read

Kate Power goes undercover and gets embroiled with a family and a conflict with her undercover partner. An intriguing story and difficult to put down. A shift from previous Kate Power tales, but still with the generosity that Kate has shown in previous books.

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

I enjoyed Kate being undercover and intriguingly, slightly out of her depth. I liked the twists, the turns and the red herrings which ramped up the suspense and mysteries. Good characters who were interesting, making me like some, but disliking others. Kate is a complex character and I look forward to reading more about her.

[Shirley Fanshaw · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book a torture. So many pages where nothing was happening. The idea of someone going undercover with absolutely no idea what they are looking for is a ridiculous plot and completely unbelievable. Nothing happened for so long then the finish was so rushed. A very disappointing book and unless you like torturing yourself, stear clear of this one.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed in this one. I enjoyed the other books in this series but found this one very tedious. All of the characters were angry and no one behaved professionally. Never really seemed like there was any direction in the story and very little action.

[John Keeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This One I Didn’t Like

I loved the first four books of the Kate Power books but this one I couldn’t take. After reading 7 or 8 chapters I gave up and flipped to the last 2 just to see what the ending was.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is near the end of the series and I do wish I'd realised before starting as it was very good but I wanted to know what had gone on before. What happens in the undercover world? Set in Teignmouth/Newton Abbot/ Dartmoor areas of Devon.

[ALISON A O BRIEN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first books

I found a lot of the characters really unlikeable. Also, the beginning of the story was confusing - how and why Kate got asked to go undercover. I hope the next book is better.

[Anne Duckworth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Confusing, unclear and difficult to finish.

I found this a really difficult read. The plot line is really unclear, the characters are extremely unlikable and it was a hard slog to finish. Even then, it so wasn't worth the effort, being not much wiser at the end.

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

Another great story

Another great story featuring Inspector Kate Power and this time situated in Devon working undercover. Good story with plenty of twists and turns and a good ending.

[Ruth Margaret Ogle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well worth reading

The plot was original as were the characters. Ending not forseen
and emotional content added to authenticity.Great author,looking forward to reading more of her novels.

[yvonne grannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me

I've read all the other books in the series,and have really enjoyed them. This one,I couldn't get my head round. The characters were unbelievable,and the story too far fetched. I flipped through so many pages,hoping it would improve,but it didn't. Just too far fetched.

[John Prescott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Average

A very mundane plot with very few clues about what is happening,
until the anticlimax of the final pages. Not one of the best in this in this competitive field of writing.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book - the first 4 books in this set of 6 were pretty interesting if written in a sort of short hand manner. But this undercover work trying to determine what/where/why the crime was while Kate is cleaning and babysitting and basically that is the whole book. Really stupid.

[AnnPackham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading

Enjoyed reading this book well written as always can't wait to read the next book about Kate and how she her life unfolds.

[Royston Horsman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Quite a good book but I thought it dragged on a bit at the beginning but once you got past the first few chapters it got a lot better.

[Penny Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed with the way the book ended; the "who done it" was not conclusive IMHO.

[AVANTI KUMAR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Kate Power I have recently read in Judith's police procedural written more than a couple of decades ago.

What lifts this one again above the 3 stars (my rating for a solid, crafted narrative) is the focus on the personal and the era before hyperconnected devices and rapid data analytics (transforming most if not all job roles). The main character's (Kate's) experiences when viewed in this context is more credible and engaging.

Well recommended.

[Muriel Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

I enjoyed this book but not as much as the last one.overall i have really enjoyed all the books i will now read the last one

[Mary Ann Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devon

70% of book read b4 any real action and then it wasn’t much action. Did not care for the female abusssiviness.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good 4th book keeps you reading to the end, and Kates story continues in the last book.

[Tommy Mann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still to much whining and attempting to establish social justice credentials, but a better plot this time around.