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The Blitz Detective #6
The Pimlico Murder
Armistice Day 1940. A time that stirs painful memories for The Blitz Detective John Jago given his service during the Great War. But it needs to be business as usual when he arrives at West Ham police station, and promptly finds himself despatched to Pimlico to investigate a suspicious death. A young man, Terry Watson, has been found in a back-yard Anderson shelter, battered about the head, and with two white poppies in his pocket.
As their investigation delves into Watson's background to try and establish the killer's motive, Jago and his assistant DC Craddock find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico's shady underworld, and connections with Mosley's BUF party ... it will take all their skills to uncover the truth behind the pacifist's brutal death.
As their investigation delves into Watson's background to try and establish the killer's motive, Jago and his assistant DC Craddock find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico's shady underworld, and connections with Mosley's BUF party ... it will take all their skills to uncover the truth behind the pacifist's brutal death.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published November 18, 2021
25 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Mike Hollow
20 books55 followersI first got into print when I was eleven. A boys’ comic published a feeble limerick I’d sent them and paid me five shillings, a fat sum at that age. But the postal order was nothing compared with seeing my words in print.
After that I kept writing – teenage poems for a late-1960s “underground magazine”, then grown-up poems, and later a happy mix of copywriting, journalism, editing and translating. All ways of getting paid for playing with words.
My CV? I was born in 1953 in the Essex County Borough of West Ham – home of the Blitz Detective – on the eastern edge of London. I grew up mainly in Romford and went to the Royal Liberty School, then studied Russian and French at Cambridge University.
My first job was translating for the BBC, and I did various jobs there for sixteen years before moving to work in communications for development agency Tearfund, travelling widely in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In 2002 I went freelance as a writer, editor and creative project manager. Now I earn a living by translating and spend the rest of my time in the cellar of my house in Hampshire chronicling the adventures of the Blitz Detective.
Why write detective novels? Because I enjoy reading them and I love to create entertaining stories. Why set them in that place and time? Because overnight the Blitz turned everyday existence into a life-and-death struggle for ordinary people – and some of them were my family.
After that I kept writing – teenage poems for a late-1960s “underground magazine”, then grown-up poems, and later a happy mix of copywriting, journalism, editing and translating. All ways of getting paid for playing with words.
My CV? I was born in 1953 in the Essex County Borough of West Ham – home of the Blitz Detective – on the eastern edge of London. I grew up mainly in Romford and went to the Royal Liberty School, then studied Russian and French at Cambridge University.
My first job was translating for the BBC, and I did various jobs there for sixteen years before moving to work in communications for development agency Tearfund, travelling widely in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In 2002 I went freelance as a writer, editor and creative project manager. Now I earn a living by translating and spend the rest of my time in the cellar of my house in Hampshire chronicling the adventures of the Blitz Detective.
Why write detective novels? Because I enjoy reading them and I love to create entertaining stories. Why set them in that place and time? Because overnight the Blitz turned everyday existence into a life-and-death struggle for ordinary people – and some of them were my family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 10, 2021
There are currently a number of authors writing crime novels set during the Second World War, and Mike Hollow’s “Blitz Detective” series is one of the best. “The Pimlico Murder” is the sixth book in the series and sees Detective John Jago and his sidekick DC Craddock despatched to Pimlico to investigate the suspicious death of a young man found in an Anderson shelter with two white poppies in his pocket. They soon find themselves embroiled in Pimlico’s underworld, and come into conflict with Oswald Mosley’s Fascist Party.
As with the other “Blitz Detective” books, Mike Hollow captures the period perfectly. The setting is believable, the language and terminology used is pure 1940’s and the descriptions of wartime London are accurate. Hollow always includes spot-on details about the day to day issues facing Londoners at this period in history, adding a realistic dimension to his stories.
Being the sixth book in the series, there is a lot of backstory that is alluded to in the book, but it can still be enjoyed by new readers. As always with Mike Hollow, “The Pimlico Murder” is a gripping and twisty police procedural which will keep the reader guessing until the end, and the addition of the fascists adds an historically accurate and often brutal element to the story.
As with the other “Blitz Detective” books, Mike Hollow captures the period perfectly. The setting is believable, the language and terminology used is pure 1940’s and the descriptions of wartime London are accurate. Hollow always includes spot-on details about the day to day issues facing Londoners at this period in history, adding a realistic dimension to his stories.
Being the sixth book in the series, there is a lot of backstory that is alluded to in the book, but it can still be enjoyed by new readers. As always with Mike Hollow, “The Pimlico Murder” is a gripping and twisty police procedural which will keep the reader guessing until the end, and the addition of the fascists adds an historically accurate and often brutal element to the story.
August 16, 2023
Always love a good detective story!
September 29, 2023
The Blitz Detective mystery book # 6
In a few words:
Detective John Jago is dispatched to Pimlico to investigate the suspicious death of Terry Watson, a young man, found in an Anderson shelter. With his assistant Constable Peter Craddock they soon find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico’s shady underworld.
My thoughts:
I love this series although set during wartime the stories are centered on a murder investigation rather than the war itself. All books are standalone, but they are best enjoyed in chronological order.
What caused Watson demise, who is behind his murder and most intriguing why were bricks in his rucksack? History tells us lots of looting happened during the Blitz and where did these shady characters fence their loot? Well, leave the answer in the capable hands of a master storyteller and you will be pulled into an investigation that is hard to put down. This story is dialogue driven; never ending exchange between characters, the style is very lively. Jago and Craddock investigation brings them multiple times facing and questioning bookies, thugs, racketeers and suspects. Definitely this is a gripping and twisty police procedural at its best and one that has kept me intrigued and captivated until the end.
Through the book is Jago’s friend Dorothy Appleton, the American reporter pops in and out. Their relationship is still a cat and mouse game...time to clear the air on this one...:)
In all, “The Pimlico Murder” is a good addition to the series and is a solid mystery full of twits. The Blitz in 1940 has giving the author numerous possibilities and I bet he has more stories to create....
I received a copy of this book from Allison & Busby via Netgalley for an honest and unbiased review: all opinions and comments are my own.
In a few words:
Detective John Jago is dispatched to Pimlico to investigate the suspicious death of Terry Watson, a young man, found in an Anderson shelter. With his assistant Constable Peter Craddock they soon find themselves knee-deep in Pimlico’s shady underworld.
My thoughts:
I love this series although set during wartime the stories are centered on a murder investigation rather than the war itself. All books are standalone, but they are best enjoyed in chronological order.
What caused Watson demise, who is behind his murder and most intriguing why were bricks in his rucksack? History tells us lots of looting happened during the Blitz and where did these shady characters fence their loot? Well, leave the answer in the capable hands of a master storyteller and you will be pulled into an investigation that is hard to put down. This story is dialogue driven; never ending exchange between characters, the style is very lively. Jago and Craddock investigation brings them multiple times facing and questioning bookies, thugs, racketeers and suspects. Definitely this is a gripping and twisty police procedural at its best and one that has kept me intrigued and captivated until the end.
Through the book is Jago’s friend Dorothy Appleton, the American reporter pops in and out. Their relationship is still a cat and mouse game...time to clear the air on this one...:)
In all, “The Pimlico Murder” is a good addition to the series and is a solid mystery full of twits. The Blitz in 1940 has giving the author numerous possibilities and I bet he has more stories to create....
I received a copy of this book from Allison & Busby via Netgalley for an honest and unbiased review: all opinions and comments are my own.
November 22, 2021
I can never resist a murder mystery, especially not one set during the inter-war period. The years around WW1 and WW2 not only brought terrible conflict but also a huge amount of societal change, providing plenty of inspiration for novels. Mike Hollow's new WW2 series definitely makes use of these factors and this new book, The Pimlico Murder, explores the death of a young man in an Anderson shelter. The realities of life in London during the war: the rationing, the fear of bombs, the sudden arrival of so many new people to the capital are wonderfully portrayed by Hollow who really brings the setting to life.
The plot, however, I found a little weaker. There were a few continuity errors which impacted the reader's ability to try and solve the murder themselves. I also felt that the book needed a more thorough editing, there's a long-winded passage in which the pathologist gives the detective instructions on how to find the hospital. This is completely unnecessary for the reader and also one would hope that a detective could find a massive building without too much help!
I enjoyed the investigation and lead detective Jago's slow burn romance with a journalist. I hope that the sequel to this book has the above minor changes implemented as I would really enjoy these books if they were a little more stream-lined!
The plot, however, I found a little weaker. There were a few continuity errors which impacted the reader's ability to try and solve the murder themselves. I also felt that the book needed a more thorough editing, there's a long-winded passage in which the pathologist gives the detective instructions on how to find the hospital. This is completely unnecessary for the reader and also one would hope that a detective could find a massive building without too much help!
I enjoyed the investigation and lead detective Jago's slow burn romance with a journalist. I hope that the sequel to this book has the above minor changes implemented as I would really enjoy these books if they were a little more stream-lined!
October 27, 2021
The Pimlico Murder is the second "Blitz Detective" book I've read, though it's the sixth in the series. Its cast of characters and setting are effectively rendered by Mike Hollow. The plot, on the other hand, was full of unfulfilled promises: interesting leads and moments of confrontation that never quite gelled. If you enjoy historical mysteries, you'll find The Pimlico Murder fun weekend reading, but if you want a mystery that leaves you eagerly guessing to the end, it may not be the title for you.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.
November 18, 2021
Many thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review The Pimlico Murder. All opinions and comments are my own.
The Blitz is still raging in November, 1940 as our story begins. Armistice Day, to pin it down exactly.
Inspector John Jago has been seconded to Scotland Yard for a murder case, a body found in an Anderson Shelter in Pimlico. Luckily, he can bring along Constable Peter Cradock. Handy, that.
The dead man’s identify is established. What’s not established is what he was doing with the bricks found in his bike kit – going to do a bit of robbery, perhaps. Lots of looting happened during the Blitz, history tells us that. And that white poppy he had -- a symbol of peace during a time of war. All this is going to be connected in Mike Hollow’s capable hands; he's been doing it for a while, as The Pimlico Murder is #6 in his “Blitz Detective” series, and Jago and Cradock have proven to be quite the policemen.
The secondary story that ranges through the books is Jago’s relationship with Dorothy Appleton, the American reporter that is staying in London and writing stories for her Boston paper. This is moving at a snail’s pace. Yes, he has issues, a big one at least he clears up for Dorothy in this book. But I think it's time for him to make a decision in his life like those he makes in his investigations. Especially since Dorothy is making some in hers.
Of course, the dead man was a bad ‘un, leading an immoral and illegal life. Jago gets the truth out of everybody in bits and pieces. It takes a while; you’ll have to be patient. But the reason for killing him? That will surprise you, perhaps; but maybe not, if you think it though and think about what makes a human upset enough to kill. Mr. Hollow wants you to think about it, that's for sure.
Always included is a city trying to survive while bad men do bad things. Luckily Jago and Cradock are there to sort that out, too. As usual, our author takes a simple case and weaves a complex tale.
One thing we can count on is Jago’s opinions on how the second world war came about when it wasn’t supposed to, when the “war to end all wars” was supposed to be just that. Sobering, and so very true. A good historical mystery engages a reader like this, and this one certainly does that.
An author’s note outlines the research behind the story, including one particular “too outlandish to be true” moment that he included. Thanks are due Mike Hollow for bringing this moment of wartime London to life.
The Blitz is still raging in November, 1940 as our story begins. Armistice Day, to pin it down exactly.
Inspector John Jago has been seconded to Scotland Yard for a murder case, a body found in an Anderson Shelter in Pimlico. Luckily, he can bring along Constable Peter Cradock. Handy, that.
The dead man’s identify is established. What’s not established is what he was doing with the bricks found in his bike kit – going to do a bit of robbery, perhaps. Lots of looting happened during the Blitz, history tells us that. And that white poppy he had -- a symbol of peace during a time of war. All this is going to be connected in Mike Hollow’s capable hands; he's been doing it for a while, as The Pimlico Murder is #6 in his “Blitz Detective” series, and Jago and Cradock have proven to be quite the policemen.
The secondary story that ranges through the books is Jago’s relationship with Dorothy Appleton, the American reporter that is staying in London and writing stories for her Boston paper. This is moving at a snail’s pace. Yes, he has issues, a big one at least he clears up for Dorothy in this book. But I think it's time for him to make a decision in his life like those he makes in his investigations. Especially since Dorothy is making some in hers.
Of course, the dead man was a bad ‘un, leading an immoral and illegal life. Jago gets the truth out of everybody in bits and pieces. It takes a while; you’ll have to be patient. But the reason for killing him? That will surprise you, perhaps; but maybe not, if you think it though and think about what makes a human upset enough to kill. Mr. Hollow wants you to think about it, that's for sure.
Always included is a city trying to survive while bad men do bad things. Luckily Jago and Cradock are there to sort that out, too. As usual, our author takes a simple case and weaves a complex tale.
One thing we can count on is Jago’s opinions on how the second world war came about when it wasn’t supposed to, when the “war to end all wars” was supposed to be just that. Sobering, and so very true. A good historical mystery engages a reader like this, and this one certainly does that.
An author’s note outlines the research behind the story, including one particular “too outlandish to be true” moment that he included. Thanks are due Mike Hollow for bringing this moment of wartime London to life.
January 18, 2022
“The Pimlico Murder” is the sixth book in Mike Hollow’s Blitz Detective series, set in London during the second World War. This time Detective John Jago is out of his element as he is sent (by Scotland Yard!) to Pimlico to investigate the murder of Terry Watson, a lodger found in the Anderson shelter behind his landlord’s house. With Constable Peter Craddock along to play Watson, the two find themselves outside of their comfort zone in a new area trying to solve the crime.
We learn quite a bit about Terry and quite a bit about life during wartime. Terry was into biking, involved with the fascist party, and probably doing a bit of blackout looting on the side. So why did he have two white poppies (anti-war symbols) in his pocket? Why wasn’t he in the service? Was he a lady’s man or a quiet charismatic boy? What was he doing working for a bookie? And why did he have two bricks in his bag?
Mr. Hollow does a fantastic job setting the scene and introducing a wide-ranging set of characters. Life in London wasn’t easy, and people found different ways to cope with the blitz and trying to survive with the specter of death constantly hanging over them. Unfortunately, the plot wasn’t as strong as the characters – most of the investigating involved our detectives talking to someone and finding something out, going elsewhere and finding something else, and returning to the original person and confronting them with their lies, at which point they changed their story and the cycle started over. Everyone lied and hid truths for a variety of reasons, not all of which had to do with the murder. When the truth finally came out, it was more of a relief than a great conclusion. And Jago’s glacial romance with the American journalist (who had no real role in this novel) is an annoying distraction – I know he’s English, but just tell her how you feel!
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Allison & Busby via NetGalley. Thank you!
We learn quite a bit about Terry and quite a bit about life during wartime. Terry was into biking, involved with the fascist party, and probably doing a bit of blackout looting on the side. So why did he have two white poppies (anti-war symbols) in his pocket? Why wasn’t he in the service? Was he a lady’s man or a quiet charismatic boy? What was he doing working for a bookie? And why did he have two bricks in his bag?
Mr. Hollow does a fantastic job setting the scene and introducing a wide-ranging set of characters. Life in London wasn’t easy, and people found different ways to cope with the blitz and trying to survive with the specter of death constantly hanging over them. Unfortunately, the plot wasn’t as strong as the characters – most of the investigating involved our detectives talking to someone and finding something out, going elsewhere and finding something else, and returning to the original person and confronting them with their lies, at which point they changed their story and the cycle started over. Everyone lied and hid truths for a variety of reasons, not all of which had to do with the murder. When the truth finally came out, it was more of a relief than a great conclusion. And Jago’s glacial romance with the American journalist (who had no real role in this novel) is an annoying distraction – I know he’s English, but just tell her how you feel!
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Allison & Busby via NetGalley. Thank you!
July 13, 2025
The Pimlico Murder is the 6th novel in the Blitz Detective series and is set around Armistice Day in 1940. John Jags and his sergeant Peter Craddock have been transferred to Scotland Yard where the police are struggling to cope with a lack of police officers, and they are tasked with solving the murder of Terry Watson, a young man and keen cyclist, who is found dead in the Anderson shelter in the garden of his landlady’s house.
Mike Hollow’s novels are always a treat to read if you have an interest in the times of the Second World War because for me he doesn’t’t just create a mystery/crime plot, but also weaves through it so much social history that I feel I am there hiding in the bomb shelters and walking through the bombed out streets. The reader feels the fear the sirens and Luftwaffe caused but also the bravery and spirit of the Londoners who got up every day and carried on.
Each story is stand alone but there are some minor themes running through that mean its good to read them in order but not imperative, in particular the developing friendship between John Jago and Dorothy Alderton, an American journalist based in London to report to American papers on the Blitz. Each novel has so far focused on a different social aspect of the war and in the Pimlico Murder Jago and Craddock finding themselves exposed to the political violence of the BUF and exposing the those who would use the disguise of “protection” to extort money from vulnerable business owners. The murder mystery is solved quite simply but satisfyingly I felt, but again what sets these novels apart is Hollow’s ability to utterly immerse them in the times and create such brilliant works of social history with a murder mystery thrown in.
Mike Hollow’s novels are always a treat to read if you have an interest in the times of the Second World War because for me he doesn’t’t just create a mystery/crime plot, but also weaves through it so much social history that I feel I am there hiding in the bomb shelters and walking through the bombed out streets. The reader feels the fear the sirens and Luftwaffe caused but also the bravery and spirit of the Londoners who got up every day and carried on.
Each story is stand alone but there are some minor themes running through that mean its good to read them in order but not imperative, in particular the developing friendship between John Jago and Dorothy Alderton, an American journalist based in London to report to American papers on the Blitz. Each novel has so far focused on a different social aspect of the war and in the Pimlico Murder Jago and Craddock finding themselves exposed to the political violence of the BUF and exposing the those who would use the disguise of “protection” to extort money from vulnerable business owners. The murder mystery is solved quite simply but satisfyingly I felt, but again what sets these novels apart is Hollow’s ability to utterly immerse them in the times and create such brilliant works of social history with a murder mystery thrown in.
January 6, 2022
I have read all the books in the Blitz detective series before this one. It is a good premise but the series just didn’t click - in fact, after book 5 I resolved not to read any further additions to the series. When I saw the high reviews I decided to give the Blitz detective a second - or is it a sixth - chance. I wish I hadn’t.
The plot is pedestrian. The characters are stereotype. The investigative techniques are farcically amateurish. (Really, how many times in one week does Jago interview the same witness?) Add in suspects and witnesses who lie one day, reluctantly reveal part of the truth and conceal another part of the truth the next day, and so on until the killer confesses with minimal prodding.
It is the dialogue that really stands out as amateurish at best and monumentally awful at worst. The characters do not speak … they recite long, tedious, rambling speeches, they provide too much information in ways that people simply do not talk. And if that is not bad enough, the dialogue sounds and feels inauthentic. Simply put, the characters sound like they are living in the 21st century, not 1940.
I gave this series a sixth chance. I shan’t be giving it a seventh.
The plot is pedestrian. The characters are stereotype. The investigative techniques are farcically amateurish. (Really, how many times in one week does Jago interview the same witness?) Add in suspects and witnesses who lie one day, reluctantly reveal part of the truth and conceal another part of the truth the next day, and so on until the killer confesses with minimal prodding.
It is the dialogue that really stands out as amateurish at best and monumentally awful at worst. The characters do not speak … they recite long, tedious, rambling speeches, they provide too much information in ways that people simply do not talk. And if that is not bad enough, the dialogue sounds and feels inauthentic. Simply put, the characters sound like they are living in the 21st century, not 1940.
I gave this series a sixth chance. I shan’t be giving it a seventh.
June 10, 2025
There was a lot to like about this book. The setting was so immersive, it’s clearly very thoroughly researched, with wonderful little day-to-day details. I really got a feel for what life might have been like for the residents of Pimlico in 1940.
The plot was enjoyable enough, lots of red herrings and some good characters, but, personally, I found it quite flat. It was very linear and mostly consisted of going to and from the same locations—I feel like the two detectives could have made better use of their time. I also found it a bit repetitive, not to mention all of the long details about London and how to get around London, which didn't really do it for me. I would have given it 4 stars if it had been more concise.
I didn’t know this was part of a series when I got it and what was great was that it didn’t impede the story at all. Everything was introduced appropriately (perhaps with less detail but that’s fine by me!) and I understood who the few regular characters were very quickly. More than that, there was no mention of any of the historical cases so I can go back and read some of the others with no spoilers.
The plot was enjoyable enough, lots of red herrings and some good characters, but, personally, I found it quite flat. It was very linear and mostly consisted of going to and from the same locations—I feel like the two detectives could have made better use of their time. I also found it a bit repetitive, not to mention all of the long details about London and how to get around London, which didn't really do it for me. I would have given it 4 stars if it had been more concise.
I didn’t know this was part of a series when I got it and what was great was that it didn’t impede the story at all. Everything was introduced appropriately (perhaps with less detail but that’s fine by me!) and I understood who the few regular characters were very quickly. More than that, there was no mention of any of the historical cases so I can go back and read some of the others with no spoilers.
December 27, 2024
I enjoy the Mike Hollow WW2 detective books but I found this one just a bit slow moving. Jago and Cradock investigate (at the behest of Scotland Yard this time) the murder of Terry Watson. Little is known of the man; where did he come from, what job did he do, who were his friends?
It is very much a police procedural with rounds of question asking and a slow building of not very much information.
We also have some shady characters indulging in illegal gambling and trying their hand at the protection racket.
As in other books Jago’s relationship with Dorothy goes nowhere, even when it seems she may leave London on another assignment he doesn’t let her know how much he cares for her. Mind you she doesn’t make her feelings about him known either. A fine romance!
I will carry on with the series even though that review sounds a bit negative. I do like the premise, the time it is set in and I live in hope Jago and Dorothy might hold hands, or kiss or hug each other sometime soon.
It is very much a police procedural with rounds of question asking and a slow building of not very much information.
We also have some shady characters indulging in illegal gambling and trying their hand at the protection racket.
As in other books Jago’s relationship with Dorothy goes nowhere, even when it seems she may leave London on another assignment he doesn’t let her know how much he cares for her. Mind you she doesn’t make her feelings about him known either. A fine romance!
I will carry on with the series even though that review sounds a bit negative. I do like the premise, the time it is set in and I live in hope Jago and Dorothy might hold hands, or kiss or hug each other sometime soon.
November 18, 2021
This is a very good addition to the Blitz Detective series. It begins Armistice Day 1940. John Jago, the Blitz Detective, is being called to Scotland Yard to help with a suspicious death case in Pimlico. He and his Sergeant, Cradock, drive to Pimlico, check in at the station, and go to the site of the death which is a small Anderson shelter in the back yard of a home. The lodger in the home, Terry Watson, has an ugly wound on the left side of his head. There is a bicycle there on which he must have been working. He had two white poppies in his pocket, and a couple of house bricks in a bag on the bike.
Jago and Craddock have a lot of work trying to find out more about the man. The landlady thought he was nice enough, and her daughter Jenny knew him a little. He had been an enthusiastic and competitive cyclist and had been a bookie's runner. He was recently attacked while carrying the Bookie's bag. They soon find out that Pimlico has a shady side besides the bookies, with thugs, protection rackets, and looting. Jago and Craddock have to go back to several people several times, because they often didn't tell them what they needed to know. At this point, there doesn't appear to be as much bombing as during the earlier books, but you do get a feel for life in London during the war. The reader is kept guessing until the surprise almost at the end.
Jago and Craddock have a lot of work trying to find out more about the man. The landlady thought he was nice enough, and her daughter Jenny knew him a little. He had been an enthusiastic and competitive cyclist and had been a bookie's runner. He was recently attacked while carrying the Bookie's bag. They soon find out that Pimlico has a shady side besides the bookies, with thugs, protection rackets, and looting. Jago and Craddock have to go back to several people several times, because they often didn't tell them what they needed to know. At this point, there doesn't appear to be as much bombing as during the earlier books, but you do get a feel for life in London during the war. The reader is kept guessing until the surprise almost at the end.
November 14, 2021
I'm a fan of the Blitz Detective series since I read the first book. It's a great historical mystery series and the Blitz is one of the main elements as it's pervading everything that happens and is always present as a part of the investigation.
This story is one of the best in this series and there's a new setting and new type of people.
The plot mixes historical facts with fiction and it's always informative and I learned a lot about what was really happening.
The mystery is solid, full of twists, and the solution came as a surprise.
John Jago and Craddock are an interesting and well developed couple, I like their approach to investigation and how they are developed.
I can't wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This story is one of the best in this series and there's a new setting and new type of people.
The plot mixes historical facts with fiction and it's always informative and I learned a lot about what was really happening.
The mystery is solid, full of twists, and the solution came as a surprise.
John Jago and Craddock are an interesting and well developed couple, I like their approach to investigation and how they are developed.
I can't wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
May 16, 2024
2.5 stars
although my rating doesn’t suggest it, i enjoyed this book more than i expected to ! it’s very well written and it’s an interesting story, a very classic murder mystery type book. it was such an easy read too which i appreciated🥰 i really enjoyed the back and forth and circles and links between the characters in the book and it came to a nice conclusion😊 also i LOVE third person narrative so heart eyes for that😙 however, it’s based during the second world war and it’s quite old timey really, unfortunately that’s not really my usual choice of genre, it’s a little bit of a historical fiction book. honestly if that’s your thing then i would say it’s excellent and just an overall good read👍🏼 but that’s why it only gets ⭐️⭐️💫 from me, i couldn’t justify giving it more or less because it’s personally not for me but it really is a lovely, well written, comfortable read🤷🏼♀️
although my rating doesn’t suggest it, i enjoyed this book more than i expected to ! it’s very well written and it’s an interesting story, a very classic murder mystery type book. it was such an easy read too which i appreciated🥰 i really enjoyed the back and forth and circles and links between the characters in the book and it came to a nice conclusion😊 also i LOVE third person narrative so heart eyes for that😙 however, it’s based during the second world war and it’s quite old timey really, unfortunately that’s not really my usual choice of genre, it’s a little bit of a historical fiction book. honestly if that’s your thing then i would say it’s excellent and just an overall good read👍🏼 but that’s why it only gets ⭐️⭐️💫 from me, i couldn’t justify giving it more or less because it’s personally not for me but it really is a lovely, well written, comfortable read🤷🏼♀️
January 25, 2023
Another great instalment in this series set in London during the Second World War. John Jago is seconded to Scotland Yard, along with trusty DC Cradock, to investigate the death of a man found in an air raid shelter, bludgeoned to death. He finds two white poppies in his pocket, at the time of the 1940 Armistice Day when everyone else is wearing red poppies.
The tangled web leads him to some very shady underworld characters, threats of protection rackets and anti-Semitic prejudice, as he discovers who the man really was and why he died.
We see Dorothy again, although their love story doesn't develop very much and she has a decision to make about her career which may whisk her away from London, and Jago.
A fascinating story, taking the reader back to the dark days of the Blitz.
The tangled web leads him to some very shady underworld characters, threats of protection rackets and anti-Semitic prejudice, as he discovers who the man really was and why he died.
We see Dorothy again, although their love story doesn't develop very much and she has a decision to make about her career which may whisk her away from London, and Jago.
A fascinating story, taking the reader back to the dark days of the Blitz.
January 2, 2024
These stories are a reminder that even when there is a war as catastrophic as the Blitz of 1940, life goes on, and the deaths that occur are not necessarily the result of war: the usual crimes continue to be committed too.
In this one, Jago and Cradock are seconded to Scotland Yard to solve the murder of a young man whose body is found in an Andersen shelter. As usual they investigate a range of characters and unearth other crimes being committed.
So far these stories have actually taken place in a very short period of time: the second half of 1940 in London with Hitler's planes attacking it almost every night. The amount of research behind the stories lend a feeling of authenticity. There are a number of "personal interest" threads too which provide ongoing interest.
In this one, Jago and Cradock are seconded to Scotland Yard to solve the murder of a young man whose body is found in an Andersen shelter. As usual they investigate a range of characters and unearth other crimes being committed.
So far these stories have actually taken place in a very short period of time: the second half of 1940 in London with Hitler's planes attacking it almost every night. The amount of research behind the stories lend a feeling of authenticity. There are a number of "personal interest" threads too which provide ongoing interest.
October 15, 2021
Armistice Day, November 1940, London. D.I. John Jago and D.S. Peter Cradock are seconded to Scotland Yard to investigate when a dead body of a man is discovered, battered to death, in an Anderson shelter. Tho white poppies were found on his body next to his bicycle. What is the significance of them. It seems he was an enthusiastic cyclist and had joined a local club. But what could have been the motive and who is the guilty party.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery, with its cast of likeable and varied characters. A good addition to the series which can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
An entertaining and well-written historical mystery, with its cast of likeable and varied characters. A good addition to the series which can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2022
Entertaining outing, albeit on new turf for Jago and Cradock. Still don't 'get' the American journalist love interest though -her part in this seems to be drifting to a couple of meetings for food and half thinking of accepting a foreign correspondent job. Naturally, she declines. Pointless, unless Hollow is going for the Wimsey-Vane type of relationship, but at least Harriet was interesting. Dorothy, for all her journalistic accomplishments, reads as vapid. Regardless, another enjoyable case for the West Ham dynamic duo, mixing shades of fascism, gang warfare and reflection into the narrative.
December 21, 2025
Blitz Detective #6, DI Jago. I don't think I have read any others in the series. I started off liking it, but then it began to drag. The police interviews were very tedious, contributing to the book being much longer than necessary. The characters are not unbelievable, although DI Jago has a bit of a silly secret crush on an american journalist. I don't think the author truly captures the feel of England in 1940, and certainly there is very little of the vernacular of the time.
Although I might pick up one of the earlier ones if I see it, I won't be expecting too much, and probably unlikely to rate any higher than this one at 3.1.
Although I might pick up one of the earlier ones if I see it, I won't be expecting too much, and probably unlikely to rate any higher than this one at 3.1.
October 26, 2021
Mike Hollow's Blitz Detective series is excellent and I loved The Pimlico Murder. A young pacifist is found murdered in an Anderson shelter on Armistice Day 1940.. Between his politics, personal life and ties to the Underworld, John Jago and DC Craddock have plenty of suspects and motives, it is narrowing it down that is the problem. Jago and Craddock are interesting characters and the setting during the Blitz in 1940 gives them numerous possibilities .I look forward to the next book! Thank you to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of #THePimlicoMurder.
November 27, 2021
I was somewhat disappointed with this book. The 1st chapter drew me in but by the end of the book it seems to me that the author forgot what he had written in the first chapter. In my opinion he didn't tie in the first chapter with the "wrap up" of the murder mystery. This book seemed to ramble on more than his other books - which I have enjoyed.
January 8, 2022
52 Bookclub Challenge 2022. Prompt 11 - a book with less than 2022 Goodreads ratings
I really enioy this series. The main characters are likable and easy to relate to and each story told in a straightforward manner. I'm always impressed by the author's ability to embed key points in history and associated ethics in the main narrative without turning the tale into a history lesson.
I really enioy this series. The main characters are likable and easy to relate to and each story told in a straightforward manner. I'm always impressed by the author's ability to embed key points in history and associated ethics in the main narrative without turning the tale into a history lesson.
October 17, 2021
A reasonably straightforward murder mystery set around Armistice day in 1940 in Pimlico. It's a good book for the war background. I learnt quite a lot about the area at that time and the war - it was the time of the Battle of Britain, Sir Oswald Moseley had been arrested, but still had plenty of supporters on the streets. Chamberlain had just died and there were air raids every night.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
January 4, 2022
Jago is moving into the centre of London and the Blitz hammer on.
This time he is looking at the death of someone who is not the kind cyclist he at first appears.
Clever detective work and moral standards in a world a little mad.
This time he is looking at the death of someone who is not the kind cyclist he at first appears.
Clever detective work and moral standards in a world a little mad.
July 7, 2024
This is a good series with the characters moving slowly along with their relationships and solving cases the good old way - asking questions over and over to the same people until they get answers. Good descriptions of England and the people during the blitz.
January 5, 2022
Loved reading about Pimlico as I lived there for 18 years. Very interested in what it would have been like during the war.
October 28, 2022
Enjoyed this book
December 8, 2022
A great story.
These books just keep getting better, great plot and background to the principal characters. Thank you very much for a nice way to fill part of my day.
These books just keep getting better, great plot and background to the principal characters. Thank you very much for a nice way to fill part of my day.
December 30, 2022
3.5 stars
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