Dead air

Henry & Sparrow #2

by A.D. Fox

When a BBC local radio legend is reported missing, DS Kate Sparrow doesn’t take it too seriously.But after he’s found gaffer-taped to the base of a remote transmitter, choked by his own microphone sock, it’s suddenly very serious indeed.It doesn’t help Kate that the deceased DJ could have made thousands of enemies through his hard-hitting breakfast show.Or that the anonymous caller reporting the grisly find turns out to be Lucas Henry - an artist and reluctant dowser who has crossed her path more than once.She knows Lucas can find bodies; he’s done it before. There’s always the suspicion, though, that he might have put them there.He might also have killed her sister.The second instalment in the fast paced, darkly twisted and gratifyingly quirky Henry & Sparrow series.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2021

About the author

Making her crime fiction debut in the pandemical pandaemonium of 2021, AD FOX has been published for fifteen years and won a plethora of awards as children’s author Ali Sparkes.

‘I have always loved writing for children, but for many years I harboured the dark secret of really wanting to murder people,’ confesses Ali. ‘Happily, only in print. Well, as far as the authorities know…’

Having despatched quite a few characters in her bestselling Shapeshifter Series, Ali had always nursed the urge to take it up a gear for her readers beyond school age - and the cancellation of scores of festival and school event bookings in 2020 provided that silver lining. Time.

‘It’s been hideous for so many people,’ she says, ‘and I wouldn’t wish a global pandemic on anyone. Obviously. But the extra time has finally allowed me to scratch that crimey itch. Henry & Sparrow is the result. I can only hope both the police and the dowsing community will one day forgive me…’

Before becoming an author Ali worked as a reporter in local newspapers and later as a BBC broadcast journalist and a comedy writer for BBC Radio 4. Prior to all of this she was a bit of a luvvie and a singer in bands - and a Pontin's Bluecoat for one memorable summer season. Her experiences in all these fields have provided a rich background tapestry for the Henry & Sparrow series.

She lives in Hampshire, England, with her husband, occasional boomeranging offspring and a highly porous labradoodle who loves too much. She likes to go running. Not quite so often in the woods since writing The Dying Dolls.

Reviews

[Sam “My Cosy Book Nook” · Rating 4 out of 5]

On New Year's Eve, 2019 - back in those dim and distant times when thoughts of a pandemic hadn't entered anyone's head, and we all thought that Corona was a drink - my wife and I were in St Ives in Cornwall. It had been a lovely day, starting with a visit to Land's End and getting our photograph taken in front of the iconic sign, followed by a visit to some old friends. Now, in the evening, the town had a friendly and lively atmosphere and the weather was mild enough to sit outside. For sure, you needed a coat and scarf on. But that was enough for you to think of something other than "oh blimey, it's cold".

And yet. For some reason I just wasn't feeling it.

I was loath to go back to our accommodation early, because knew I would hate myself for missing out on the very thing that we had gone there for. But at the same time, I wished more than anything else that midnight would just hurry up and arrive.

I think what it comes down to is that sometimes, no matter how good something is, it just doesn't work if you're not in the right mood. And the reason for my bringing this up now is that I've been wondering why it is that my first reaction to Dead Air, which is AD Fox's second crime novel, was rather different to how I felt about her first (The Dying Dolls).

Much as it pained me, because the author had been kind enough to send me a free copy, I was quite critical of The Dying Dolls, and particularly of the way that Lucas Henry's character fitted into the main storyline. And I could have been just as critical here. His abilities as a dowser are first brought into question by a cheap stunt on a local radio station, and then again by the chief superintendent of the local police force. But it's only a few chapters later that a fundamental turning point of the book hinges on the somewhat improbable scenario of Lucas being able to divine the location of an attempted murder moments before it takes place.

And yet ... I just didn't care. I really enjoyed reading Dead Air.

Perhaps because the characters are now familiar, I had a better idea of what to expect. Certainly I loved Lucas' reactions to his skills being used for cheap stunts, which are so similar to how I imagine my own would be (in the event that I had any unique skills, which I haven't) that I couldn't help but smile.

I think also that the storyline works better, because it allows for the book to have a faster pace. The presenter of the breakfast show on a local radio station fails to arrive at work one morning, and days later is found dead and taped to a transmission mast. DS Kate Sparrow barely has time to start investigating this case before another murder occurs in a similar manner. But the reader isn't given too much time to dwell on this, because Kate soon coincidentally bumps into Lucas and all hell breaks loose.

It might be that the fast pace of the book allows for some dark humour to come to the fore - I laughed out loud at Lucas's reaction to being captured, which was to make a frustrated exclamation of "have you got shares in Duck tape?" Or maybe, it's simply that when I read this book I was somehow in the right mood for it.

All I really know is that I could make a case for the ending of the book - which despite only featuring five people, somehow includes one or more of them being run off the road, hit in the face with a spade, drugged, shot and electrocuted - being laughable, and not in a good way. But that would be totally unfair because what I did was laugh with it, and very much in a good way.

To conclude, then. If you're looking for a detailed police procedural, or a complicated whodunnit, or a piece of psychological crime fiction, look elsewhere. But Dead Air works just fine as a piece of sheer entertainment, and I had to love it for that.

My thanks, again, to the author for an ARC of this book. I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the Henry & Sparrow series, following The Dying Dolls, & more enjoyable. The first book set the scene, introduced us to the characters & their quirky, historic relationship.
This storyline seemed more relaxed, not in a cosy way, but in an old friends kind of way. We know who they are & what to expect. The presenter of the local radio breakfast show is missing. He is found dead days later, then his replacement is also killed in similar circumstances. DS Sparrow & dowser Lucas Henry are drawn together to investigate.
Throw in egos, black humour aplenty & a stonking ending to the book & you have a magic formula.
This is not a convoluted whodunnit or a deep psychological thriller but it is a great entertaining read. Loved it. Recommended.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the 1st book especially being different with the dowsing ability of Lucas Henry being involved. This book is even better.

A radio DJ is murdered and Kate, just back after some leave after the events of the 1st book, is brought in to investigate. Lucas finds himself reluctantly being dragged in again.

The book is easy to read, contains enough humour to keep it entertaining despite the storyline, and the relationship is developing a bit more between Kate and Lucas. Curious to know exactly the level of Lucas' involvement in Kate's sister's murder and when more will be revealed. Roll on book 3.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[M Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy murder mystery stories so welcomed a new (to me) author, the trouble is their appeal can be so variable.
I have to say I enjoyed both the Henry and Sparrow books right from the start.
The slightly mysterious dowsing thread is more than acceptable (I'm an avid Michael Connolly Charlie Parker reader) so that is ok.
Plots are ok and flowed nicely, characters adequately formed, and dialogue credible and often amusing.
It helped a little that I live about 40 miles from Salisbury so I felt comfortable with the environment.

Thoroughly enjoyed both of them and looking forward to future stories.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Air is book 2 in the Sparrow and Henry series by AD Fox. A well-known radio announcer, Dave Perry, is abducted at knifepoint from the studio one morning and found dead tied to a radio mast. Another murder soon follows. Kate Sparrow has not long been back at work and is put on the investigation with Lucas Henry unwillingly pulled into it as well. The characters are filling out, and really enjoying them. A really good read and look forward to book 3.

[Meg Cowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

AD Fox is one of my absolute favourite crime authors. Her plots are gripping, her characters so real, and the dark humour is hilarious - at times, no matter how much tension, the quips make me cackle. Forever a fan of Henry and Sparrow (ok, especially Henry), and I can't wait for Seven Deadly Things next!

[Mrs A T Moyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these books but.......

Love Lucas and Kate but this did he didn't he kill her sister is getting boring now. The books are great without that in the background. If it's not resolved soon I will stop reading this author. Shame because the stories are great

[Simone Wallnöfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining instalment in the Henry and Sparrow series. The two protagonists have quite the deadly adventure again. The tension between them is getting stronger, secrets remain undiscovered. All this while murder and mayhem are going on all around them

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!! Can't put these books down!! About to read the sequel Undertow before rushing on to book 3!!!

[Kathy Veronica · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF rubbish

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a few disappointing books in a row it was lovely to reconnect with familiar characters within a great story. Well written. Would recommend.