Not Quite Perfect Murderer, The

by Margaret Duffy

A London gangster brings terror and murder to Bath, but is he about to meet his match in Patrick Gillard and Ingrid Langley?

Twelve-year-old Damien 'Spike' Baker is a young voyeur who loves to climb up trees, houses and walls . . . and look in people's windows. But when he climbs up some rampant ivy on a large mansion and peers through one of its windows, he makes a deadly mistake. It seems that Damien has looked in one window too many . . . What did he see?

Detective Chief Inspector James Carrick of Bath CID is dealing with a raid on a jeweller's shop, and soon has a broken leg and the discovery of Damien's body on a building site near the River Avon to contend with. Fortunately his old colleague, Patrick Gillard, now retired from the National Crime Agency, offers to assist with the investigation. Can Patrick and his wife and working partner, Ingrid Langley, catch a criminal heavyweight intent on leaving a trail of death and destruction in the city?

Genres: Mystery

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2021

About the author

Margaret Duffy has worked for both the Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Defence. She now lives in Devon in a one-time crossing-keeper`s cottage.

When not writing, Margaret works as a garden designer.

Reviews

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of a well-established series at instalment 23 The Not Quite Perfect Murderer features husband and wife team, Patrick Gillard and Ingrid Langley. Despite it being a series initiation for me there was enough information given to understand characters' interrelations and the story itself was complete within the novel. Though not a typical mystery as the reader is aware from the beginning of the initial perpetrator's past criminal activities and future plans, the reader has the opportunity to follow along, knowing who and what is being sought as things begin to unravel.

Patrick is acting as a driver for his friend DCI James Carrick who has broken his leg. Patrick, who has retired from the National Crime Agency, can indulge his inclination to suss out law-breakers for justice. Patrick has been part of MI5 and Ingrid also worked for the NCA. Ingrid spends her time with her family, Justin, Vicky and Mark, her adopted son and daughter, Matthew and Katie, and writing mystery novels. She is noted for being alert to issues or potential problems. Some robberies in and around Bath, the death of a child as well as a corpse discovered at the bottom of a quarry all warrant some attention. A great, credible tale with some fascinating characters. There's enough to tempt me to want to read the earlier books in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Canongate Books, Severn House Publishers via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Gail C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars rounded to 4. When I started this book, I wasn’t aware it was part of a series, and a well established series at that. It is book number 23 of the Gillard and Langley series, featuring husband and wife team Patrick Gillard and Ingrid Langley. It didn’t make a bit of difference in terms of enjoying the book. There was enough information given that I understood how the characters related to each other and the story itself was complete within the novel. However, I expect to rectify the situation by going back and reading the books preceding this one in the series as I found these characters to be ones I would enjoy spending more time with on a regular basis.

The “mystery” is not a classic one of trying to determine the identity of the murderer. The reader is fully versed from the beginning to the initial perpetrator, his past criminal activities and his future plans. Instead of trying to solve the mysteries along with the authorities, the reader has an opportunity to follow along, knowing who and what they are seeking, as they begin to unravel the crimes. It makes for a unique approach, and one I fully enjoyed, as I had the opportunity to watch the thought processes taking place instead of trying to “get there first”.

In this book. Patrick offers to drive his friend DCI James Carrick, an old friend who has broken his leg. It gives Patrick, who has retired from the National Crime Agency, to indulge in his natural inclination to find law-breakers and mete out justice. Patrick has unique skills, having been part of MI6 as well as the NCA, and even the DCI doesn’t know the full nature of his abilities.

Ingrid was also a member of the NCA, most likely an active member in earlier books, although I’m surmising that from what I read. She has now retired and spends her time divided between taking care of their two children and writing mystery novels. She is noted for having an extra sense, referred to as her “whiskers”, that often alert her to issues or potential problems.

As Patrick delves further into the initial issue, which seems to be an intersection of some robberies in and around Bath along with the unexplained death of a child as well as a corpse discovered at the bottom of a quarry. How could these events be connected? Of course, they are and it’s enjoyable to watch Patrick and the DCI as they put information together to determine who is at the center of the problems as well as who is pulling his strings.

Not to be outdone, Ingrid and the DCI’s wife Joanna, come in for some of the action and demonstrate skills of their own. In addition, there is what appears to be a new character, Roderick Morris, who is assigned to help Patrick and demonstrates some unique skills of his own. Suggestions at the end of the book indicate the readers may see him again in future books.

There is something for almost every reader of detective fiction, police procedurals, and stories of intrigue all wrapped up within this one book. Whether you have read all the books in the series prior to this one or this one is the first for you, this book is still recommended. Don’t be surprised if you are new to the series if you decide to go back and try earlier books in the series to satisfy interest you develop in Patrick, Ingrid and company. I received an advance copy of this novel from Cannongate Severn Publishers for review.

[John Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what I call an NDJ book (No Dust Jacket). The library contains many of these NDJs which are hard covered books that have no introductory blurb, but often a simple statement such as, in this case, "A Patrick Gillard and Ingrid Langley mystery". They are often part of a series about the same protagonists. One has to take pot luck as to the story, and the quality.
The bodies of a known criminal and a young boy are discovered. Investigators think the boy witnessed the other murder while looking through the window of a house. As the investigation continues, bodies pile up, and a picture of a vicious criminal killer begins to form.
Patrick Gillard is a bit of a super - spy and dirty martial arts expert who also assists the police from time to time. Given his skills and background, he seems to make a number of careless errors. In fact, it may only be due to a deus ex machina that he survives this caper. A certain DC Plod is assigned to assist him in a surveillance operation. Patrick is attacked, and in danger, when Plod steps in - how lucky his hobby is kickboxing!
I can't be bothered going into details of other characters, such as police, wives and girlfriends - they are there when needed and readers can see for themselves.
At 220 pages this is a decent length for this type of book, yet it took me a while to finish it (I put it down). Although the pace moves along quite quickly, and there is suspense as new developments unfold, I was a little put off by some of the minor characters and their personal relationships. I think that is probably just me, and I don't wish to deter others from reading what is a fairly exciting mystery.
All ends satisfactorily, the hero lives to fight another day, and the baddies get their comeuppance.
I'd give it a 4.1.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Canongate Books/Severn House for the eARC.
DCI James Carrick of Bath CID and his wife/working partner Ingrid Langley are involved in a case of several murders and a gang of thieves (most of them belonging to the Baker family) who work on the behest of a wealthy sociopath. One of the dead is a young boy who loved climbing buildings and probably saw too much. All of the bodies were strangled and they are on the hunt for a man known as Giorgio. Carrick breaks his leg while playing rugby, but luckily a friend and ex-colleague helps him with driving and working on the case.
This is a good mystery/police procedural with lots of interesting characters, both good and bad. I enjoyed it a lot and intend to read more in the series. Love the setting of Bath and surroundings because I vacationed there! Definitely recommended!

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

It helps, I think, to have read at least a few (I've only read one) of the books in this series. The body of young Damian is in a quarry and retiree Patrick Gillard and his wife novelist Ingrid Langley are pressed into service by his friend DCI James Carrick. You will know the identity of the villain - this is about how the bad guys are caught. I liked the Bath setting (usually Bath mysteries are more cozy) for this procedural as well as the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of the series.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the second book i read in this series and i was happy to read it as I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It's a gripping and highly entertaining novel, full of twists and fast paced.
I was glad to catch up with the characters and appreciated the solid plot that kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine