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Alexander McFarlane #1
Greed Is a Powerful Motive
Alexander (Sandy) McFarlane has just secured his new role as a DCI working for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London. Before long, he is asked to investigate the death of Robert Smythe, an accountant who has been auditing an aid grant to build a solar panel farm in Vadodara, India. DCI McFarlane travels to India where he immediately suspects foul play. But he is up against local police who refuse to admit that Robert’s death was suspicious. He soon finds himself embroiled in politics, battling the extremely wealthy and powerful Thakur family, the billionaires who had facilitated the British aid grant to build the solar panel farm, and in whose interest the local police are sweeping Robert’s death under the rug. For a long time it seems he is fighting a losing battle and he is forced to leave India in disgrace. Can McFarlane get justice for Robert’s family?
284 pages, Paperback
Published October 26, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 4, 2024
Paperback edition.
The author is coming to talk in my local library about his third book in this series hence my choice. I can see why other readers haven’t written a review - it is hard to decide what to say. I liked the setting of Ely and Cambridge as I knew all the places mentioned and the actual crime location, India, was well described. I liked the characters - it’s refreshing to have a happy DCI with no tortured back story but a supportive extended family of parents, siblings and grandparents.
The author was a policeman before he retired to write books and his knowledge of procedure is thorough and presumably accurate. As a writer though he doesn’t make his reader work for any of the information. It is all laid out plainly and clearly. There is no nuance or any tension. I don’t know if I’ll read any more but I did enjoy this despite finding it a bit dry, so I might.
The author is coming to talk in my local library about his third book in this series hence my choice. I can see why other readers haven’t written a review - it is hard to decide what to say. I liked the setting of Ely and Cambridge as I knew all the places mentioned and the actual crime location, India, was well described. I liked the characters - it’s refreshing to have a happy DCI with no tortured back story but a supportive extended family of parents, siblings and grandparents.
The author was a policeman before he retired to write books and his knowledge of procedure is thorough and presumably accurate. As a writer though he doesn’t make his reader work for any of the information. It is all laid out plainly and clearly. There is no nuance or any tension. I don’t know if I’ll read any more but I did enjoy this despite finding it a bit dry, so I might.
November 3, 2024
A Great Mystery
Wate delivers a clean, engrossing and colorful mystery suitable for young teens and adults. His descriptive writing has the mind smelling the markets in India and chuckling while reading (a favorite part) the police chase of the Porsche. Priceless. I loved the relationships between Sandy's grandfathers, parents, work mates and the Indian force.
Wate writes with knowledge about police/detective procedure to give the reader a believable and entertaining escape in this stand alone novel. But WHO wants to stop in India, WHY not Canada? And the list of procedures go on. WHEN done with this review I will keep this in my kindle so it rates 5 stars. Great job Wate and I'm greedy for more!
Wate delivers a clean, engrossing and colorful mystery suitable for young teens and adults. His descriptive writing has the mind smelling the markets in India and chuckling while reading (a favorite part) the police chase of the Porsche. Priceless. I loved the relationships between Sandy's grandfathers, parents, work mates and the Indian force.
Wate writes with knowledge about police/detective procedure to give the reader a believable and entertaining escape in this stand alone novel. But WHO wants to stop in India, WHY not Canada? And the list of procedures go on. WHEN done with this review I will keep this in my kindle so it rates 5 stars. Great job Wate and I'm greedy for more!
November 15, 2024
As a series best in order. As stand alone each book is well thought out and a guided I should say intensely guided tour of sites.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews