Blood on the Cowley Road

DI Susan Holden #1

by Peter Tickler

An art student on-the-make sets up a "suicide" plaque, and within hours Sarah Johnson has plunged to her death from the top of the multi-story carpark, right in front of his prying camera. Sarah turns out to have a history of mental illness, so to DI Susan Holden it looks like a straightforward case of suicide, but when Jake Arnold, the last person Sarah called, turns up dead in the River Isis, Holden's preconceptions are thrown into disorder. Now she and her collegues are plunged into a race against time. Firmly set in the side-streets of Oxford, from Cowley Road to the Kassam football stadium, from riverside pubs to a mental health day-center, Blood on the Cowley Road builds to a startling climax.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Kylie H · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were aspects of this book that I quite liked and it had the premise of a good story, but
- the characters didn’t ring true
- the main character was not very likable and actually quite rude.
- the female characters experienced ‘women’s problems’ and one spent a bit of time ‘squatting’ over the toilet!
- the epilogue ruined the whole story for me.

Not enough redeeming qualities that would make me want to keep reading this series I am afraid.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book which features DI Susan Holden and her year of detectives. I liked the pace and characterisation in the novel.

The setting in Oxford is known to me and this provided a senses of reality. The geographical locations were well described.

True to the genre there is a wide range of suspects from which to choose. As the body count rises some of the suspects move from the list.

The story has a credible ending, but not all the loose ends are tied. Perhaps the DI will come across at least one of these characters again in a future novel?

[Emma L.J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good read but for some reading I just couldn’t get into it and past a few stupid little things like surnames 🙄I know it’s such a stupid thing but Wilson reminds me of the ball in the Tom hanks film cast away . Every time I seen the name it popped in my head . I did finish the book but I won’t be reading anymore I just couldn’t connect with the characters

[Vanda Bromwich · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with well developed characters. I will look out for more of his books.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was a terrible book. Poorly written with a weak storyline & complety unrelatable characters. And the ending... well...

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very puzzling case

The twists were designed to drive me to distraction. I thought that I knew who did it, only to be proved wrong multiple times. I liked Detective Susan Holden, who was a very human person. Liked that she had a good team of detectives who had skills which complimented hers.

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

Great Story

A Great Story set in Oxford featuring a feisty female inspector. Great plot with lots of twists and turns and an interesting ending. Will looking reading more in the series.

[Sally J Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood on the Cowley Road

A mystery with many twists. I felt it was slow moving. You kept thinking it was one person then another. Eventually a murderer was found for some of the people, but not enough evidence for the other. Not a very satisfactory ending.

[Diane Gregg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I'd read this book as I'd read other ones with DI holden in as a character alongside a PI , but I just couldn't get into this book , took me ages to read it, felt the plot was very complicated and I kept losing track of the characters ,

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story with interesting characters but some small plot inconsistencies.

[Nyssy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated the way this ended. It was different but still to end the story after everything the characters had been through... let a bad taste.

[Simon Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

needs a better proof reader. the number of characters makes it difficult to follow at times

[elizabeth mcguire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my up of tea

I found the story and characters a bit ' museum's of something. It left me feeling as if I had read half a story.

[Glenda Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

New author for me really enjoyed and will read more.

[Andrea Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it. Very similar to watching a BBC crime series. I liked the characters and found myself eagerly starting each new chapter. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Margaret Barford · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unimpressed

I found this book the most annoying book I have read for a long time. The ending was so inconclusive. The characters so confusing The main characters as follows: DI Holden was unbelievably rude and condescending to her team, DC Wilson such a wimp and WPC Lawson (how did she suddenly become a member of the team?) Such a smart arse. Holden's mother was also unnecessary and unbelievable.

Sorry, I read till the end because I thought something might actually happen but it just fizzled out.

[Steve Capel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author to me. I quite enjoyed this book and the characters in it. It is a somewhat old fashioned type of crime writing with no involvement from forensics or S.O.C.O. teams but relies purely on a small team of detectives led by an acerbic DI with some input from a pathologist. Being set in Oxford comparisons to Morse are inevitable, although this is not yet in the same league. I do feel however that the characters in the investigation team can be developed and I will read further books in the series in the hope that this happens. A readable book showing potential.

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very intriguing story set in and around Oxford. I enjoyed it tremendously.