Poison

Monika Paniatowski #14

by Sally Spencer

DCI Monika Paniatowski faces an old enemy – and makes a fatal mistake with the potential to poison her whole career. Jordan Gough is an important man. He’s the town’s biggest benefactor. He is the proprietor of the Whitebridge Evening Telegraph. He owns the local football team. He is also, DCI Monika Paniatowski thinks, as bent as a corkscrew – and if she had any evidence, she’d put him away like a shot. A single encounter with him as a young detective sergeant left an impression she’s never forgotten. And neither, she is certain, has he. So when Jordan calls and demands to speak to Monika – and only Monika – she is on immediate high alert. He claims someone’s trying to kill him, but why has he destroyed the evidence? Why turn for help to an officer he hates? Certain she’s the target of a twisted practical joke, Monika makes a terrible mistake – one that could destroy everything she holds dear.The fourteenth DCI Monika Paniatowski mystery is a powerful and dark tale of revenge, secrets and lies, which grips you tight as it reveals twist after stunning twist.

Genres: Mystery

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2021

About the author

A pseudonym used by Alan Rustage.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).

Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.

He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.

His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.

He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.

His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.

Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poison’ is a book based on people trafficking and all the underworld sleaze that goes along with it. It demonstrates the great detection work that goes on in our police force today and the hard work they have to undertake, to solve crimes and prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people, who are preyed on and brought here from other countries to live a life of debauchery.
Detective Paniatowski and her team crack open a wasps nest of prostitution and modern day slavery when they become involved in a murder case, not knowing just what is ahead for them, when they have to deal with businessman/gangster Jordan Gough and his sharp-witted but sly lawyer Spider Markham. This book has everything thrown into it, including a female detective with a penchant for BDSM, a male detective with a Herculean sex drive, a young protege who is sent into the den of iniquity alone in a baptism of fire and their Chief, Baxter, who has just returned to work after suffering a nervous breakdown, following his wife’s suicide.

Poison is best suited for those readers who like a slow burner. The author takes time to introduce the characters, who I didn’t find all that likeable at first, before moving onto the main theme of the book. Twists and turns take you through this read at a gradual pace, climaxing to a surprise finish. Worth a read!

[Judy Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've noticed the name Sally Spencer quite often when I've been looking for new reading materials so thought to try this one in hopes of liking it enough to want to explore that lovely long list of 13 previous books in the series. Unhappily for me it's not to be because I really did not like any of the characters in this novel. Therefore, just two stars because it was just okay, barely.

A VIP in Whitebridge has requested that Detective Chief Inspector Monica Paniatowski come to his home, only Monica will do, so he can explain the problem he has and that he wants her to resolve the matter. She positively refuses to go when her boss gives her the assignment. It was right about here, at 13% of the book, that I knew Monica and I would not be getting along. I could not find any sympathy or liking for any of these characters and the author didn't try to help me. There is a Prologue which took place in 1930 and an Epilogue that takes place in the present which are both odd and discomforting. The Epilogue still has me shaking my head in disbelief, but not enough to read the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate Books Severn Publishing for an e-galley of this novel.

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the course of fifty novels published by Severn House the author has consistently told a good story and this new book is one of the best.
I love the evocative landscape of Lancashire. I love the intensity of another clever plot. I love DCI Monika Paniatowski, Jack Crane, Kate Meadows and the rest of the team. And I love a villain as deliciously evil as Jordan Gough.
I give the author a standing ovation. Police procedurals don't get any better than this.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy these book but am getting bit tired of the horrible, mean things that the author visits upon Monika. These are alway complex plots and the characters are very memorable. As for the epilogue-not sure I know any four year olds even clever ones with the desire that one of Monika's twins want to visit upon his twin brother.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a particularly good entry in a long running series. I like the short novel format, and find it to be generally effective. Readers will find it more satisfying if they have read some of the earlier entries but it still works as a stand alone story. This story packed a lot of complexity in a tightly woven plot which made it a quick but satisfying read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a fan, but not because the story wasn't good, I just don't typically love detective or even trafficking-type books. However, the BDSM thrown in made it spicy and readable for me when I would have typically put it down quickly.

Although the type of story it was, wasn't typical for me, I enjoyed some elements and recommend it to an audience who loves these detective storylines

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I read any of this series. This was a well plotted story, with many twists and turns. It was almost too creepy for me - not exactly unrealistic, just darker than I was really ready for. But clearly well done.

[Dale Shaner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the latest of this series. While I enjoyed reading it, the identification of the murderer was obvious from the beginning. In earlier books this was not the case. I found the book to be disappointing.

[Patricia]

A clever, complex plot. It asks the question are some people born evil. It also addresses the fact that some people place little value on the lives of people they consider beneath their concern. Fortunately Monika and her team are dedicated to bringing these people to justice.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A predictable murder yarn

[Jeannine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't get a feel for the characters and the plot tried to be clever but failed. Was disappointed.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

DCI Monika Paniatowsli is more than annoyed to be sent to see Jordan Gough who claims he's been sent letters telling him he's being poisoned, And then he dies of ....a poisoned pepper sauce on his steak. Monika is now under the gun to get answers, especially since the papers have called her out (she was more interested another case), This latest in a long running series is set in 1981, before all the fancy forensic capability we have today. It's a nifty procedural bettered by Monika's interaction with her team. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read and it will be fine as a standalone.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Canongate Books, Severn House for the eARC.
DCI Monika Paniatowski is in the crosshairs of a sociopath, Jordan Gough, who is the town's biggest benefactor and basically untouchable. He's determined to pay her back for something that happened years ago. When her superior tells her Jordan wants to speak to her face to face, she immediately knows her job will be at stake, no matter what she does; she visits Jordan because she must.
This is a great read, with one of the best and creepiest opening chapters I've ever read ... wow! I really like Monika and the fact the story is set in the eighties makes for a welcome change. And even though it's part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Also, the ending is just about as creepy as the beginning, which made me fervently wish the author's next book will come fast and feature Monika again. Can't wait to see what's in her future!
Highly recommended!

[Patricia Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found that I enjoyed reading about the developing investigative and relationship skills of DCI Monika Paniatowski’s sergeants than the actual plots. The storylines were not as electrifying as they were in her past books. The outcomes were very predictable.

It is with hope that her next book will be as imaginative as her other books. Sally Spencer is one of my favorite authors that I am reading her past books.

Thank you Netgalley and Severn House for the eARC.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but it was rather too... grim and pessimistic for me to love.