The Reluctant Detective Under Pressure

Martin Hayden Mysteries #3

by Adrian Spalding

It all began when Martin agreed to do a simple favour to help Ernie's brother. Things started to go wrong when it transpired Ernie's brother was allegedly a part-time industrial spy who was preparing for an alien invasion. Martin thought it all unbelievable and totally ridiculous, while Susan had the simpler mindset of: ‘don't knock it, until you try it’.
Pressure mounted on Martin when Colin, who is always happy to help with any investigation, found himself arrested for obtaining confidential information from the National Police Computer.
There was no let-up for Martin who then needed to take responsibility for the family's financial affairs after his mother was taken ill.
To relieve some of the pressure, Martin sat down with a glass of red wine and reluctantly wrote a to-do list, something he never dreamed he would ever need. This list included: locating Ernie's brother, tracking down an industrial spy, saving Colin from a prison sentence and finding a replacement family accountant. Oh, not forgetting helping Susan to save the earth from invading aliens.

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 10, 2022

About the author

Finding the time to write has always been the challenge for me. The requirement to feed the family, pay the mortgage and work, all got in the way. I only found the time to write, when I began commuting each day between London and Kent. Thanks to the numerous and regular delays I encountered with South Eastern railways, I was able to actually settle down amongst my snoring fellow travellers to write fiction.
Back in the days when I had ‘real jobs’, I worked as a photographer, a journalist and a charity fundraiser, all giving me the opportunity to see first-hand the life that others lead, as well as regular press passes to Brands Hatch.
Now, a full time writer, living in Kent with my wife, I write both thriller mysteries and humorous detective books, which some say will make a great case study for a psychologist’s convention. My biggest challenge now, is no longer finding the time to write, it is to protect my biscuit tin from sneaky swoops carried out by my grandsons.

Reviews

[C I KESZEI · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like detective fiction, aliens and humour, read this

A thoroughly enjoyable read continuing the Martin and Susan series.
It's been a while since I read the last book but the characters are as funny as ever.
A couple of nice twists too.

[Andy Wicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dialogue can be a bit stilted, but the storyline is good and the humour gentle. I like the mix of characters; a mummies boy, an Essex girl and a cross-dressing former detective from Lewisham.

Does anyone (including Adrian Spalding) know when or if #4 comes out. I want to see how Susan reacts to Martin's offer.

[Stephanie Cleaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little 3rd in series

If I'm honest, this entertains me rather than I love it, however I still can't put the thing down and grin all the way through.

It is a really good series and definitely worth a read - for me, it is just a bit too overly descriptive to be great.

[Miss M Stanbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes 👍

Smashing story like last one. But less interference from Martin's Mum this time! 😁 Hope there is more to come Adrian.

[Phil Altimas · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good who dunnit, love the interaction between martion and colin

[Mr Stewart R Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the plot and the characters. I have already downloaded the next in the series.

[Lorreine Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read 3 of the reluctant detective novels, and whilst I enjoyed this, it wasn’t as engrossing as the first two. I will definitely read another, but the actual investigation became a little to farcical for me. But I still love the 3 main protagonists.