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DCI Millson & DS Scobie #1
Without a Trace
Eight-year-old Maisie Brown disappears during Tanniford’s annual fête. Chief Inspector Millson suspects Maisie’s stepfather. Millson dislikes stepfathers. His own daughter has one and he resents having to arrange with him when he can see her.
Tanniford lies in the bend of a river, confined there by the railway line. The only road out is over the railway bridge. The local police had closed the road to traffic while the fête was on, and no vehicle left the village between two and six. This convinces Millson that Maisie was abducted by someone in the village. And that she’s still there — dead or alive. The villagers believe a stranger has taken her.
In a way, they are both right.
A gripping and intriguing tale, Without a Trace will please existing fans of the Milson/Scobie series and readers who enjoy British police procedurals.
Tanniford lies in the bend of a river, confined there by the railway line. The only road out is over the railway bridge. The local police had closed the road to traffic while the fête was on, and no vehicle left the village between two and six. This convinces Millson that Maisie was abducted by someone in the village. And that she’s still there — dead or alive. The villagers believe a stranger has taken her.
In a way, they are both right.
A gripping and intriguing tale, Without a Trace will please existing fans of the Milson/Scobie series and readers who enjoy British police procedurals.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 6, 2024
Entertaining, fairly quick story to read. Am usually not that fond of kidnapping stories, but this one had its merits.
March 16, 2024
Great read
Enjoyed this book very much. Nice to read a book written in the nineties. No world wide web or cell phones. I felt more time could of been given to the ending. There is a twist at the very end.
Enjoyed this book very much. Nice to read a book written in the nineties. No world wide web or cell phones. I felt more time could of been given to the ending. There is a twist at the very end.
April 9, 2024
A straightforward crime mystery
An interesting plot and took a while to know who did it. An abduction but then the tension faded until the very end.
So much information thrown in at the beginning though! Names and descriptions of roads were distracting. So much detail that I was surprised there wasn’t a map at the start. I skip read some of the details as I tried to focus on the characters names and a lot of the street details weren’t particularly essential. Although the characters mentioned added to the plot later on, it was an awful lot to grasp at the beginning.
Apparently it’s the first of the Millson and Scobie series but I didn’t really get to know them anymore than the others. A few other crimes and dubious characters filled the story out but don’t know what the book cover was about.
An interesting plot and took a while to know who did it. An abduction but then the tension faded until the very end.
So much information thrown in at the beginning though! Names and descriptions of roads were distracting. So much detail that I was surprised there wasn’t a map at the start. I skip read some of the details as I tried to focus on the characters names and a lot of the street details weren’t particularly essential. Although the characters mentioned added to the plot later on, it was an awful lot to grasp at the beginning.
Apparently it’s the first of the Millson and Scobie series but I didn’t really get to know them anymore than the others. A few other crimes and dubious characters filled the story out but don’t know what the book cover was about.
May 17, 2024
An enthralling murder/mystery.
When a young girl apparently disappears, under unusual circumstances, it falls to detectives, Millson and Scobie, to arrange the search and rescue, if possible, of the girl. With almost everyone, in the small village, accounted for the task becomes a logistical nightmare. How could she have been taken and with no access to leave the village, where could she be being held.
When a young girl apparently disappears, under unusual circumstances, it falls to detectives, Millson and Scobie, to arrange the search and rescue, if possible, of the girl. With almost everyone, in the small village, accounted for the task becomes a logistical nightmare. How could she have been taken and with no access to leave the village, where could she be being held.
March 21, 2024
It Kept Me Guessing
Eight year old Maisie disappears on the day of the village fete. The road into and out of the village has been closed, so could it have been a local who has taken her? There is no shortage of suspects and I could not decide who the kidnapper was, and if she was still alive. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in the series.
Eight year old Maisie disappears on the day of the village fete. The road into and out of the village has been closed, so could it have been a local who has taken her? There is no shortage of suspects and I could not decide who the kidnapper was, and if she was still alive. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in the series.
March 5, 2026
Fairly decent mystery/police procedural story. Good characterizations, well plotted with lots of twists and turns before an unexpected ending. Would benefit from a village map given the reliance on tracking movements of characters through town. Windmill on cover seems to belong to a different story.
June 24, 2023
Very good
This was my first Millson & Scobie crime thriller by Malcolm Forsythe and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Millson is the Detective Chief Inspector and Scobie is his Detective Sergeant, in this novel they investigate a missing child.
This was my first Millson & Scobie crime thriller by Malcolm Forsythe and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Millson is the Detective Chief Inspector and Scobie is his Detective Sergeant, in this novel they investigate a missing child.
April 1, 2024
Very exciting!
Without a Trace by Malcolm Forsythe was an absolutely thrilling read. I couldn't put it down! Very clever plotting. Thank you Malcolm, I look forward to reading your next one.
Without a Trace by Malcolm Forsythe was an absolutely thrilling read. I couldn't put it down! Very clever plotting. Thank you Malcolm, I look forward to reading your next one.
July 6, 2024
Should have said it was a COSY mystery
Don't like cosy mysteries, crime this might be but mystery it was not. No police officers would get to the rank of DCI and be as stupid is Milson.
Don't like cosy mysteries, crime this might be but mystery it was not. No police officers would get to the rank of DCI and be as stupid is Milson.
August 23, 2024
Good read
The story was interesting right from the beginning, it wasn’t revealed until quite late in the story who took Maisie, then it was how the police were to find out and capture him. There was a bit of poetic justice at the end.
The story was interesting right from the beginning, it wasn’t revealed until quite late in the story who took Maisie, then it was how the police were to find out and capture him. There was a bit of poetic justice at the end.
October 23, 2024
This is a classic British who-done-it with an emphasis on people, lots of likely suspects and little use of forensics. In the end justice is served and the plot is interesting. I enjoyed it but felt it lacked some depth.
December 30, 2025
I was genuinely surprised as to how much I enjoyed this read. Simple and straightforward with a few curved balls thrown in. Decent storyline with page turning ability. As the book was a freebie I didn’t hold out much hope, obviously the sprat to catch the mackerel. Well done Mr Forsythe.
March 16, 2024
Not really my cup of tea
Book was ok. Slightly juvenile in my judgment. Might try another of this authors books. Might be a better one.
Book was ok. Slightly juvenile in my judgment. Might try another of this authors books. Might be a better one.
March 17, 2024
I was pulled into this from the beginning and the characters were well thought out making you think they could be there doing the job not just part of a story.
March 17, 2024
Short, but well written
I loved this book. The characters are beliveable and the story rings true. There nothing in this story that doesn't belong.
I loved this book. The characters are beliveable and the story rings true. There nothing in this story that doesn't belong.
March 18, 2024
I liked how the story developed, and minor incidences proved significant in this story. It also sums up a small town or large village atmosphere as well. It was a fairly easy and quick read.
March 19, 2024
Without A Trace, Book 1
I enjoyed the book from start to finish as the mystery keep you guessing and the characters were believable and can't wait to read Book 2
I enjoyed the book from start to finish as the mystery keep you guessing and the characters were believable and can't wait to read Book 2
March 24, 2024
Great thriller with several twists. Fast read!
March 25, 2024
This was a 3.5 for me. It would have been a solid 4, but the ending was a let down.
March 31, 2024
Without a trace
A great little whodunnit. Lots of false clues that made it hard to guess the culprit. Definitely good bedtime reading.
A great little whodunnit. Lots of false clues that made it hard to guess the culprit. Definitely good bedtime reading.
April 4, 2024
average
Not a page turner but enough mystery to keep my interest. Characters okay. Overall, worth reading the next book n the series
Not a page turner but enough mystery to keep my interest. Characters okay. Overall, worth reading the next book n the series
April 5, 2024
I enjoyed this book. Well written with all the hidden secrets. Well done. Looking forward to book No 2 will be just as interesting
June 18, 2024
2.5 Stars
July 7, 2025
Werde nicht warm damit, alle Charaktere sind wie hinter Glas und interessieren mich nicht besonders. Es wirkt eher wie 60er denn 90er. DNF 13%
May 25, 2024
It's the annual Tanniford's Regatta and Fete, but 8 year old Maisie Brown, a majorette never makes it home. DCI George Millson and DS Norris Scobie investigate
An entertaining mystery. A good start to the series.
Originally published 1991.
An entertaining mystery. A good start to the series.
Originally published 1991.
July 13, 2023
This was a quick easy read. Not as exciting as some of the books I’ve read in this genre but it was still an enjoyable read
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews