Killing Me Softly

Gil Mayo Mystery #10

by Marjorie Eccles

In the tenth mystery in this atmospheric village series, Gil Mayo finds that crime and trouble come closer than ever, as members of the Hertfordshire force seem to be involved in a series of robberies and a subsequent murder. He and his Sergeant are faced with clearing them -- or bringing them to justice.

Genres: Mystery

205 pages, Hardcover

First published February 23, 1998

About the author

Aka Judith Bordill, Jennifer Hyde

Marjorie Eccles has written several romantic and crime novels, which have been published both in the UK and in the US. Many of her book shave been translated and serialised around the world. She has one grown up son and now lives in Hertfordshire

Reviews

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superintendent Gil Mayo and DI Abigail Moon are struggling to combat the growing problem of illegal drugs in the hitherto peaceful town of Lavenstock. They just need a breakthrough. Their attention is diverted from the problem when a local financier is found shot dead near his home. At first it looks like suicide and that seems understandable as he had severe money problems. Then the post mortem reveals that he has been murdered.

Gradually it becomes clear he had some very shady business associates who could have wanted him dead - not to speak of his nearest and dearest who could have had more personal motives for wanting him out of the way. I really enjoyed the way the links between the people associated with the dead man were built up in this book - I thought it was very cleverly plotted.

Throughout the book there are short chapters written from the point of view of someone who is clearly being held captive and these really do increase the tension in the book as it isn't clear who the person is and why they're being imprisoned. It isn't until almost the end of the book that it becomes clear precisely who this person is, where they are and why they're being held captive.

This is an excellent addition to this well written and absorbing police procedural series and I recommend it to anyone who wants to read a relatively traditional crime novel with interesting and likeable police characters and believable criminals and victims.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this one down! This is a great mystery series from this author!

[Sandy Schmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the distraction of unprofessional printing, the story itself is quite fascinating. Abigail Moon is initially involved in surveillance of a suspected drug dealer, then she becomes involved in a missing person case, followed by an apparent suicide which soon becomes classified a murder, and then the beating of a former colleague and boyfriend. As bodies pile up, and more people disappear, Abigail and the department unravel a series of intertwined criminal activities with a surprising ending.

[P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good enough read, but bit of a hard sell. Lots of repulsive characters - drug lords and their fans. Etc. Your natural sympathy has no where to go. Then, in what seems a move of desperation, pretty much the only nice guy - the quiet hard-working sort, is secretly a maniacal killer. It's the 'can't trust the quiet ones' kind of plot that doesn't sit well. Competently written, tho.

[pdxmaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now the 4th one I have read in this series, getting better. The various sub-plots (relating some to drug use/abuse in this small Yorkshire town, no longer immune to such, coupled with a two-women owned bakery/meals-to-go business and raising teens) come together

[Paula Corregan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good mystery!

This book was an engaging police procedural that was well written. It contained believable characters and a good plot. I highly recommend it to other police procedural readers.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts with the problem of drugs in the community but soon there is a death, missing females and an attack on a male. But who is the female being kept prisoner and by whom.
An enjoyable modern mystery