A Shred of Evidence

Lloyd & Hill #7

by Jill McGown

When the body of fifteen-year-old Natalie Ouspensky is found strangled near a public park in Stansfield, England, Detective Inspector Judy Hill and Detective Chief Inspector Lloyd have their work cut out for them. For Natalie wasn't quite the innocent her mother believes, and her classmates at Oakland School guard Natalie's secrets--and their own--like life itself. Then a shred of evidence points Hill and Lloyd in the right--and decidedly deadly--direction...

Genres: Mystery, Procedural, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, British Literature, Crime, Police

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Jill McGown (9 August 1947, Campbeltown, Scotland – 6 April 2007 in Kettering, Northamptonshire) was a British writer of mystery novels. She was best known for her mystery series featuring Inspector Lloyd and Judy Hill, one of which (A Shred of Evidence) was made into a television series. McGown wrote her first mystery novel after being laid off from the British Steel Corporation in 1980. She is sometimes credited as Elizabeth Chaplin.

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kenneth Knowles: 11:03

Description: Constant gossip, endless secrets, nonstop rumors-these everyday elements of high-school life prove nearly impenetrable obstacles for Detective Chief Inspector Lloyd and Inspector Judy Hill of the Stansfield Police as they try solve the murder of a teenaged girl in this leisurely but compelling story. Natalie Ouspensky is a precocious 15-year-old with a host of gregarious friends, a fine school record and, apparently, a secret life. When her strangled corpse is discovered near a public park, Lloyd and Hill join hands to demonstrate once again (after Murder... Now and Then) why their professional (and romantic) collaboration creates tension, ignites sparks and ultimately, in McGown's skilled telling, comprises superior mystery fiction. As the investigators (aided by the overzealous and cheeky Detective Sergeant Tom Finch) query the pupils and faculty at Oakland School, they discover a network of romantic liaisons and flirtations that cross the barrier between students and teachers. Was popular gym instructor Colin Cochrane having an affair with Natalie? Who is sending him sexually explicit mail? Why doesn't an eyewitness to the events on the eve of the murder come forward? The characters are devious, cunning, charming-and truly, truly wicked. This small English town, overrun with malice, is well served by its finely delineated constabulary, with Lloyd and Hill at the top of their form.

There is a one-off TV drama based on this series here, and I have promised myself a curl-up watch on a rainy afternoon.

3* A Shred of Evidence (Lloyd & Hill, #7)

3* Plots and Errors (Lloyd & Hill, #10)

[Deb Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed this series and its main characters from the first book onward. It's one of those series I don't want to read the last book because I don't want to say goodbye to Lloyd and Hill. They are disparate both in their personalities and their methods of police detection, yet they somehow make it all work.

[Julia Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a re-read, and it held up well. I always loved Jill McGown's books; her plots are extremely intricate, and her dialogue is spectacular.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

#7 Lloyd & Hill British police procedural mystery. It had been over 2 years since I read a book in this series, since I was very disappointed in #6, which went backward and forward in time, was bloated and boring and featured long portions that were written from the POV of the suspects/players in the mystery. It just didn't work for me at all, and was a huge shock after the previously stellar books. Every author's allowed one stinker I guess, and this one gets things back on track.

A fifteen-year-old school girl is battered and strangled on a public green a few days after the opening of school term. Since Lloyd is off on a weeks-long training course, acting boss Judy Hill starts the investigation off with DS Tom Finch assisting. Lloyd comes back a couple of days early at the behest of HIS boss. There is only one plausible suspect to begin with (save for the ubiquitous "unknown sex fiend") and he is Colin Cochrane, a teacher at the school and celebrity of some note, having been one of England's star runners and now doing the lecture and advertising circuit. Rumor has it that Colin has been having it off with one of the school girls and a letter found in his tracksuit pocket would seem to bear that out. The victim was not, by all accounts, a chaste and virginal fifteen. The body was discovered by Colin's wife while taking their dog for a walk but her story changes slightly from first interview to formal statement such that her husband would be protected with somewhat of an alibi. You just know he's NOT the guy, and although neither Lloyd or Hill think so either, DS Finch is convinced of it. In pursuing evidence against him, other clues come to light and the murderer eventually found, of course.

I did figure out the killer in one of those lightbulb moments, but not until very close to the end, having followed one of McGown's adeptly placed red herrings right to the sea. LOL I really enjoyed this, and stayed up a bit past my bedtime to finish it off last night. Was especially glad that Lloyd and Hill were featured more prominently again and it wasn't all about the suspects. I very much look forward to continuing on with this series to its end, which unfortunately came too soon as the author died in 2007. Still, I've got six more to read and savor before I'm done.

[Eric Plume · Rating 2 out of 5]

Threw in the towel at roughly 75%, which speaks volumes on how boring the mystery was. Shred had an interesting premise, but it was buried under loose ends and gossip...and the adult cops were more gossipy than the teenagers they were investigating. In the end it was a waste of a perfectly good plot. Ah well.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"When the body of fifteen-year-old Natalie Ouspensky is found strangled near a public park in Stansfield, England, Detective Inspector Judy Hill and Detective Chief Inspector Lloyd have their work cut out for them. For Natalie wasn't quite the innocent her mother believes, and her classmates at Oakland School guard Natalie's secrets -- and their own -- like life itself. Then a shred of evidence points Hill and Lloyd in the right -- and decidedly deadly -- direction ...
~~back cover

Jealously, murder -- the usual mix of misdirections and red herrings, which all get neatly tied up in the end. Intricate plotting is Ms. McGown's forte and she flaunts it again here.

[Marni Port · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the Phinney Neighborhood Center's Book Exchange, not realizing I had already read it (and most likely had originally got it from the Exchange and swapped it back over a year or two ago.

So many police procedurals are hackneyed these days. But A Shred of Evidence opens with such a great, unique scene! I immediately knew I had read it, but thanks to chemo 2 years ago, I had no memory of what happened. So I got to enjoy it twice!

If you've read any of my reviews you know I don't summarize the plot. You can get that elsewhere. So following are my thoughts on the book and why I enjoyed it.

Genuine, complex characters. Yes, there is a love interest between an officer and her superior...ah, would it really be a police procedural without a love interest? But at least the female of the pair is strong and independent.

Plotting is tight, motive is believable, and a double twist ending that was well executed.

Although a school setting isn't unusual in mystery novels, and some tropes exist here, it is besides the point. This is an old school, "fair play," the "hunt is on" mystery. With an ending Agatha Christie (who believed in evil) would be proud of.

I'm looking forward to reading another in the series, and if I like it will post on my website Series Review section. www.seattlemysterylovers.com

[Minty McBunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off with a bang, I was engaged from the second page and really excited about the story.

Unfortunately, it really started to lag about 2/3 of the way through. Even though it wasn't very long, it felt longer as we led up to the conclusion and then the red herrings flew so fast and thick it got a bit aggravating.

I liked the story better than I liked the detectives, Judy seemed a bit bland and Lloyd a but dull, Tim Finch was the most agreeable of the bunch. I didn't realize this was book 7, so I expect my views on them will be changed if I go back to the start.

That said, it was well written enough that will certainly give the next book in the series a whirl and see how it goes.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The middle book in the Lloyd and Hill series, and possibly the best. Also probably my favorite.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book in the series that I could find electronically so I felt a small bit like there was a lot of prior history there, but that faded as the story progressed. This is a well wrought police procedural and will not disappoint fans of this mystery sub-genre. The last third is probably the most dynamic so don't give up if you find some of the early going simplistic. Will read more.

[Nicky Warwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jill McGown’s DCI Lloyd & DI Hill books.
I’ve read several and had a few more in my TBR box. However they’re a series that is best read in order & there were 3 missing between those I’d read & those I hadn’t.
Last week I ordered them on eBay.
Jill McGown is overlooked & little known as an author which is a very big shame as her writing is superb as are her characterisations & storylines.
Give her a try

[Adam Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m Reading through this series very slowly - this being my first for over a year. Another well written, with clever plot. I love the clues that build up over the story to a reveal that feels obvious when you see it.

I enjoy the story between Lloyd and Hill, which feels like it’s building book by book. I won’t leave it so long to read the next!

[Jan Whitmarsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Brilliant !

Brilliant turn of events ....Jill has written a truly compelling story around passions, young love and obsessions. Highly recommend this and other stories in this series of detective books.

[Carolyn (in SC) C234D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series, and this was a good one. I’m still not sure if I ever read it before, or just something similar. Nothing ever struck me as “Oh, yes!”

[Loni Ivanovskis · Rating 3 out of 5]

well done. witty, but not precious.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery and character study, if a bit slow moving

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colin Cochrane, handsome coach, gets a few disturbing anonymous letters. His wife begins to wonder about his fidelity. Meanwhile, Patrick Murray, begins to teach at the same school. His wife knows he is not faithful. When 15-year-old Natalie is found strangled in the park, Chief DI Lloyd and DI Hill begin to suspect someone at the school did it. Their investigation uncovers many suspicious characters and actions.

Well-written. Has some disturbing imagery, but overall fairly good story.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a shock for DI Judy Hill when the young girl who has been murdered in a local adventure playground turns out to be one of the girls she had seen laughing and joking with her friends on the bus home from school that afternoon. This is a harrowing story of misunderstandings and predatory behaviour by people who really should know better.

A minor celebrity athlete, Colin Cochrane, teaches at the school that the victim herself attended and there is all sorts of gossip doing the rounds about how he could be having an affair with a pupil. The school also has a new teacher - Patrick - who has been flirting with Cochrane's wife - Erica. There are plenty of suspects in this well plotted and well written novel and plenty of twists and turns before the murderer is finally discovered because of the 'shred of evidence' of the title.

I found this a tense and uncomfortable read and was quite shocked at the solution. It is an excellent read and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read well written crime fiction. The book can be read as a standalone story or as part of a series.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is a great series but this is my favourite. The twist at the end is shocking." was what I wrote when I entered this book in Goodreads even though it was twenty years since I had last read it.

This is the seventh book in the author's police procedural series (13 books) featuring Detective Chief Inspector Lloyd and Detective Inspector Hill. I first came across this series in the early 1990s and have read them all at least once.

This is the third time I have read this but although I did not remember much of the story at all as it is over twenty six years since I last read it I certainly remembered the identity of the killer. The story is about the investigation of the murder a fifteen year old schoolgirl and there are lots of clues to the identity of the killer but you probably won't notice them. This is a really powerful story and Lloyd and Hill are great characters who come across as real people.

The writing is better than the writing in most of the books I have read this year (2025) and I am really glad that I decided to re-read this series.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book by this author that I have read and I only found it when I was messing around with the GR readers also enjoyed feature from another books main page.

This murder mystery, set in England, revolves around the investigation of the murder of a teenage school girl. Lots of people come under suspicion when it is discovered that she reportedly had written torrid love letters to one of the teachers whose wife actually is the one to stumble across the crime scene.

It was a good book that showed how even possibly unfounded accusations can affect a persons life and career. I give this book ★★★★ and will definitely seek out more books in this series.

[Karen C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good mystery. I really liked the characters. This is the 7th book in the series but was the 1st one I was able to get on the Phila. Library Website. They have a few more later ones which I will definitely read. I'm thinking about purchasing maybe the first couple on Amazon for a penny (and $3.99 shipping costs). I read most of my books on the Kindle because they don't take up room. Hard to have enough storage for books. But if someone is looking for a series (British), I would definitely recommend Jill McGown's "Lloyd and Hill."

[Beth Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long been a fan of Jill McGown and her series featuring Hill and Lloyd. This was a good one, with lots of twists and turns. As always Judy Hill's meticulous note-taking provides an invaluable clue to solving the nasty murders.

[Bevjirwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

my favorite kind of mystery. British police procedural

[Gary Van Cott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only read this a few weeks ago but have already forgotten most of the details.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am hooked! one more by this author and she will get her own shelf on my goodreads page!