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Inspector Frost #5
Winter Frost
Denton is having more than its fair share of crime. A serial killer is murdering local prostitutes; a man demolishing his garden shed uncovers a long-buried skeleton; there is an armed robbery at a local minimart and a ram raid at a jewellers.
But Detective Inspector Jack Frost's main concern is for the safety of a missing eight-year-old, and soon after another girl is reported missing, her body is found . . . raped and strangled.
Then Frost's prime suspect hangs himself in his cell, leaving a note blaming Frost for driving him to suicide.
Coarse, insubordinate and fearless, DI Jack Frost is in serious trouble.
But Detective Inspector Jack Frost's main concern is for the safety of a missing eight-year-old, and soon after another girl is reported missing, her body is found . . . raped and strangled.
Then Frost's prime suspect hangs himself in his cell, leaving a note blaming Frost for driving him to suicide.
Coarse, insubordinate and fearless, DI Jack Frost is in serious trouble.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
86 people are currently reading
701 people want to read
About the author
R.D. Wingfield
39 books142 followersRodney David Wingfield was a prolific writer of radio crime plays and comedy scripts, some for the late Kenneth Williams, star of the Carry On films. His crime novels featuring DI Jack Frost have been successfully adapted for television as A Touch of Frost starring David Jason. Wingfield was a modest man, shunning the London publicity scene in favour of a quite life in Basildon, Essex, with his wife of 52 years (died 2004) and only son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
October 19, 2017
I love this series and the tv series too and can't help feel that David Jason is just so perfect for the part of DI Jack Frost, every word spoken in the book I can hear his voice and so makes reading the book extra special. It's a great police procedural book although Frost's methods leave a lot to be desired but hes a loveable character, determined, funny but with a big heart that at times you feel sorry for him and at other times laugh with and at him. A must read!
April 17, 2023
Jau penktoji perskaityta knyga apie inspektorių Frostą. Nieko naujo, bet vis dar taip pat įtraukianti kaip ir kitos.
November 4, 2021
Same old,same old,but how great it is.
October 4, 2020
I liked that I didn't know what was going to happen beforehand. In a way this book stod on its own a lot more than the previous ones for me.
However, in the end I thought this particular book screwed up really badly.
I don't like when the already badly treated (only) female character gets into the sort of shit that DS Maud got into in this book. It could have ended any other bleeding way. But did it? No. And why? Well, because she's awoman silly cow, of course.
I honestly didn't really understand what the flaming motive was so it felt more or less like utter shit.
Other than that... Morgan should be fired. And pretty much executed.
For a while I thought his ability to be useless was a little bit amusing because it was so bad it even made Frost seem really competent. Then it turned into mild annoyance and eventually the "too much" tipping-point was reached and I started hating his guts.
He should have been fired for what happened to Maud. Instead he didn't even seem to feel bad.
Well, piss off with that ending!
However, in the end I thought this particular book screwed up really badly.
I don't like when the already badly treated (only) female character gets into the sort of shit that DS Maud got into in this book. It could have ended any other bleeding way. But did it? No. And why? Well, because she's a
I honestly didn't really understand what the flaming motive was so it felt more or less like utter shit.
Other than that... Morgan should be fired. And pretty much executed.
For a while I thought his ability to be useless was a little bit amusing because it was so bad it even made Frost seem really competent. Then it turned into mild annoyance and eventually the "too much" tipping-point was reached and I started hating his guts.
He should have been fired for what happened to Maud. Instead he didn't even seem to feel bad.
Well, piss off with that ending!
January 10, 2024
Another Inspector Frost story finished. In one way they’re a waste of time, yet in another way they’re wonderful reads, impossible to put down, and with wonderful characters. In this one (temporary) Inspector Maud figures prominently, which is excellent because I like her. Constable Morgan is a new favorite of Frost’s, mostly because he is quite adept at faking/doing Frost’s paperwork, as a Policeman he’s a disaster. So is Frost I suppose, but so much fun being awful.
I think I remember this one from TV but looking up the TV series it’s all a mishmash from different books, or just made up. I seem to have some Frost dvds, I think I’ll watch them. I was a bit mean to the last one, maybe this one deserves five stars, after all it’s book five!
I think I remember this one from TV but looking up the TV series it’s all a mishmash from different books, or just made up. I seem to have some Frost dvds, I think I’ll watch them. I was a bit mean to the last one, maybe this one deserves five stars, after all it’s book five!
January 1, 2018
'A Touch of Frost' was one of my favourite television police series. The British do know how to make those: Inspector Morse, Inspector Lewis, Midsomer Murders, Agatha Christie's Poirot, Inspector George Gently, Vera, Luther, and so on.
However, I've never read any of those books, which were the basis for some (or all?) of those series. Until I was given this book, albeit in Dutch translation and more precisely, a re-edition by the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws (The Last/Latest News). I'm usually very careful with translations, especially when the source language was English.
In this book, inspector Jack Frost has to solve many crimes: young children disappearing (being kidnapped), prostitutes being murdered, a skeleton being found in a back-garden, a robbery, and more. Of course, commander Mullet is also present in his typical way: obnoxious, worried about his own image, always looking at costs, KPI, and so on. He is not involved in the team-work, has a love-hate relationship with Frost (for obvious reasons) and will do anything to score with his superiors. Anything.
Frost is unorganized (in his way of working, in his administration, ...), chaotic, very arrogant in his behaviour towards Mullet and his colleagues. Insults, dry humour, ... all part of his image and style. The man smokes almost every minute of every day. He eats only (or 99.9% of the time) sandwiches with bacon and ham, and drinks lots of tea. Taking care of himself (personal hygiene, for example) is trivial to him. He also despises structure and being on time for meetings or other appointments, like at autopsies.
In many of his cases, whenever he finds a clue, he will try to solve the puzzle, but the minute he can blame someone, that's the man or woman who's guilty of crime x or y, despite their statements and the severe lack of evidence. His direct assistant, Taffy Morgan, is an even bigger pain in the ass. The young chap likes beautiful girls/women, especially blond ones with long legs and big... You know. The stuff that's described here would be screaming METOO! more than enough. Then again, when you know the book was written at the end of the 20th century...
Another proof of Frost's clumsiness: He doesn't have a bloc-note, yet writes names and places on his cigarette package. But he never, or I must have overlooked it, uses that information to make progress in his investigations.
R.D. Wingfield can write, that's for sure. I can't compare this Frost-story with the other ones, but this is a page-turner of a book. The translation also helped, of course. Hats off to Frans Bruning for his work. And how you, as a reader, think you know who did it, but in the end you're left baffled, because you did not expect that rabbit to be pulled out of the hat.
I don't usually read detective/crime stories, for several reasons, but I wanted something more accessible, lighter (so to speak), to end 2017. Due to circumstances, my reading time had to be prolonged with 24 hours. Plus, it was a gift, so...
Anyway, as an in-between story, very much recommended! Even more or especially (!) when you imagine the cast of 'A Touch of Frost' in action.
However, I've never read any of those books, which were the basis for some (or all?) of those series. Until I was given this book, albeit in Dutch translation and more precisely, a re-edition by the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws (The Last/Latest News). I'm usually very careful with translations, especially when the source language was English.
In this book, inspector Jack Frost has to solve many crimes: young children disappearing (being kidnapped), prostitutes being murdered, a skeleton being found in a back-garden, a robbery, and more. Of course, commander Mullet is also present in his typical way: obnoxious, worried about his own image, always looking at costs, KPI, and so on. He is not involved in the team-work, has a love-hate relationship with Frost (for obvious reasons) and will do anything to score with his superiors. Anything.
Frost is unorganized (in his way of working, in his administration, ...), chaotic, very arrogant in his behaviour towards Mullet and his colleagues. Insults, dry humour, ... all part of his image and style. The man smokes almost every minute of every day. He eats only (or 99.9% of the time) sandwiches with bacon and ham, and drinks lots of tea. Taking care of himself (personal hygiene, for example) is trivial to him. He also despises structure and being on time for meetings or other appointments, like at autopsies.
In many of his cases, whenever he finds a clue, he will try to solve the puzzle, but the minute he can blame someone, that's the man or woman who's guilty of crime x or y, despite their statements and the severe lack of evidence. His direct assistant, Taffy Morgan, is an even bigger pain in the ass. The young chap likes beautiful girls/women, especially blond ones with long legs and big... You know. The stuff that's described here would be screaming METOO! more than enough. Then again, when you know the book was written at the end of the 20th century...
Another proof of Frost's clumsiness: He doesn't have a bloc-note, yet writes names and places on his cigarette package. But he never, or I must have overlooked it, uses that information to make progress in his investigations.
R.D. Wingfield can write, that's for sure. I can't compare this Frost-story with the other ones, but this is a page-turner of a book. The translation also helped, of course. Hats off to Frans Bruning for his work. And how you, as a reader, think you know who did it, but in the end you're left baffled, because you did not expect that rabbit to be pulled out of the hat.
I don't usually read detective/crime stories, for several reasons, but I wanted something more accessible, lighter (so to speak), to end 2017. Due to circumstances, my reading time had to be prolonged with 24 hours. Plus, it was a gift, so...
Anyway, as an in-between story, very much recommended! Even more or especially (!) when you imagine the cast of 'A Touch of Frost' in action.
September 10, 2009
The Frost series just keeps getting better and better. Detective Inspector Frost is in top form dealing with a serial killer of local prostitutes, a new acting inspector Liz Maud, and the continual harassment from Superintendent Mullett, who can never quite understand why Frost can never seem to find a filling station that provides printed receipts for his gasoline reimbursement. Fortunately, Frost has a new DC who is quite adept at completing long overdue crime statistic reports and changing "5's" to "8's" on the gasoline reimbursement forms. Lots of the scenes had me laughing out loud. He continues to have a knack at dealing with suspects: "Do you want to confess now, or shall we waste time beating you up and claiming you fell down the stairs while drunk?" Insisting that a bus load of drunken revelers be kept out of the station, fearing the mess they would make, Mullett orders them to be gotten out of the way. Frost has the inspired idea of putting them back on the bus, whereupon they steal it, driving off quickly, and smashing Mullett's new car in the process.
Mullett is already livid because his usual parking place had been taken by the bus when he arrived. Frost meets him in the parking lot and begins, "Your best bet is to say it was parked and some drunken sod ran into it." "That's exactly what did happen," snapped Mullett. "Good for you!" nodded Frost approvingly. "I almost believe you myself, and I can always see through a lie." Frost really has his hands full in this one. He has someone killing and molesting children, a serial rapist and killer abducting and torturing local prostitutes, a DC who keeps getting everything wrong, and then suddenly a thirty-fiveyear old skeleton pops up with its skull bashed in. Throughout he keeps making mistakes, wrong guesses, constantly flagellating himself for his errors, no doubt wishing it could be Mullett instead.
Throughout, he has to cajole, bribe, and browbeat Mullett into assigning more men to stakeouts, spending more on overtime, and signing Frost's forged receipts. Then his prime suspect commits suicide in a holding cell, claiming that Frost badgered him and humiliated an innocent man. And to make things worse, the evidence begins to point to the man's innocence. Set aside some time for this one, the ending will keep you riveted to your seat and chuckling all the while. Great stuff.
Mullett is already livid because his usual parking place had been taken by the bus when he arrived. Frost meets him in the parking lot and begins, "Your best bet is to say it was parked and some drunken sod ran into it." "That's exactly what did happen," snapped Mullett. "Good for you!" nodded Frost approvingly. "I almost believe you myself, and I can always see through a lie." Frost really has his hands full in this one. He has someone killing and molesting children, a serial rapist and killer abducting and torturing local prostitutes, a DC who keeps getting everything wrong, and then suddenly a thirty-fiveyear old skeleton pops up with its skull bashed in. Throughout he keeps making mistakes, wrong guesses, constantly flagellating himself for his errors, no doubt wishing it could be Mullett instead.
Throughout, he has to cajole, bribe, and browbeat Mullett into assigning more men to stakeouts, spending more on overtime, and signing Frost's forged receipts. Then his prime suspect commits suicide in a holding cell, claiming that Frost badgered him and humiliated an innocent man. And to make things worse, the evidence begins to point to the man's innocence. Set aside some time for this one, the ending will keep you riveted to your seat and chuckling all the while. Great stuff.
August 16, 2020
I listened to this book on my way back from holiday, in the car. It was a bonus that it is read by David Jason. It's a fantastic story and reminded me very much of Stuart MacBride, whom I know was a fan of R D Wingfield. Grim storytelling interspersed with black humour.
Set in Denton, UK, Frost is looking for a missing school girl, last seen 9 weeks ago, the eight year old seems to be vanished off the face of the earth. Another child goes missing, from the same school, and is found raped and strangled. Frosts prime suspect strongly protests his innocence, then commits suicide blaming Frost. Subsequence evidence points to the mans innocence, but Frost is sure he is guilty.
Great story, I will definitely read more books by this author.
Set in Denton, UK, Frost is looking for a missing school girl, last seen 9 weeks ago, the eight year old seems to be vanished off the face of the earth. Another child goes missing, from the same school, and is found raped and strangled. Frosts prime suspect strongly protests his innocence, then commits suicide blaming Frost. Subsequence evidence points to the mans innocence, but Frost is sure he is guilty.
Great story, I will definitely read more books by this author.
March 3, 2015
This book is awesome as well as the other Frost books. I got these books after falling in love and buying the series by the BBC with one of my favorite BBC actors, "David Jason" who was also in Open All Hours comedy. A Touch of Frost was his detective series that I own as well :) The books are good but not as good as seeing the show with David in all his glory :)
December 27, 2011
As usual, the Denton police force is undermanned and Inspector Frost is forced to cope with a serial killer, child abductions, a long dead skeleton, and other petty crimes. Frost is crude, unorganized, and jumps to conclusions with alarming frequency but he is fun to read about.
March 6, 2017
The plot was good, but the sexist language was just too much.
May 3, 2023
A very good book. As with the other books in the series the action is fast paced and the storylines are explicit and hard hitting. As always the graphic descriptions of the crimes and the investigation process make you feel part of the action.
June 29, 2011
A bit extreme--Inspector Frost seems to be the only officer in Denton who is capable of deploying manpower, writing manpower usage and open case reports for headquarters, interviewing suspects, going to crime scenes and attending autopsies. In "Winter Frost" he does all of those things all the time. While it is explained to some extent by Superintendent Mullet's inability to do anything right, including sending ten detectives to another jurisdiction for a drugs investigation while a murder wave is sweeping his area, I think Wingfield simply decided to go for broke with this irascible Inspector this time. Frost sleeps at the office when he does sleep at all. When he goes home for a change his phone is ringing as he walks in the door with a new case that only can handle.
He is saddled with Taffy, an almost criminally incompetent assistant who is always late, can't stay awake during stakeouts, goes into erotic reveries whenever he is in the presence of a woman under 60 and is generally unlikeable both by the other cops in the novel and by the (at least this) reader. That Frost puts up with all of this makes him seem weak and not particularly smart. Which may be the point, of course.
Still a decent procedural, as long as you like slapdash procedure done on the fly by exhausted and bungling coppers.
He is saddled with Taffy, an almost criminally incompetent assistant who is always late, can't stay awake during stakeouts, goes into erotic reveries whenever he is in the presence of a woman under 60 and is generally unlikeable both by the other cops in the novel and by the (at least this) reader. That Frost puts up with all of this makes him seem weak and not particularly smart. Which may be the point, of course.
Still a decent procedural, as long as you like slapdash procedure done on the fly by exhausted and bungling coppers.
October 2, 2012
I get to read trash on vacation. This book certainly qualified, although Jack Frost was witty at times. It was a quick read and everything was resolved by book's end.
One thing really bothered me: the portrayal of women. I'd hoped that the 20th century – to say nothing of the 21st – had opened the minds of male British crime authors, but I guess not. The male characters comment constantly about who they would do what to, often to girls 16 or younger. As long as they're over the age of consent (I'm not sure what age that is in Britain), all's fair in lust. The male inspectors objectify women – even their colleagues – every other page, which is appalling. I lost count of the different euphemisms used for breasts. And to talk casually about having sex with a girl of 11? Reprehensible. The author needs to go beyond misogyny and accept that women are far more than the negative stereotypes he portrays: boobs, butts, sluts, bad mothers, connivers, or mediocre members of the police force.
One thing really bothered me: the portrayal of women. I'd hoped that the 20th century – to say nothing of the 21st – had opened the minds of male British crime authors, but I guess not. The male characters comment constantly about who they would do what to, often to girls 16 or younger. As long as they're over the age of consent (I'm not sure what age that is in Britain), all's fair in lust. The male inspectors objectify women – even their colleagues – every other page, which is appalling. I lost count of the different euphemisms used for breasts. And to talk casually about having sex with a girl of 11? Reprehensible. The author needs to go beyond misogyny and accept that women are far more than the negative stereotypes he portrays: boobs, butts, sluts, bad mothers, connivers, or mediocre members of the police force.
February 20, 2021
Great writing!
Whenever I read a book from this series, I see David Jason on the pages as Frost, and he did a fabulous job of portraying this law unto himself Detective.
As always you're gripped by the storylines so many twists, turns and false leads, its no surprise Frost never rests.
Manipulating evidence to get to the truth and covering his backside from Mullet his boss, is pure genius, especially as Mullet will do anything to raise his own status even if it means the team especially Jack suffer with the consequences.
The books are more explicit than the tv adaptation for obvious reasons, so don't be offended by dialogue that took place at the time these stories portray, its how people spoke and acted then. Not the political correct attitude of today!
I love this series, it isn't necessary to read the books in order if you don't want to, each can be read as a standalone!
I can't recommend this book highly enough, utterly brilliant!
Whenever I read a book from this series, I see David Jason on the pages as Frost, and he did a fabulous job of portraying this law unto himself Detective.
As always you're gripped by the storylines so many twists, turns and false leads, its no surprise Frost never rests.
Manipulating evidence to get to the truth and covering his backside from Mullet his boss, is pure genius, especially as Mullet will do anything to raise his own status even if it means the team especially Jack suffer with the consequences.
The books are more explicit than the tv adaptation for obvious reasons, so don't be offended by dialogue that took place at the time these stories portray, its how people spoke and acted then. Not the political correct attitude of today!
I love this series, it isn't necessary to read the books in order if you don't want to, each can be read as a standalone!
I can't recommend this book highly enough, utterly brilliant!
March 30, 2015
Ohhhhh, Frost is such a bastard! But I do love him. Almost more than the tv series. Okay, more than the tv series. His hunches always seem to go completely and utterly awry. And then something clicks. But not before everything goes pear shaped. And he always has multiple cases to solve. Mullett is an idiot and I always laugh when Frost dumps him right in the middle of it. His sarcastic remarks make me giggle. My only question after finishing this one is: why the hell does Morgan not get fired?? He's a complete moron who shouldn't be a copper. He screws up everything he touched and Frost just keeps covering for him. I realize Morgan reminds Frost of himself as a wee copper but enough is enough! Can his ass or someone important may die. An would Frost be able to cover for him then? I wish there were tons more Frost novels for me to pour through.
November 8, 2021
Have finally found the series on ITV so have been catching up there too. Taffy Morgan is a PC you just want to get hold of and give a really good shake! Perhaps he was given some of Frosts old traits from previous books? Some parts of this one are laugh out loud and other parts are just awful - by that I mean the criminals and the crimes committed are seriously terrible though the descriptions aren't too detailed thank goodness.
In just the one book there must be several programmes worth of material! Sometimes it can be a bit confusing when you have already read books 1 - 4 to keep all the crimes on the go in your head and I didn't see the end coming for the prostitute cases. Interesting Coda to explain what had happened to the child and how she was found at the hospital.... hopefully I am not giving anything away here.
In just the one book there must be several programmes worth of material! Sometimes it can be a bit confusing when you have already read books 1 - 4 to keep all the crimes on the go in your head and I didn't see the end coming for the prostitute cases. Interesting Coda to explain what had happened to the child and how she was found at the hospital.... hopefully I am not giving anything away here.
October 10, 2015
I have to say having watched all the TV series of Frost starring David Jason this is actually the first novel I've read by the author R D Wingfield and I loved it just as much as the TV series. I thought Frost in the book was harder and grittier than in the TV series but still had the sense of humour which made me laugh out loud in places. Can't remember where I picked this book up from so didn't realise it was the 5th in the series, so will have to look for the earlier ones. The story line although not pleasant as it dealt with child abduction/killing and the killing of prostitutes certainly had me gripped till the end and I love it when I can't guess 'whodunnit' they are the best crime thrillers.
January 13, 2020
Even as an Australian male, I find the smut talk a little too much. Maybe that's what England was like during Wingfields time? Mullet is too much a caricature, shallow and self-serving to ever have made Pol. Supt. and his predictable moaning and bitching gets a little thin and worn. He needs to be toned down and fleshed out a little. However if you can get past these issues the stories are quite interesting and even exciting in places. Some of the quips and sarcasm are quite humorous and scandalous.
April 19, 2013
Another compelling read which I could not put down. Two things did strike me though. Firstly that DC Morgan seems to have taken over the incompetent attributes which Frost had in the first book so that while Frost remains a maverick who is not interested in paper work he no longer comes over as an idiot as Morgan now has this role in the story. The second thing was how monstrous the criminals were.
August 3, 2018
Detective Inspector "Jack" Frost is in the fine tradition of fictional British police officials with whom any sane person might have reservations about serving. They are very loose cannons, rolling about on the deck. And yet, some of these, like Reginald Hill's Andy Dalziel, Ian Rankin's John Rebus, and Frost himself, are quite effective officers and excellent detectives. So maybe you might want to serve with them; but you definitely wouldn't want to supervise them.
Frost is a boozy, bad-tempered, bacon-butty obsessed officer with a huge supply of jokes so bad that his co-workers never let him tell them. He is also fiercely protective of the people he supervises, to the point in which he does not take any action about Taffy Morgan, a subordinate so incompetent that his presence constantly endangers the public and other police officers. I think that the author, R. D. Wingfield, finds this quality of Frost's wholly admirable; I'm not sure that the men and (especially) women with whom Morgan serves would agree.
Unlike many police procedural mysteries, Winter Frost does not present the entire force working on one crime, nor do all the crimes somehow connect. There are a series of rape-murders of prostitutes, similar crimes against some young schoolgirls, a string of burglaries, robberies committed by thieves who seem all too willing to shoot their victims with a shotgun, a bus load of vomiting drunks to take care of, and a body turning up of a man who was evidently murdered decades earlier. And, of course, Frost must constantly face the greatest threat to law and order in that area, Superintendent Mullett, Frost's weaselly and incompetent supervisor.
Parts of the book are too caricatured, especially the characters of Morgan, Mullet, and a local woman who constantly claims to be the victim of stalking and sex crimes.
And the police's attitude toward women in general approaches being a perpetual sex crime itself. This may be more realistic than I would like to think, but whether or not the sexism is realistic, Wingfield seems to take an unhealthy pleasure in discussing it.
Leaving that matter aside though, there is much to like in this book. It is quite funny, the solutions to individual mysteries are well worked out, and Frost emerges as a rather commendable character on the whole.
One final note: Take a look at the covers of the various editions of this book, most of which are...uninspired. Then see the sad, perfect cover of the Corgi Books 2000 mass market paperback with a photograph by Michael Wildsmith. No, you really can't judge a book by its cover, but let's acknowledge art when we are lucky enough to find it.
Frost is a boozy, bad-tempered, bacon-butty obsessed officer with a huge supply of jokes so bad that his co-workers never let him tell them. He is also fiercely protective of the people he supervises, to the point in which he does not take any action about Taffy Morgan, a subordinate so incompetent that his presence constantly endangers the public and other police officers. I think that the author, R. D. Wingfield, finds this quality of Frost's wholly admirable; I'm not sure that the men and (especially) women with whom Morgan serves would agree.
Unlike many police procedural mysteries, Winter Frost does not present the entire force working on one crime, nor do all the crimes somehow connect. There are a series of rape-murders of prostitutes, similar crimes against some young schoolgirls, a string of burglaries, robberies committed by thieves who seem all too willing to shoot their victims with a shotgun, a bus load of vomiting drunks to take care of, and a body turning up of a man who was evidently murdered decades earlier. And, of course, Frost must constantly face the greatest threat to law and order in that area, Superintendent Mullett, Frost's weaselly and incompetent supervisor.
Parts of the book are too caricatured, especially the characters of Morgan, Mullet, and a local woman who constantly claims to be the victim of stalking and sex crimes.
And the police's attitude toward women in general approaches being a perpetual sex crime itself. This may be more realistic than I would like to think, but whether or not the sexism is realistic, Wingfield seems to take an unhealthy pleasure in discussing it.
Leaving that matter aside though, there is much to like in this book. It is quite funny, the solutions to individual mysteries are well worked out, and Frost emerges as a rather commendable character on the whole.
One final note: Take a look at the covers of the various editions of this book, most of which are...uninspired. Then see the sad, perfect cover of the Corgi Books 2000 mass market paperback with a photograph by Michael Wildsmith. No, you really can't judge a book by its cover, but let's acknowledge art when we are lucky enough to find it.
August 14, 2017
For a sleepy provincial British city, Denton sure has more than its share of serial murderers. This winter, it is a killer of young girls, spirited away and late found abused and murdered, and someone who has it in for the town's prostitutes, of whom there seems to be a copious supply in Denton. DI Jack Frost, insouciant, irascible, incorrigible, gluttonous for bacon sandwiches and cigarettes, averse to bean-counting paperwork and at times preternaturally insightful about his cases, is stymied on both for most of the book. But he is dogged, finding ways to maneuver around or ignore the budget-minded cheese-parings of his superior, Mullet, as he tries every angle to solve the cases. It turns out that a pair of animal-loving lesbians have it in for the prosties, and the milquetoast-seeming photographer that Frost hounds to suicide turns out to be the child killer after all, and a roll of toilet paper (used to gag the kiddies) is the last-minute discovered clue that will absolve Frost of the coming case of browbeating a supposedly innocent prisoner.
A recorded book, very well read by Stephen Thorne, who got all the voices spot on right. A very persuasive police procedural series, one that shows police work to be laborious and time-consuming and emotionally involving, having to be polite to the crabby public and able to figure out ways around the interfering bureaucracy that is concerned with costs and PR values above all else. Frost is a very well drawn character, perhaps wittier on the spur of the moment than is likely, but that makes for lots of amusing details within rather grim stories.
I will remember the range of minor characters, the protective mother of the addled son who killed her lover, the nice mother who identifies the skeleton, all the Denton citizens who invariably give the cops a hard time, and the various cops in the precinct house, who both admire Frost and are exasperated by him.
A recorded book, very well read by Stephen Thorne, who got all the voices spot on right. A very persuasive police procedural series, one that shows police work to be laborious and time-consuming and emotionally involving, having to be polite to the crabby public and able to figure out ways around the interfering bureaucracy that is concerned with costs and PR values above all else. Frost is a very well drawn character, perhaps wittier on the spur of the moment than is likely, but that makes for lots of amusing details within rather grim stories.
I will remember the range of minor characters, the protective mother of the addled son who killed her lover, the nice mother who identifies the skeleton, all the Denton citizens who invariably give the cops a hard time, and the various cops in the precinct house, who both admire Frost and are exasperated by him.
November 21, 2024
Missing schoolgirls, pedophiles, a serial killer and an ancient skeleton, D.I. Jack Frost has his work cut out in this the 5th novel in the Jack Frost series by R.D. Wingfield.
‘Winter Frost’ like the previous four books in the series is filled with Frost’s usual ribald and totally inappropriate humour, half eaten bacon sandwiches and cigarette dog-ends as he bounces from case to case aimlessly picking out suspects while sporting his usual dirty raincoat and equally grotty scarf and showing a total disregard to the rules, protocol or procedure.
“‘This isn’t good enough, Frost,’ barked Mullett. ‘You’re arresting people left, right and centre, trying to make them fit the crime then having to let them go through lack of evidence.’”
By book 5 they are showing a distinct pattern. However there is no danger of them becoming repetitive or boring because the are all highly entertaining. They work as good detective fiction, they are gritty and earthy and the humour balances that out. Frost frequents a world that isn’t for the feint hearted.
“This bloody mortuary was becoming a second home – so many nasty murder cases, so many days and nights watching Drysdale methodically cutting and slicing.”
It is his distasteful humour that gets him through. Also underneath the bungling incompetent front lies a man with a heart of gold and a skill for detection. Rules don’t apply to him because the victims, whether they are prostitutes or children come first. In this he is not un-similar to Columbo in his relentlessness (and dress sense).
‘Winter Frost’ was the last novel published before R.D. Wingfields death in 2002. “Killing Frost’, the next and last book in the series was published posthumously in 2008.
‘Winter Frost’ like the previous four books in the series is filled with Frost’s usual ribald and totally inappropriate humour, half eaten bacon sandwiches and cigarette dog-ends as he bounces from case to case aimlessly picking out suspects while sporting his usual dirty raincoat and equally grotty scarf and showing a total disregard to the rules, protocol or procedure.
“‘This isn’t good enough, Frost,’ barked Mullett. ‘You’re arresting people left, right and centre, trying to make them fit the crime then having to let them go through lack of evidence.’”
By book 5 they are showing a distinct pattern. However there is no danger of them becoming repetitive or boring because the are all highly entertaining. They work as good detective fiction, they are gritty and earthy and the humour balances that out. Frost frequents a world that isn’t for the feint hearted.
“This bloody mortuary was becoming a second home – so many nasty murder cases, so many days and nights watching Drysdale methodically cutting and slicing.”
It is his distasteful humour that gets him through. Also underneath the bungling incompetent front lies a man with a heart of gold and a skill for detection. Rules don’t apply to him because the victims, whether they are prostitutes or children come first. In this he is not un-similar to Columbo in his relentlessness (and dress sense).
‘Winter Frost’ was the last novel published before R.D. Wingfields death in 2002. “Killing Frost’, the next and last book in the series was published posthumously in 2008.
July 21, 2022
This was a pretty rough ride for William Jack Frost. Not only was Winter Frost over a hundred pages longer than the previous books, it involved more cases as well. The setup is standard fare: not enough officers to assist for one reason or another, DI Allen is gone for one reason or another, a fuss with crime figures and petrol receipts, Mullet having unrealistic expectations... This being the fifth book it would've been a nice change to see Denton still struggle with a full division and supportive management, but I digress.
This time around there's a string of home robberies, kidnappings, prostitute killings (where does 'toms' come from?), jewelry heist, stalking, and more. All pretty much down to Frost and his unreliable partner Taffy Morgan (acting DI Maud is around but had to step away). A lot going on with a very suspenseful last chapter, the 'coda' however left an important plot point somewhat unsatisfying IMHO. I would've liked just a little more, despite knowing what was implied to happen.
Since I watched the show before reading the books, I kept trying to recall which episodes were made from Winter Frost and came up short, even after researching it a bit. If anyone who reads this could help out with that it would be appreciated. Otherwise, this book is highly recommended for fans of the genre and/or character, even if this is the first book of the series you pick up. Cheers!
This time around there's a string of home robberies, kidnappings, prostitute killings (where does 'toms' come from?), jewelry heist, stalking, and more. All pretty much down to Frost and his unreliable partner Taffy Morgan (acting DI Maud is around but had to step away). A lot going on with a very suspenseful last chapter, the 'coda' however left an important plot point somewhat unsatisfying IMHO. I would've liked just a little more, despite knowing what was implied to happen.
Since I watched the show before reading the books, I kept trying to recall which episodes were made from Winter Frost and came up short, even after researching it a bit. If anyone who reads this could help out with that it would be appreciated. Otherwise, this book is highly recommended for fans of the genre and/or character, even if this is the first book of the series you pick up. Cheers!
October 8, 2024
Gli ingredienti di questo quinto romanzo sono più o meno gli stessi: bambine scomparse da troppo tempo per avere speranze, prostitute uccise, furti ai danni degli anziani e un cadavere sepolto da decenni. Tornano il sergente Wells, l’ispettrice ad interim Wonder Woman, un po’ più umana e simpatica, l’agente Burden e un nuovo, disastroso, assistente di Frost.
Solo che, dopo un esilarante inizio con il pulman di tifosi ubriachi in centrale, le indagini sono un po’ più tristi, i cattivi un po’ più sadici, le ricerche più angosciose, gli errori più catastrofici.
Ma su tutto campeggia Frost, Frost che non vuole smentire il suo record di intuizioni sbagliate, il cui angelo custode rifiuta di sobbarcarsi altri straordinari mentre continua impunemente a promettere straordinari alle spalle del sovrintendente Mullet, burocraticamente impegnato a fare il leccapiedi. I loro siparietti, volti anche a sdrammatizzare gli argomenti trattati, sono imperdibili, un esempio per tutti:
Il sovrintendente si infuriò. - Per il momento non ho altro da aggiungere. Sarà aperta un’inchiesta e le assicuro che farò del mio meglio affinché lei sia sospeso dal servizio-.
“Grazie tante, signore. Per un attimo ho avuto il terrore che lei fosse dalla mia parte”.
Lasciò Mullet a guardare allibito la porta che sbatteva le sue spalle.
Ho letto da qualche parte che l’autore non amasse scrivere romanzi. Peccato perché gli riusciva alla grande.
Solo che, dopo un esilarante inizio con il pulman di tifosi ubriachi in centrale, le indagini sono un po’ più tristi, i cattivi un po’ più sadici, le ricerche più angosciose, gli errori più catastrofici.
Ma su tutto campeggia Frost, Frost che non vuole smentire il suo record di intuizioni sbagliate, il cui angelo custode rifiuta di sobbarcarsi altri straordinari mentre continua impunemente a promettere straordinari alle spalle del sovrintendente Mullet, burocraticamente impegnato a fare il leccapiedi. I loro siparietti, volti anche a sdrammatizzare gli argomenti trattati, sono imperdibili, un esempio per tutti:
Il sovrintendente si infuriò. - Per il momento non ho altro da aggiungere. Sarà aperta un’inchiesta e le assicuro che farò del mio meglio affinché lei sia sospeso dal servizio-.
“Grazie tante, signore. Per un attimo ho avuto il terrore che lei fosse dalla mia parte”.
Lasciò Mullet a guardare allibito la porta che sbatteva le sue spalle.
Ho letto da qualche parte che l’autore non amasse scrivere romanzi. Peccato perché gli riusciva alla grande.
May 17, 2020
Wow. This book is quite the journey. As with all Frost tales, the humour elements are very strong, but they are tempered by tales of gruesome terror and horrific torture. In this tale, Frost has a child killer, a serial killer murdering prostitutes and at least one robbery to solve. Denton swiftly going head for head with Midsommer for crime capital of England.
As usual, Frost makes more than a few mistakes, but gets there in the end. Lumbered with an incompetent Constable Morgan (the welsh wizard or "Taff") and a more vindictive than normal Mullet, Frost's staff have less sleep than ever before due to his determination to get to the truth.
The serial killer resolution is nail bitingly tense for reasons I wont explain at the risk of giving spoilers away, but it was both surprising and slightly disturbing. Five out of five for the third book running for R D Wingfield's chain smoking Inspector...
As usual, Frost makes more than a few mistakes, but gets there in the end. Lumbered with an incompetent Constable Morgan (the welsh wizard or "Taff") and a more vindictive than normal Mullet, Frost's staff have less sleep than ever before due to his determination to get to the truth.
The serial killer resolution is nail bitingly tense for reasons I wont explain at the risk of giving spoilers away, but it was both surprising and slightly disturbing. Five out of five for the third book running for R D Wingfield's chain smoking Inspector...
September 4, 2023
Case for the prosecution: caricature supporting cast, wearing and excessive sexism verging on misogyny, too many crimes for the police to sort out simultaneously meant that the book was longer than it needed to be and dragged a bit from time to time. Case for the defence: generally satisfying plot, plausible focus on police procedure rather than inspirational detection, convincing and appealingly unappealing main character (Frost himself). I picked up this book at random in a sale without having read any of the other books in the series or seen the TV adaptation (neither proved an obstacle) and saved it for easy reading on a long plane journey followed by many hours spent on trains. I doubt I'll be looking to read any of the other books featuring Inspector Frost or by this author, but it did the job.
January 27, 2025
( Format : Audiobook )
"I'm not going to the hospital!"
I previously enjoyed the excellent TV series, starring David Jason, with the melancholic intro music, and was delighted to find how similar was the adaptation from the book not only in story line but also in the characters portrayed. It helps, of course, the David Jason is also reading the book.
In this 'episode', a young schoolgirl has gone missing in Denton, then to everyone's dismay, another. Old Mother Beatty claims, once again, that she's been raped, a burglary is reported, prostitutes are being murdered: and Frost really had hoped for a quiet time to fiddle his expenses ...
With everything overlapping, going wrong, and the settings of a bustling police station making it all seem so real, this book was a sheer pleasure to read.
"I'm not going to the hospital!"
I previously enjoyed the excellent TV series, starring David Jason, with the melancholic intro music, and was delighted to find how similar was the adaptation from the book not only in story line but also in the characters portrayed. It helps, of course, the David Jason is also reading the book.
In this 'episode', a young schoolgirl has gone missing in Denton, then to everyone's dismay, another. Old Mother Beatty claims, once again, that she's been raped, a burglary is reported, prostitutes are being murdered: and Frost really had hoped for a quiet time to fiddle his expenses ...
With everything overlapping, going wrong, and the settings of a bustling police station making it all seem so real, this book was a sheer pleasure to read.
June 10, 2023
this is a hard book to read but a funny one too Detective Inspector Jack Frost is back with the bumbling taffy Morgan and his other constables and inspectors with bodies piling up Frost also has to look for missing kids who end up dead and a 40 year old skeleton found in a back garden of a house waiting to be put up for sale. Love the Narrator in this book. British Police slang and ways of speaking bring funny spots to the story...Dead prostitutes get Frost doing a sting operation with Police Constables dressing up as hookers trying to catch the man responsible when one of the female Constables goes missing there is an all out search.....will Frost and crew find her in time and what will happen if they don't??? Listen or read Winter Frost to find out for yourself
January 13, 2025
While Frost is a Falstaff of sorts, his continual use of "sod" and "cow" for men and women gets old. It does characterize his as coarse and louche, but Frost has a heart, he does care about catching the villains, and he does manage it. However, some of the other characters leave a little to be desired, like Mullett who's about as barely two-dimensional as you can get, however annoying, and all of Frost's assigned sidekicks have varying degrees of incompetence. Furthermore, the plotting runs along similar lines in each books. Lots of gory murders, mostly sex-based, tho' in this one set of gory murderers had no characterization and no psychological motive except kinky. And Wingfield was totally dodgy on POV. Still, good enough to command my attention.
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