The Ten Commandments

David Webb #14

by Anthea Fraser

When a man's body is discovered in a pub car park, DCI Webb has a sense of deja vu. Some years previously, another body was found in almost identical circumstances and the killer has still not been caught. Not believing in coincidence, Webb is hopeful of clearing up both cases at the same time.

Genres: Mystery

186 pages

First published November 30, 2000

About the author

aka Vanessa Graham

Reviews

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frederick Mace is a criminologist who is currently engaged in promoting his previous book and writing his current book about the ten commandments and crime. He has just returned home after a successful book tour in Canada. DCI David Webb does not have a terribly high opinion of academics and their knowledge of crime and criminals in real life but even he has to admit that Mace has some interesting theories. When a social worker is found murdered in a pub car park the case bears startling similarities to an unsolved murder from several years ago which Mace has decided to include in his new book.

This is an intriguing story and as with others in the series the author skilfully weaves together the apparently disparate strands of the plot into a satisfying whole. The frustration of the police about the lack of evidence is well done as is the unrest amongst the members of Mace's close family as they try to cope with their relative's sudden celebrity.

I think this is one of the best books in this excellent series and it certainly kept me guessing about both murders almost to the end. The books in this series can be read as standalone novels but in my opinion it is best to read them in the order in which they were published - starting with A Shroud for Delilah'.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: DCI David Webb
SETTING: UK
SERIES: #14 of 16
RATING: 4.0
WHY: When a man's body is found between 2 parked cars at a pub, DCI David Webb sees many similarities to an unsolved case from 6 years earlier. The new investigation also is going nowhere until criminologist and author Frederick Mace offers some insights based on his research. He's writing a book that posits that all crimes are based on one of the ten commandments. I haven't read this author before, but I will be searching out other books in this series. Well plotted and the characters are developed nicely.

[Doug Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the body of social worker Simon Judd is found between two cars in a pub parking lot, the scenario is eerily similar to that from the unsolved murder of Trevor Philpott six years earlier. As DCI David Webb starts investigating the Judd case, he hopes that the new case will shed some light on the earlier one.

Meanwhile, it turns out that criminologist Frederick Mace has been researching the Philpott case for a chapter in a forthcoming book, a book showing how often violation of one or more of the Ten Commandments lies behind serious crimes. Mace has his own theories about how the Philpott and Judd cases may---or may not---be related, and he has some new information on the Philpott case. Will his research help, or hinder, the police investigation? Will he beat them to the solution of the Philpott case?

This is the 14th book in the David Webb series, and one of my favorites. As usual, there is an interesting cast of characters and a complex mystery.

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very exciting!

Two similar murders, six years apart, baffle DC I David Webb and his team, as well as several other police departments. This involves many people, conflicting families, contradictory stories, and involved personal relationships. It is an intricate, convoluted plot that is slowly unraveled by intense police work by many participants! Another unexpected, twisted conclusion!!

[Eirlys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to put down before the end

Two murders, similar in many ways, but years apart. A famous author is studying how murders always occur because of the breaking of one of the ten commandments. Brilliantly crafted characters interacted so well that I was shocked to find out who done it!

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did not interest me much but I read thru it all to the end. A murder happens then later another murder. They don't have any leads on either so they are trying to figure out if it was the same person that committed both of them.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two similar murders six years apart. With many different stories, members of families, they do connect and solve. Interesting

[Anne Laugharne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read.

I enjoyed reading this book and was sorry on the occasions when I had to put it down to sleep!

[Shirley]

DCI Webb Book 14

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The body of a male has been discovered in a pub car park, the m.o. is similar to an unsolved murder from six years ago. Is it the same killer. Crime writer Frederick Mace has taken an interest in the case because of his latest w.i.p.. D I David Webb and his team investigate
An entertaining mystery
Originally published in 1997

[beth mclaren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ten Commandments

A well written carefully plotted mystery story with familiar characters from past episodes. Linking together two similar but not identical murders is the plot's foundation, which works well to structure the story and introduce a series of characters who otherwise would not have crossed paths.
A few of the characters verge toward the stereotypical .....pub owner/ overworked research assistant and some of the underlying situations work themselves out in a " typical" happy ever after resolution.
Over all the story and the main characters compensate for any weaknesses in the novel. A good curl up in bed for late night reading.
Recommended.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dead body found between two parked cars which is similar to an unsolved murder from 6 years ago. On top of the police investigating, a local author is also writing a new book where this murder is included. As DCI Webb investigates, he uncovers the truth of a certain family and friends.

Well-written police procedural.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoy the Inspector Webb series by this author. This one a study of the motives for murder, based on someone's breaking one or more of the ten commandments.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cracking good 'solid' crime thriller with a not-to-complex or OTT plot and really good characters.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good read in this series.

[Patricia]

I am working through the Webb series.