Hole in One

Inspector Sloan #21

by Catherine Aird

"Berebury golf course, in the fictional county of Calleshire, is an unlikely setting for a murder. Set in a pleasant landscape and boasting a splendid view of the market town of Berebury, the golf course is more suited to fun and frolics than murder and mayhem. So when flirtatious golfing beginner Helen Ewell goes in search of her wayward golf ball in the dreaded 'Hells Bells' bunker she is not prepared for the horrible surprise that lies buried beneath the soft sand." The discovery of a body in the deepest bunker on the course draws Detective Inspector Sloan and Detective Constable Crosby into an intriguing new case that is more challenging than scoring a hole in one. The team soon discover that the body belonged to a healthy young man who had suffered a heavy blow to the head with a sharp instrument a few days prior to his uncovering. What prove more elusive, however, are the identities of both the murderer and the victim, and the motive for the killing. Life is made more difficult when the detectives become caught up in an issue that has divided the members of the Committee of the Golf Club. Yet it is here that the detectives, with the help of their superior officer, Superintendent Leeyes, begin to find some answers.

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

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Kinn Hamilton McIntosh, known professionally as Catherine Aird, was an English novelist. She was the author of more than twenty crime fiction novels and several collections of short stories. Her witty, literate, and deftly plotted novels straddle the "cozy" and "police procedural" genres and are somewhat similar in flavour to those of Martha Grimes, Caroline Graham, M.C. Beaton, Margaret Yorke, and Pauline Bell. Aird was inducted into the prestigious Detection Club in 1981, and is a recipient of the 2015 Cartier Diamond Dagger award.

Reviews

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A body is found buried in a bunker at the Berebury golf club. Sloan and Crosby are sent to investigate only to find their superior - Superintendent Leeyes there as he is a member of the club and was about to play a round.

At first the investigation is hampered both by Leeyes' presence and by the corpse being unrecognisable. Once they identify the body the investigation picks up speed. This is a well plotted crime story with some interesting characters and amusing dialogue.

If you like less violent crime stories then this book and this series may be the one for you. The books can be read in any order.

[Jack Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars. Detective Chief Inspector C.D. Sloan has never played golf nor has he any desire to start. Roses are his thing. But his wife often advises him to take up the game; the road to advancement she says. So she's pleased to hear he is on his way to Berebury Golf Club at the request of his boss, Superintendent Leeyes. What he doesn't tell her is that a body has been found buried in a bunker behind the 6th green. A woman golfer just learning the game made the gruesome discovery. Sloan asks questions. Who was in that threesome? Who caddied for whom? And when? I became lost in these and other finer points! At least he eventually worked it out. You'll bump into every golf term imaginable, from walk-over to mashie. Even if you hadn't planned to. I liked it but I didn't really have a great game. This novel is probably more enjoyable written rather than audio, my chosen method, as one can sometimes miss important details, as I did. (September 2017)

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

And now a golf course! of course. And not just any but Police Chief Leeyes' course, and a whole lot of golf lingo. A fun read, and a bit of a puzzler at the start, the who and how come first and then the why... without the why you have a hard time picking from the members.

Sgt. Polly Perkins is also featured a bit more in this one which is nice. And Sloan's wife seems to also be mentioned a lot more. The mystery is nice, but also the world is expanded upon a bit more for this series.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a body is found buried in a sand trap (bunker in English parlance) at a local golf course, DCI Sloan faces an unusual hazard--the presence of his boss and devoted golfer, Superintendent Leeyes. You'd think the help of his usual assistant, Constable Crosby, would be enough of a handicap! The first problem is to identify the body, and then find a motive for the crime. As usual, Aird is enjoyable and witty, but there's a lot of golf in this one.

[Ping Naka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't understand any of the golf terms in this book but I still can follow the plot.

I like the narrator, Bruce Montague! He is excellent in reading the book.

The writing style is funny and witty.

[Clare Snow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate golf and I hated the narration by Bruce Montague.

[Marfita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was delighted to find this single, solitary Catherine Aird mystery in our library's ebook holdings. I've always enjoyed her mysteries but haven't read one in ages. And, although this had to do with murder on a golf course and golf is one of my least favorite subjects (I consider the time I spent playing golf with my dad after all his partners died to qualify me for sainthood - and if that isn't enough, there's also cutting his toenails for a clincher), I decided to read it.
Okay, one star off for the golf, however I enjoyed the very first part of the book when the lady "rabbits," or beginners, were playing their match. Oh, how I could relate to that. Oh, the Topping of the Ball. Oh, the inevitable Being Stuck in a Sandtrap. Oh, the Shame of having to let another group of "rabbits" play through.
The men's play was a bit boring. Otherwise, the plot being up to the usual Aird standard (oh! the delight of being just one step ahead of Chief Inspector Sloan!), I was mildly annoyed by all the "asides." Superintendent Leeyes (his nemesis) or a witness would make a comment and Sloan would mentally inject his perception regarding his rose hobby or some other point of view that clashed with the privilege and snobbery he was confronted with. There just seemed to be far too many of these. Granted, golfers are a strange breed and many have trouble seeing beyond their own game to the detriment of family or society in general, but I could have done with fewer asides. It interrupted the flow for me.
As flawed as I might have found this, I still enjoyed it and it only reminded me that I should go back and read some of the earlier ones.
Now, if only there were more ebooks versions. We have only 4 hardcopy in the library.

[John Brady · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not finish it. The golf put me off early on.

[Carla H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to check and see when this book was written, because I first thought it was the same era (though not the same standard) as Agatha Christie. Then, there was a reference to texting.....???? Virtually all of the story was told in dialogue, and there was very little descriptive detail. And, I don't think I would have noticed this so much, but TWICE, she used the phrase, "he said tacitly". Now my vocabulary fairly diverse, and, additionally, as a musician, I know that 'tacit' means 'don't play' - but on the chance that I missed some usage of the word, I looked it up! Sure enough, tacit means, 'silent, unvoiced, unspoken', etc. How can one speak without voicing? I know what you're thinking! It was a thought, right?!?!? Except there was a resonse. Then, I started noticing a pattern, 'he said solidly, she observed unenthusiastically, he stated firmly, she said crisply', etc. In a book full of dialogue, it didn't take long for this to sound stilted. I have 2 more to read, and I'll finish them....it's my "straight down the shelf at the library" goal. And thank goodness, they don't take long to read!

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berebury Golf Course is the site of this 21st Sloan and Crosby murder mystery.  Superintendent Leeyes is inconvenienced by a murder at the golf course, found before he could start play. Two ladies are shocked by finding a body in the "Hell's Bells" bunker. And now, Sloan and Crosby are about to learn more than they want about the game of golf, as they try to solve their case.

Superintendent Leeyes plays a bigger part in this book than in most, probably since it was the golf course where he played that was involved in the murders.  It also wasn't as funny as usual. 

Sloan and Crosby Series
(selected books)
18. Little Knell (2000)
19. Amendment of Life (2002)
** 20. AHole in One (2005) 

[Linda (The Arizona Bookstagrammer) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stereotypically silly, manhunting Scottish woman golfer discovers a body in a sand pit. Inspector Sloan investigates. Listened to audio version. I enjoyed the varying Scottish accents but my goodness, some of the characters’ speech patterns were beyond my understanding. The women characters were all either silly twittering man hunters, silly twittering housewives, or silly teenagers. The men were all gruff, traditional men whose wives belonged at home. What’s good about it? If you are a golfer, you will enjoy how thoroughly golf terms and slang are incorporated, and the murder investigation includes the detectives learning about golf rules and traditions.

[Bluedaizy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book. Typically I have to use the closed captioning when watching a British show. There is no closed captioning in an audio book. 😏 I didn't realize the narrator was going to speak with a thick British accent and when he did a Scottish brogue I just tuned out. What I did hear was a lot of golf references and nothing else. Not sure who the characters were. I might give this a shot with the written word. But I doubt it.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of this series I have read and haven't found the characters, Chief Inspector Sloan and his slovenly sidekick Constable Crosby, very engaging. Aird style is breezy and a bit arch with plenty of humorous asides although those about specific English customs and places I will have to take on faith. Good enough to read another.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sloan and Crosby have to respond to a body found on a golf course - with Superintendent Leeyes on the scene. When a second body is found, finding the murderer becomes even more urgent - especially as they race to prevent a third murder.

Aird writes well, and the plot is good. The character of the murderer was a little under-developed - so it came as a bit of a surprise.

[John Frankham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another splendid Det Insp Sloan whodunnit, this time exploring the characters in a golf club. Witty and intriguing.

The GR blurb:

‘When flirtatious golfing beginner Helen Sewell goes in search of her wayward golf ball in the dreaded 'Hells Bells' bunker, she is not prepared for the horrible surprise that lies buried under the soft sand.’

[Guna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is more a traditional mystery, such that are not written much anymore. A beginner golfer gets stuck in a bunker (sand trap) and in trying to hit the ball out, slices into the head of a corpse buried under her ball. This is a nice contemporary British cozy.

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull and plodding -- could not finish it.

[Suz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thougt this was a poor attempt at copying the style of the great English Mystery writers. I did not like the book at all.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring..

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not recommend this book - even if you like golf. It was slow, it did not flow well, and the story was boring.

[Kay]

another punishing title from catherine aird. Well done.

[Hapzydeco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aird centers this story around golf to the point of overkill.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit slow and boring

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comfort reading.

[Mary Kay Kare]

Very disappointing. Too many characters with too little distinguishing among them.

[Janet]

Poor Sloan has to deal with GOLF! But Crosby gets a legitimate reason to drive fast.

[Reader57 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cozy mystery that moved along very slowly.

[Sara Aye Moung · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with some fun golfing allusions

[Janette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't really like the style of writing. Had also read it before but completely forgotten it until about half way through which probably says it all.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring, tedious reading. Awful.