Slim Chance

Chris Honeysett #2

by Peter Helton

Two women from Bath disappear within weeks of each other — one is subsequently found dead, while the second is discovered barely alive by Chris Honeysett, artist and part-time private eye. Held captive at a deserted railway station, the woman was being slowly and deliberately starved by a murderer the police dub ‘Dr Atkins.' And now it seems the would-be killer wants his revenge on Chris for having spoiled his fun.

Genres: Mystery, British Literature, Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published July 3, 2006

About the author

PETER HELTON was born in Germany but moved to London in 1982 where he worked as a translator for film and TV before discovering the attractions of the West Country.

He completed a Fine Arts Degree at UWE and has exhibited in London, Cornwall and Bath. At present he divides his time between his painting studio and writing in the study of a minute cottage near Bath in the company of his cat, Asbo.

Series:
* Chris Honeysett
* Inspector Liam McLusky

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read by Peter Helton that features Chris Honeysett and his interesting group of friends. Although not a seamless mystery, there are enough riddles in this book to keep you guessing. Helton writes in a very easy-going style that makes the pages pass by very quickly. His characters are strong enough to keep the story from getting flat…and I’m sure with each book he writes about Honeysett and the other characters, that this will only improve.

Perhaps my only complaint about this book is that it doesn’t delve enough into the psyche of the killer. Instead, Helton focuses on the clues provided to the characters so that they can save the killer’s latest victim.

[Josephine (Jo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable crime novel set in the town of Bath. Private investigator Chris Honeysett is on a case trying to track down a tramp called Billy for a firm of solicitors, during his searches in the grimy parts of Bath he comes across the second victim of a serial killer known to the police as Doctor Atkins because he starves his victims to death, the woman Chris finds in a dreadful filthy cage and later dies in hospital. The Doctor is not pleased to have his latest victim taken from him prematurely and he decides to avenge himself by abducting one of Chirs' close friends Alison. This is where the game of cat and mouse starts and Chris and two of his friends try to follow clues to get to Alison in time before she too starves to death. Chris himself seems to need very little in the way of food but is able to subsist on Camel cigarettes and neverending bottles of Pilsner Urquell, I think the author must get a small sum of money for each time he mentions Pilsner as it crops up with such frequency, he also seems to be able to drive at speed around Bath having spent the night drinking constantly. However, all in all, this was a good mystery and I didn't guess the killer at all so that was satisfying.

[Lisa Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

started off solid enough but bit convoluted for my taste

[Janey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just as well told as the first, and also has engaging characters. This one was nightmarish though, with a sadistic twist. Jury is out on whether this is a series I will go on with.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

SLIM CHANCE (PI-Bath, England-Cont) – G
Helton, Peter – 2nd in series
Constable, 2006 – Hardcover
*** Someone is kidnapping overweight women in Bath and starving them to death. The police have dubbed the kidnapper “Dr. Adkins.” Painter and private investigator Chris Honeysett accidentally stumbles across the second victim, who is still alive. For revenge, the kidnapper has taken a friend of Peter’s and it’s up to Peter to follow the clues and find his friend before she, too, is dead.
*** How wonderful to find a book set in a location new to me; and one with such a long and interesting history. But that’s probably the think I liked best about the book. As an investigator, Honeysett is a bit of a klutz and wouldn’t get far without his friends. I also have, what is coming to be, my usual complaint about an author assuming the reader has read the first book and the lack of character development. I’m beginning every author should be required to read Ed McBain who, in less than 200 pages, could construct a tight multi-threaded plot, create a strong sense of place and make you know each of the characters in the process. I’m not saying this is a bad book--it did keep me turning the pages and wanting to find out how it ended—but I keep waiting for books to be great rather than just good. However, if you are intrigued by the setting of Bath, it’s worth checking out of the library.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kidnapping of women wanting to lose weight held by a man in obscure places so they won’t be found while he starved them to death. Honeysett literally stumbles on one of the captive women while working on another case. The kidnapper kidnaps one of Honeysetts colleagues and gives him puzzles to try and find her before she dies.

[Cece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the series, and it didn't disappoint. Although he telegraphed the crime, the denouement was a complete surprise.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

creepy in places...and dedicated to me!

[MaryAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ditto what I said about his other book(s)!