Featured Review: Crime In The Choir (Book 1)
Powerful stuff.
This one took my breath away with its beautiful writing, insight into feelings, wonderfully appealing characters and dark as dark can be crime at a church choir school, a sensitive but strong detective and his level headed sergeant. Add in a lovely girlfriend, thrilling peril for people you get to love and I was overwhelmed. Be a hard story to top but I can't wait. Thoroughly recommended. Best read for ages.
Featured Review: Crime In The School (Book 2)
Crime in the School is a read for this month over a the Kindle English Mystery Club on Goodreads. This is actually number 2 in the Detective Markham series. I really enjoyed this, the tagline said “fiercely addictive crime thriller” and it wasn’t lying. I didn’t want to put it down. Detective Markham and his team of Noakes and young Burton develop a nice sense of loyalty and there is a chemistry among the members of the team. The relationship between Markham and Olivia while rocky seems to be developing as best as it can amidst the chaos of multiple murders.
In this installment, Olivia is working at school and one night when leaving after working late she almost falls over the corpse of a brutally murdered colleague. Markham and his team are set to investigate even as forces are working against their investigation. Nicely developed sense of menace in the setting and well drawn characters. Even ones that don’t figure prominently seem to be given enough attention to be fleshed out. Very good police procedural!
Featured Review: Crime In The Convent (Book 3)
Originally titled: Night's Black Agents
Former barrister and English lecturer Catherine Moloney calls on her Irish-American heritage to offer another disturbing case for DI Gil Markham.
Night’s Black Agents is set against a wonderfully described and evocative background of the trials and tribulations of a Catholic Order struggling to fulfil its duty to the shrinking community it serves. Moloney starkly sets out the problems facing the church, yet handles them with some discretion and sympathy.
At the same time, in this third in a clever and insightful series, she once again deals with the very human problems of Markham’s own continuing insecurity over his relationship with girlfriend Olivia and continues to develop the work and personal relationships with his small team of investigators.
Featured Review: Crime In The Hospital (Book 4)
Toxic medicine.
A well written, well plotted thriller. A dog walker finds a skeleton which turns out to be the body of a missing doctor who worked in a locked ward psychiatric hospital. The hospital has a bad history and our chief detective has been told of more scandal, patients disappearing and a senior policeman involved. As usual Inspector Markham employs his intelligence, his sensitivity and past experience in being personally abused as a child to find the killer and deal with his fey pre-Raphaelite partner who has a secret which is corroding their relationship. He is supported by his faithful Falstaffian sidekick and together with the addition of newer, younger members to the team they find the killer. This is an excellent addition to this series and highly enjoyable. Thoroughly recommended. Truly thrilling.
Featured Review: Crime In The Ballet (Book 5)
Catherine Moloney has penned another winner with Crime in the Ballet. Detective Inspector Gilbert Markham and his team are trying to solve a series of murders in a ballet company. So many suspects, so many prima donas, it's a very complicated case for the team. Highly recommended.
Featured Review: Crime In The Gallery (Book 6)
I liked the interaction between Noakes and Markham. One a real down to earth gritty type and the other with an interest in the arts showing off his education in a nice way. A murder with twists and turns along the way and interesting characters. A slightly longer book than most of this type which didn’t detract at all as there was plenty going on in every chapter. An interesting read, a clever premise and one with wonderful characters in the two lead roles. (although one of a series this does stand alone)
An enjoyable read on a rainy day.
Featured Review: Crime In The Heat (Book 7)
Heated Chase.
Another excellent thriller in this series. A female body is found in the medical part of a centre and several more follow. So far so usual. On the hunt is our usual quarter of darkly Byronic brooding detective, grubby loyal Falstaffian assistant, rising female acolyte and ginger male plod. Usual classical quotes from the gorgeous one, ditto his psychic sensitivity with the dead but with increasing frequency there are references to past and present celebrities and old and new cinema/telly/paperbacks. Less of the floaty, annoyingly ethereal girlfriend who is becoming increasingly wet but more of the formidable mighty Mrs. Noakes of whom I am becoming increasingly fond. I understand new stories are forecast and I would love one to feature the ballroom dancing Noakes and murder most foul.
Featured Review: Crime At Home (Book 8)
Another Great Story.
Another great story in the Inspector Markham series.Great characters with plenty of twists and turns and an ending that I did not see coming. It had me gripped right to the.
Featured Review: Crime In The Ballroom (Book 9)
I really enjoyed this book. Catherine Moloney is a new author to me and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books.
The story is well thought out, well balanced, contains life-like characters: my favourite being George - DS "Noakesy" Noakes - he brings some humour to an otherwise serious book - I mean you can't get any more serious than a killer on the loose and dead bodies piling up. George is salt of the earth and extremely loyal and he says it as it is. I think that him and Gil Markham work well together and George would definitely have your back!
This case is very close to home for George: his daughter was due to have ballroom lessons at the place where the some of the crimes take place.
I was intrigued as to the connection between the victims and what was the motive for the killings.
A young man has been missing for years, last seen around the area of the recent killings. Could his disappearance be somehow connected?
With secrets, plenty of drama, a great storyline, this really had me thinking and was highly entertaining. This is a must read and I will definitely be reading more from this author.
Featured Review: Crime In The Book Club (Book 10)
Excellent!
This series is great! D I Gil Markham and his CID team investigate a series of murders, using police procedure, team work, intellect, and ability to determine truth from falsehood! Characters are wonderful and their relationships have developed throughout this series. Each new book is like a visit with old friends!
Featured Review: Crime In The College (Book 11)
Great!
Our police team is attending a conference at a college in Oxford when a skeleton is found buried in rubble under a stairway. DI Markham, a former student, is in charge of murder inquiry. Lots of former students now hold high positions so there is a plethora of suspects! More murders follow, in this extremely intricate, involved murder investigation. Lots of past events and sins are exposed, leading to a dramatic conclusion!
Featured Review: Crime In The Kitchen (Book 12)
CRIME IN KITCHEN Opens with a dreadfully tragic discovery. It quickly appears there's a vast number of lines of inquiry to this mystery. Then another horrific scene is found. Could the two be related? Navigating the maze-like avenues leading to all the potential possibilities seems insurmountable. Suspense skyrockets as this conundrum is further complicated by a heinous act, immediately followed by an appalling, unconscionable incident. Once they're pointed in the right direction, the labyrinthine puzzle unravels culminating in an ingenious plan through to an explosive finish.
Featured Review: Crime In The Spa (Book 13)
Twists & Turns
I think along with the detectives I suspected every character in this mystery except the one who actually turned out to be the murderer. Bodies pile up, local snobberies and politics come into play and body dysmorphia is in itself a character. Even within the police team there are simmering relationship dysfunctions. Great read!
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Featured Review: Crime In The Crypt (Book 14)
Highly Enjoyable
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book... I am not a Catholic but I sent for the autobiography of St Teresa. The knowledge that was imparted was second to none... I loved that dear Nokesy was like a father figure in his championing The Little Flower.... I am sorry that this is the last book in the series... Please may we have more❤️
Featured Review: Crime In Oxford (Book 15)
A very well researched murder mystery, based on the true story of Captain Scott and other explorers to the Antartica, with modern day viewpoints of what happened. The history is all relevant to the murder plot at Oxford. I thought it imaginative and interesting.
The characters are all new to me as its the first I have read in this series.
Featured Review: Crime In Carton Hall (Book 16)
RIVETING MYSTERY!
CRIME IN CARTON HALL opens with a gruesome discovery in a historic estate hall. After hitting a brick wall for the answers to the baffling mystery another grisly incident occurs. As time goes by the labyrinthine conundrum intensifies with fires cropping up around every turn. New information creates a twist that you'll never see coming, sending suspense skyrocketing leading to a heart-racing dynamite finish.
Featured Review: Crime In Retirement (Book 17)
Again another fantastic book, l could not put it down, l thoroughly enjoyed the story as well as what is going on in the private lives of the police officers in the story. I would recommend this book and the others in the series to anyone who enjoys a good detective novel which gives you an insight into the workings of the police and the issues with senior staff bringing it into the real world.
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Featured Review: Crime In The Boutique (Book 18)
Another Excellent Addition to the Series!!
This was another excellent police procedural, with enough twists and turns to make you dizzy. It had me turning pages far into the night, and as usual I never guess who the culprit is. I enjoy how DCI Markham and his team work together and having Noakes back as a consultant increases the entertainment value. He's as politically incorrect as usual, but with great insight and total loyalty to his former boss. I enjoyed this novel and eagerly look forward to more books in this series. Kudos to the author!!
Featured Review: Crime In The High Street (Book 19)
Excellent Police Procedural!
As always this was a very interesting and well written novel. I love DI Gil Markham and his methodical and analytical approach to crime solving. There was very little to go on following the murder of a senior female who was the widow of a former police officer. But as the victims start to amass, including the murder of the church Vicar, the team is scrambling not only for motives but what is the connection. When yet a fifth victim is found dead under suspicious circumstances, DI Markham feels that this may just be the case he can't solve.
Interesting and intriguing, with finely drawn realistic characters, and retired Detective Noakes back as a police consultant (still as politically incorrect as ever) this kept me riveted until the end. And it seems there may be hope for a reconciliation between Gil and Olivia. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Kudos to the author! 🎉👏
Featured Review: Crime In The Allotment (Book 20)
I thoroughly enjoyed this new entry in the series. DI Markham and his team have their hands full investigating the murder of a beloved and popular teacher on New Years Day. Found in her gardening shed located in an allotment, those questioned seem to have air tight alibi's. Queries of her school colleagues are just as daunting. With so little to go on, the investigation seems at a standstill. Then a second murder occurs at the allotment and the race is on to find the killer.
These finely drawn realistic characters now seem like old friends. And being a former English major I love the authors use of words almost like prose to move the story forward. This book held my interest throughout, kept me guessing until the final shocking ending. I hope there are more novels in this series.
Featured Review: Crime In The Salon (Book 21)
I think this was the best yet
I can normally work out who the killer is, but not this time. This was one I didn't see coming! And I know I'm being mean but I am so glad that SHE wasn't right! I simply do not understand Markham and his fixation with Olivia. And don't tell me it's love because in this case it has to blind, deaf and dumb! She leaves him in jealous hissy fit (without cause I might add) has a relationship with another man and then when that goes wrong comes crying and snivelling back to Markham and he takes her back! Good grief this man is supposed to be intelligent! Where is his self respect? Sorry, getting away from the book, which as I said is, for me, definitely the best so far.
Featured Review: The Detective Markham Mysteries (Books 1-8)
Excellent!
Loved the series--- read first 8 books in order over the past week! Wonderful escape while isolating during pandemic! All major characters are great and their working relationships and friends are vital part of each mystery! Great police procedurals but have a few blurred lines while avoiding their abrasive, incompetent DCI. Terrific author--- never once determined murderer until conclusion!