The Calling - Alison Bruce

Back with DC Goodhew and this is one of my no fail authors.

As usual it's intricate with a wide cast of characters.

Goodhew is a quiet, thoughtful police officer, calmly working his way through evidence he's stored of previous cases. The book introduces a character who's brilliant as a control freak, no major incidents, just the incipient persuasions that make such people difficult to spot.

Add a girl who's only interested in falling in love - at any price - and you have the start point of a destructive relationship.

Showing sociopathic tendencies the criminal is difficult to find as part of his character is a determination to blend.

Cat and mouse detective story well worth reading.

Publisher - Robinson

The Silence - Alison Bruce

A second outing with Alison Bruce following The Siren.

Again it's a DC Gary Goodhew crime thriller. This time there are a series of deaths with accident and suicide amongst them going back a period of years.

For me Alison Bruce stands out because of her cutting wit. I get the feel reading some of the lines that she would make a pretty good stand up comedienne as well as being an excellent author.

Llewellyn-Bowes at his best would not be able to describe settings as accurately as Bruce and with him we usually have the advantage of being able to see the setting.

Add to that a complete awareness of characters and the whole thriller comes together near perfectly. Portrayal of an early victim gives a very clear picture of desperation.

The only group of characters without comparable substance for me were the potential victims. They just didn't come across as vividly as other players.

Subtle dynamics between the junior PC Gully, Goodhew's boss DI Marks, colleague Kincaide and Goodhew give added dimension to the book with very different relationships between each two people.

Kincaide is a character desperate to succeed and aware of his own failings. He covers this with blustering arrogance. It would be great to see his character a bit more in one of the next books.

At £18.99 for the hardback this was an expensive read but I got my pennies worth.

Would I buy another? Yes

Publisher - Constable

The Siren - Alison Bruce

I like DC Gary Goodhew. At last a police character that's not a divorced drunk with estranged children. But he does have quirks- a love of vintage films, a tendency to meditate and a bit of a feminine side. Add to that a large dose of sensitivity and you have a person most mums would love. And most daughters too once they'd got past the bad boy stage.

In this crime thriller we are first introduced to a couple, their friend and her son and very shortly after to the friend's ex-boyfriend who has locked in syndrome.

The cast of the book is extensive and characters re-appear chapters after they've first been introduced in a very passing way. You do need to keep track of the bit players.

Following a fire at the couple's house while they are babysitting the young son the child is nowhere to be found. Neither is the husband. But that would be too simple. So it's time for DC Goodhew to step in with his new permanently blushing female sidekick PC Gully and his colleague Kincaid.

There's a mystery to be solved

Part of the entertainment with this novel is the diversity of the characters-from miserable failure police officers to successful social workers (I'm sure I once knew the DC who hunches over the steering wheel only that one huffed as well). Great tongue in cheek humour.

There's an element of normal people, criminal underclass, police and press all with believable storylines. Steadily paced for the first three quarters and then romps home in an unexpected way.

Would I buy another? Yes- I missed my bus stop with this one!

Publisher – Constable and Robinson