A DI Christy Kennedy mystery. On a wintry night a crowd has gathered on Primrose Hill for the Halloween bonfire and firework display. Panic spreads when a human body is spotted in the middle of the fire s glowing timbers.The following morning pathologist Dr Leonard Taylor, while examining the charred remains, recognises from the distinctive rows of gold fillings that the victim is retired police Superintendent David Peters. As Kennedy and his team settle down to a painstaking search through Peters cases they soon discover that for the superintendent the means justified the end. Each case they review throws up another suspect.
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Review
This series deserves recognition on a par with those of Inspectors Jury, Morse and Tennyson. --Publishers Weekly
Kennedy is not the clichéd cop of so much crime fiction. He is a well rounded laconic hero who takes a philosophical approach to crime solving and life in general. Likewise the novels are cliché-free as well and tend to be cleverly plotted stories with the emphasis on character and atmosphere rather than gimmicky twists and turns. --Books Ireland
What s most impressive about [these] novels is how he s managed to carve out a niche in what has become a very crowded market place, creating in DI Christy Kennedy, a laconic, sweetly philosophical hero without a cop cliché in sight. --Camden New Journal
Kennedy is not the clichéd cop of so much crime fiction. He is a well rounded laconic hero who takes a philosophical approach to crime solving and life in general. Likewise the novels are cliché-free as well and tend to be cleverly plotted stories with the emphasis on character and atmosphere rather than gimmicky twists and turns. --Books Ireland
What s most impressive about [these] novels is how he s managed to carve out a niche in what has become a very crowded market place, creating in DI Christy Kennedy, a laconic, sweetly philosophical hero without a cop cliché in sight. --Camden New Journal
About the Author
Paul Charles is one of Europe s best known music promoters and agents. He is the author of eight previous Inspector Christy Kennedy novels, the most recent of which, Sweetwater, was published in 2006
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Jack
Format:Hardcover
After being called to what should have been a pleasant evening on Primrose Hill, Kennedy and his team are left to crack a rather unfortunate end to the life of a former colleague.
The atmosphere of panic at the bonfire grips the reader and brings one into the story. That there are so many possibilities as to who commited such a crime and then how such an act was carried out leaves this story as a real page turner. The usual cast of characters appears and are so familiar to be almost family.
The new characters are all from a world around Camden which shows the rich mix of the people living in NW1.
ann rea and Kennedy have their relationship personal and professional entwined throughout as Kennedy seems to at last accept his feelings are real for her.
Paul Charles brings a wonderful twist into this story and leves us wondering where is it all going.
This book works at different levels and works well.
A masterful piece of intrigue.
The atmosphere of panic at the bonfire grips the reader and brings one into the story. That there are so many possibilities as to who commited such a crime and then how such an act was carried out leaves this story as a real page turner. The usual cast of characters appears and are so familiar to be almost family.
The new characters are all from a world around Camden which shows the rich mix of the people living in NW1.
ann rea and Kennedy have their relationship personal and professional entwined throughout as Kennedy seems to at last accept his feelings are real for her.
Paul Charles brings a wonderful twist into this story and leves us wondering where is it all going.
This book works at different levels and works well.
A masterful piece of intrigue.
Format:Paperback
Charles is up there with this Morse-style police procedural series. With its touch of traditional British writing; the dynamics between the police (Kennedy) and journalist (Ann Rea)gives the reader plenty of satisfaction.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Whimsical and Highly Pleasurable
13 Aug 2009
By J. Moran
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Twenty thousand spectators at a Guy Fawkes' Day bonfire in London are paralyzed with horror when piercing screams are heard from inside the massive fire. It turns out that recently retired Police Superintendent David Peters was being publicly and terribly murdered inside the white hot pyre. Detective Inspector Christy Kennedy leads the ensuing investigation.
He does not lack for suspects. The review of Peters' cases soon reveals that he simply framed many criminals and extorted money from them. He also used his police status to extort enormous "discounts" from merchants and had falsely incriminated some who had refused. He was a consistently unfaithful husband and a failure as a father. His family despised him. Peters also destroyed a colleague's marriage to make the man's wife his long-term and unhappy mistress. Peters was a man who had well-deserved enemies among his colleagues, criminals, family and civilians. Truly a man for all seasons.
Kennedy quietly investigates in an urgent but still low key way. His first (and longest) step is gathering all the information that he can, data that he is constantly reviewing and categorizing as he goes. Kennedy takes great pleasure in police work not only because he is doing justice but because he is naturally curious and derives immense satisfaction from finding things out and putting facts together. This is part of a personality that addresses life with a sense of simple wonder, sort of a mature version of how a child confronts the world, with a joyful curiosity and happiness at discovering things.
The method of murder is too bizarre to be believable, and I found the ending both contrived and a bit overwrought. The story of the investigation itself, however, is a pleasure to read. Kennedy is psychologically insightful and wise. He does contemplate life but in a very concrete way rather than with existential angst. His thinking about aging, for example, takes the form of wondering whether Paul Newman realized when he was sliding down from his peak or unrealistically expected to surge upward again. And Kennedy simply basks in the joy of his love for his girl friend. In the end, the charm and pleasure of the writing more than make up for the murder method and the ending.
He does not lack for suspects. The review of Peters' cases soon reveals that he simply framed many criminals and extorted money from them. He also used his police status to extort enormous "discounts" from merchants and had falsely incriminated some who had refused. He was a consistently unfaithful husband and a failure as a father. His family despised him. Peters also destroyed a colleague's marriage to make the man's wife his long-term and unhappy mistress. Peters was a man who had well-deserved enemies among his colleagues, criminals, family and civilians. Truly a man for all seasons.
Kennedy quietly investigates in an urgent but still low key way. His first (and longest) step is gathering all the information that he can, data that he is constantly reviewing and categorizing as he goes. Kennedy takes great pleasure in police work not only because he is doing justice but because he is naturally curious and derives immense satisfaction from finding things out and putting facts together. This is part of a personality that addresses life with a sense of simple wonder, sort of a mature version of how a child confronts the world, with a joyful curiosity and happiness at discovering things.
The method of murder is too bizarre to be believable, and I found the ending both contrived and a bit overwrought. The story of the investigation itself, however, is a pleasure to read. Kennedy is psychologically insightful and wise. He does contemplate life but in a very concrete way rather than with existential angst. His thinking about aging, for example, takes the form of wondering whether Paul Newman realized when he was sliding down from his peak or unrealistically expected to surge upward again. And Kennedy simply basks in the joy of his love for his girl friend. In the end, the charm and pleasure of the writing more than make up for the murder method and the ending.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Blaze of Fury
28 Jan 2009
By Ted Feit
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
The ninth DI Christy Kennedy mystery begins with a huge bonfire on Guy Fawkes Day. Amid the tons of wood fueling the fire is the body of retired police superintendent (and Kennedy ex-colleague) David Peters. How did he get there - - - and why?
That is the task Kennedy and his team face. There is no lack of suspects as they go about their investigations. They review all Peters' cases and there are plenty of suspects, especially when they discover his lack of restraint in making arrests, ignoring procedures and suspects' rights. Moreover, they soon discover that Peters was a dirty cop, taking rewards on the side. He also lived a double life, married to one woman for decades, while living with his mistress and having flings besides.
The story moves forward with a certain degree of quiet elegance, reflecting the character of DI Kennedy. He goes about his investigation quietly and smoothly, intuitively gathering facts leading to a solution. At the same time, the author delves into the characters with deep insights.
Recommended.
That is the task Kennedy and his team face. There is no lack of suspects as they go about their investigations. They review all Peters' cases and there are plenty of suspects, especially when they discover his lack of restraint in making arrests, ignoring procedures and suspects' rights. Moreover, they soon discover that Peters was a dirty cop, taking rewards on the side. He also lived a double life, married to one woman for decades, while living with his mistress and having flings besides.
The story moves forward with a certain degree of quiet elegance, reflecting the character of DI Kennedy. He goes about his investigation quietly and smoothly, intuitively gathering facts leading to a solution. At the same time, the author delves into the characters with deep insights.
Recommended.
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