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DI Peter Shaw & DS George Valentine #6
Death on Demand
This is the stunning new Shaw & Valentine mystery. When the newspapers turn up to cover Ruby Bright's 100th birthday, they find her seaside care home is a murder scene. Someone spirited Ruby away by wheelchair down to the water's edge on the idyllic north Norfolk coast, and strangled her. But why kill a harmless centurion? As Detective Inspector Shaw and Detective Sergeant Valentine investigate, it's clear Ruby wasn't the first victim, and nor is she the last. All trails seem to lead back to the old Parkwood Springs estate, close to the docklands. There's only one way in and one way out of the estate - through the derelict Lister Tunnel. But what is the secret within...?
224 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2015
10 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Jim Kelly
33 books137 followersJim Kelly is a journalist and education correspondent for the Financial Times. He lives in Ely with the biographer Midge Gilles and their young daughter. The Water Clock, his first novel, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Award for best first crime novel of 2002.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 10, 2016
The book opens with a crowd of onlookers oohing & aahing at the appearance of a supermoon in the sky over West Norfolk. With what follows, you may be forgiven for interpreting it as an omen.
DI Peter Shaw & partner DS George Valentine are soon investigating the horrific murder of Ruby Bright at her care home. Who would kill a 100 year old? And that's not the only thing on their plate.
Chief Constable Joyce is on their case about security for the upcoming pilgrimage to a shrine at Walsingham. Left & right leaning groups are threatening to use the event to make statements & Joyce doesn't want any negative publicity on his watch.
Meanwhile, George may be at a crossroad. His relationship with PC Jan Clay is solid but results from his recent medical tests don't bode well for their future.
Then the wheels officially fall off. Before they know it they're dealing with more bodies, possible crimes at the care home, Right to Life vs. Pro-euthanasia groups & the appearance of hundreds of sneakers hanging on power lines & trees. Oh, and George's judgemental cat Zebra? He's not looking so well.
There are multiple plot lines & it's only as the book progresses that we, like Peter & George, discover which are related. Lucky for us, there is a greater conspiracy here which makes for a taut & layered mystery full of surprises & suspense.
This is a smart, well paced police procedural but it's the characters that drive the narrative. The complex relationship between Peter & George is the centre around which everything else revolves. George used to work with Peter's father & has known him since he was a kid. Now Peter is his boss. In a sense, they're family because of that shared history & with that come all the emotions & conflict you expect to find between family members. Those feelings are heightened in this outing due to George's health problems & cause both men to reflect on the death of Peter's father.
Peripheral characters include Peter's wife & daughter & the various people associated with the crimes. They run the gamut from octogenarians to would be gang-bangers, all well defined with distinct personalities.
The combination of intricate murder mystery & personal drama pulls you in from the get-go. As the story moves into the final chapters, the pace picks up as pieces fall into place & truths are revealed. As in real life, some issues are resolved, others...not so much.
This is book #6 in the series & it doesn't disappoint. I look forward to #7.
DI Peter Shaw & partner DS George Valentine are soon investigating the horrific murder of Ruby Bright at her care home. Who would kill a 100 year old? And that's not the only thing on their plate.
Chief Constable Joyce is on their case about security for the upcoming pilgrimage to a shrine at Walsingham. Left & right leaning groups are threatening to use the event to make statements & Joyce doesn't want any negative publicity on his watch.
Meanwhile, George may be at a crossroad. His relationship with PC Jan Clay is solid but results from his recent medical tests don't bode well for their future.
Then the wheels officially fall off. Before they know it they're dealing with more bodies, possible crimes at the care home, Right to Life vs. Pro-euthanasia groups & the appearance of hundreds of sneakers hanging on power lines & trees. Oh, and George's judgemental cat Zebra? He's not looking so well.
There are multiple plot lines & it's only as the book progresses that we, like Peter & George, discover which are related. Lucky for us, there is a greater conspiracy here which makes for a taut & layered mystery full of surprises & suspense.
This is a smart, well paced police procedural but it's the characters that drive the narrative. The complex relationship between Peter & George is the centre around which everything else revolves. George used to work with Peter's father & has known him since he was a kid. Now Peter is his boss. In a sense, they're family because of that shared history & with that come all the emotions & conflict you expect to find between family members. Those feelings are heightened in this outing due to George's health problems & cause both men to reflect on the death of Peter's father.
Peripheral characters include Peter's wife & daughter & the various people associated with the crimes. They run the gamut from octogenarians to would be gang-bangers, all well defined with distinct personalities.
The combination of intricate murder mystery & personal drama pulls you in from the get-go. As the story moves into the final chapters, the pace picks up as pieces fall into place & truths are revealed. As in real life, some issues are resolved, others...not so much.
This is book #6 in the series & it doesn't disappoint. I look forward to #7.
October 22, 2015
Death on Demand 4 stars
Jim Kelly
It just feels right…..
The Shaw and Valentine series of crime/thriller books will be well known to many readers but new to me. The Inspector and Sergeant sidekick format is very common in this kind of story and the interest always lies as much in the relationship between the two cops as in the plot itself. On this occasion the plot and the relationship sit well side by side and as a new reader of this series it was like slipping on a favourite glove. It just felt right.
The story is a stand alone and whilst knowledge of the previous books might add something, it is unnecessary. There is obviously history between the two men but not knowing the full details did not detract from the enjoyment. It is based in Norfolk where a centenarian (well almost) is found dead in very suspicious circumstances. Her murder then leads the detectives to investigate other deaths which are also then found to be suspicious. Running alongside this is the Walsingham invasion of pilgrims with the threat from anti-pilgrim protesters and strange happenings with shoes all over town.
The plot does not therefore solely focus on the first murder but, much like real life, follows other story lines and apparently unrelated incidents plus chronicling the pressure from an unreasonable and uncaring, politically motivated boss; which I suspect will chime with many readers. There’s also a new man on the force who is the boss’s favourite and golfing partner so alpha male hackles rise. Conflict therefore abounds and there are well written moments when the stress bubbles to the surface, affecting decisions and relationships whilst also adding interest and a change of pace.
Even the secondary characters felt real and the dialogue throughout was genuine and not at all wooden or stilted. I particularly enjoyed the ending which pretty much sums up life in general.
So, 4 stars overall with one star being taken off for some far-fetched story lines which are unlikely to have happened in real life but were not important enough to spoil the overall enjoyment.
mr zorg
Jim Kelly
It just feels right…..
The Shaw and Valentine series of crime/thriller books will be well known to many readers but new to me. The Inspector and Sergeant sidekick format is very common in this kind of story and the interest always lies as much in the relationship between the two cops as in the plot itself. On this occasion the plot and the relationship sit well side by side and as a new reader of this series it was like slipping on a favourite glove. It just felt right.
The story is a stand alone and whilst knowledge of the previous books might add something, it is unnecessary. There is obviously history between the two men but not knowing the full details did not detract from the enjoyment. It is based in Norfolk where a centenarian (well almost) is found dead in very suspicious circumstances. Her murder then leads the detectives to investigate other deaths which are also then found to be suspicious. Running alongside this is the Walsingham invasion of pilgrims with the threat from anti-pilgrim protesters and strange happenings with shoes all over town.
The plot does not therefore solely focus on the first murder but, much like real life, follows other story lines and apparently unrelated incidents plus chronicling the pressure from an unreasonable and uncaring, politically motivated boss; which I suspect will chime with many readers. There’s also a new man on the force who is the boss’s favourite and golfing partner so alpha male hackles rise. Conflict therefore abounds and there are well written moments when the stress bubbles to the surface, affecting decisions and relationships whilst also adding interest and a change of pace.
Even the secondary characters felt real and the dialogue throughout was genuine and not at all wooden or stilted. I particularly enjoyed the ending which pretty much sums up life in general.
So, 4 stars overall with one star being taken off for some far-fetched story lines which are unlikely to have happened in real life but were not important enough to spoil the overall enjoyment.
mr zorg
November 4, 2015
This police procedural is well written to link three separate matters dealt with by the police in Norfolk.
A centenarian is found dead at a senior care home - she was killed, sadly. She has no immediate relatives so who would want to kill someone aged a hundred?
And all those annoying instances of littering by throwing paired running shoes over utility wires are explored; we get a good look at what this means worldwide, who does it and why.
Besides this, a pilgrimage to a local shrine is about to occur and this brings outsiders to scenic Norfolk, with inevitable tensions and policing issues.
I am surprised that the police are the ones who hire a cherry picker, operate it themselves and cut loose the shoes around town. In Dublin we phone the utility firm which comes out and does the job; it's their lines that are at risk. The police are shown spending money on equipment hire, working without a mention of any health and safety instruction (though it may have occurred) and seemingly wasting time that they could be spending on catching burglars. And how does the form-filling go? Does each one count as a crime?
I like the supermoon party, the marsh harrier sighting and other issues. The issues highlighted with regard to the care home are good to raise, though I did find them obvious; other matters raised from the past of policing are referenced as required.
The DI in this case is happily married to a capable lady, but he has only one working eye due to a work accident. His sergeant is getting on to retirement age and has a diagnosis of serious illness to face. I applaud the author Jim Kelly for putting people with disabilities on the page. The pair are also well suited to investigating the death of an old lady in a wheelchair - though not much up to modern computer issues, as a security gap was obvious to me but not to them. The benefits of a mixed-age policing unit are clearly shown.
Overall, good story, the first I've read from this author but it won't be the last.
A centenarian is found dead at a senior care home - she was killed, sadly. She has no immediate relatives so who would want to kill someone aged a hundred?
And all those annoying instances of littering by throwing paired running shoes over utility wires are explored; we get a good look at what this means worldwide, who does it and why.
Besides this, a pilgrimage to a local shrine is about to occur and this brings outsiders to scenic Norfolk, with inevitable tensions and policing issues.
I am surprised that the police are the ones who hire a cherry picker, operate it themselves and cut loose the shoes around town. In Dublin we phone the utility firm which comes out and does the job; it's their lines that are at risk. The police are shown spending money on equipment hire, working without a mention of any health and safety instruction (though it may have occurred) and seemingly wasting time that they could be spending on catching burglars. And how does the form-filling go? Does each one count as a crime?
I like the supermoon party, the marsh harrier sighting and other issues. The issues highlighted with regard to the care home are good to raise, though I did find them obvious; other matters raised from the past of policing are referenced as required.
The DI in this case is happily married to a capable lady, but he has only one working eye due to a work accident. His sergeant is getting on to retirement age and has a diagnosis of serious illness to face. I applaud the author Jim Kelly for putting people with disabilities on the page. The pair are also well suited to investigating the death of an old lady in a wheelchair - though not much up to modern computer issues, as a security gap was obvious to me but not to them. The benefits of a mixed-age policing unit are clearly shown.
Overall, good story, the first I've read from this author but it won't be the last.
July 25, 2015
This is a well written and thought provoking crime novel featuring Shaw and Valentine and set on the North Norfolk coast. The location provides an atmospheric background to the disturbing crimes which the detectives have to investigate.
A woman in a care home is murdered on her hundredth birthday. Shaw wants to prioritise the case but the Chief Constables wants him to spend more time overseeing the arrangements for a pilgrimage to Walsingham which may be disrupted by protestors. Valentine has his own problems with his health and has difficult decisions to make.
Shaw and Valentine are interesting characters and I loved the descriptions of the Norfolk scenery. I enjoyed the skilful way the suspense is built up over the course of the book and the way all the various strands of the plot intertwine.
If you enjoy police procedural crime stories then this may be one for you. I found it a disturbing read but very well worthwhile. The book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone story. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
A woman in a care home is murdered on her hundredth birthday. Shaw wants to prioritise the case but the Chief Constables wants him to spend more time overseeing the arrangements for a pilgrimage to Walsingham which may be disrupted by protestors. Valentine has his own problems with his health and has difficult decisions to make.
Shaw and Valentine are interesting characters and I loved the descriptions of the Norfolk scenery. I enjoyed the skilful way the suspense is built up over the course of the book and the way all the various strands of the plot intertwine.
If you enjoy police procedural crime stories then this may be one for you. I found it a disturbing read but very well worthwhile. The book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone story. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
February 7, 2017
Full of social issues to consider and sharp characterizations. I really like the pairing of DI Shaw and DS Valentine, who was also the partner of Shaw's late father. The final scene tied in beautifully with the theme as well as the plot of the book, and left me with a smile on my face despite the fact that these are not "cozy" mysteries. Great series.
April 26, 2019
To be honest, I should say that I am completely neutral about this book i.e. I neither like nor dislike it. That is not to say that I'm meh about this book, I think it's solidly written but somehow it just didn't elicit a response from it, whether that's on an intellectual, personal or emotional level.
It's my first time reading a police procedural unless you count Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series but I think that was before the sub-genre of police procedural ever arose (or maybe I'm just ignorant). So perhaps my reaction is shaded by this. But overall, I think the plot is solid- the author had two main plots and they were woven together successfully in the end. There are also moments where I don't know what's going to happen next, a feature I always look to for the mystery genre (although I did guess one of the culprits early on). Perhaps it's the characters who did not quite catch on for me or the pace (I mean, it's not like a cozy mystery which I felt to be too slow but it's not fast-paced either. It's kinda like a light reading with shortish chapters where you can put down and pick up anytime. And well, I was looking for something easy to ease me back into reading after my long holiday when I picked it up but perhaps I was looking for something a little more fast-paced, something more similar to my own conventional conception of a murder mystery).
It's my first time reading a police procedural unless you count Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series but I think that was before the sub-genre of police procedural ever arose (or maybe I'm just ignorant). So perhaps my reaction is shaded by this. But overall, I think the plot is solid- the author had two main plots and they were woven together successfully in the end. There are also moments where I don't know what's going to happen next, a feature I always look to for the mystery genre (although I did guess one of the culprits early on). Perhaps it's the characters who did not quite catch on for me or the pace (I mean, it's not like a cozy mystery which I felt to be too slow but it's not fast-paced either. It's kinda like a light reading with shortish chapters where you can put down and pick up anytime. And well, I was looking for something easy to ease me back into reading after my long holiday when I picked it up but perhaps I was looking for something a little more fast-paced, something more similar to my own conventional conception of a murder mystery).
April 2, 2025
Death on Demand – A Shaw and Valentine Mystery – Published 2015 - **** - Shaw and Valentine investigate the death of a woman murdered on the eve of her one hundredth birthday. Who murders someone of this age? All six entrances of the Marsh House Rest Home have CCTV and yet none of them record the lady in a wheel chair being pushed onto the boardwalk leading to the sea and her death. Great police procedural mixed with personal lives of the two detectives, a holy shrine pilgrimage, gang wars, a ego driven supervisor, and the English backdrop. Very satisfying climax with just the right amount of suspense. An enjoyable who done it.
April 7, 2022
Always enjoy Mr Kelly's novels and this one was no exception with the unusual premis of a 100 year old woman being taken from her carehome and murdered down by the sea, How it ties in with shoes being thrown over power lines and pilgrims travelling to the area is cleverly plotted but not so convoluted that it is hard to follow or seems totally implausible. Well done Mr. Kelly.
June 5, 2024
Shaw & Valentine investigate the death of Ruby Bright, a resident of a seaside care home, who was murdered on the day before her 100th birthday. The investigation is difficult and eventually expands into various directions.
Well-written, very enjoyable and, as always in this series, includes details of the personal lives of Shaw & Valentine.
Well-written, very enjoyable and, as always in this series, includes details of the personal lives of Shaw & Valentine.
June 29, 2020
Jim Kelly has to be one of the most under-rated crime writers around. This one whips along at the usual pace, all set around a slightly fantastical version of Kings Lynn and the Norfolk coast. Bits are very real and recognisable, other bits are not, but work anyway. Top form.
January 31, 2025
really great illustration of an investigation process. dragged on at times for my personal attention span, but the characters were lovable through and through and the quality of the mystery really kept me turning the pages. a great reminder that life is a breathing and fragile thing.
July 22, 2017
These are great books, all set in Norfolk's lovely Northern coastline
January 11, 2019
I'm enjoying this series - well written, well plotted, and interesting characters. I'll definitely read others as I come across them.
July 4, 2020
The sixth DI Peter Shaw & DS George Valentine police procedural is another intriguing murder mystery set against the magnificent North Sea scape and animated by likeable characters.
October 6, 2022
Some parts of this I like. This series seems better than the other I've read by this author
October 9, 2024
I found this book to be very tedious and boring a lot of the time. The descriptions seemed to go on forever.
July 14, 2015
DI Shaw and DS Valentine are investigating the brutal murder of Ruby Bright, found facing the sea in her wheelchair, they day before her 100th birthday. There is also the World Pilgrimage day at nearby Walsingham for Shaw and his team to police and trainers are mysteriously found strung over overhead cables.
I do find it easy enough to use the usual phrases that “Death on Demand” is a gripping read; a page turner; has strong characterisation; is well plotted; an atmospheric setting – and this is certainly the case.
What makes this different is the high quality of writing and the research carried out by Jim Kelly. There is information about the Supermoon, The Pilgrimage and Flying Kicks – all of which is artfully woven in and interesting.
I have to admit that I love the Norfolk setting as it is familiar to me. However the North Norfolk landscape of woodlands, marshes and beaches are powerfully described. Much of the action takes place outside and the flat, wide landscape feels integral to the storyline. It reminds me of Stephen Booth’s Peak District descriptions which stimulates you to go and see for yourself.
All murder is dark and this story line is no exception – without giving any plot spoilers – this is thought provoking.
The focus is on the investigative work carried out by Shaw and Valentine and you are with them every step of the way. There are plenty of clues and whilst I guessed part of the mystery there are twists that prevented me from working it all out.
There is past history between Shaw and Valentine which has impacted on their relationship. I really liked that this continues to be explored with gentle shifts in their view of one another alongside insights into their personal lives. There’s no problem reading this as a standalone but having read them all gives you a deeper sense of the relationship between the two officers. There is a shock early on and I so wanted Shaw to care that bit more.
It’s a top notch read.
I do find it easy enough to use the usual phrases that “Death on Demand” is a gripping read; a page turner; has strong characterisation; is well plotted; an atmospheric setting – and this is certainly the case.
What makes this different is the high quality of writing and the research carried out by Jim Kelly. There is information about the Supermoon, The Pilgrimage and Flying Kicks – all of which is artfully woven in and interesting.
I have to admit that I love the Norfolk setting as it is familiar to me. However the North Norfolk landscape of woodlands, marshes and beaches are powerfully described. Much of the action takes place outside and the flat, wide landscape feels integral to the storyline. It reminds me of Stephen Booth’s Peak District descriptions which stimulates you to go and see for yourself.
All murder is dark and this story line is no exception – without giving any plot spoilers – this is thought provoking.
The focus is on the investigative work carried out by Shaw and Valentine and you are with them every step of the way. There are plenty of clues and whilst I guessed part of the mystery there are twists that prevented me from working it all out.
There is past history between Shaw and Valentine which has impacted on their relationship. I really liked that this continues to be explored with gentle shifts in their view of one another alongside insights into their personal lives. There’s no problem reading this as a standalone but having read them all gives you a deeper sense of the relationship between the two officers. There is a shock early on and I so wanted Shaw to care that bit more.
It’s a top notch read.
September 13, 2015
This is another very good police procedural by Jim Kelly featuring Detective Inspector Peter Shaw and Detective Sergeant George Valentine. This is the second book in the series I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Shaw and Valentine are partners and work in the West Norfolk Constabulary while sharing a long standing personal relationship which has not necessarily been cordial all the time. There are issues they need to sort out concerning Shaw's father and each story takes them a little further along in their journey of mutual understanding of the situations involved. This novel finds Norfolk gearing up for World Pilgrim Day on the August Bank Holiday. Thousands of religious pilgrims will be marching toward Walsingham and now there is a counter-pilgrimage element making its well organized presence felt. Chief Constable Joyce is extremely conscious of his desired route to bigger and greater postings than Norfolk so he wants assurances from Shaw that all will go well during the march. Unfortunately a resident of Marsh House, a private residential care home, has been found in her wheelchair out by the ocean, obviously murdered.
This story does not include as much of the personal life of Peter Shaw but definitely more for George Valentine. George is going to have to make some serious decisions and he isn't facing those prospects easily. I liked getting better acquainted with Valentine in this novel and I thought the problems he had to face were presented in a very realistic way. The book kept revealing more and more complications as it went along so there was never a period of let-down. By the time it's all over with all age ranges and socio-economic groups have been touched on with the ending tying the threads together in a very satisfactory manner. I enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more of the writings of Jim Kelly.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.
This story does not include as much of the personal life of Peter Shaw but definitely more for George Valentine. George is going to have to make some serious decisions and he isn't facing those prospects easily. I liked getting better acquainted with Valentine in this novel and I thought the problems he had to face were presented in a very realistic way. The book kept revealing more and more complications as it went along so there was never a period of let-down. By the time it's all over with all age ranges and socio-economic groups have been touched on with the ending tying the threads together in a very satisfactory manner. I enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more of the writings of Jim Kelly.
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley.
December 11, 2015
Shaw and Valentine are interesting characters with a personal as well as professional history. Their relationship has developed nicely over the course of the series, and this book focuses a bit more on Valentine as he comes to grips with a serious health issue.
I think one of my favorite things about the series is the setting on the Norfolk coast - the beach life with its surfing and sea rescues, the flora and fauna, the small towns and their people. In this one, there is a pilgrimage coming to town, to the historical shrine at the town of Walsingham - actually dueling pilgrimages, one religious, the other alternative believers. The Chief Constable has made it his priority that order shall be preserved - no disturbances, no negative press.
So solving the murder of a nursing home resident on her 100th birthday is a little less important than it might otherwise be. But then there is another murder - a young hooligan found stabbed and dumped. And there seems to be something odd about the death of an elderly friend of the first murder victim, and about the earlier death of another resident of the same nursing home. Shaw carefully picks his way through the events and the persons involved until he has an idea of what has been happening and then it gets pretty complicated. And there are minor incidents with the pilgrimages, but nothing to disturb the Chief.
Actually I would give this book five stars for the setting, four for the characters, and fewer for the plot this time. Kelly has done better and I hope he will again.
I think one of my favorite things about the series is the setting on the Norfolk coast - the beach life with its surfing and sea rescues, the flora and fauna, the small towns and their people. In this one, there is a pilgrimage coming to town, to the historical shrine at the town of Walsingham - actually dueling pilgrimages, one religious, the other alternative believers. The Chief Constable has made it his priority that order shall be preserved - no disturbances, no negative press.
So solving the murder of a nursing home resident on her 100th birthday is a little less important than it might otherwise be. But then there is another murder - a young hooligan found stabbed and dumped. And there seems to be something odd about the death of an elderly friend of the first murder victim, and about the earlier death of another resident of the same nursing home. Shaw carefully picks his way through the events and the persons involved until he has an idea of what has been happening and then it gets pretty complicated. And there are minor incidents with the pilgrimages, but nothing to disturb the Chief.
Actually I would give this book five stars for the setting, four for the characters, and fewer for the plot this time. Kelly has done better and I hope he will again.
November 7, 2015
Another superb police procedural in this series. This time, the duo of Shaw and Valentine investigate the violent murder of Ruby on her 100th birthday in a care home.
Their hunt for the killer follows a complicated trail. Shaw is also responsible for the policing of a major march and pilgrimage to Walsingham where trouble is a possibility. Valentine has a cancer diagnosis and a decision to make about an operation. More deaths occur. There is the presence of trainers left hanging on power lines, that appear to indicate a gang turf war. Threads converge with the main investigation and when the truth emerges, it is complex.
Profit does emerge as a motive. Jim Kelly handles difficult and controversial issues well. He is a gifted writer, with well plotted stories. I am always going to read whatever he writes. Thankfully Valentine's diagnosis turns out to be a medical error and part of the novel reminds me of the film Point Break. I eagerly look forward to the next book.
Their hunt for the killer follows a complicated trail. Shaw is also responsible for the policing of a major march and pilgrimage to Walsingham where trouble is a possibility. Valentine has a cancer diagnosis and a decision to make about an operation. More deaths occur. There is the presence of trainers left hanging on power lines, that appear to indicate a gang turf war. Threads converge with the main investigation and when the truth emerges, it is complex.
Profit does emerge as a motive. Jim Kelly handles difficult and controversial issues well. He is a gifted writer, with well plotted stories. I am always going to read whatever he writes. Thankfully Valentine's diagnosis turns out to be a medical error and part of the novel reminds me of the film Point Break. I eagerly look forward to the next book.
November 8, 2015
The back story is always more interesting than the actual mystery.
"This is the stunning new Shaw & Valentine mystery. When the newspapers turn up to cover Ruby Bright's 100th birthday, they find her seaside care home is a murder scene. Someone spirited Ruby away by wheelchair down to the water's edge on the idyllic north Norfolk coast, and strangled her. But why kill a harmless centurion? As Detective Inspector Shaw and Detective Sergeant Valentine investigate, it's clear Ruby wasn't the first victim, and nor is she the last. All trails seem to lead back to the old Parkwood Springs estate, close to the docklands. There's only one way in and one way out of the estate - through the derelict Lister Tunnel. But what is the secret within...?"
"This is the stunning new Shaw & Valentine mystery. When the newspapers turn up to cover Ruby Bright's 100th birthday, they find her seaside care home is a murder scene. Someone spirited Ruby away by wheelchair down to the water's edge on the idyllic north Norfolk coast, and strangled her. But why kill a harmless centurion? As Detective Inspector Shaw and Detective Sergeant Valentine investigate, it's clear Ruby wasn't the first victim, and nor is she the last. All trails seem to lead back to the old Parkwood Springs estate, close to the docklands. There's only one way in and one way out of the estate - through the derelict Lister Tunnel. But what is the secret within...?"
April 10, 2016
This is my first book in this series and reading it out of order may have been a big mistake. I had a very hard time making it through the first 100 pages but finally got caught up in it enough to finish it though I confess I read the last two pages before I made commitment to finish. Somehow I got the opinion early on that Shaw and Valentine did not get along which certainly started me out on the wrong path. The relationship is much more complex than that and these men understand and appreciate each other much more than that. Not sure if I will commit more to this series so do not judge this book and series solely on this review.
April 11, 2016
This is the sixth time we meet Shaw and Valentine and it doesn't disappoint. Beginning with the murder of Ruby on the eve of her 100th birthday, it's filled with intrigued and twists and multiple murders just how a good crime story should be. Jim Kelly is still descriptive in his story telling and that is such a delight as so many popular authors I feel have lost this. As always at then end of a Shaw and Valentine novel I'm always hoping there's going to be a next one and this is the case again, can't wait.
August 10, 2016
This book is the first I've read in the Shaw & Valentine series. I snagged it off the library's new book shelf on a whim, but I'll certainly go back to read the earlier titles. It's a good, solid police procedural, with good characters, fine writing, and intricate, careful plotting. How the various plot lines would connect was not immediately obvious, but they did so in a logical manner---no cheating the reader by throwing in information at the end which the author knew but not the reader!
December 7, 2016
Good book, not the first one I have read in this series, and I will read more. Likely should have a 3.5 rating. Multi-pronged plot with complexities that unfold as the narrative unfolds. I really enjoyed that the writing style allowed for a more leisurely pace in reading vs the 1-2 page chapters in some books, written in a way to create tension and drive to finish the book right now! I find those short "chapters" irritating when the whole book is published that way.
November 30, 2015
Who would kill a 100-year-old woman? What could possibly be the motive. That's the challenge for Shaw and Valentine in this British police procedural.
This is the first book I've read in this series. I found it all a bit dry, especially since the primary focus is the "right to life" question.
This is the first book I've read in this series. I found it all a bit dry, especially since the primary focus is the "right to life" question.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2016
This is a good book. It seemed to me that the the focus on the characters was more significant than the plot. The author has finally added an important female police character which was long overdue. This book contains what I consider to be some factual errors including the moon rising from due North, a golfer wearing cleated golf shoes while riding in a car, etc.
January 20, 2016
Continued excellence
Jim Kelly continues his streak of good prose, interesting plot, and the examination of social issues. The realistic characters draw you into the story. I couldn't put it down. Now I start the wait for his next book.
Jim Kelly continues his streak of good prose, interesting plot, and the examination of social issues. The realistic characters draw you into the story. I couldn't put it down. Now I start the wait for his next book.
May 13, 2016
I am unsure if I liked it. There was too much happening all at once. It may have been because I was unfamiliar with the series. I liked the two lead detectives. I did not see the ending coming but thought the two crimes were connected.
November 24, 2015
One of the best in the series. Well plotted and well written.
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