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Chief Inspector Woodend #13
Dying in the Dark
It is one of the most brutal murders Chief Inspector Woodend has ever encountered . . .
Pamela Rainsford, found on a lonely canal path in the middle of a dark night, has not only been raped and strangled, but her face has been hacked to pieces. At first it seems a random killing, but as the case progresses, Woodend begins to suspect that the death of the mild-mannered, respectable secretary may have been a result of her own secret life.
And another secret life is having its consequences, too as a result of his now-ended affair with Sergeant Monika Paniatowski, Inspector Bob Rutter's marriage is falling apart. As the investigation proceeds, Woodend finds himself beginning to understand the complex web of lies and deceits which Pamela Rainsford has spun around herself, but nothing he discovers could ever prepare him for a second death this one much closer to home!
Pamela Rainsford, found on a lonely canal path in the middle of a dark night, has not only been raped and strangled, but her face has been hacked to pieces. At first it seems a random killing, but as the case progresses, Woodend begins to suspect that the death of the mild-mannered, respectable secretary may have been a result of her own secret life.
And another secret life is having its consequences, too as a result of his now-ended affair with Sergeant Monika Paniatowski, Inspector Bob Rutter's marriage is falling apart. As the investigation proceeds, Woodend finds himself beginning to understand the complex web of lies and deceits which Pamela Rainsford has spun around herself, but nothing he discovers could ever prepare him for a second death this one much closer to home!
217 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2005
About the author
Sally Spencer
125 books155 followersA pseudonym used by Alan Rustage.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.
He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.
He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.
His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.
Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.
He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.
He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.
His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.
Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 24, 2019
Love this rascally Chief Inspector and his team. This mystery, centered around one of his own, sends Woodend off to solve not one, but two murders. As always, "cloggin' it Charlie" proves once again why he is one of the best!
April 14, 2016
Probably one of the best Woodend book.
Someone tells Maria that Bob and Monika had once had an affair; it had been over for a year. Maria, understandably, was upset and was exploring her options: seeing a solicitor, talking to her parents, wanting to discuss it with Charlie, then she is murdered.
Bob comes under suspicion and Charlie and Monika are investigating another murder: that of a young woman bludgeoned to death a long the canal path.
An old foe, Evans, is brought in to investigate Maria's death. His previous embarrassment by Charlie and his team colours his investigation. He charges Bob with the murder of his wife, overlooking clues that might exonerate him.
Charlie is warned, by his superiors, to keep away from Evans' investigation. Of course, Charlie ignores that, and puts his career in jeopardy, once again.
Someone tells Maria that Bob and Monika had once had an affair; it had been over for a year. Maria, understandably, was upset and was exploring her options: seeing a solicitor, talking to her parents, wanting to discuss it with Charlie, then she is murdered.
Bob comes under suspicion and Charlie and Monika are investigating another murder: that of a young woman bludgeoned to death a long the canal path.
An old foe, Evans, is brought in to investigate Maria's death. His previous embarrassment by Charlie and his team colours his investigation. He charges Bob with the murder of his wife, overlooking clues that might exonerate him.
Charlie is warned, by his superiors, to keep away from Evans' investigation. Of course, Charlie ignores that, and puts his career in jeopardy, once again.
September 27, 2010
British mystery - great author
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews