Malice in London

Erskine Powell #4

by Graham Thomas

DETECTIVE-CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT ERSKINE POWELL RETURNS--INVESTIGATING MALICE IN HIS OWN BACKYARD.

When a murder victim is discovered in the murky waters of the River Thames, Erskine Powell of Scotland Yard plunges into the most diabolical case of his distinguished career. A second brutal slaying draws Powell even deeper into a tangled web of greed, deception, and blackmail. From Tower Bridge to Soho, from Mayfair to Bloomsbury, Powell throws a dragnet across London, racing against time to link two savage crimes--and stop a cold-blooded killer dead in his tracks. . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, British Literature, London

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

About the author

Pseudonym of Gordon Kosakoski, 1950-2008.
Wrote five novels.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"When a murder victim is discovered in the murky waters of the River Thames, Erskine Powell of Scotland Yard plunges into the most diabolical case of his distinguished career. A second brutal slaying draws Powell even deeper into a tangled web of greed, deception, and blackmail. From Tower Bridge to Soho, from Mayfair to Bloomsbury, Powell throws a dragnet across London. racing against time to link two savage crimes -- and stop a cold-blooded killer dead in his tracks ..."
~~back cover

This is a nice little mystery series: very traditionally British mystery, and yet modern enough to have references to Margaret Thatcher, and modern forensic techniques. Not quite as enjoyable as some of the others in the series, imho, but only because it's set in London, and relies heavily on the "tangled web of greed, deception," which I enjoy less than plain old Miss Marple-type murders.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 in the Scotland Yard Detective-Chief-Superintendent Erskine Powell mystery series set in London. A murder victim is discovered in the murky waters of the River Thames who is linked to a controversial development project. Powell is assigned the case and soon finds the first murder connected to a second.

Red herrings all over the place as Powell and his team seek to find the murder(s) as well as discovering the motive.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good series that I stumbled across years ago. The author only wrote five. This was the fourth. Even though I didn't read every one before I didn't lose much.

The main character is a Scotland Yard inspector and he usually works with one or two officer assistants. A usual murder with some personal issues added.

If you're looking for a change and love curry then I recommend it

[Jami Szalla · Rating 2 out of 5]

It worked as a quick read but the ending felt rushed and taped together. I can think of a handful of other ways to wrap up the story and announce the killer but instead we see the villain basically turning himself in. It makes the detective seem incompetent and lucky. There were also story lines that were left unfinished.

[R.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read immensely. I guess I'm a real Anglophile, loving all things British. I've spent time there and have enjoyed each visit.

This story is not a disappointment. The suspense is great, the characters are interesting. I can't wait to read more from this author.

[Dasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay. Midway in series, so probably missed some significant things. May read more, but not compelled to do so.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Police Procedural.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read, keeping the reader alternately in suspense and thinking they have solved the who-done-it.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little mystery. London locales and sites ae mentioned throughout the book. If you have visit or live in London, we will get a kick out of the references.

[April Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasonably interesting mystery, but not as engaging for me as other authors, such as Tana French or Adrian McKinty.

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

How terrible. I've only just read it and I can't remember much about it. I've been taking pain meds so perhaps that's why...

[Linda Irvine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off in a promising new summery mystery series sort of way, then it was almost like Thomas got bored and had to sew the plot up higgledly-piggledly at the end... I hated the constant red-herrings about the murder - he did he didn't he's really very reasonable he did he didn't... Gah.

[Gail Richmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

One more in Graham Thomas's series on Detective Chief Superintendent Erskine Powell's search for the killers in somewhat obscure murders. Is it suicide? Or, is it murder tied to political aspirations?

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found quite a few typos, which annoy me. And I didn't particularly like Powell. I also didn't find the solution overly probable or enjoy the parts that dealt with British politics.

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A speedy read that reminded me quite a bit of Agatha Christie or some of the tv crime shows I'm tragically addicted to. Just fun to read.

[Sherry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the story somewhat uninteresting. And, this is the 2nd book I've read in the series, the fact that the police inspector again gets in 'dire' trouble at the end, didn't make me a fan.

[Julie]

liked this better than the moors and cornwall books. it kept me guessing and i specially liked the ending.

[Suzi Belanger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although a good pool read, sometimes it got mired in the politics and minor details of the mystery instead of the overall mystery.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost a cozy mystery...

This is the first Erskine Powell book I've read, and I enjoyed it very much. I loved the detail on the locale, since I've been fortunate to visit London several times. The writing is good, and while this is (I think) the fifth book in the series, it stands alone well enough. Erskine's wife is off in the US so maybe she's in the earlier books more. I appreciated that the bulk of the book is devoted to the story, rather than the personal lives of the characters, and a lively story it is. While not a cozy mystery per se, it doesn't have sex, graphic violence, or bad language in it. And while it could be called a police procedural, it doesn't get bigger down in policing details. There isn't a lot of character development, but I assume that is done in the earlier books. All in all, an enjoyable and fast read. I will definitely read more of the Erskine Powell series.

[Phil Ellenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

This was a police procedural with a twist. It seems the British have different procedures. At least the Scotland yard's ate not the same. It goes without saying that the people don't act the same as we do in the USA. That itself makes for good reading.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will read the rest of the series