Cold Relations

Honey Laird #1

by Gerald Hammond

Edinburgh s gorgeous Detective Sergeant Honey Laird had finally cleared her overflowing desk and was looking forward to spending some time with her husband when an email from her old school friend provoked yet another difficult case. Honey soon finds herself trying to babysit her friend s ex-husband a trigger-happy, former SAS officer with a temper, a head injury and a penchant for attractive women. "Cold Relations" wriggles through twist after turn and guarantees a slew of unforgettable characters led by the delightful Honeypot and her trusty crime-solving labrador, Pippa.

Genres: Mystery

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Gerald Hammond, (Gerald Arthur Douglas Hammond) son of Frederick Arthur Lucas (a physician) and Maria Birnie (a nursing sister) Hammond; married Gilda Isobel Watt (a nurse), August 20, 1952; children: Peter, David, Steven. Education: Aberdeen School of Architecture, Dip. Arch., 1952. He served in the British Army, 1944-45. Although born in Bournemouth, Hampshire, England, he worked in and retired to the country he most loved, Scotland.

He also writes under the names of Arthur Douglas and Dalby Holden. He was an architect for thirty years before retiring to write novels full-time in 1982. He has written over 50 novels since the late 1960s.

His novels center around guns, shooting, hunting, fishing, and dog training.

Reviews

[Tony da Napoli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not good at reviewing/critiquing books but this one is a challenge to just describe properly.
It was not what I expected as one that reads A LOT of UK crime/police procedural books and am generally very pleased with the writing. I can't say that with this one.
The story line, crime, solution, were just ok. The last 1/3 of the book seemed to me just a rehashing of what by that time had become obvious in terms of the solution.

The main problem I have with this writer is the language and grammar. It is excellent English. BUT IMO not very readable by today's audiences. I felt it very stilted, archaic(?), gentrified English. The only word missing was "whilst", if that helps convey the idea. Also noted very little use of contractions - which leads to the formal, stilted feel.

We have pheasant shootings on the castle grounds with "the guns" and "the beaters" and "the dogs". The Guns and Beaters do not intermingle socially - so you have the old British landed gentry-types versus peasant-worker environment. The protagonist is, of course, a member of the Shooters and Dogs and seemed, to me, to come across as a bit of a snob. If that was the author's intent, it was well done.

The story has early email/cell phone usage, yet the whole scenario and bantering has a 1936 feel to it. The author's bio sketch sort of explains it as he would appear to have been in that era, stating he served in the British army in 1944-45. I can't say I would recommend this even though Hammond is a well-established writer and retired successful Architect. A bit lean at 195 pages and published in 2006. "He has written over 50 novels since the late 1960s." Maybe and earlier work might appeal to me...

[Susan]

Just didn't find the story that interesting to continue to read

[Leslie South · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy, But Not Too Cozy

I hope the headline will not discourage readers who disdain *cozy* for grittier procedurals. The tale is told with wry--and grown-up--good humor, and the satisfactory denouement is both modern and Poirotvian, so it should appeal to lovers of both subgenres. Give it a try--I'm going on with the series!

[Mr Neville S Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad there was a summary of who did what at the end of the book, because I was having a problem believing what I was reading up to that point.

At the time of reading this book the overall rating suggested a lot of people enjoyed it, and I'm happy for them if they did, but I don't think this series is for me.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored the Three Oaks Farm series by the same author, so thought this was worth a read. I liked how previous characters briefly cropped up in the enjoyable story.

[Little Red Readinghood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever