Least of Evils

Inspector Peach #16

by J.M. Gregson

A shooting on an estate puts DCI Percy Peach on the trail of a brutal ganglord… - When a young man is found with gunshot wounds outside the Thorley Grange estate, DCI Percy Peach is immediately on the case. The estate has recently been taken over by Oliver Ketley, a generous local benefactor leading a double life as a ruthless ganglord. Peach quickly sets out to find the connection between him and the injured man, but Ketley faces much bigger a man in his position has many enemies, and it will only take one of them to end his life . . .  

Genres: Mystery, Crime

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

James Michael Gregson taught for twenty-seven years in schools, colleges and universities before concentrating on full-time writing. He has written books on subjects as diverse as golf and Shakespeare.

Reviews

[DROPPING OUT · Rating 2 out of 5]

My public library's catalog lists some dozen and one-half titles by Greggson in two distinct series, and this is the latest in the DCI Percy Peach offerings. And I think it will be the only one I read. Granted, character development (if any) occurred in the earlier books, but I felt everyone and everything pure formulaic.

A blurb on the dust-jacket calls Greggson another Peter Lovesey. I admit, I never read any, but I saw several on PBS over the years. But I felt Greggson, who must have a considerable following, else why would his publisher continue to carry him, is preparing for his own television fame when Masterpiece Mystery begins to serialize him.

None of the quirkiness of Colin Dexter's Morse or moodiness of P.D. James's Adam Dalgliesh.

My own feeling is: It was an OK story, but if you miss this, no loss.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. The Percy Peach series never fails to provide an entertaining whodunnit.

Missed all the clues this time, but really enjoyed the flow of the book.

[Marcia Whoolery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rely on confession

Interesting plot with many viable suspects. No forensic evidence to speak of, solution relies on confession which doesn't seem likely. Odd use of repetition in interview descriptions and summaries. Some loose ends.

[Wilbur Hundley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book

Least of Evils is another exciting Chief Inspector Peach mystery. Gregson does a great job of hiding the murderer until the end with lots of twists and turns. A great read.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

DCI Percy Peach is less than overjoyed when he finds out that Oliver Ketley, a Mister Big in the criminal underworld, has moved onto his patch. Ketley has bought Thorley Grange and modernised it and lives there with his wife, domestic staff and his bodyguards.

When a petty thief is found shot and beaten up just outside the walls of the Grange, Peach is suspicious but Ketley denies all knowledge of the incident. Ketley has enemies and other criminals want to muscle in on his enterprises and Peach fears the start of a gang war.

This is a testing case for Peach and his team as few people want to upset criminals and risk their vengeance. I enjoyed this well written crime novel with its interesting characters and plenty of suspects as well as clues and red herrings sufficient to keep most readers guessing.

I can recommend this book and this series if you like less violent crime novels with police characters who mainly get on well with each other. The series can be read in any order.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had read some of the author's books in another series back in the 1990s so I thought I would give this a try. I found the writing style ponderous and I kept putting the book down and doing something else rather than get absorbed in the story. It is fairly light hearted and Inspector Peach's Superintendent is a comic character but the humour did not work for me. As for the plot a career criminal gets murdered and there are two obvious suspects. There are also two other characters whose pasts are unknown so later on when their pasts are revealed it is no surprise that they also had reasons for wanting the victim dead. I doubt I will read any of the other books in this series.

[judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this book, although I probably shouldn't. It was a standard Brit mystery--old school. Percy Peach is a typical lead detective with, of course, an idiot for a boss. The plot was simple although suspects abounded. I found it relaxing and refreshing after too many brilliant, twisting but exhausting modern day mysteries.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ending a bit abrupt but i love this series especially the way percy talks to " bloody tucker "

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced shorter novel with good characters and a well thought out plot. A fun read.

[Wilde Sky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Police investigate the murder of a known criminal.

It was an OK story but a bit repetitive and the characters / plot lacked any real depth.

My real rating is 2.5.

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this one better than the last. The banter was not so heavy between Peach and his superior. The story was great; left us wondering who did it until the end. Great reading.