Fall from Grace

DCI Sara Hoyland #1

by David Menon

Paul Foster is a social worker trying to make a difference on an estate where loan sharks stop at nothing to collect their dues, and residents don't listen to reason. But what links him to an aristocratic Nazi sympathiser accused of harbouring a war criminal? What is the devastating truth that his dying father continues to hide from him? And what has happened to Paul's soldier lover Jake over in Afghanistan who he hasn't heard from in weeks?
In this, the first DCI Sara Hoyland mystery, the intrepid detective with her own past and a fondness for wine, men, and sex, is drawn into a trail of deceit going back all the way to 1940 and a man who went to the gallows for murder. She enters a long-forgotten world of political intrigue where grudges and family secrets emerge and the loyalty of the British aristocracy to the people is questioned. This contemporary thriller with a 'Downton Abbey' twist will leave you asking questions right up until the controversial end

Genres: Ebooks, Crime

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2011

About the author

David was born of an English mother and an Indian father, neither of whom brought him up. He spent his childhood in Derby but has since lived all over the UK, and also for several very happy years he lived in Paris. He loves to travel, loves Indian food closely followed by French, he’s into politics and current affairs and all the arts – books, films, TV, theatre, and music. He’s a seriously devoted fan of Stevie Nicks who he calls ‘the voice of my interior world’. When he’s not writing he teaches English to Russian students for a school in St. Petersburg.

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read with a devilishly clever plot and a true twist in the tail. The book combines strands of crime thriller interwoven with observations of the social problems besetting our society. Many thorny issues are explored from class distinction and sexuality to racial prejudice and the difficulties of climbing out of the downward spiral of a life on benefits.
The characters are well-drawn and the author has brought them to life in a way that makes the reader fully identify with them.
I look forward to reading the second DCI Sara Hoyland book.

[Jhead · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author clearly has an agenda that includes so many tropes ( anti royalty, anti establishment, anti sexual stereotyping,) that he let the story slip into tedious cliches and boring declarative sentences. Disappointing. Trite and a little juvenile.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that is in some places not PC, not that it detracted from the story for me, and this may put some people off. Touches on some social issues and goes in quite hard.

[LaShana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a mystery or a police procedural. This is a social commentary book.