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Bill Slider #8
Blood Sinister
In her most gripping mystery yet, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles returns readers to the streets of London and the ever-struggling Detective Inspector Bill Slider. When the body of Phoebe Agnew, radical left-wing journalist, champion of the underdog, and prominent critic of the police force, is discovered, Inspector Slider must put aside any personal feelings for the victim and find her killer.
One of the first clues Slider finds is that on the day of her death the horribly undomesticated Agnew cooked an elaborate meal for someone. Was it her old friend and reputed lover, Josh Prentiss? Slider tries to pursue that angle, but since Prentiss is a Government advisor, the pressure is on Slider to look elsewhere.
There are plenty anomalies for him to chase: unidentified fingerprints, the object used to strangle Agnew is missing, alibis offered where none are required, the downstairs tenant lying about his whereabouts, and papers missing from Agnew's file. As Slider struggles to untangle the web of lies and hidden relationships, his task is made harder by the strange behavior of his friend and colleague, Atherton, who seems to be on the verge of a breakdown.
Tightly plotted and full of fascinating characters, Slider searches to find the key to Agnew's chillingly lonely life, but will he find it in time to prevent further tragedy?
One of the first clues Slider finds is that on the day of her death the horribly undomesticated Agnew cooked an elaborate meal for someone. Was it her old friend and reputed lover, Josh Prentiss? Slider tries to pursue that angle, but since Prentiss is a Government advisor, the pressure is on Slider to look elsewhere.
There are plenty anomalies for him to chase: unidentified fingerprints, the object used to strangle Agnew is missing, alibis offered where none are required, the downstairs tenant lying about his whereabouts, and papers missing from Agnew's file. As Slider struggles to untangle the web of lies and hidden relationships, his task is made harder by the strange behavior of his friend and colleague, Atherton, who seems to be on the verge of a breakdown.
Tightly plotted and full of fascinating characters, Slider searches to find the key to Agnew's chillingly lonely life, but will he find it in time to prevent further tragedy?
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 30, 1999
38 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
168 books496 followersCynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 4, 2017
I planned to read this series in order, but I've been traveling, and this is one of the few I could get on my Kindle. This writer is right on my wave-length. I laugh at her jokes and puns, which are many, and I admire her vivid characterizations and realistic dialogue. This one involved auld acquaintances and relationships which the detectives had to unearth--usually the kind of thing that irritates me, but here I thought it worked well.
March 22, 2016
I have to say, reading three of these over a short period of time, I do find the plots unnecessarily complicated, and the author is particularly fascinated with unwanted pregnancies and subsequent offspring. Not to be too much of a shrink, but you have to wonder what's in her past that she is having trouble settling the score with that makes these themes so interesting to her. ANyway, this is competently written, and the author should not be read in bulk and all will be fine. THis one is potentially better than the other two earlier books that I have read, it was just too much the same in plot to be able to discern that.
April 28, 2015
Blood Sinister is proper police procedural with a now familiar cast. (Well, familiar if you have been reading the series in order as I have.) A journalist has been strangled and the evidence at the crime scene just doesn't make sense. Bit by bit Slider and his team learn pieces of what happened but seem to make no progress toward finding out who did it.
But, of course in the end, they do.
And Slider's love life is thrown for a loop again.
But, of course in the end, they do.
And Slider's love life is thrown for a loop again.
March 2, 2022
Unsatisfying!
This novel is one of a series about Detective Bill Slider of the Metropolitan Police Force in the U.K. It is the first of this series that I have read, and it was not particularly well-written, in my view. To me, the ending was quite unsatisfying. Slider eventually identifies the killer, but that's about it.
Adding to the lack of satisfaction is the fact that Slider's love interest, professional musician Joanna, has made a decision as to whether to accept a permanent job with an orchestra in the Netherlands and leave Slider behind in England. This occurs immediately after Slider's divorce decree from his first wife arrives in the mail. We learn that Joanna has made a decision, but not what that decision is. It is as if these novels are episodes in a TV series, like a soap opera or something.
I found all of the characters, including Slider's, to be rather two-dimensional. There is an excessive amount of description, and an insufficient amount of character development and storytelling. Who cares what the house, or the park, looks like in excruciating detail? Arrgh! If it doesn't contribute to the story, leave it out! I have one more of these stories on my Kindle to read, then I will stop reading this author's work. Others might like her novels, but I do not. Still, it has a limited amount of entertainment value that earns it three stars.
This novel is one of a series about Detective Bill Slider of the Metropolitan Police Force in the U.K. It is the first of this series that I have read, and it was not particularly well-written, in my view. To me, the ending was quite unsatisfying. Slider eventually identifies the killer, but that's about it.
Adding to the lack of satisfaction is the fact that Slider's love interest, professional musician Joanna, has made a decision as to whether to accept a permanent job with an orchestra in the Netherlands and leave Slider behind in England. This occurs immediately after Slider's divorce decree from his first wife arrives in the mail. We learn that Joanna has made a decision, but not what that decision is. It is as if these novels are episodes in a TV series, like a soap opera or something.
I found all of the characters, including Slider's, to be rather two-dimensional. There is an excessive amount of description, and an insufficient amount of character development and storytelling. Who cares what the house, or the park, looks like in excruciating detail? Arrgh! If it doesn't contribute to the story, leave it out! I have one more of these stories on my Kindle to read, then I will stop reading this author's work. Others might like her novels, but I do not. Still, it has a limited amount of entertainment value that earns it three stars.
March 7, 2024
This is book 8 in the British Bill Slider series.
Another murder case and the team are investigating the death of a journalist who used to write about the crimes and bad things happening in the police department. She is found in a compromising position which at first glance looks like one thing, but leads the team to many unanswered questions.
There were a lot of characters in this book, everyone with a story and/or alibi.
Bill and his partner Atherton are going through some personal changes as well, but the job must be done.
Interviews and eyewitnesses need to be questioned and re-questioned to confirm the guilty or non guilty decision. Alibis are given and proven wrong. No one is beyond the arm of the law, even upcoming political stars and their family members.
It took awhile to figure this one out, and then there was an unexpected twist.
Looking forward to the next adventure.
Another murder case and the team are investigating the death of a journalist who used to write about the crimes and bad things happening in the police department. She is found in a compromising position which at first glance looks like one thing, but leads the team to many unanswered questions.
There were a lot of characters in this book, everyone with a story and/or alibi.
Bill and his partner Atherton are going through some personal changes as well, but the job must be done.
Interviews and eyewitnesses need to be questioned and re-questioned to confirm the guilty or non guilty decision. Alibis are given and proven wrong. No one is beyond the arm of the law, even upcoming political stars and their family members.
It took awhile to figure this one out, and then there was an unexpected twist.
Looking forward to the next adventure.
May 2, 2021
An incredibly stunning, intriguing and tantalizing book! There are so many puzzling situations, so many looks-guilty characters, so many questions to be answered, so many answers that you cannot believe. It begins with the death of a well-known journalist, found strangled, on a Friday morning, with hands tied to her bedposts, and unclothed from the neck down. At first glance, it appeared that she had been assaulted, murdered, and the place wiped clean. But all of that was window dressing for what transpired during that evening. So many clues pointed to various characters; but in the end, the truth—if it were ever revealed—is shocking. To add to Slider’s turmoil, Oedipus, Atherton’s old kitty goes missing, Joanna has to make a vitally serious decision, and Atherton’s horse investment is iffy. This is by far the best Slider book to date.
April 17, 2023
Deserves 4.25 stars. Bill Slider investigates the murder of a Phoebe Agnew, a journalist who was a critic of the police and had a long time left-wing philosophy.
Phoebe had gone to university with Josh Prentiss and his wife; the three of them had stayed good friends ever since. The case turns out to be full of difficulties, twists and turns and a question of motive.
Slider's relationship with Joanna is an important part of the story, whether good or in question. His friend and key colleague, Atherton, is having difficulties as well.
Phoebe had gone to university with Josh Prentiss and his wife; the three of them had stayed good friends ever since. The case turns out to be full of difficulties, twists and turns and a question of motive.
Slider's relationship with Joanna is an important part of the story, whether good or in question. His friend and key colleague, Atherton, is having difficulties as well.
August 28, 2019
Another excellent instalment although again (this time due to a comment that caught my eye in some one else's review) I did guess the solution quite early. The Slider/Joanna story continues; I do find it a bit rich Slider expressing a desire to see his children - I doubt he can even remember his daughter's name!
February 23, 2022
Well I guessed before Slider did, part of the mystery of Angnew's death. When writers are so accomplished, I often wonder if I've been purposely led toward my partially correct conclusion.
Ms. H-E has such wonderful descriptive text, I do enjoy her turn of phrase and often sit and savor a particularly enjoyable one.
Ms. H-E has such wonderful descriptive text, I do enjoy her turn of phrase and often sit and savor a particularly enjoyable one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2018
I enjoy the wordplay in the books by this author. The plot was interesting, and the characters had distinct personalities.
April 28, 2020
Love it ...plot is easy to figure out but i am so enjoying this series and would recommend.
March 21, 2023
One of the best in the Slider series
Excellent charcterizations. Excellent and sensitive ending. A+ in this series by C. H -E. Highly recommended. Top of the line!
Excellent charcterizations. Excellent and sensitive ending. A+ in this series by C. H -E. Highly recommended. Top of the line!
April 20, 2023
I'm loving this series. The language play is refreshing, and I enjoy the plotting and the well-developed characters, especially the ones that continue from book to book.
July 24, 2010
8th in the Bill Slider Series -- Maybe Best Yet!
We'rem so glad we stumbled across Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, a prolific British writer we're guessing not well known here in the colonies, despite her portfolio of some 30+ books counting both these mysteries and over two dozen historical romances. We've only tried Bill Slider so far, but he's a wonderfully low-profile hero in the style of Dick Francis' leading men: guys you either want to be like (men) or want to be with (women). That our author can get that feeling so consistently over eight stories is impressive, despite plots that are entertaining and often complex enough to bewilder til right near the end.
The series is best read in order, because part of the fun is following Bill's personal life as his somewhat flawed marriage is tested (uncharacteristically for our straight arrow) by a lovely violinist that turns his head. His unattached "playboy" sidekick Atherton has much the same "trouble" and the interplay between these two men makes interesting counterpoint to the thorough police work otherwise on display. Indeed, we have come to know and like many of the precinct's supporting players beside our leading men.
We're guessing Harrod-Eagles has either real life experience in an orchestra or a close friend in one, because her description of the lives and times of the players, and the politics and "affairs" in the symphony, are right on. (If that's "just" the result of research, we're astounded!) Maybe best of all, some personal dilemmas for Joanna (our musician) add some real kick to the story, right up to a cliff-hanger ending that can only be resolved in the next book -- hopefully being penned as we speak!
So "Blood" seems to have it all: a mystery and plot that leads us here and there right to the end; compelling developments between Bill and Joanna that make us worry; and a story that entertains on almost every page. Sounds like 5-stars to us!!
We'rem so glad we stumbled across Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, a prolific British writer we're guessing not well known here in the colonies, despite her portfolio of some 30+ books counting both these mysteries and over two dozen historical romances. We've only tried Bill Slider so far, but he's a wonderfully low-profile hero in the style of Dick Francis' leading men: guys you either want to be like (men) or want to be with (women). That our author can get that feeling so consistently over eight stories is impressive, despite plots that are entertaining and often complex enough to bewilder til right near the end.
The series is best read in order, because part of the fun is following Bill's personal life as his somewhat flawed marriage is tested (uncharacteristically for our straight arrow) by a lovely violinist that turns his head. His unattached "playboy" sidekick Atherton has much the same "trouble" and the interplay between these two men makes interesting counterpoint to the thorough police work otherwise on display. Indeed, we have come to know and like many of the precinct's supporting players beside our leading men.
We're guessing Harrod-Eagles has either real life experience in an orchestra or a close friend in one, because her description of the lives and times of the players, and the politics and "affairs" in the symphony, are right on. (If that's "just" the result of research, we're astounded!) Maybe best of all, some personal dilemmas for Joanna (our musician) add some real kick to the story, right up to a cliff-hanger ending that can only be resolved in the next book -- hopefully being penned as we speak!
So "Blood" seems to have it all: a mystery and plot that leads us here and there right to the end; compelling developments between Bill and Joanna that make us worry; and a story that entertains on almost every page. Sounds like 5-stars to us!!
January 14, 2018
Phoebe Agnew – an investigative journalist – is found dead in her flat. During her career she has upset many different groups of people including the police but murder is murder and the culprit must be tracked down before anyone else loses their life.
Battling with loose ends which appear to be dead ends and his sidekick, Jim Atherton, who seems to be heading for a breakdown, Slider has his work cut out. One of his suspects is an advisor to the government and he finds his investigations blocked at every turn when he starts asking awkward questions.
I found this an engrossing read with some very well drawn characters and some interesting motivations. The banter between the police colleagues is amusing and lightens the atmosphere and I love the chapter headings.
This book can be read as a standalone story but it is better read as part of a series so that the development of the police characters can be followed. I am enjoying reading the series because the books are well written, with very little bad language or on the page violence. There are plenty of serious issues involved in all the books and psychological depth to the characters and they are all the better for not being too violent in my opinion.
Battling with loose ends which appear to be dead ends and his sidekick, Jim Atherton, who seems to be heading for a breakdown, Slider has his work cut out. One of his suspects is an advisor to the government and he finds his investigations blocked at every turn when he starts asking awkward questions.
I found this an engrossing read with some very well drawn characters and some interesting motivations. The banter between the police colleagues is amusing and lightens the atmosphere and I love the chapter headings.
This book can be read as a standalone story but it is better read as part of a series so that the development of the police characters can be followed. I am enjoying reading the series because the books are well written, with very little bad language or on the page violence. There are plenty of serious issues involved in all the books and psychological depth to the characters and they are all the better for not being too violent in my opinion.
March 23, 2016
This is what I would call a good old fashioned murder mystery. Not that it was set long ago, it wasn't, but because it is an easy to read detective novel with clues along the way. The characters are well written, sympathetic (you get the home background to the police officers) and as this is number 8 book of a series you feel like you know them. In this book a well known but not especially well liked political journalist is murdered. Because of her "prickly" character and her past there are a number of candidates for the role of murderer. This what I would call a comfortable read but it keeps you guessing because although I thought I knew who did it, I was wrong!!!
April 23, 2024
This was an interesting experience. I read a lot of British mysteries, or I thought that I did. This one was almost incomprehensible, not for the important stuff (plot, character, mystery, etc.) but for snippets of dialogue in, I assume, slang. Google was no help, and context didn’t do more than point me in the general direction.
“It was hard for a bloke at the fuzzy end to get excited about a new acronym, especially one that did not trip off the tongue.”
Fuzzy end? Fuzzy end of … a cigarette? A dust cloth? Try Googling that.
So: almost a learning experience. Otherwise, a lovely read. I am thrilled that I’ve found a nice, long series.
“It was hard for a bloke at the fuzzy end to get excited about a new acronym, especially one that did not trip off the tongue.”
Fuzzy end? Fuzzy end of … a cigarette? A dust cloth? Try Googling that.
So: almost a learning experience. Otherwise, a lovely read. I am thrilled that I’ve found a nice, long series.
September 20, 2007
Blood Sinister- G
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles - 8th in series
Journalist Phoebe Cutler had a name for championing the underdog - and for attacking the police whenever the opportunity arose. Now she's dead, and Inspector Bill Slider must demonstrate the impartiality of the law and find her killer. But Cutler had enemies in high and low places, and more than one secret in her past; and there seems to be someone who definitely doesn't want Slider to come up with the answer.
Not the best of hers but I still like the series.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles - 8th in series
Journalist Phoebe Cutler had a name for championing the underdog - and for attacking the police whenever the opportunity arose. Now she's dead, and Inspector Bill Slider must demonstrate the impartiality of the law and find her killer. But Cutler had enemies in high and low places, and more than one secret in her past; and there seems to be someone who definitely doesn't want Slider to come up with the answer.
Not the best of hers but I still like the series.
February 2, 2011
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' book titles sound like they were generated by a computer program with a list of adjectives and nouns that sound vaguely mystery-ish. That's a pretty minor complaint, though. On the whole, this was a little less transparent than the last one in the series, although crises in Slider's personal life are starting to get old. I keep reading my way through the series, though--she a really compelling writer and I enjoy these books.
June 17, 2023
This series is a favorite and one I will probably reread. While far from the "cozy" category, it still features a detective superintendent who is a kind and compassionate person, supervising an ensemble of quirky but decent detectives. Not so easy to find these days!
Nevertheless, when I reread it in 2023, I was greatly bothered by the open ending, not just the vomit itself but the subplot with Joanna. So now I have to reread Book Nine, Gone Tomorrow.
Nevertheless, when I reread it in 2023, I was greatly bothered by the open ending, not just the vomit itself but the subplot with Joanna. So now I have to reread Book Nine, Gone Tomorrow.
March 27, 2012
I liked this book because it was an excellent mystery. Even when I figured it out, I learned I still hadn't figured it out. Oddly enough, the word play in this one is not as good as her other books. Atherton was having a bad spell and it showed. I missed the plethora of double-entendres. On the other hand, Harrod-Eagles proved she could write a mystery without making everyone laugh over the puns and jokes and still have a great book.
September 2, 2012
Just as good as her others. On the personal side, it totally leaves you hanging about Bill & Joanna's future. On the Job side, it also leaves you hanging a bit: the figure out who killed the victim and why, but they have no actual evidence, and the killer is nearly untouchable -- in his government position
August 6, 2016
A really enjoyable read ... I thought I had the killer pegged but I, along with Slider, had it wrong. Kind of a strange end of the book but not really the end of the story. Regardless, the plot is rather involved but moves right along, and we don't know who dunnit until the very end. Will continue reading Ms. Harrod-Eagles.
August 19, 2008
A very good mystery with intersting characters and lots of twists and turns in the plot. You finally do realize who was the murderer but then the book ends with two puzzles not solved.
September 12, 2010
re-read
Read
September 23, 2011My second Bill Slider novel. I enjoyed the 1st one I read, Death To Go, so I'm looking forward to this one. A good easy read and I feel I'm getting to know the characters already.
September 23, 2011
A good entertainment
March 7, 2013
This book has everything I love in a mystery - great characters and most of all, it takes place in England. I really loved it and it's a great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews