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With his wife-to-be’s wedding budget spiralling out of control and his superintendent demanding the swift resolution to the series of muggings of local loan sharks' collectors, DI Joe Rafferty is anticipating a long and trying week. And sure, enough, he isn’t disappointed.
When one John ‘Jaws’ Harrison is found with his skull caved in, in an alleyway backing on to rundown Primrose Avenue while on his way to collect debt repayments from the residents, Rafferty and his intellectual partner, Sergeant Dafyd Llewellyn, imagine the case will be easily solved. Armed with a list of local debtors, they begin their investigations. But they hadn’t counted on the conspiracy of silence amongst the residents — most of whom had good reason to want Jaws dead.
With the Super breathing down his neck and fiancée Abra sending his blood pressure to boiling point, Rafferty is forced to make some unorthodox decisions and stretch his intuitive powers to breaking point.
When one John ‘Jaws’ Harrison is found with his skull caved in, in an alleyway backing on to rundown Primrose Avenue while on his way to collect debt repayments from the residents, Rafferty and his intellectual partner, Sergeant Dafyd Llewellyn, imagine the case will be easily solved. Armed with a list of local debtors, they begin their investigations. But they hadn’t counted on the conspiracy of silence amongst the residents — most of whom had good reason to want Jaws dead.
With the Super breathing down his neck and fiancée Abra sending his blood pressure to boiling point, Rafferty is forced to make some unorthodox decisions and stretch his intuitive powers to breaking point.
- GenresMystery
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2008
5 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Geraldine Evans
50 books100 followersaka Geraldine Hartnett.
I'm a British author and live in Norfolk, England. I write mystery/detective novels and have two series on the go: Rafferty & Llewellyn and Casey & Catt.
Series:
* Rafferty and Llewellyn Mystery
* Casey and Catt Mystery
I also write historical novels, of which my first is Reluctant Queen: The Story of Mary Rose Tudor, the Defiant Little Sister of Infamous English king, Henry VIII.
I'm a British author and live in Norfolk, England. I write mystery/detective novels and have two series on the go: Rafferty & Llewellyn and Casey & Catt.
Series:
* Rafferty and Llewellyn Mystery
* Casey and Catt Mystery
I also write historical novels, of which my first is Reluctant Queen: The Story of Mary Rose Tudor, the Defiant Little Sister of Infamous English king, Henry VIII.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 29, 2019
I liked Ms Evans tortured detective, DI Rafferty from the first page. He wasn’t your usual ambitious, driven policeman trying to make a name for himself. Rafferty is a bit jaded and not too motivated about finding the attackers of three men who collect for a local loan shark, until his boss hauls him over the coals. His partner, DS Dafyd Llewellyn also has to prove he is up the job – as if his name wasn’t enough for any man to cope with!
The first surprising thing is when one of the so-called muggings turns into murder, then the second that his boss says his golfing buddy is the loan shark so Rafferty is warned not to drag his feet in the investigation. Hmm interesting.
Then there is Abra, Rafferty’s fiancé who is determined to have a celebrity wedding on a copper’s salary – and after a long shift at the cop shop, expects him to collect the takeaway - not a partnership destined to last.
The plot is laid out in an easy to read style and beautifully English without being over the top with the idioms. It gathers momentum as the witnesses are rounded up and give their side of the story, or at least their versions of it. Then amongst the lies, evasions and ‘no comments’ one of them says they saw someone. Clues begin to emerge hazily from the confusion of a low-rent community terrorised by loan sharks, in fact so subtly, I had to concentrate so as not to miss them.
The characterisation, humour and dialogue is thoroughly enjoyable with plenty of blind alleys which keep the reader guessing. Ms Evans had a good grasp of police procedures without getting too embroiled in the nitty gritty.
Without spoiling the book for others, I have to say I was biting my nails when the well-meaning Llewellyn has a ‘helpful’ chat with his wife about the deluded Abra and it gets passed on – whoops.
The character growth of DI Rafferty is well handled, in that he changes from a lackadaisical box ticker to a man torn between his need to get the job done and his sympathy for people driven to use the services of low-life loan sharks who prey on them.
As a traditional British mystery which doesn’t need to shock, and yet still keeps the reader engaged, this is a winner.
The first surprising thing is when one of the so-called muggings turns into murder, then the second that his boss says his golfing buddy is the loan shark so Rafferty is warned not to drag his feet in the investigation. Hmm interesting.
Then there is Abra, Rafferty’s fiancé who is determined to have a celebrity wedding on a copper’s salary – and after a long shift at the cop shop, expects him to collect the takeaway - not a partnership destined to last.
The plot is laid out in an easy to read style and beautifully English without being over the top with the idioms. It gathers momentum as the witnesses are rounded up and give their side of the story, or at least their versions of it. Then amongst the lies, evasions and ‘no comments’ one of them says they saw someone. Clues begin to emerge hazily from the confusion of a low-rent community terrorised by loan sharks, in fact so subtly, I had to concentrate so as not to miss them.
The characterisation, humour and dialogue is thoroughly enjoyable with plenty of blind alleys which keep the reader guessing. Ms Evans had a good grasp of police procedures without getting too embroiled in the nitty gritty.
Without spoiling the book for others, I have to say I was biting my nails when the well-meaning Llewellyn has a ‘helpful’ chat with his wife about the deluded Abra and it gets passed on – whoops.
The character growth of DI Rafferty is well handled, in that he changes from a lackadaisical box ticker to a man torn between his need to get the job done and his sympathy for people driven to use the services of low-life loan sharks who prey on them.
As a traditional British mystery which doesn’t need to shock, and yet still keeps the reader engaged, this is a winner.
December 15, 2013
4.5 stars
UK crime writer Geraldine Evans adds to her impressive Rafferty and Llewellyn police procedural series with Death Dues, the eleventh in the series.
With DI Rafferty’s impending nuptials threatening to equal the national debt, he and the steady DS Llewellyn are tasked with solving the murder of unsavoury debt collector John ‘Jaws’ Harrison. The murder occurs in a dark alley on a council estate where most of the inhabitants have good reason to want Jaws dead – and for Rafferty the investigation cuts a little too close to home.
Death Dues is a gripping police procedural told with wit and intelligence in which clues are planted with such a light touch they are only obvious once the case is solved. Rafferty’s family dilemmas are well drawn, but if you like family drama laced with angst you won’t find it here. This is a straight police procedural painted with a pallet of internal politics, family baggage and mateship all framed in an intriguing puzzle. Death Dues is a crime novel that doesn’t need bells and whistles to ring with veracity.
Previously traditionally published, Death Dues and all of the Rafferty and Llewellyn series (15 in all) are now available as e-books.
For an informative interview with Geraldine Evans go to http://rowenaholloway.com/riffing-on-...
UK crime writer Geraldine Evans adds to her impressive Rafferty and Llewellyn police procedural series with Death Dues, the eleventh in the series.
With DI Rafferty’s impending nuptials threatening to equal the national debt, he and the steady DS Llewellyn are tasked with solving the murder of unsavoury debt collector John ‘Jaws’ Harrison. The murder occurs in a dark alley on a council estate where most of the inhabitants have good reason to want Jaws dead – and for Rafferty the investigation cuts a little too close to home.
Death Dues is a gripping police procedural told with wit and intelligence in which clues are planted with such a light touch they are only obvious once the case is solved. Rafferty’s family dilemmas are well drawn, but if you like family drama laced with angst you won’t find it here. This is a straight police procedural painted with a pallet of internal politics, family baggage and mateship all framed in an intriguing puzzle. Death Dues is a crime novel that doesn’t need bells and whistles to ring with veracity.
Previously traditionally published, Death Dues and all of the Rafferty and Llewellyn series (15 in all) are now available as e-books.
For an informative interview with Geraldine Evans go to http://rowenaholloway.com/riffing-on-...
March 1, 2014
DI Joe Rafferty is a man with problems. His fiancée wants a royal wedding on his distinctly non-royal salary, and his boss is hounding him to solve the muggings of loan shark collectors. As if he doesn’t have enough mush in his bowl, a collector ends up with his head bashed in, and Rafferty and his partner, DS Dafyd Llewellyn must find the killer.
Death Dues by Geraldine Evans is British cozy mystery at its best, with witty conversations between Rafferty and Llewellyn, and no end to twists, red herrings, and misdirection to keep you guessing until the very end. Evans paints a full-color – though not rosy – picture of Essex and its environs, and trots out a cast of characters that you want to love, hate, and smash – in no particular order.
I read a free review copy of Death Dues, and found that I couldn’t put it down until I’d reached the end, and then had to go back to search for the clues I somehow missed the first time through. If you like traditional British mysteries, you’ll absolutely love Death Dues.
Death Dues by Geraldine Evans is British cozy mystery at its best, with witty conversations between Rafferty and Llewellyn, and no end to twists, red herrings, and misdirection to keep you guessing until the very end. Evans paints a full-color – though not rosy – picture of Essex and its environs, and trots out a cast of characters that you want to love, hate, and smash – in no particular order.
I read a free review copy of Death Dues, and found that I couldn’t put it down until I’d reached the end, and then had to go back to search for the clues I somehow missed the first time through. If you like traditional British mysteries, you’ll absolutely love Death Dues.
March 5, 2014
If you like reality and the fact that police work is just as frustrating and rewarding as a regular day job this is a book for you! Good real life characters. Very down to earth!
April 27, 2019
Another smart and whimsically funny police procedural from Geraldine Evans! She certainly has a winner with this delightfully mismatched detective team. As always the story is delivered with wit and more than a touch of human nature wrapped up in a mystery.
Rafferty and his fiancée, Abra, haven’t even set a wedding date yet, and already wedding costs seem to be spiraling out of control. Abra has her heart set on a dream wedding. As she says, this will be her one and only. Rafferty frets over paying for everything, but with a response from Abra of ‘Aren’t I worth it?’ what does one do?
If only that were the end of his troubles. There have been a series of muggings. The victims being the enforcers for local loan sharks makes any possible witnesses shy away. No one wants to get involved in what may be a turf war.
When the latest victim is killed instead of mugged, the stakes are raised. The super is on Rafferty’s back to solve the crimes adding more stress for the overworked team. The victim was on his collection rounds when he died. It seems most of the residents of the street had reason to wish to be rid of the man, but no one claims to have even seen him that afternoon.
Could their silence be a conspiracy? Can Rafferty and Llewellyn break through this neighborhood code of silence? Can Rafferty find wedding solutions that fit his pocketbook and make his bride happy? Is the wedding in jeopardy?
I was gifted the boxset containing this novel and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rafferty and his fiancée, Abra, haven’t even set a wedding date yet, and already wedding costs seem to be spiraling out of control. Abra has her heart set on a dream wedding. As she says, this will be her one and only. Rafferty frets over paying for everything, but with a response from Abra of ‘Aren’t I worth it?’ what does one do?
If only that were the end of his troubles. There have been a series of muggings. The victims being the enforcers for local loan sharks makes any possible witnesses shy away. No one wants to get involved in what may be a turf war.
When the latest victim is killed instead of mugged, the stakes are raised. The super is on Rafferty’s back to solve the crimes adding more stress for the overworked team. The victim was on his collection rounds when he died. It seems most of the residents of the street had reason to wish to be rid of the man, but no one claims to have even seen him that afternoon.
Could their silence be a conspiracy? Can Rafferty and Llewellyn break through this neighborhood code of silence? Can Rafferty find wedding solutions that fit his pocketbook and make his bride happy? Is the wedding in jeopardy?
I was gifted the boxset containing this novel and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 3, 2017
Not sure why he wants to marry someone who is not supportive of his job and not prudent with his money.
December 1, 2013
4.5 stars Review by Blogger Rowena Holloway
UK crime writer Geraldine Evans adds to her impressive Rafferty and Llewellyn police procedural series with Death Dues, the eleventh in the series.
With DI Rafferty's impending nuptials threatening to equal the national debt, he and the steady DS Llewellyn are tasked with solving the murder of unsavoury debt collector John `Jaws' Harrison. The murder occurs in a dark alley on a council estate where most of the inhabitants have good reason to want Jaws dead - and for Rafferty the investigation cuts a little too close to home.
Death Dues is a gripping police procedural told with wit and intelligence in which clues are planted with such a light touch they are only obvious once the case is solved. Rafferty's family dilemmas are well drawn, but if you like family drama laced with angst you won't find it here. This is a straight police procedural painted with a pallet of internal politics, family baggage and mateship all framed in an intriguing puzzle. Death Dues is a crime novel that doesn't need bells and whistles to ring with veracity.
Previously traditionally published, Death Dues and (nearly) all of the Rafferty and Llewellyn series (15 in all) are now available as e-books.
For an informative interview with Geraldine Evans go to http://rowenaholloway.com/riffing-on-...
UK crime writer Geraldine Evans adds to her impressive Rafferty and Llewellyn police procedural series with Death Dues, the eleventh in the series.
With DI Rafferty's impending nuptials threatening to equal the national debt, he and the steady DS Llewellyn are tasked with solving the murder of unsavoury debt collector John `Jaws' Harrison. The murder occurs in a dark alley on a council estate where most of the inhabitants have good reason to want Jaws dead - and for Rafferty the investigation cuts a little too close to home.
Death Dues is a gripping police procedural told with wit and intelligence in which clues are planted with such a light touch they are only obvious once the case is solved. Rafferty's family dilemmas are well drawn, but if you like family drama laced with angst you won't find it here. This is a straight police procedural painted with a pallet of internal politics, family baggage and mateship all framed in an intriguing puzzle. Death Dues is a crime novel that doesn't need bells and whistles to ring with veracity.
Previously traditionally published, Death Dues and (nearly) all of the Rafferty and Llewellyn series (15 in all) are now available as e-books.
For an informative interview with Geraldine Evans go to http://rowenaholloway.com/riffing-on-...
March 18, 2014
2.5 stars
I had not read any of the other Rafferty & Llewellyn books before reading Death Dues, and having finished this one, I will not be reading any more of them. Describing this book as a "procedural" gives it entirely too much credit; rather, it is a repetitive round of witness interviews conducted by flat characters, interspersed with irrelevant and faintly misogynistic episodes relating to Rafferty's impending marriage. Given that this is the eleventh book in the series, I expected the main characters, and their relationship, to be well-developed; to the contrary, the interactions between Rafferty and Llewellyn are superficial, with no explanation as to why Llewellyn would tolerate Rafferty's taking advantage of him (to make tea, to print wedding invitations, etc.)
In some books, weak and uninteresting characters are at least partially offset by an intriguing crime with well-placed clues. Unfortunately, neither the crimes Rafferty and Llewellyn are "investigating," nor their resolution, was sufficient to redeem Death Dues. Readers looking for well-written British police procedurals with strong characters and fascinating mysteries, written by female authors, should consider the works of Val McDermid or Mo Hayder instead.
I received a free copy of Death Dues from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.
I had not read any of the other Rafferty & Llewellyn books before reading Death Dues, and having finished this one, I will not be reading any more of them. Describing this book as a "procedural" gives it entirely too much credit; rather, it is a repetitive round of witness interviews conducted by flat characters, interspersed with irrelevant and faintly misogynistic episodes relating to Rafferty's impending marriage. Given that this is the eleventh book in the series, I expected the main characters, and their relationship, to be well-developed; to the contrary, the interactions between Rafferty and Llewellyn are superficial, with no explanation as to why Llewellyn would tolerate Rafferty's taking advantage of him (to make tea, to print wedding invitations, etc.)
In some books, weak and uninteresting characters are at least partially offset by an intriguing crime with well-placed clues. Unfortunately, neither the crimes Rafferty and Llewellyn are "investigating," nor their resolution, was sufficient to redeem Death Dues. Readers looking for well-written British police procedurals with strong characters and fascinating mysteries, written by female authors, should consider the works of Val McDermid or Mo Hayder instead.
I received a free copy of Death Dues from Story Cartel in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2014
I read with interest because I LOVE British murder mysteries. I haven't picked up a police procedural in a long time. The dialogue is absolutely spot-on. The way that Rafferty is always stepping in mud, getting rain-soaked, or having his partner Llewellyn lose patience with his driving is so very realistic. I only wish the landscape were more visually imparted to the reader. I could see the alley, the terraced houses that backed on to it, the other houses lining the street, but I didn't get a good feel for any of the other landscape features around about. I have no idea really what this part of England looks like. The police procedural part was a little drawn out, I wish there were more things that happened to keep me turning the pages, instead of cups of tea and interview, cup of tea and interview, cup of tea and interview. I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened at the end. I would recommend this to anyone who loves the detail in an investigation.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews