The Inspector Peach Mysteries Books 1–7

Inspector Peach #1-7

by J.M. Gregson

In this 7-book box set:

BOOK 1: WHO SAW HIM DIE?
Widower Tom Harrison is found dead in the house he shares unhappily with his social worker son and a group of ex-prisoners who use the place as a halfway house. Suspicion predictably falls on his ex-con housemates, but DI Percy Peach wonders if guilt lies in less obvious places . . .

BOOK 2: MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD
Despite a lack of natural golfing ability, DI Peach has joined a golf club. When the body of a pregnant woman is found on the course, he must find the killer while learning to work with his new, ambitious assistant.

BOOK 3: TO KILL A WIFE
Verna Hume insists on remaining married to her husband, purely out of spite. She’s found strangled at home, but DI Peach and DS Blake don’t consider her husband the prime suspect. Verna has offended too many people and some of her enemies are very angry indeed . . .

BOOK 4: A TURBULENT PRIEST
A Catholic priest’s body is found dead, washed up at the bottom of a cliff. While solving the case DI Peach starts to confront his own Catholic upbringing. And he and DS Blake unearth a scandal that extends far beyond the local church . . .

BOOK 5: THE LANCASHIRE LEOPARD
A young woman is found dead in the Lancashire village of Brunton at New Year. The third in a chain of deaths associated with the ‘Lancashire Leopard’. DI Peach is soon on the case, but the Leopard eludes him. And then another victim is uncovered . . .

BOOK 6: A LITTLE LEARNING
Two university students plan ‘the perfect crime’ but when the time comes to commit it, their victim is already dead. How can they explain the presence of a corpse, and escape conviction for a crime they planned, but didn’t actually commit? DI Peach and DS Blake must unravel this complex case.

BOOK 7: MURDER AT THE LODGE
A man is murdered in the car park at a Freemasons’ function and DI Peach is called in to investigate. Uncovering a vipers’ nest of petty jealousies and seedy goings-on at the Lodge, Peach must work out which of the dead man’s many enemies is the killer.

1574 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2023

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

[Esther Turnbull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to start with but all seemed a bit the same. Perhaps I shouldn't have read them one after other.

[valerie gosling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

I enjoyed reading this box set lots of humour which is refreshing great characters first-class plot developing slowly keeping you turning the pages to the very end

[Shelly L · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not care for the character. I like characters that touch you in a positive way. Inspector Percy did not do that for me.

[Ted A Faucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has a flare for set-ups of supervisors and the subsequent put downs which leave the supervisor speechless and confused. I particularly liked "To Kill a Wife." In this unusual work, the author gives the reader at the book's beginning all 5 of the possible killers who have each been so verbally traumatized that this reader felt each victim well within their right to kill off the abuser. The remainder of the literary work is then spent gathering and discarding evidence to narrow down the killer at the end of the work. It was most satisfying in our current age of social dis-ease. I liked this series very much. I recommend it.

[tamazon hulme · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took up the offer of the first 7 books in the series for a pittance. These are well written and the stories keep you interested but the more I read the more annoyed I was getting. I liked the fact they are set around my neck of the woods and even mentioned my local golf course.
The author had obviously completed the mandatory creative writing course as there are large passages you have to skip to get back to the storyline (first 100 pages of the first book is dedicated to the art by the author until they remember there needs to be a plot).
The series also follows A-Z of crime writing, lone central figure at odds with incompetent boss who has nothing going for him in the looks department but still gets the glamorous girl. The stories have a number of suspects until the penultimate chapter when Percy (why not fuzzy) has a blinding light moment to identify the killer who then makes a full confession, only one book had a clue you could pick up to conclude who the killer was.
Running through the book series is the authors roman Catholic heritage and the hatred of the freemasons, they mention the central character is a lapsed Catholic but then continually refers to it throughout. The author highlights the 18th century Pope who started the war against freemasonry but doesn't draws parallels with Roman Catholics seeking out others in the same club, no funny handshake but questions centered on what parish you are from or school you went to.
I would still recommend this series as you need to find a style of writing that suits you sir and I have still gained from the experience.

[Gregory Beaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first in the series was the best book I've read in a long time, a good, old fashioned whodunnit. I enjoy 'police procedurals' but the lack of techinical, scientific stuff in this was very refreshing. Nice to have a solid, old fashioned copper in it too and no tedious, virtue signalling bore talking pseudo psycho babble nonsense. Excellent, can't wait to read the rest.

[Ms Anne Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting reading

Started the first book and thought this is hard going but kept reading and loved the whole series. Percy Peach is an interesting character and the author mellows him to a funny and insightful character when DS Blake comes

[Mcbemused · Rating 4 out of 5]

A peach of a detective series

Highly readable stories with believable plots and realistic characters. Dropped a star due to out-dated and unnecessary misogynistic language at times, which can be jarring when read by a woman.

[Lesley Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a pleasure

These books reminded me of Tom Sharps writing style brilliant story lines and a wonderful comedic inclusion in all of them,
Such fun to read and enjoy , along side the thrill of the chase ,
Highly recommend!!!

[frank wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

Really enjoyed this mini library of detective stories and the amazing Percy Peach. Can really recommend to anyone who enjoys these types of stories, especially in a box set!

[Lesley Ann Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read

Now I have completed the box set I feel as though I have lost good friends. There is some pathos and amusement in the writing and also unexpected twists in the stories.

[Mcbemused · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read with likeable characters. Possibly a few too many of the comedy moments between Peach and his superior as they went on too long at times.

[Jessie Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow pace, for me not a "page turner" and not a cozy. Read the first one but didn't get past page 2 of the second. Just too depressingly dark for my taste.

[CR WHITTLE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up with the best

These books have everything you need in murder mysteries. Twists and turns, murder, romance, laughter and surprises round every corner.

[Mary Clifton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love that they are so un-PC

Dated in terms of language but exactly from my era, so I love it. The relationship between Peach and Tucker is hysterical and brilliant. Superb!!

[Michelle Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable

Lots of twists and turns Made me smile from time to time Enjoyed the plot and eventual outcome Worth a read

[Ziggy Golden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a great read, some beautiful passages of prose, wonderful descriptions of characters and places.