Up and Down

Constable Frank Mitchell and Inspector Don Packham #1

by Mat Coward

Devious Plotting.

When Arthur "Beans" Jones is found pitchforked to death in his garden, Constable Frank Mitchell find himself -- amidst the sniggers and smirks of his colleagues -- paired with the legendary Inspector Don Packham. Though from day to day Mitchell is never sure whether he'll be working with the upbeat, jovial Packham or his manic-depressive alter ego, the task at hand is clear.

Why would anyone murder an old man who did little but tend to his beans? The answer, Packham is certain, lies with the other gardeners in the allotment where Mr. Jones toiled daily. Digging into the lives of the other "plotters" -- the American woman "Dill," growing herbs for beauty creams; the punker "Weed," growing something . . . er, illegal; the cheerful "Mother Hubbard" and her brood -- Mitchell and Packham uncover the real dirt surrounding a garden-variety killer.

Genres: Mystery

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Susan]

Frank Mitchell just wants to rise in the ranks of the police, and working on a murder case has to help him, right? But the lead investigator is Don Packham, and everyone has been warned to avoid him. He has a mental problem that has him up one day, and down the next. When he's down, he drinks wine and doesn't smoke. Frank soon learns how to work on his own, even though he feels out of his depth in investigating the death of an elderly pensioner who is dedicated to gardening on his allotment. The only other suspects are his fellow gardeners, most of whom are eccentric in one way or another. Delightful debut of this series.

[Anne]

If you like Donald Westlake, Carl Hiassen or Elmore Leonard, this is for you. Police partners Don Packham (grouchy, odd, verging on bipolar) and Frank Mitchell (married, pleasant, downright normal)ponder the mysteries of life in cars, pubs, and at the occasional crime scene. Terrific wordplay and oddly touching characters. A lovely read and a delightful beginning to a series. (The latest, Open and Closed, is a must for library fans.

[CK]

excellent!