Suddenly at Home

Brock and Poole Mystery #15

by Graham Ison

The latest case for Brock & Poole leads to a trip abroad . . . and tragedy at home.
When Richard Cooper is found shot to death in his luxury apartment in North Sheen, London, Detective Chief Inspector Harry Brock and Detective Sergeant Dave Poole are assigned the case. They immediately question Dennis Jones, who found Cooper s lifeless body, and Lydia Maxwell, who lived in the apartment opposite but is either of them telling the truth?
Richard Cooper appears to have been a very private man who left few clues behind. As the investigation gathers pace, however, a trip to Belgium could signal the possible unravelling of the mystery. But it soon becomes clear that the hunt for a determined killer could lead to tragedy for Harry and his team."

192 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2017

About the author

During Graham Ison's thirty-year career in Scotland Yard's Special Branch he was involved in several espionage cases and the investigation into the escape of the spy George Blake. He spent four years at 10 Downing Street as Protection Officer to two Prime Ministers and also served as second-in-command of the Diplomatic Protection Group.

Reviews

[Icewineanne]

Very straight forward mystery in the tradition of golden age stories. The writing is very cut & dry. Next to no personal information is revealed about the characters (other than DI Kate Ebdon dislikes every female she meets in the book). Forty pages before the end, Chief Inspector Harry Brock still doesn't have a clue as to who did it or why. By this point I was so bored with the story that i didn't care who did it.
It's a shame. The characters, from what little we're told of them, seemed like they could be interesting. Unfortunately we'll never know.

[Catharine]

The mixture as before. I always enjoy a Graham Ison: you know what you ae going to get and you can relax and enjoy it.

[Marilyn]

I've picked up Graham Ison's books at the library over the years and I'm never disappointed. They are tightly woven and straightforward. The characters are interesting and Ison stays with the plot from beginning to end without deviating into extraneous materials. He also doesn't add something gratuitously. They are not my favorite mysteries, but they are always enjoyable. I would probably rate this between three and four. His Hardcastle series is my favorite.

[Soozee]

This is a very well written series by someone who clearly understands police procedures. DCI Brock becomes involved in a murder that has links to sex crimes in Belgium, and eventually to the sex trade in London as well. The plot unfolds well, is pacy and kept my attention. The characters are appealing and well rounded.
A great series, and I shall be looking out for more from Brock and Pool.

[E A Smith]

It's more of the same. Can't you put some more drama in it. How about Ebden accidently shoots a naval police officer (not fatally) while investigating a crime wrongly believed to have been committed by a sailor on shore leave in London. That should provide fertile ground for turf fights, snide remarks about colonials, service/civilian disputes and other side effects.

[Martin]

Hard to put my finger on exactly what I disliked about the writing, but I think it felt to self-conscious. Anyway, I tried to push past it, but gave up less than halfway in.

[Denny]

NOOK

[Cybercrone]

I'm quite enjoying this series. It's very British and with the typical sly, dry wit. No overamped shock tactics or manufactured hysteria, just good solid, interesting procedural writing by someone who knows what it's all about.