The Dust of Death

Inspector Starrett Mystery #1

by Paul Charles

Inspector Starrett is in his mid forties, dresses well, likes a pint of Guinness and is a decade into his third career. The locals say he may have a sixth he's not so sure but has been eternally grateful when that special something or other has kept him out of trouble and come to his aid on a few of his cases. Now the bloodied body of a crucified man is discovered in a Church in an Irish Heritage Town on the first Friday of summer and Starrett and the rest of the Serious Crime Unit are investigating. The team soon realizes that town is not nearly as righteous as its many churches might suggest. ""Strong style, characterization, and sense of place.""-Ellery Queen ""A very much recommended read for mystery fans.""-The Midwest Book Review

Genres: Ireland, Mystery

284 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

Paul Charles was born and raised in Northern Ireland. He now lives and works in Camden Town, where he divides his time between writing novels and short stories and working in the music industry.

Reviews

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Dust of Death is the first book in a pair of Inspector Starrett mysteries set in northern Donegal. This one focuses on solving the murder by crucifixion of a local carpenter. Starrett is a genial though lovelorn copper who had a career as a classic car dealer in London before returning to Ireland and becoming a policeman. Despite the gruesome murder, the tale is somewhat of a cosie-style police procedural – a kind of Ballykissangel meets Midsomer Murders mystery set in a small village full of characters and gossips. The tale is pleasant enough, but suffers from a weakness in detail with regards to characters (one policeman is a champion hurler from Galway but plays for Donegal; another is 72 years old and a former major in the British Army – both highly unlikely) and police procedure, which seems to lack structure and process but rather meanders along. Indeed, a logical and critical question is not asked by the police at the start of the investigation that would have led to it being solved very quickly. The result is a light-hearted tale that lacks depth and substance.

[Sarah]

I read the first 80 pages and skipped to the end to find out who did the dirty deed. This just isn't my style of writing for police procedurals, even if I chose it for the Donegal setting. I didn't like Inspector Starrett or how he described the females around him.

[Patricia Brown]

Strange, involuted mystery set in County Donegal's picturesque mountains and seashore villages. Charming setting and lots of details about Irish country living.

[LeeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet little mystery set in Donegal, Ireland and featuring Inspector Starrett of the Irish Gardai. The book reads like a first novel in a series where a lot of time is spent setting up the characters and place. It feels rather like listening to a storyteller spinning a yarn, complete with jokes and anecdotes that don't necessarily further the story but rather endear the listener to the storyteller. I couldn't survive on a full diet of this sort of book but as an occasional treat, it hits the spot. I'll read the next one in the series.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant police procedural set in a small town in Ireland near the border of Northern Ireland(though the crime is horrific it takes place off page).

[Jamie]

Didn't finish. Hokey.

[Mary Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gruesome murder in a non-denominational church in Northern Ireland with quirky characters

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite impressed by this author, have read a couple of his other series (Christy Kennedy) and enjoyed them but this is the first I have read in the Inspector Starrett series. This is just as good.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually a re-read, but I suppose it still counts as having been read this year.

[Tessa in Mid-Michigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gruesome crime, but pretty good book.