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17 Cavendish Square
'Gritty and unsettling ... A promising start to a new crime series.' Thomas Waugh
17 Cavendish Square. The home of the Pelican Club - a notorious upmarket brothel. Now the scene of a murder.
DCI Mike Saxby - straight-shooting and by-the-book - is called in to investigate the death of the madame, Linda Clifford.
The case throws up more questions than answers, as well as a slew of suspects.
Saxby and his team also uncover secrets which involve the highest echelons of the police - and a centuries-old mystery of a murdered witch.
Juggling issues, which concern both his family and his mis-matched personnel, Saxby doggedly continues his investigation.
As they begin to dig up the past, Saxby will be forced to face the depths of human depravity. But how far will the investigation go... ?
Recommended for fans of Mel Sherratt, Angela Marsons and Ian Rankin.
Author David Field is a retired criminal lawyer. His background experience has led to the creation of contemporary crime investigator DCI Mike Saxby, in a series of novels published by Sharpe Books. He is also the author of an Elizabethan series of crime books.
17 Cavendish Square. The home of the Pelican Club - a notorious upmarket brothel. Now the scene of a murder.
DCI Mike Saxby - straight-shooting and by-the-book - is called in to investigate the death of the madame, Linda Clifford.
The case throws up more questions than answers, as well as a slew of suspects.
Saxby and his team also uncover secrets which involve the highest echelons of the police - and a centuries-old mystery of a murdered witch.
Juggling issues, which concern both his family and his mis-matched personnel, Saxby doggedly continues his investigation.
As they begin to dig up the past, Saxby will be forced to face the depths of human depravity. But how far will the investigation go... ?
Recommended for fans of Mel Sherratt, Angela Marsons and Ian Rankin.
Author David Field is a retired criminal lawyer. His background experience has led to the creation of contemporary crime investigator DCI Mike Saxby, in a series of novels published by Sharpe Books. He is also the author of an Elizabethan series of crime books.
198 pages, Paperback
Published July 23, 2019
About the author
David Field
59 books101 followersDavid was born in post-war Nottingham, and educated at Nottingham High School. After obtaining a Law degree he became a career-long criminal law practitioner and academic, emigrating in 1989 to Australia, where he still lives.
Combining his two great loves of History and the English language he began writing historical novels as an escape from the realities of life in the criminal law, but did not begin to publish them until close to fulltime retirement, when digital publishing offered a viable alternative to literary agencies, print publishers and rejection slips.
Now blessed with all the time in the world, his former hobby has become a fulltime occupation as he enjoys life in rural New South Wales with his wife, sons and grandchildren to keep him firmly grounded in the reality of the contemporary world.
David Field is published by Sapere Books.
Combining his two great loves of History and the English language he began writing historical novels as an escape from the realities of life in the criminal law, but did not begin to publish them until close to fulltime retirement, when digital publishing offered a viable alternative to literary agencies, print publishers and rejection slips.
Now blessed with all the time in the world, his former hobby has become a fulltime occupation as he enjoys life in rural New South Wales with his wife, sons and grandchildren to keep him firmly grounded in the reality of the contemporary world.
David Field is published by Sapere Books.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 20, 2019
David Field’s recent police procedural novellas contrast nicely with some of his past writing, which some will know I have enjoyed a great deal. While I discovered Field with his ‘Victorian’ and ‘Tudor’ writing, this modern story has a peppering of times past, which helps to pull things together in a wonderful mix of mystery, history, and grit. When the manager of a high-end brothel is found with a hypodermic needle in her arm, everyone is baffled and highly troubled. It would appear someone injected Linda Clifford with some laced heroin, though the victim had no known enemies. When the authorities arrive, it soon becomes evident that Clifford’s ongoing cooperation with ‘Operation Delilah’ could be one glaring reason to see her exterminated. Delilah has been covertly monitoring sex trafficking from the former Balkan states over the past number of months, something the British authorities have sought to eradicate. Enter, DCI Mike Saxby, who is asked to head up the investigation and oversee two incompatible detectives who are working many angles. He’s also being harassed by a local journalist who wants to share the history of the building. It would seem that 17 Cavendish Square has a long history of hauntings and strange goings-on, though Saxby has not yet accepted that this crime has anything to do with it. Digging a little deeper and trying to find the one employee who was mysteriously absent just after the body was found, Saxby and his team work to gather the numerous shards of information and determine who might know more than they are letting on. If that were not enough, Saxby is trying to deal with his family life, which includes a daughter who seeks ongoing financial compensation for her various needs. With press building on the case, it will be up to Saxby to determine if this was another ghost-related criminal act, or if someone will have to be held accountable for the murder. The motive must be evident, though it will surely take Saxby and his team a great deal of effort to connect the dots. Field does well entering the modern police procedural, keeping his story on point in short order and holding the reader’s attention throughout. Recommended for those who enjoy police procedurals, as well as the reader who wants something quick to digest.
I have enjoyed David Field and his writing since I first stumbled upon his Victorian crime series. He is able to compact a full mystery into a novella and keep the reader wanting to learn more, without weighing them down with too much minutiae. This story works well in its modern setting, as the narrative is fast-paced and the characters take little down time. DCI Mike Saxby proves to be the protagonist, more because he is the spoke in the wheel than being front and centre in the investigation. His management of the information garnered by two DIs helps to show his management style, which is offset with his subordinate role in the Saxby household, with a strong-willed wife and financially dependant university daughter. The reader learns a little about Saxby throughout, both personal and some backstory, though it is his case management that proves to be the most prevalent part of this story. Other characters serve well to keep the story moving in a positive direction, as the reader learns much about the case through their dialogue and some of the narrative direction that pushes them towards certain discoveries. Field uses the compacted time he has to reveal much, while also injecting a great deal of history—modern and more dated—to educate the reader throughout. Deception awaits at every turn, though the reader can revel in it all and try to piece together what’s going on, based on the various bits of information that are revealed. I quite liked the story and found the mix of regional tensions and historical goings-on quite well done. As with many of Field’s pieces, the reader must attach themselves early on or they will be lost in the overall experience. I am pleased to have another DCI Mike Saxby story close at hand, as I am eager to see what threads left to dangle are utilised in the follow-up mystery.
Kudos, Mr. Field, for another entertaining piece. I always enjoy seeing your ides put to paper and marvel at how they are all released at the same time, though prove vastly different.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
I have enjoyed David Field and his writing since I first stumbled upon his Victorian crime series. He is able to compact a full mystery into a novella and keep the reader wanting to learn more, without weighing them down with too much minutiae. This story works well in its modern setting, as the narrative is fast-paced and the characters take little down time. DCI Mike Saxby proves to be the protagonist, more because he is the spoke in the wheel than being front and centre in the investigation. His management of the information garnered by two DIs helps to show his management style, which is offset with his subordinate role in the Saxby household, with a strong-willed wife and financially dependant university daughter. The reader learns a little about Saxby throughout, both personal and some backstory, though it is his case management that proves to be the most prevalent part of this story. Other characters serve well to keep the story moving in a positive direction, as the reader learns much about the case through their dialogue and some of the narrative direction that pushes them towards certain discoveries. Field uses the compacted time he has to reveal much, while also injecting a great deal of history—modern and more dated—to educate the reader throughout. Deception awaits at every turn, though the reader can revel in it all and try to piece together what’s going on, based on the various bits of information that are revealed. I quite liked the story and found the mix of regional tensions and historical goings-on quite well done. As with many of Field’s pieces, the reader must attach themselves early on or they will be lost in the overall experience. I am pleased to have another DCI Mike Saxby story close at hand, as I am eager to see what threads left to dangle are utilised in the follow-up mystery.
Kudos, Mr. Field, for another entertaining piece. I always enjoy seeing your ides put to paper and marvel at how they are all released at the same time, though prove vastly different.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
September 12, 2022
It’s like two separate books in one and the first two in a series, which I guess it is. I actually could not put this down, but not just because of the story but because I loved the characters. All of them, but particularly DCI Mike Saxby, his wife Alison, young police officer Cathy who reminds Mike of his daughter and keeps feeding him yoghurt so he can lose weight (orders from above ie Alison) and even boring Dave Petrie. Or Paperless Petrie as he is known, because he never does his admin. Mike is known as Paddington for reasons that will become clear and marmalade keeps turning up on his desk, usually on toast.
In fact the list of characters I loved is too long to mention here, but it’s the banter that really makes this book so readable. I often laughed out loud. One word of warning though. It is at times, VERY politically incorrect, but remember, this is the banter between the police officers and I’m sure it doesn’t reflect the author’s opinions, but you may be shocked.
The relationships are so much part of the book, I almost forgot that serious crimes had been committed. In the first half we have the murder of Linda Clifford, the madame of a posh brothel. How did she die, who killed her and what was the motive? The ‘how’ is easy to figure out, but the ‘why’ and ‘who’ are much harder. There are plenty of witnesses (though many scarpered as soon as the police arrived – no surprise there) but are any of them reliable. And who was the ‘sales rep’ who mysteriously replaced Linda’s usual drug dealer?.
The brothel also happens to be located in one of the town’s most infamous houses – built in the former forest where in the 1600s a so-called witch was wrongly hanged and the house is now reputed to be haunted. In its time as lots of things before it became a brothel – it was even a church – there have been far more strange and grisly deaths than is usual in one location.
Is it just coincidence or is there a link to the witch’s death? We all know that police officers don’t believe in coincidences and Mike Saxby is no exception. But is the witch the only connection or are there more sinister goings on much closer to home. Writer and journalist Jeremy Giles believes in the hauntings, though he is dismissed as a crank. But is he?
What a great book! Definitely one of my favourites of the year. Bring on many more books in the series. I can’t wait to read them all.
Many thanks to @zooloo2008 for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
In fact the list of characters I loved is too long to mention here, but it’s the banter that really makes this book so readable. I often laughed out loud. One word of warning though. It is at times, VERY politically incorrect, but remember, this is the banter between the police officers and I’m sure it doesn’t reflect the author’s opinions, but you may be shocked.
The relationships are so much part of the book, I almost forgot that serious crimes had been committed. In the first half we have the murder of Linda Clifford, the madame of a posh brothel. How did she die, who killed her and what was the motive? The ‘how’ is easy to figure out, but the ‘why’ and ‘who’ are much harder. There are plenty of witnesses (though many scarpered as soon as the police arrived – no surprise there) but are any of them reliable. And who was the ‘sales rep’ who mysteriously replaced Linda’s usual drug dealer?.
The brothel also happens to be located in one of the town’s most infamous houses – built in the former forest where in the 1600s a so-called witch was wrongly hanged and the house is now reputed to be haunted. In its time as lots of things before it became a brothel – it was even a church – there have been far more strange and grisly deaths than is usual in one location.
Is it just coincidence or is there a link to the witch’s death? We all know that police officers don’t believe in coincidences and Mike Saxby is no exception. But is the witch the only connection or are there more sinister goings on much closer to home. Writer and journalist Jeremy Giles believes in the hauntings, though he is dismissed as a crank. But is he?
What a great book! Definitely one of my favourites of the year. Bring on many more books in the series. I can’t wait to read them all.
Many thanks to @zooloo2008 for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
September 20, 2022
I love discovering a new author & a new crime series to sink my teeth in to. DCI Mike Saxby is a fabulous character - no nonsense, says it as it is, counting the days to retirement & human.
A relatively short book, it starts in a high-class brothel with some fantastic descriptions & asides concerning the characters found there. Not a 9-5 establishment but a place of work nonetheless.
The madam is found dead, obviously poisoned but by who & why? She was an active police informant, the club pianist is ex-force too - is there a connection? Or is it all to do with the ominous history of the location?
Plenty of humour, I loved the bickering DIs, as well as a solid crime plot & Saxby is someone I look forward to meeting again.
A relatively short book, it starts in a high-class brothel with some fantastic descriptions & asides concerning the characters found there. Not a 9-5 establishment but a place of work nonetheless.
The madam is found dead, obviously poisoned but by who & why? She was an active police informant, the club pianist is ex-force too - is there a connection? Or is it all to do with the ominous history of the location?
Plenty of humour, I loved the bickering DIs, as well as a solid crime plot & Saxby is someone I look forward to meeting again.
June 28, 2020
This is much better Mr Field. I truly enjoyed reading this book. DCI Saxby is different. I'm also pleased that his superior officers are normal people, unlike some characters I've come across.
The storyline was enthralling, I couldn't put it down.
I'm now reading the second in the series.
The storyline was enthralling, I couldn't put it down.
I'm now reading the second in the series.
September 4, 2020
Great story, good characters
I really enjoyed this little mystery. I typically read this kind of book and it did not disappoint! It was not hard on the eyes or brain
I really enjoyed this little mystery. I typically read this kind of book and it did not disappoint! It was not hard on the eyes or brain
January 29, 2022
A great mystery with super characters!
July 28, 2019
17 Cavendish Square is the start of a series for Mike Saxby. He is an unusual detective, he is happily married and tries to put family ahead of work as much as possible. The author has written an enjoyable story with a strong plot line. His DCI has a team of police to work with him and it felt like a realistic police investigation.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews