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The Blitz Detective #1
The Blitz Detective
Saturday 7th September, 1940. The sun is shining, and in the midst of the good weather Londoners could be mistaken for forgetting their country was at war - until the familiar wail of the air-raid sirens heralds an enemy attack. The Blitz has started, and normal life has abruptly ended - but crime has not. That night a man's body is discovered in an unmarked van in the back streets of West Ham. When Detective Inspector John Jago is called to the scene, he recognises the victim: local Justice of the Peace, Charles Villiers. The death looks suspicious, but then a German bomb obliterates all evidence. War or no war, murder is still murder, and it's Jago's job to find the truth.
413 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2015
128 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
About the author
Mike Hollow
18 books53 followersI first got into print when I was eleven. A boys’ comic published a feeble limerick I’d sent them and paid me five shillings, a fat sum at that age. But the postal order was nothing compared with seeing my words in print.
After that I kept writing – teenage poems for a late-1960s “underground magazine”, then grown-up poems, and later a happy mix of copywriting, journalism, editing and translating. All ways of getting paid for playing with words.
My CV? I was born in 1953 in the Essex County Borough of West Ham – home of the Blitz Detective – on the eastern edge of London. I grew up mainly in Romford and went to the Royal Liberty School, then studied Russian and French at Cambridge University.
My first job was translating for the BBC, and I did various jobs there for sixteen years before moving to work in communications for development agency Tearfund, travelling widely in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In 2002 I went freelance as a writer, editor and creative project manager. Now I earn a living by translating and spend the rest of my time in the cellar of my house in Hampshire chronicling the adventures of the Blitz Detective.
Why write detective novels? Because I enjoy reading them and I love to create entertaining stories. Why set them in that place and time? Because overnight the Blitz turned everyday existence into a life-and-death struggle for ordinary people – and some of them were my family.
After that I kept writing – teenage poems for a late-1960s “underground magazine”, then grown-up poems, and later a happy mix of copywriting, journalism, editing and translating. All ways of getting paid for playing with words.
My CV? I was born in 1953 in the Essex County Borough of West Ham – home of the Blitz Detective – on the eastern edge of London. I grew up mainly in Romford and went to the Royal Liberty School, then studied Russian and French at Cambridge University.
My first job was translating for the BBC, and I did various jobs there for sixteen years before moving to work in communications for development agency Tearfund, travelling widely in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In 2002 I went freelance as a writer, editor and creative project manager. Now I earn a living by translating and spend the rest of my time in the cellar of my house in Hampshire chronicling the adventures of the Blitz Detective.
Why write detective novels? Because I enjoy reading them and I love to create entertaining stories. Why set them in that place and time? Because overnight the Blitz turned everyday existence into a life-and-death struggle for ordinary people – and some of them were my family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
August 5, 2020
I’ve been drawn to the London blitz since a teen. It seems the ultimate fight between good and evil. Weave in a murder mystery as bloody good as THE BLITZ DETECTIVE and you’ve got me!
It is September 1940 — a perfect late summer day — as German airplanes suddenly fill the London sky. The Blitz has begun. Detective Inspector John Jago and new partner DC Peter Cradock narrowly escape the dropping bombs as they race to Police Headquarters.
As in Foyle’s War, one of my fave TV series, war does not stop crime, especially murder, and the partners are soon tasked with discovering who killed a man found in an unmarked van. Unfortunately, a bomb erases the evidence, making their task markedly harder and the mystery infinitely more compelling.
Written in a spare old-fashioned style, the mystery enwraps you as bombs keep dropping while clues are sleuthed, red herrings scattered, and the truth, which caught me by surprise, finally emerges.
Highly recommended for WWII buffs who love fine mysteries. That’s me to a “T!”
Note: Published previously as DIRECT HIT, this is the first in a repackaged series. I look forward to reading every single one.
5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 23 Jul 2020
Thanks to the author, Allison & Busby, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#TheBlitzDetective #NetGalley
It is September 1940 — a perfect late summer day — as German airplanes suddenly fill the London sky. The Blitz has begun. Detective Inspector John Jago and new partner DC Peter Cradock narrowly escape the dropping bombs as they race to Police Headquarters.
As in Foyle’s War, one of my fave TV series, war does not stop crime, especially murder, and the partners are soon tasked with discovering who killed a man found in an unmarked van. Unfortunately, a bomb erases the evidence, making their task markedly harder and the mystery infinitely more compelling.
Written in a spare old-fashioned style, the mystery enwraps you as bombs keep dropping while clues are sleuthed, red herrings scattered, and the truth, which caught me by surprise, finally emerges.
Highly recommended for WWII buffs who love fine mysteries. That’s me to a “T!”
Note: Published previously as DIRECT HIT, this is the first in a repackaged series. I look forward to reading every single one.
5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 23 Jul 2020
Thanks to the author, Allison & Busby, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#TheBlitzDetective #NetGalley
September 28, 2017
A so-so murder mystery tale set in London in 1940 during the early days of "The Blitz" when the Luftwaffe carried out their first bombing raids on the city. Much of the action centres on the borough of West Ham, home to the Royal Docks and therefore a prime target for the Luftwaffe's attacks.
The "hero" is Detective Inspector John Jago, aided by his young inexperienced assistant, Detective Constable Peter Cradock. As the blitz begins, a body in a van is discovered and Jago and Cradock have mere minutes to investigate, before a direct hit obliterates the evidence.
As he begins his inquiries, Jago is given an additional task - accompanying a female American journalist around the East End. His investigation into the murder also reveals crimes directly related to the British war effort and attempts by unscrupulous men to profit from it.
Much of the dialogue seems contrived, and Jago's contributions at times border on sermonising. On the plus side, the author manages to convey the atmosphere in London's East End during the early days of the Luftwaffe's attacks and the "everyday" historical events in which he portrays the life of ordinary people during the London Blitz. The latter make for more fascinating reading than that of the murder mystery itself and, to me, was this book's saving grace.
Mike Hollow has obviously done a lot of research on this period and it's likely that remembrance of his parents who lived in West Ham and endured the nightly air raids helped him give a more accurate description of the effects of the Blitz on the area and its people.
That said, the story has a distinct lack of suspense and I doubt I'll continue with the Blitz Detective series.
The "hero" is Detective Inspector John Jago, aided by his young inexperienced assistant, Detective Constable Peter Cradock. As the blitz begins, a body in a van is discovered and Jago and Cradock have mere minutes to investigate, before a direct hit obliterates the evidence.
As he begins his inquiries, Jago is given an additional task - accompanying a female American journalist around the East End. His investigation into the murder also reveals crimes directly related to the British war effort and attempts by unscrupulous men to profit from it.
Much of the dialogue seems contrived, and Jago's contributions at times border on sermonising. On the plus side, the author manages to convey the atmosphere in London's East End during the early days of the Luftwaffe's attacks and the "everyday" historical events in which he portrays the life of ordinary people during the London Blitz. The latter make for more fascinating reading than that of the murder mystery itself and, to me, was this book's saving grace.
Mike Hollow has obviously done a lot of research on this period and it's likely that remembrance of his parents who lived in West Ham and endured the nightly air raids helped him give a more accurate description of the effects of the Blitz on the area and its people.
That said, the story has a distinct lack of suspense and I doubt I'll continue with the Blitz Detective series.
July 4, 2020
Thank you, Allison and Busby, and NetGalley for a copy of The Blitz detective by Mike Hollow. He is a new author for me and I’m sure to look out for the other book in this series.
It’s the night of Saturday 7th September 1940 in West ham, East London. A body is found in a van. Detective John Jago and is new partner DC Cradock quickly get to the scene and examine the body and they recognise him as the part time magistrate and printing company owner Charles Villers. Suddenly a bombing raid occurs, and the body and the evidence go up in smoke when a bomb hit.
As he returns to his office, he is given the task to show American correspondent Dorothy Appleton around. Showing the real Britain and what is going on in the war. While he does this, he seems to form a bond with her. Then another body is found which has connects with Villers, Detective Jago knows he has a serial killer on his hands.
I really enjoyed The Blitz detective. With it’s storyline. The author really created the atmosphere of being in London in that time. It had a great plot which flowed easily and kept my attention throughout to the last page. But also, as it was historical fiction and a crime novel rolled into one which is two of my favourite genres. 5 stars from me.
It’s the night of Saturday 7th September 1940 in West ham, East London. A body is found in a van. Detective John Jago and is new partner DC Cradock quickly get to the scene and examine the body and they recognise him as the part time magistrate and printing company owner Charles Villers. Suddenly a bombing raid occurs, and the body and the evidence go up in smoke when a bomb hit.
As he returns to his office, he is given the task to show American correspondent Dorothy Appleton around. Showing the real Britain and what is going on in the war. While he does this, he seems to form a bond with her. Then another body is found which has connects with Villers, Detective Jago knows he has a serial killer on his hands.
I really enjoyed The Blitz detective. With it’s storyline. The author really created the atmosphere of being in London in that time. It had a great plot which flowed easily and kept my attention throughout to the last page. But also, as it was historical fiction and a crime novel rolled into one which is two of my favourite genres. 5 stars from me.
August 24, 2021
I admit that this book first attracted me to not only taking place during the Blitz but it's setting - West Ham and the East End of London, from which my dad hails. I recognise the place names from where he was born and where he lived and grew up - Plaistow, Stratford, West Ham and Upton Park. The fact it takes place during the Blitz also drew me as my dad was 2 to 3 years old during that time and it would have been frightening for a child. But then this book also offers something different...a murder mystery amidst the bombs falling.
But...war or no war, murder is still murder.
Saturday 7th September 1940 and veteran copper DI John Jago has spent twenty years policing the East End of London and his home town of West Ham. Also a veteran of WW1, Jago has seen a lot of death and when war was declared this time round he was glad that his services were no longer required in the Army as he saw enough then to last him a lifetime. But no sooner had war declared than his trusty DS was called back into action from the reserves and Jago now has to puppy walk his replacement DC Peter Cradock, beginning with the all important lesson in football appreciation to watch his beloved West Ham play Tottenham. Three goals down to the visiting team and the air raid siren sounds and play is halted and people scurry to find shelter while Jago and Cradock make their way back to the station.
Lesson number two comes when a call comes in about a body discovered in a deserted van on an East End street. Jago and Cradock head to the scene and are immediately puzzled by the dead man's injuries. He has slashes to his wrists and a stab wound to the chest. Were these wounds self inflicted or a result of something more sinister? Did he attempt suicide or was he murdered? It's puzzling because one could inflict the wrist wounds, but why stab oneself in the chest? And if someone were attempting to make it look like suicide why also stab him in the chest?
Either way, Jago suspects it is more likely the killer was hoping to pass off the murder as a suicide and maybe panicked. He is also surprised to recognise the victim as Charles Villiers, a local Justice of the Peace and magistrate. But before they could call in a pathologist and photographer to process the scene, the raid draws nearer as Jago and Cradock race to take cover nearby. As they emerge from the cloud of dust all that remains of their crime scene is a giant bomb crater obliterating both the body and the van completely and with it all evidence.
Nevertheless as he begins his investigations, Jago soon discovers Villiers is not as squeaky clean as his magistrate persona might portray. As a local businessman he appeared to have gained numerous enemies and his marriage was not all it seemed to be either. His widow was far from grieving and neither was his son. But the deeper Jago and Cradock dig, the more they discover about Villiers' printing business and his dodgy operation profiteering from the war effort.
And then a second body turns up just as Jago and Cradock almost become victims of a fire. The second victim had close ties to Villiers and was possibly one of the last people to see him alive the night he was killed.
Added to the investigation at hand, Jago is also given the additional task of accompanying American journalist Dorothy Appleton around the East End and keeping her in tow. At first, Jago appears to slightly resent her presence and argues about whether the stories the news prints are truth, an exaggerated version of or even a played down version of the truth. It is clear he doesn't trust the papers or what they print and his mistrust is evident from the start. However, as he spends more time with the journalist he realises he may have been too quick to judge.
And then he discovers a ghost from his past taking him back to the Western Front in 1917...
The first in the series of the same name, THE BLITZ DETECTIVE is a delightfully straightforward crime novel involving murder and the nefarious dodgy dealings of war profiteering set against a very real and distinctly dark time in British history. Investigating a murder while German bombs are falling around you proves to be a most difficult task but Jago is competent enough to find the villain and bring him, or her, to justice. But also in the background is the shadow of the Great War in which Jago served at the Western Front himself and which still haunts him today. But the shadows of that first war not only haunts our hero but our villain as well as the motivation behind the crimes tells a somewhat sad tale. While the old school coppers may have taken the bad guys into the cells and beaten them round the head with a phone book to get answers, Jago is sympathetic and sincere even if somewhat jaded.
DC Cradock is thrust into the deep end rather quickly but he soon finds his feet and proves himself to be a competent copper, even if he is tad wet behind the ears. The more involved he becomes the more confidence he gains as Jago and previously retired desk sergeant Tompkins enlighten him to the finer points of policing through wisdom and a little humour.
An atmospheric crime novel, THE BLITZ DETECTIVE is a compelling and easy read that will appeal to fans of "Foyle's War".
*previously published as "Direct Hit".
I would like to thank #MikeHollow, #Netgalley and #AllisonAndBusby for an ARC of #TheBlitzDetective in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
But...war or no war, murder is still murder.
Saturday 7th September 1940 and veteran copper DI John Jago has spent twenty years policing the East End of London and his home town of West Ham. Also a veteran of WW1, Jago has seen a lot of death and when war was declared this time round he was glad that his services were no longer required in the Army as he saw enough then to last him a lifetime. But no sooner had war declared than his trusty DS was called back into action from the reserves and Jago now has to puppy walk his replacement DC Peter Cradock, beginning with the all important lesson in football appreciation to watch his beloved West Ham play Tottenham. Three goals down to the visiting team and the air raid siren sounds and play is halted and people scurry to find shelter while Jago and Cradock make their way back to the station.
Lesson number two comes when a call comes in about a body discovered in a deserted van on an East End street. Jago and Cradock head to the scene and are immediately puzzled by the dead man's injuries. He has slashes to his wrists and a stab wound to the chest. Were these wounds self inflicted or a result of something more sinister? Did he attempt suicide or was he murdered? It's puzzling because one could inflict the wrist wounds, but why stab oneself in the chest? And if someone were attempting to make it look like suicide why also stab him in the chest?
Either way, Jago suspects it is more likely the killer was hoping to pass off the murder as a suicide and maybe panicked. He is also surprised to recognise the victim as Charles Villiers, a local Justice of the Peace and magistrate. But before they could call in a pathologist and photographer to process the scene, the raid draws nearer as Jago and Cradock race to take cover nearby. As they emerge from the cloud of dust all that remains of their crime scene is a giant bomb crater obliterating both the body and the van completely and with it all evidence.
Nevertheless as he begins his investigations, Jago soon discovers Villiers is not as squeaky clean as his magistrate persona might portray. As a local businessman he appeared to have gained numerous enemies and his marriage was not all it seemed to be either. His widow was far from grieving and neither was his son. But the deeper Jago and Cradock dig, the more they discover about Villiers' printing business and his dodgy operation profiteering from the war effort.
And then a second body turns up just as Jago and Cradock almost become victims of a fire. The second victim had close ties to Villiers and was possibly one of the last people to see him alive the night he was killed.
Added to the investigation at hand, Jago is also given the additional task of accompanying American journalist Dorothy Appleton around the East End and keeping her in tow. At first, Jago appears to slightly resent her presence and argues about whether the stories the news prints are truth, an exaggerated version of or even a played down version of the truth. It is clear he doesn't trust the papers or what they print and his mistrust is evident from the start. However, as he spends more time with the journalist he realises he may have been too quick to judge.
And then he discovers a ghost from his past taking him back to the Western Front in 1917...
The first in the series of the same name, THE BLITZ DETECTIVE is a delightfully straightforward crime novel involving murder and the nefarious dodgy dealings of war profiteering set against a very real and distinctly dark time in British history. Investigating a murder while German bombs are falling around you proves to be a most difficult task but Jago is competent enough to find the villain and bring him, or her, to justice. But also in the background is the shadow of the Great War in which Jago served at the Western Front himself and which still haunts him today. But the shadows of that first war not only haunts our hero but our villain as well as the motivation behind the crimes tells a somewhat sad tale. While the old school coppers may have taken the bad guys into the cells and beaten them round the head with a phone book to get answers, Jago is sympathetic and sincere even if somewhat jaded.
DC Cradock is thrust into the deep end rather quickly but he soon finds his feet and proves himself to be a competent copper, even if he is tad wet behind the ears. The more involved he becomes the more confidence he gains as Jago and previously retired desk sergeant Tompkins enlighten him to the finer points of policing through wisdom and a little humour.
An atmospheric crime novel, THE BLITZ DETECTIVE is a compelling and easy read that will appeal to fans of "Foyle's War".
*previously published as "Direct Hit".
I would like to thank #MikeHollow, #Netgalley and #AllisonAndBusby for an ARC of #TheBlitzDetective in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 7, 2020
Atmospheric Blitz set police procedural that recognises the effects of WWI with superb period detail.
I am fascinated by the Blitz and how London coped under constant bombardment and Mike Hollow’s debut gives a brilliant introduction to policing during the era of blackouts and air-raid warnings.
1940 East London and veteran of WWI, DI John Jago has spent twenty years policing as part of West Ham CID. With his former DS called back into action his replacement is wet behind the ears DC Peter Cradock who gets a rapid introduction to the job when they attend a deserted van containing a murdered man. Jago suspects the killer was hoping to pass off the murder as suicide but recognises it for what it is and is surprised to discover that he also recognises the victim as local Justice of the Peace and businessman Charles Villiers. Before the medical examiner can even arrive to assess the body a direct hit from a German bomb on both man and van obliterates all evidence. Nevertheless they soon discover the victim had numerous enemies and was perhaps not quite as honourable as he was keen to appear. This is not the only murder in the story and as the investigation branches out from Villier’s printing factory to a shady villain profiteering from the war effort the plot is both coherent and involving, evidencing both the effects of WWI and the reality of the nation facing a second brutal war.
In all honesty the crime element of the novel is pretty straightforward but importantly the motivations behind the crimes are credible and entrenched in both the Great War and WWII and hence very compelling. The overhang of WWI and the traumatic effects on a generation are both recognised and depicted with sincerity and empathy and in DI John Jago, a man that served on the Western Front, Hollow has crafted a sympathetic and realistically jaded detective who is relatable. Told from varying perspectives rather than one I found the result deeply satisfying and appreciated understanding the motivations of those driven to break the law. Given the novel is relatively compact I was impressed at how well drawn the secondary cast were and the Blitz’s effect on the morale of the sleep deprived Londoners is portrayed with clear-eyed honesty. The novel is rich in period detail and mentions some factual events including the Agate Street school bombing tragedy.
DC Cradock becomes more involved and confident as the investigation unfolds and Jago and retired but brought back into service desk sergeant Tompkins ‘educate’ him with wisdom and humour respectively. I did feel the inclusion of American journalist (and possible love interest) Dorothy Appleton shadowing DI Jago added little to the novel. Their deep and meaningful conversations detracted from the more interesting aspect of the crimes, slowed the novel down and on several occasion went over my head! The ease with which Jago, a WWI veteran, discusses his emotions with a woman he barely knows never quite rang true either.
Atmospheric and emotionally involving, The Blitz Detective proved a rewarding and educational novel and I look forward to reading DI John Jago’s future outings and more of this series.
I am fascinated by the Blitz and how London coped under constant bombardment and Mike Hollow’s debut gives a brilliant introduction to policing during the era of blackouts and air-raid warnings.
1940 East London and veteran of WWI, DI John Jago has spent twenty years policing as part of West Ham CID. With his former DS called back into action his replacement is wet behind the ears DC Peter Cradock who gets a rapid introduction to the job when they attend a deserted van containing a murdered man. Jago suspects the killer was hoping to pass off the murder as suicide but recognises it for what it is and is surprised to discover that he also recognises the victim as local Justice of the Peace and businessman Charles Villiers. Before the medical examiner can even arrive to assess the body a direct hit from a German bomb on both man and van obliterates all evidence. Nevertheless they soon discover the victim had numerous enemies and was perhaps not quite as honourable as he was keen to appear. This is not the only murder in the story and as the investigation branches out from Villier’s printing factory to a shady villain profiteering from the war effort the plot is both coherent and involving, evidencing both the effects of WWI and the reality of the nation facing a second brutal war.
In all honesty the crime element of the novel is pretty straightforward but importantly the motivations behind the crimes are credible and entrenched in both the Great War and WWII and hence very compelling. The overhang of WWI and the traumatic effects on a generation are both recognised and depicted with sincerity and empathy and in DI John Jago, a man that served on the Western Front, Hollow has crafted a sympathetic and realistically jaded detective who is relatable. Told from varying perspectives rather than one I found the result deeply satisfying and appreciated understanding the motivations of those driven to break the law. Given the novel is relatively compact I was impressed at how well drawn the secondary cast were and the Blitz’s effect on the morale of the sleep deprived Londoners is portrayed with clear-eyed honesty. The novel is rich in period detail and mentions some factual events including the Agate Street school bombing tragedy.
DC Cradock becomes more involved and confident as the investigation unfolds and Jago and retired but brought back into service desk sergeant Tompkins ‘educate’ him with wisdom and humour respectively. I did feel the inclusion of American journalist (and possible love interest) Dorothy Appleton shadowing DI Jago added little to the novel. Their deep and meaningful conversations detracted from the more interesting aspect of the crimes, slowed the novel down and on several occasion went over my head! The ease with which Jago, a WWI veteran, discusses his emotions with a woman he barely knows never quite rang true either.
Atmospheric and emotionally involving, The Blitz Detective proved a rewarding and educational novel and I look forward to reading DI John Jago’s future outings and more of this series.
May 13, 2015
Compelling police procedural set during the London Blitz.
Apparently the first book by Mike Hollow, but an impressive debut. Hollow brings together a rich cocktail of characters as Detective Inspector John Jago investigates a compelling murder story set against the backdrop of the early World War 2 air raids on East London.
The author has obviously done his research well with a great attention to detail that brings both the characters and the environment alive.
There's inevitable comparisons with Foyle's War, but Jago is a different sort of detective with a fascinating back story that reveals itself through the course of the book.
Fans of Foyle's War will definitely enjoy this book as will readers interested in the reality of the British home front during the Blitz.
Apparently the first book by Mike Hollow, but an impressive debut. Hollow brings together a rich cocktail of characters as Detective Inspector John Jago investigates a compelling murder story set against the backdrop of the early World War 2 air raids on East London.
The author has obviously done his research well with a great attention to detail that brings both the characters and the environment alive.
There's inevitable comparisons with Foyle's War, but Jago is a different sort of detective with a fascinating back story that reveals itself through the course of the book.
Fans of Foyle's War will definitely enjoy this book as will readers interested in the reality of the British home front during the Blitz.
August 11, 2015
Book 1, in the Blitz Detective series
This new arrival and the debut novel is a perfect combination of history and mystery. This police procedural set during the London Blitz provides an adrenaline rush from start to finish and has kept me engrossed in the characters as well as the ways of life of a city under attack.
This is a page turner written by a talented author that knows how to turn a storyline in one that will grab you from page one. The protagonist Detective Inspector John Jago shares his work with us as we follow him through the different steps of his investigation and through war torn scenes during the first night of the Blitz. Blackouts after all are a good cover for all sorts of criminal activity. It is fascinating to see how Jago tackles the case of a man found dead in a van whose body gets obliterated by an enemy bomb before he could get the investigation going. This story also incorporates a mixture of real-life and fictional locations and East London finest hours is brought to life with searchlights, sirens wail, air raids and people ducking into bomb shelters with the hope of coming out in one piece. This is a well- written crime story that also includes for good measure a twist by inserting a feisty American journalist into the folds. The characterization is warm and engaging. There are no dull moments even if at times the pacing is rather on the slow side (slow and steady). The narration and dialogue are nostalgic and reflect the time and circumstance, we have some emotional details throughout.
I certainly stayed involved from the start and enjoyed immensely this new addition to the crime world
This new arrival and the debut novel is a perfect combination of history and mystery. This police procedural set during the London Blitz provides an adrenaline rush from start to finish and has kept me engrossed in the characters as well as the ways of life of a city under attack.
This is a page turner written by a talented author that knows how to turn a storyline in one that will grab you from page one. The protagonist Detective Inspector John Jago shares his work with us as we follow him through the different steps of his investigation and through war torn scenes during the first night of the Blitz. Blackouts after all are a good cover for all sorts of criminal activity. It is fascinating to see how Jago tackles the case of a man found dead in a van whose body gets obliterated by an enemy bomb before he could get the investigation going. This story also incorporates a mixture of real-life and fictional locations and East London finest hours is brought to life with searchlights, sirens wail, air raids and people ducking into bomb shelters with the hope of coming out in one piece. This is a well- written crime story that also includes for good measure a twist by inserting a feisty American journalist into the folds. The characterization is warm and engaging. There are no dull moments even if at times the pacing is rather on the slow side (slow and steady). The narration and dialogue are nostalgic and reflect the time and circumstance, we have some emotional details throughout.
I certainly stayed involved from the start and enjoyed immensely this new addition to the crime world
June 13, 2020
Thank you Netgalley for forwarding me the copy.
I have read a very few historical fiction murder mysteries so it is almost kind of new experience for me. The question rose after finishing the book; do I like this one or not? Will I read more of t kind of stories? The Answer is probably yes! For the mystery part but this book fell short for me for various reason.
The first 8-9 chapters were very uninteresting for me. I know a start of a mystery is not always should be a page turner but for this book I was dragging myself one chapter to another mostly because of the dialogues and character developments. I feel like the writer is setting the premise slowly for the main characters for a series and I was right.
Surprisingly from chapter 10, the plot gets actually very interesting. I won’t say the mystery is very edge gripping, nail biting one but the author twines the strings very cleverly. Detective Jago often brought philosophical conversation which sometimes feel like out of place but later I think his previous experience from war was mentioned to highlight his character development which might be more understandable and needed for the later books in the series. On the other hand, Cradock was actually seems like a puppy not having his own way of thinking compared to Jago. I like how author brings an American female journalist and put her in very much clever conversation and situations. She was a delight for me to read and somehow I want more of her and her engagement with the main murder mystery.
The ending was a so so. But I like how the author keeps the idea of war and Blitz in the book and use it with a depth research.
It’s a 3 out of 5 stars for me.
I have read a very few historical fiction murder mysteries so it is almost kind of new experience for me. The question rose after finishing the book; do I like this one or not? Will I read more of t kind of stories? The Answer is probably yes! For the mystery part but this book fell short for me for various reason.
The first 8-9 chapters were very uninteresting for me. I know a start of a mystery is not always should be a page turner but for this book I was dragging myself one chapter to another mostly because of the dialogues and character developments. I feel like the writer is setting the premise slowly for the main characters for a series and I was right.
Surprisingly from chapter 10, the plot gets actually very interesting. I won’t say the mystery is very edge gripping, nail biting one but the author twines the strings very cleverly. Detective Jago often brought philosophical conversation which sometimes feel like out of place but later I think his previous experience from war was mentioned to highlight his character development which might be more understandable and needed for the later books in the series. On the other hand, Cradock was actually seems like a puppy not having his own way of thinking compared to Jago. I like how author brings an American female journalist and put her in very much clever conversation and situations. She was a delight for me to read and somehow I want more of her and her engagement with the main murder mystery.
The ending was a so so. But I like how the author keeps the idea of war and Blitz in the book and use it with a depth research.
It’s a 3 out of 5 stars for me.
April 26, 2021
A thoroughly professional piece of storytelling, this series debut introduces a new author, Mike Hollow, and a new central character, DI John Jags. I really enjoyed it, particularly the great sense of time, 1940, and place, West Ham. I gather there are 4 more to date, all of which I have added to my reading list.
October 7, 2023
Reminded me of Foyle's War.
July 2, 2020
The Blitz Detective is the first in the series of WWII historical mysteries written by Mike Hollow. This one is set in 1940. It was originally published as Direct Hit. Several books have followed, and to get a better understanding of Inspector John Jago and his world (and his sidekick, DC Peter Cradock), you really need to start at the beginning.
In the midst of an air raid a body’s found – definitely not one caused by the German bombs. The deceased is a well-known Justice of the Peace. Our opening scenes set the stage; war is definitely hell, and the body disappears in an explosion; another air raid sees to that.
The JP had other business interests. Seems he owned a printing business. A dodgy printing business, maybe. And what does that prologue have to do with anything? I hate prologues. Of course, there are secrets straightaway with the people in this book, and our prologue fellow will have his part to play.
Jago has a female journalist from the States who’s going to be shadowing him for a while to provide “good press,” helpful for international relationships. This is an opportunity for the author to show us a bit more about Jago as he squires Miss Appleton around town. There’s no hint of romance, here, thank goodness; Jago is not a young man. We don’t know much about the detective at this point, other than he fought in the first World War and he’s unmarried. With this comes the battle he is remembering, the one he is waging to get over his wartime experiences. Mike Hollow has us experience this alongside Jago, and it’s a battle indeed, one that warriors have fought through many wars. Later in the book we read a heart-felt story that will prove that Jago has a human side, and it involves Miss Appleton. It helps him in his healing process, which is always a good thing.
Lots of red herrings and shifty characters abound. All of it will keep you as busy as Jago and Cradock in figuring out motive and murderer. In between the scenes of the investigation are the tales of the city’s inhabitants as they go about their lives as the Blitz begins. Much of it is harrowing. Mike Hallow has done his research and provided readers a thought-provoking tale of life in East London during the war, where John Jago works to keep killers off the streets even as the bombs fall.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
In the midst of an air raid a body’s found – definitely not one caused by the German bombs. The deceased is a well-known Justice of the Peace. Our opening scenes set the stage; war is definitely hell, and the body disappears in an explosion; another air raid sees to that.
The JP had other business interests. Seems he owned a printing business. A dodgy printing business, maybe. And what does that prologue have to do with anything? I hate prologues. Of course, there are secrets straightaway with the people in this book, and our prologue fellow will have his part to play.
Jago has a female journalist from the States who’s going to be shadowing him for a while to provide “good press,” helpful for international relationships. This is an opportunity for the author to show us a bit more about Jago as he squires Miss Appleton around town. There’s no hint of romance, here, thank goodness; Jago is not a young man. We don’t know much about the detective at this point, other than he fought in the first World War and he’s unmarried. With this comes the battle he is remembering, the one he is waging to get over his wartime experiences. Mike Hollow has us experience this alongside Jago, and it’s a battle indeed, one that warriors have fought through many wars. Later in the book we read a heart-felt story that will prove that Jago has a human side, and it involves Miss Appleton. It helps him in his healing process, which is always a good thing.
Lots of red herrings and shifty characters abound. All of it will keep you as busy as Jago and Cradock in figuring out motive and murderer. In between the scenes of the investigation are the tales of the city’s inhabitants as they go about their lives as the Blitz begins. Much of it is harrowing. Mike Hallow has done his research and provided readers a thought-provoking tale of life in East London during the war, where John Jago works to keep killers off the streets even as the bombs fall.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for a copy of this book, in exchange for this review.
July 1, 2020
“A crime’s still a crime, even if there’s an air raid going on.”
This story explores Detective Inspector Jago and Detective Constable Cradock’s efforts as they attempt to solve a murder case in the chaos of the Blitz in 1940s London.
The main action mainly evolves around the solving of the detective case, but the theme of the Blitz and WW2 is present throughout like a thread that threads the story together. The characters are all impacted by war in one form or another, and this explores the connections between crime and individuals damaged by their war experiences, as well as the difficulties in conducting an investigation when the crime scene is being rained upon by incendiary bombs. Also explored are the different angles on politics, with communist sympathizers, deserters, journalists and those just suffering with what would probably be classified as post-traumatic stress syndrome today. I enjoyed the many angles and Hollow creates a theatrical and authentic scene. I felt the terror when the bombs were raining down and individuals were having to run for cover, and I understood the frustrations where the poor had flimsy waterlogged shelters, and the rich were dining at the Savoy in total peace with barely a noticeable change in their evening as the Nazis pelted the neighborhood with bombs.
I was left a little lacklustered at the ending, which is why I haven’t given this a four star.
I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This story explores Detective Inspector Jago and Detective Constable Cradock’s efforts as they attempt to solve a murder case in the chaos of the Blitz in 1940s London.
The main action mainly evolves around the solving of the detective case, but the theme of the Blitz and WW2 is present throughout like a thread that threads the story together. The characters are all impacted by war in one form or another, and this explores the connections between crime and individuals damaged by their war experiences, as well as the difficulties in conducting an investigation when the crime scene is being rained upon by incendiary bombs. Also explored are the different angles on politics, with communist sympathizers, deserters, journalists and those just suffering with what would probably be classified as post-traumatic stress syndrome today. I enjoyed the many angles and Hollow creates a theatrical and authentic scene. I felt the terror when the bombs were raining down and individuals were having to run for cover, and I understood the frustrations where the poor had flimsy waterlogged shelters, and the rich were dining at the Savoy in total peace with barely a noticeable change in their evening as the Nazis pelted the neighborhood with bombs.
I was left a little lacklustered at the ending, which is why I haven’t given this a four star.
I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2017
When I was in my teens, I remember skipping all kinds of descriptions in books. They seemed so tedious to me, so irrelevant. I wanted to know what would happen next and these descriptions slowed me down. Now, however, having read Direct Hit, I feel dissatisfied precisely for the opposite reason: not enough description. I end up longing to know what the people looked like. Not only that he/she was wearing a brown coat etc. The subtitle of the book is The Blitz Detective and there is indeed a lot about the Blitz and a lot about police detection, but to me the characters feel just like cardboard cutouts walking around.
The redeeming feature is the conclusion. If in detective stories I often fail to believe that X would have killed Y for this or that reason, then here the causality is well explained and even interesting.
If you don't know much about the Blitz and like murder mysteries, you may well like the book more than I did.
The redeeming feature is the conclusion. If in detective stories I often fail to believe that X would have killed Y for this or that reason, then here the causality is well explained and even interesting.
If you don't know much about the Blitz and like murder mysteries, you may well like the book more than I did.
February 8, 2017
Direct Hit was a very interesting read about the World War II Blitz over East London. The book reminded me of Foyle's War in many ways. The reader can feel the impact on the characters' lives as the raids continue night after night. To solve a murder mystery when the body is destroyed in a bombing is an impossible task for Detective Inspector Jago but in the end he manages to do so. This book is sure to satisfy anyone who likes police procedurals with a captivating plot, realistic characters and setting. There was a surprise at the end of the book which may develop into a romance for Jago and I look forward to reading book 2 in order to see how this develops.
August 9, 2023
My first Mike Hollow book about a WW2 detective based in West Ham, London and I'm sure it won't be my last, I enjoyed the characters, the vivid street descriptions, the air raid sounds lept off the page, giving it a real sense of being there it was a page turner from chapter one to the end.
May 13, 2021
Historical mystery set in London during the Blitz in 1940. As the bombs fall and fires blaze in the streets, a man’s body is found in a parked van. DI Jago and PC Cradock go to the scene and discover that the dead man is a wealthy businessman and magistrate, Charles Villiers. Jago investigates the crime and soon finds the dead man had several enemies who could have wanted him dead.
I enjoyed this mystery - Jago is a likeable detective, calm and decent, with a backstory which is interesting without overshadowing the investigation. The author knows the area of West Ham well, and has added plenty of carefully researched details to give a really strong sense of time and place. The ending was a little abrupt, but overall this was a very satisfying debut and I would read more of this series.
I enjoyed this mystery - Jago is a likeable detective, calm and decent, with a backstory which is interesting without overshadowing the investigation. The author knows the area of West Ham well, and has added plenty of carefully researched details to give a really strong sense of time and place. The ending was a little abrupt, but overall this was a very satisfying debut and I would read more of this series.
November 21, 2023
I liked this book. I thought it was a fresh take on an old subject. I enjoyed the characters, both Jago and Dorothy. Liked the way the book started with a corpse that soon wasn’t. Looking forward to the second in the series.
March 29, 2021
An extra star for the characters and the atmosphere.Good thing I read the very good third book in the series first,as this one is rather weak.
June 13, 2020
I have read a very few historical fiction murder mysteries so it is almost kind of new experience for me. The question rose after finishing the book; do I like this one or not? Will I read more of t kind of stories? The Answer is probably yes! For the mystery part but this book fell short for me for various reason.
The first 8-9 chapters were very uninteresting for me. I know a start of a mystery is not always should be a page turner but for this book I was dragging myself one chapter to another mostly because of the dialogues and character developments. I feel like the writer is setting the premise slowly for the main characters for a series and I was right.
Surprisingly from chapter 10, the plot gets actually very interesting. I won’t say the mystery is very edge gripping, nail biting one but the author twines the strings very cleverly. Detective Jago often brought philosophical conversation which sometimes feel like out of place but later I think his previous experience from war was mentioned to highlight his character development which might be more understandable and needed for the later books in the series. On the other hand, Cradock was actually seems like a puppy not having his own way of thinking compared to Jago. I like how author brings an American female journalist and put her in very much clever conversation and situations. She was a delight for me to read and somehow I want more of her and her engagement with the main murder mystery.
The ending was a so so. But I like how the author keeps the idea of war and Blitz in the book and use it with a depth research.
It’s a 3 out of 5 stars for me.
May 23, 2020
352 pages
5 stars
Detective Inspector John Jago has a new partner. His old, reliable previous partner was recalled to the service when WWII broke out. This new guy is a DC named Pete Cradock. He seems bright but Jago likens him to a puppy. Cradock tries very hard is it is easy to like him.
A man has been murdered. Jago and Cradock respond to the scene and quickly examine the body and remove his identification. The air raid sirens go off and as they run to safety, the van in which the dead man was sitting tiik a direct hit by a bomb. The man's name was Villiers and he was a part-time magistrate who owned a printing company.
At the same time, Jago's boss calls him into his office and says he must make nice with a visiting American foreign correspondent named Dorothy Appleton. A complication Jago really doesn't need. He discovers to his surprise that he likes the woman.
The investigation barely gets underway when another man is murdered. His name was Cooper. He and Villiers knew one another. This ratchets up the tension in the case. Jago and Cradock interview the men's wives, employees and acquaintances. They discover that both men were up to no good. They make good progress in the cases, but something is still puzzling them.
The identity of the murderer is not a huge surprise, but all the fun was in getting there. The killer's motive was understandable. But, of course that does not excuse their behavior.
This book was very well written and plotted. The transitions were flawless and the primary characters were likable: Jago, Cradock, Tompkins and Rita. The new man Cradock acquits himself well during the search for the killer. Sergeant Tompkins is priceless, not only for his knowledge, but also for his odd sense of humor. To add additional tension to the story, Mr. Hollow has Jago and Cradock – and everyone else in London - dodging bombs during the blitz of London while investigating the cases. I have read all of Mr. Hollow's DI Jago novels and I have rarely enjoyed an historical mystery series as much as I do this one. I very much look forward to reading the next in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and Allison & Busby for forwarding to me a copy of this very fine book for me to read, enjoy and review.
5 stars
Detective Inspector John Jago has a new partner. His old, reliable previous partner was recalled to the service when WWII broke out. This new guy is a DC named Pete Cradock. He seems bright but Jago likens him to a puppy. Cradock tries very hard is it is easy to like him.
A man has been murdered. Jago and Cradock respond to the scene and quickly examine the body and remove his identification. The air raid sirens go off and as they run to safety, the van in which the dead man was sitting tiik a direct hit by a bomb. The man's name was Villiers and he was a part-time magistrate who owned a printing company.
At the same time, Jago's boss calls him into his office and says he must make nice with a visiting American foreign correspondent named Dorothy Appleton. A complication Jago really doesn't need. He discovers to his surprise that he likes the woman.
The investigation barely gets underway when another man is murdered. His name was Cooper. He and Villiers knew one another. This ratchets up the tension in the case. Jago and Cradock interview the men's wives, employees and acquaintances. They discover that both men were up to no good. They make good progress in the cases, but something is still puzzling them.
The identity of the murderer is not a huge surprise, but all the fun was in getting there. The killer's motive was understandable. But, of course that does not excuse their behavior.
This book was very well written and plotted. The transitions were flawless and the primary characters were likable: Jago, Cradock, Tompkins and Rita. The new man Cradock acquits himself well during the search for the killer. Sergeant Tompkins is priceless, not only for his knowledge, but also for his odd sense of humor. To add additional tension to the story, Mr. Hollow has Jago and Cradock – and everyone else in London - dodging bombs during the blitz of London while investigating the cases. I have read all of Mr. Hollow's DI Jago novels and I have rarely enjoyed an historical mystery series as much as I do this one. I very much look forward to reading the next in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and Allison & Busby for forwarding to me a copy of this very fine book for me to read, enjoy and review.
June 17, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Allison & Busby for an advance copy of The Blitz Detective, the first novel to feature wartime detective DI John Jago, set in 1940 in the East End of London.
A body is discovered in a parked van but before Jago and his assistant, DC Cradock, can get the investigative wheels moving both van and body are destroyed by a bomb. With all evidence destroyed it is fortunate that Jags recognises the man as local Justice of the Peace, Charles Villiers.
I enjoyed The Blitz Detective which has an interesting plot and strong historical detail. It Is told from various points of view and while this can be distracting in some novels, in this case it adds to the read with each character having a different take on events and thus adding to the picture of a country pushed to its limits.
This is a difficult novel to discuss without spoilers so all I will say is that the motive is rooted in both wars. I think it is easy for us modern types to forget that there was only 21 years between the end of one and the start of the next so Jago fought in the First World War as did many of the characters over 40. I think for most soldiers it was a traumatising event and the author does a brilliant and sensitive job of explaining both the horrors of it and the trauma it caused. He does an equally good job of describing the Blitz and its effects on everyday life. This is an extremely atmospheric novel.
I was less impressed with the dialogue which seems clunky in places and doesn’t quite capture the era in the same way as it seems a bit modern. I also couldn’t be doing with the philosophising and deep conversations between Jago and his potential love interest, American journalist Dorothy Appleton. Again, it seems out of context and too modern.
The Blitz Detective is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
A body is discovered in a parked van but before Jago and his assistant, DC Cradock, can get the investigative wheels moving both van and body are destroyed by a bomb. With all evidence destroyed it is fortunate that Jags recognises the man as local Justice of the Peace, Charles Villiers.
I enjoyed The Blitz Detective which has an interesting plot and strong historical detail. It Is told from various points of view and while this can be distracting in some novels, in this case it adds to the read with each character having a different take on events and thus adding to the picture of a country pushed to its limits.
This is a difficult novel to discuss without spoilers so all I will say is that the motive is rooted in both wars. I think it is easy for us modern types to forget that there was only 21 years between the end of one and the start of the next so Jago fought in the First World War as did many of the characters over 40. I think for most soldiers it was a traumatising event and the author does a brilliant and sensitive job of explaining both the horrors of it and the trauma it caused. He does an equally good job of describing the Blitz and its effects on everyday life. This is an extremely atmospheric novel.
I was less impressed with the dialogue which seems clunky in places and doesn’t quite capture the era in the same way as it seems a bit modern. I also couldn’t be doing with the philosophising and deep conversations between Jago and his potential love interest, American journalist Dorothy Appleton. Again, it seems out of context and too modern.
The Blitz Detective is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
June 28, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and Allison and Busby for the ARC of The Blitz Detective.
Always a bit of a sucker for historical fiction and particularly stories set in the war, this one overall was a very enjoyable read. It took me a few chapters before I was comfortable with the main characters but once they hit their stride it was a great read.
I like to judge detective stories on if I can work out who the murderer was, with this one I failed miserably not having the foggiest throughout until caught!
The detail is fantastic and well researched, and offers a great insight into detectives working through the Second World War.
I’d highly recommend this book, and look forward to reading that next in the series
4/5 stars
Always a bit of a sucker for historical fiction and particularly stories set in the war, this one overall was a very enjoyable read. It took me a few chapters before I was comfortable with the main characters but once they hit their stride it was a great read.
I like to judge detective stories on if I can work out who the murderer was, with this one I failed miserably not having the foggiest throughout until caught!
The detail is fantastic and well researched, and offers a great insight into detectives working through the Second World War.
I’d highly recommend this book, and look forward to reading that next in the series
4/5 stars
July 21, 2020
Very dark, like everywhere in England during The Blitz. Less than twenty years since the Great War, Battle of Gallipoli, and Flu pandemic the British are again assaulted by Germans and it's not just the damages to buildings and roads that is so devastating. Now the overworked police have the murder of a prominent man discovered just before a bomb blast blows the whole crime scene to bits. The characters are well done but there's something just a tiny bit off about the story. Well, it is the beginning of what looks to be an engaging series so I plan to read the others anyway.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Allison & Busby via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Allison & Busby via NetGalley. Thank you!
January 30, 2024
Oh dear. Perhaps some of these authors should be journalists rather than try to write historical fiction. The author's political views on WW2 are no interest to me. Could not finish this book. The characters were not likeable.
April 23, 2025
The author is an East Ender, a native of West Ham in London, which used to be one of the most economically depressed sections of the city, and that’s the setting for this first volume in a series of murder mysteries of the police procedural variety – only the story takes place in September 1940, beginning on the first day of the German Blitz. Detective Inspector John Jago (it’s a Cornish name) is in his early forties and was in the trenches in France in the Great War, and he’s not happy at all to see it all happening again. Moreover, his well-trusted sergeant has been called up, like so many experiences coppers, and Jago’s new assistant is newly promoted Detective Constable Craddock. The young man is willing and he’s trying hard, but he’s still very wet behind the ears, so e’s something of a trial for his boss.
What kicks the story off on the night of the first heavy bombing is the discovery of a dead body in a delivery van on a quiet side street, who turns out to be a local magistrate and justice of the peace -- who, in the UK, were actual judges, though at a low level. The victim also owned a printing business and had himself been a captain in the earlier war. And then, while Jago and Craddock are waiting at the scene for the arrival of a police surgeon to take charge of the body, there end of the street takes a direct hit and they’re left with a large crater where the van had stood a few minutes before. Jago can see this isn’t going to be an easy investigation.
It isn’t either, and the first dead body won’t be the only one. And as a further complication, Jago is assigned to look after an American journalist, Dorothy Appleton, from a major newspaper in Boston. He’s annoyed by the distraction from his homicide investigation, of course, and he has preconceptions about Americans, especially American women, but his assumptions are derailed when he discovers she has been an active war correspondent and has been under fire at the front lines in Spain, Poland, and France.
The author does a very good job developing a coherent plot with well-developed characters, and it’s no surprise that he takes numerous opportunities to introduce the reader to the realities of the lower levels of English society eighty years ago. And he does it by hinging the plot and the motivations of the characters on the world in which they live, which is far preferable to the “guided tour” approach which many newer authors use to show off their research. The further adventures of DS Jago are now up to at least five volumes, and I’ll be picking up the next one. (This first one, by the way, was, was originally published five years earlier as Direct Strike,
What kicks the story off on the night of the first heavy bombing is the discovery of a dead body in a delivery van on a quiet side street, who turns out to be a local magistrate and justice of the peace -- who, in the UK, were actual judges, though at a low level. The victim also owned a printing business and had himself been a captain in the earlier war. And then, while Jago and Craddock are waiting at the scene for the arrival of a police surgeon to take charge of the body, there end of the street takes a direct hit and they’re left with a large crater where the van had stood a few minutes before. Jago can see this isn’t going to be an easy investigation.
It isn’t either, and the first dead body won’t be the only one. And as a further complication, Jago is assigned to look after an American journalist, Dorothy Appleton, from a major newspaper in Boston. He’s annoyed by the distraction from his homicide investigation, of course, and he has preconceptions about Americans, especially American women, but his assumptions are derailed when he discovers she has been an active war correspondent and has been under fire at the front lines in Spain, Poland, and France.
The author does a very good job developing a coherent plot with well-developed characters, and it’s no surprise that he takes numerous opportunities to introduce the reader to the realities of the lower levels of English society eighty years ago. And he does it by hinging the plot and the motivations of the characters on the world in which they live, which is far preferable to the “guided tour” approach which many newer authors use to show off their research. The further adventures of DS Jago are now up to at least five volumes, and I’ll be picking up the next one. (This first one, by the way, was, was originally published five years earlier as Direct Strike,
July 11, 2020
The Blitz Detective by Mike Hollow was first published in 2015 and is the first in the series of 3 books. The novel is set in 1940’s England, West Ham to be exact, just as Germany starts its Blitz, the bombing of London and her suburbs, every night. Detective Inspector John Jago, a veteran of the First War and a tenured detective, who has worked his way from a beat cop, is summoned along with the newly inducted Constable Cradock to investigate a body found lying one of the streets. Though there is no identification on the body, the Detective Inspector recognizes the man, as the local Justice of Peace, Charles Villers and what befuddles the policemen is the fact that it looks like a murder and suicide at the same time. As Jago and Cradock start to dig through the matters, stories emerge and suddenly, it seemed that there was more that met the eye in the case of this particular JP.
This book is published in 2015 but no one, can fault with the atmosphere, the language and the everyday scenes of a nation and her people at war. London in 1940s came alive through the pages, with her bombed out buildings, rationing and politics of rich and poor. Mr. Hollow does a brilliant job of resurrecting the past with in-depth research and small subtleties that makes the novel feel grounded and real. In the creation of character of John Jago, he follows the same grounded approach and tries to create an every man hero. Jago is irritable and is traumatized by the bombs, living through the nightmare of the past, where he survived and many did not. At the same time he is considerate and patient with Cradock, understanding of the follies of people stuck between devil and the deep blue sea and honest enough to apologies for his mistakes. He does not have flash dash style or astounding intelligence, what he is a plodder, who keeps at it until he finds the truth. Craddock is a perfect foil to the senior Jago, looking up to his superior, enthusiastic, and smart enough to not lose temper, when people try to bring him down. The other characters are also deeply etched out and stand on their own merit; my favorites were Charles Viller’s brother and Son. The murder mystery is linear but not boring, there are very few complexities and by the middle, you clearly know that of the few, one should be the murderer so, you are not completely surprised. However the plot is well arched to pull it off and you keep turning the pages; and if the culprit does not take you by surprise, the motives and the fall out does. The only flaw that I found in the book was the introduction of American journalist and I found that angle unnecessary and distracting from the main plot of the book; though it did provide an interesting back story to Jago’s war. However, this is just one strand in this extremely rich attempt to provide a good yarn while being historically accurate, and this success of this remarkable feet makes this book a must read, for those times when you want an artfully contrived tale!
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby Publishers for providing me a copy of this book!
This book is published in 2015 but no one, can fault with the atmosphere, the language and the everyday scenes of a nation and her people at war. London in 1940s came alive through the pages, with her bombed out buildings, rationing and politics of rich and poor. Mr. Hollow does a brilliant job of resurrecting the past with in-depth research and small subtleties that makes the novel feel grounded and real. In the creation of character of John Jago, he follows the same grounded approach and tries to create an every man hero. Jago is irritable and is traumatized by the bombs, living through the nightmare of the past, where he survived and many did not. At the same time he is considerate and patient with Cradock, understanding of the follies of people stuck between devil and the deep blue sea and honest enough to apologies for his mistakes. He does not have flash dash style or astounding intelligence, what he is a plodder, who keeps at it until he finds the truth. Craddock is a perfect foil to the senior Jago, looking up to his superior, enthusiastic, and smart enough to not lose temper, when people try to bring him down. The other characters are also deeply etched out and stand on their own merit; my favorites were Charles Viller’s brother and Son. The murder mystery is linear but not boring, there are very few complexities and by the middle, you clearly know that of the few, one should be the murderer so, you are not completely surprised. However the plot is well arched to pull it off and you keep turning the pages; and if the culprit does not take you by surprise, the motives and the fall out does. The only flaw that I found in the book was the introduction of American journalist and I found that angle unnecessary and distracting from the main plot of the book; though it did provide an interesting back story to Jago’s war. However, this is just one strand in this extremely rich attempt to provide a good yarn while being historically accurate, and this success of this remarkable feet makes this book a must read, for those times when you want an artfully contrived tale!
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Allison & Busby Publishers for providing me a copy of this book!
July 15, 2020
There seem to be a lot of books that have come out in the past year or so that are set during WW II, and more specifically London/England during the Blitz. The latest that I have read is “The Blitz Detective” by Mike Hollow, a police procedural set in West Ham (in London) during this time.
Our detective is John Jago, who has his own wartime issues stemming from the first World War. His partner is the young, eager, inexperienced DC Pete Cradock, a bit annoying and too simplistic at first but someone who grows on you as the story develops.
And the story is a good one – the police are called to the scene of a murder, staged to look like suicide. Jago recognizes the victim: a local Justice of the Peace, Charles Villiers. Before much can be done about tracking down some evidence, a German bomb blows the whole scene to bits.
So, it’s up to our detectives to piece together who and why, with no real physical evidence. We learn all about life during wartime, and how some people managed to not only survive but also profit from the times they found themselves in, Villiers falling into this latter category. Blackmail, black market, forged papers – these are the areas our protagonists find themselves exploring, while a second murder ups the pressure for a solution.
We also meet some other characters, including an American journalist who tags along and ends up debating philosophy with Jago and becoming a potential romantic interest, and Sergeant Tompkins, who not only provides useful information but also some much-needed levity to the proceedings.
The procedural was well-written and moved along at a slow and steady pace. I think that some of the characters could have been explored a bit deeper, hopefully this will be taken care of as the series progresses. I also thought that the American romantic interest was an unnecessary distraction, and their conversations tended towards the unbelievable (for that time and place in society, I can’t see Jago opening up that readily).
But a good read, and a good start to a series I will follow.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Allison & Busby via NetGalley. Thank you!
Our detective is John Jago, who has his own wartime issues stemming from the first World War. His partner is the young, eager, inexperienced DC Pete Cradock, a bit annoying and too simplistic at first but someone who grows on you as the story develops.
And the story is a good one – the police are called to the scene of a murder, staged to look like suicide. Jago recognizes the victim: a local Justice of the Peace, Charles Villiers. Before much can be done about tracking down some evidence, a German bomb blows the whole scene to bits.
So, it’s up to our detectives to piece together who and why, with no real physical evidence. We learn all about life during wartime, and how some people managed to not only survive but also profit from the times they found themselves in, Villiers falling into this latter category. Blackmail, black market, forged papers – these are the areas our protagonists find themselves exploring, while a second murder ups the pressure for a solution.
We also meet some other characters, including an American journalist who tags along and ends up debating philosophy with Jago and becoming a potential romantic interest, and Sergeant Tompkins, who not only provides useful information but also some much-needed levity to the proceedings.
The procedural was well-written and moved along at a slow and steady pace. I think that some of the characters could have been explored a bit deeper, hopefully this will be taken care of as the series progresses. I also thought that the American romantic interest was an unnecessary distraction, and their conversations tended towards the unbelievable (for that time and place in society, I can’t see Jago opening up that readily).
But a good read, and a good start to a series I will follow.
I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Allison & Busby via NetGalley. Thank you!
July 9, 2025
The book is well written and engaging enough to finish, but on reflection, it wasn't that interesting.
The plot/murder mystery, instead of being the primary driver of the story, feels more like a secondary backdrop to all the detail and background of the setting of the story which seems to be the primary focus, with the actual plot being much less of a concern. So the story does meander from one tangent to the other. The characters we meet aren’t particularly fascinating, and the most pertinent of all is Detective Jago, who feels very much underwritten so it’s hard to like/dislike him. He’s just kind of there. None of the support characters carry much interest, they just seem to be there for the plot/setting purposes.
The second world war blitz setting may be appealing, but it’s offset by a distinct lack of tension, in any scene where there is a raid or some kind of turbulence. Maybe the author was trying to convey the “normalcy” of that kind of thing at the time, but it just made the scenes feel lacklustre and pedestrian.
There is also a lot of pro feminist/”putting down men/on the nose" dialogue throughout, (probably to stay in line with modern sensitivities) which almost feels like a diatribe if you read large chunks of the book in one sitting, making it clear the “wrongthink” apparently prevalent during this era is not acceptable. Make of that what you will, but all these kind of tangents and musings from characters seemed more the primary drive than the murder mystery which sadly takes a back seat to what is essentially a lot of unnecessary filler that just falls flat.
And as for the threadbare mystery, I felt very little interest in it, as there was just no tension, suspense or any surprises. It just concludes and well, Is that it?
It might be fine if it was just a period drama, but this is being sold and packaged as a murder mystery detective series, and my expectation was to read a interesting mystery, but the book failed to meet my expectations and left me disappointed with this overall. I'd probably give it a 5/10 if gr had that for a rating system. 4/10 is too low, as it was readable.
The plot/murder mystery, instead of being the primary driver of the story, feels more like a secondary backdrop to all the detail and background of the setting of the story which seems to be the primary focus, with the actual plot being much less of a concern. So the story does meander from one tangent to the other. The characters we meet aren’t particularly fascinating, and the most pertinent of all is Detective Jago, who feels very much underwritten so it’s hard to like/dislike him. He’s just kind of there. None of the support characters carry much interest, they just seem to be there for the plot/setting purposes.
The second world war blitz setting may be appealing, but it’s offset by a distinct lack of tension, in any scene where there is a raid or some kind of turbulence. Maybe the author was trying to convey the “normalcy” of that kind of thing at the time, but it just made the scenes feel lacklustre and pedestrian.
There is also a lot of pro feminist/”putting down men/on the nose" dialogue throughout, (probably to stay in line with modern sensitivities) which almost feels like a diatribe if you read large chunks of the book in one sitting, making it clear the “wrongthink” apparently prevalent during this era is not acceptable. Make of that what you will, but all these kind of tangents and musings from characters seemed more the primary drive than the murder mystery which sadly takes a back seat to what is essentially a lot of unnecessary filler that just falls flat.
And as for the threadbare mystery, I felt very little interest in it, as there was just no tension, suspense or any surprises. It just concludes and well, Is that it?
It might be fine if it was just a period drama, but this is being sold and packaged as a murder mystery detective series, and my expectation was to read a interesting mystery, but the book failed to meet my expectations and left me disappointed with this overall. I'd probably give it a 5/10 if gr had that for a rating system. 4/10 is too low, as it was readable.
October 9, 2024
Its 1940 and the Blitz has begun. For Detective Inspector John Jago it brings back unpleasant associations from his time in the trenches in WW1, being bombarded day and night. During the height of the bombing of East London an ARP Warden finds a man dead, slumped over the steering wheel of a van, it appears he has committed suicide, but on closer inspection he has also been stabbed in the heart.
The victim, Charles Villiers is a local Justice of the Peace and owns a printing factory nearby. However, before DI Jago and his new assistant Detective Constable Peter Cradock can get a police photographer and coroner to view the body the van is hit by German bombs and explodes!
When Jago starts to investigate Villiers it appears he wasn't a very nice man. His wife was clearly put upon, his son feels relief that his father is dead, his brother barely speaks to him, he's known to chase his female employees (and worse) and a lot of the people Jago speaks to suspect that he may have been involved in something 'dodgy'.
I did have trouble keeping the various characters straight in my head at times, especially when the story just leaps into a discussion between (say) Albert and Gus and you can't for the life of you remember who either of them are. Also because the man was such a pill there are clearly a lot of people with motive.
On reflection, perhaps the motive was a little far-fetched, and the final discovery overly dramatic, but it all hung together.
On to the second book.
Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
The victim, Charles Villiers is a local Justice of the Peace and owns a printing factory nearby. However, before DI Jago and his new assistant Detective Constable Peter Cradock can get a police photographer and coroner to view the body the van is hit by German bombs and explodes!
When Jago starts to investigate Villiers it appears he wasn't a very nice man. His wife was clearly put upon, his son feels relief that his father is dead, his brother barely speaks to him, he's known to chase his female employees (and worse) and a lot of the people Jago speaks to suspect that he may have been involved in something 'dodgy'.
I did have trouble keeping the various characters straight in my head at times, especially when the story just leaps into a discussion between (say) Albert and Gus and you can't for the life of you remember who either of them are. Also because the man was such a pill there are clearly a lot of people with motive.
On reflection, perhaps the motive was a little far-fetched, and the final discovery overly dramatic, but it all hung together.
On to the second book.
Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
March 5, 2019
Just at the start of the Blitz, Detective Inspector John Jago is called to a body discovered in a van stashed in West Ham. He recognizes the body as local Justice of the Peace Charles Villiers, a powerful and feared man. Unfortunately a German bomb destroys any possible evidence. As if the case isn't complicated enough, Jago's boss sticks him with an American journalist, a female journalist.
Secrets and events from the last war are woven throughout the investigation, as well as the horrors of both wars. Shell-shock (as PTSD was called during World War I, although not understood), desertion, and war profiteering are all pieces of the puzzle.
A slow, almost plodding read. While the book appears to be factually correct in regards to the environment of late 1940, it was more like reading a dull textbook than an exciting mystery of that time. I simply couldn't connect to any of the major characters. They all were flat, one-dimensional, comprised of a character checklist.
Even the descriptions of the horrors experienced by the men were muted, distant, cold. I confess, I was sooooo disappointed as this has been at the top of my "must-read" list since I first heard of its publication. Thanks to interlibrary loan, my Port St. Lucie, Florida, library borrowed this book from Woodstock, Illinois, so at least I didn't spend money on it. There was so much wasted potential here. 3 out of 5.
Secrets and events from the last war are woven throughout the investigation, as well as the horrors of both wars. Shell-shock (as PTSD was called during World War I, although not understood), desertion, and war profiteering are all pieces of the puzzle.
A slow, almost plodding read. While the book appears to be factually correct in regards to the environment of late 1940, it was more like reading a dull textbook than an exciting mystery of that time. I simply couldn't connect to any of the major characters. They all were flat, one-dimensional, comprised of a character checklist.
Even the descriptions of the horrors experienced by the men were muted, distant, cold. I confess, I was sooooo disappointed as this has been at the top of my "must-read" list since I first heard of its publication. Thanks to interlibrary loan, my Port St. Lucie, Florida, library borrowed this book from Woodstock, Illinois, so at least I didn't spend money on it. There was so much wasted potential here. 3 out of 5.
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