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DCI Craig Gillard #7
The Bodies at Westgrave Hall
A large country mansion. A locked room. A gruesome murder.
Russian oligarch Alexander Volkov has invited 1000 guests to a party at his palatial Surrey residence, Westgrave Hall. But while giving a private tour of the library, a gunman kills Volkov, wounding his ex-wife and slaying her new beau.
Nothing makes sense to DCI Craig Gillard. In the blood-spattered crime scene there are no forensic traces of anyone else involved, CCTV shows no one entered or left the library, and everyone seems to have an alibi.
Is it a crime of revenge, the squaring of a love triangle, or a Russian government operation? Could the victims have simply shot each other? Gillard’s eventual discovery is shocking even to him.
The latest gripping crime thriller from a master of the genre, The Bodies at Westgrave Hall will leave you guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of Ed James and Damien Boyd.
Russian oligarch Alexander Volkov has invited 1000 guests to a party at his palatial Surrey residence, Westgrave Hall. But while giving a private tour of the library, a gunman kills Volkov, wounding his ex-wife and slaying her new beau.
Nothing makes sense to DCI Craig Gillard. In the blood-spattered crime scene there are no forensic traces of anyone else involved, CCTV shows no one entered or left the library, and everyone seems to have an alibi.
Is it a crime of revenge, the squaring of a love triangle, or a Russian government operation? Could the victims have simply shot each other? Gillard’s eventual discovery is shocking even to him.
The latest gripping crime thriller from a master of the genre, The Bodies at Westgrave Hall will leave you guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of Ed James and Damien Boyd.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2021
158 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
About the author
Nick Louth
41 books294 followersNick Louth is a freelance journalist and author, based in Lincolnshire UK.
Before beginning writing fiction, he was a foreign correspondent for Reuters news agency, and a regular contributor to the Financial Times, MSN, and many financial magazines.
Before beginning writing fiction, he was a foreign correspondent for Reuters news agency, and a regular contributor to the Financial Times, MSN, and many financial magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 6, 2021
The Bodies at Westgrave Hall - Nick Louth
Oh that was very clever! A sort of locked room mystery with lots of misdirection and red herrings. This story is more mystery than thriller, and a very engaging mystery indeed. Westgrave Hall is an enormous Palladian country manor owned by a very wealthy, (very, very wealthy) Russian oligarch. He throws a massive party to celebrate the placement of the biggest fossil plesiosaur ever found (in Kazakhstan) into a purpose built (massive) library on the estate. There are around 1,000 guests and Beyoncé herself is performing.
During the fireworks that round out the evening shots are heard, and some of the massive library windows are seen shattering. The oligarch, Alexander (Sasha) Volkov is in the library with his ex-wife, Yelena Yalinsky, and Max Talin - an industrialist who is a former rival of Volkov’s but they are about to enter a new business deal. Yelena is now engaged to Talin. It’s a bit murky. Volkov’s bodyguard races to the library to aide his boss. When a young PC, present on another matter, gets into the library the three men are found dead. Yelena, it is later found, got trapped in the panic room after the shooting started.
DCI Craig Gillard and his team are called in. It’s a mystery - if the men are all dead and Yelena was trapped in the panic room - where is the shooter, and where is the gun? CCTV is pored over, the estate has excellent coverage. Yet no one was, unaccounted for, was seen entering or leaving the library. The police have a gargantuan job on their hands with so many guests and a mansion with over 60 rooms to search. Nothing of interest is found.
ThIs seemingly intractable problem is the guts of the book. It’s fascinating how they go about things. There are suspects galore and Special Branch even gets involved in case it’s a Kremlin hit. The author cleverly integrates the Skripal poisoning and other known Russian hits. Then there is a car bomb just near Buckingham Palace and some of Gillard’s theories go up in smoke along with at least one of their suspects. The lives of the very wealthy are made to seem almost difficult - how to spend all that money. They don’t seem happy. When money is involved it colours the relationships. I wasn’t able to guess how it went down in this story so my interest never waned as the author drew things together into a somewhat unexpected ending. As I said, very clever. My thanks to Netgalley, Canelo and Nick Louth for providing a copy for me to review. My opinions are my own.
Oh that was very clever! A sort of locked room mystery with lots of misdirection and red herrings. This story is more mystery than thriller, and a very engaging mystery indeed. Westgrave Hall is an enormous Palladian country manor owned by a very wealthy, (very, very wealthy) Russian oligarch. He throws a massive party to celebrate the placement of the biggest fossil plesiosaur ever found (in Kazakhstan) into a purpose built (massive) library on the estate. There are around 1,000 guests and Beyoncé herself is performing.
During the fireworks that round out the evening shots are heard, and some of the massive library windows are seen shattering. The oligarch, Alexander (Sasha) Volkov is in the library with his ex-wife, Yelena Yalinsky, and Max Talin - an industrialist who is a former rival of Volkov’s but they are about to enter a new business deal. Yelena is now engaged to Talin. It’s a bit murky. Volkov’s bodyguard races to the library to aide his boss. When a young PC, present on another matter, gets into the library the three men are found dead. Yelena, it is later found, got trapped in the panic room after the shooting started.
DCI Craig Gillard and his team are called in. It’s a mystery - if the men are all dead and Yelena was trapped in the panic room - where is the shooter, and where is the gun? CCTV is pored over, the estate has excellent coverage. Yet no one was, unaccounted for, was seen entering or leaving the library. The police have a gargantuan job on their hands with so many guests and a mansion with over 60 rooms to search. Nothing of interest is found.
ThIs seemingly intractable problem is the guts of the book. It’s fascinating how they go about things. There are suspects galore and Special Branch even gets involved in case it’s a Kremlin hit. The author cleverly integrates the Skripal poisoning and other known Russian hits. Then there is a car bomb just near Buckingham Palace and some of Gillard’s theories go up in smoke along with at least one of their suspects. The lives of the very wealthy are made to seem almost difficult - how to spend all that money. They don’t seem happy. When money is involved it colours the relationships. I wasn’t able to guess how it went down in this story so my interest never waned as the author drew things together into a somewhat unexpected ending. As I said, very clever. My thanks to Netgalley, Canelo and Nick Louth for providing a copy for me to review. My opinions are my own.
February 3, 2021
The Bodies at Westgrave Hall is the seventh book in the accomplished DCI Craig Gillard series set in Surrey, which is South of London. I’ve read all of these in order, but they do stand alone as police procedural thrillers, and you get enough backstory about the MC to not wonder what you’ve missed. This is an intriguing mystery set in the world of ex-Pat Russian oligarchs. I thought I had it all figured out but clever plot twists got me once again. The recent arrest of poisoned Russian politician Alexei Navalny makes the story particularly topical.
Billionaire Alexander Volkov throws a lavish Christmas party at his sumptuous stately home to celebrate his engagement to a famous TV presenter, and show off his latest acquisition - a massive plesiosaur fossil imported at great expense from Kazakhstan. As fireworks light up the sky, gunshots ring out, and the host, his bodyguard, and his long term rival, are found dead in the library - but CCTV shows all the main suspects were outside and no one can work out how the killer escaped. Gillard and his team are assigned the case, but MI5 meddling and the entitled antics of the victims family are going to make this his toughest case yet!
Locked Room mysteries have come back into fashion in recent years, happily for me, (I’m so over serial killers!) and I enjoyed this modern version with a range of deliciously awful suspects to choose from: was it the spoiled gangsta-wannabe son, the sexy palaeontologist fiancée, one of the hulking bodyguards, or a Russian government agent? There are also some wonderful Comic Relief characters like Wolf the jovial head of security, and ever-hungry Detective Hoskins. As this series has progressed we’ve gotten to know Gillard’s likeable, diverse & competent team - especially the fabulous Rainy, and I thought the investigative and forensic details were well done. I did guess how the crime was committed, but not by whom.
In the earlier books in this series, I had some issues with how women were portrayed, including Gillard’s attitudes to them. This has completely turned around, and I loved that the most desirable women here are all in their forties, smart and powerful, and the female police officers also play a major part in the investigation. Even the neglected and manipulative Poor Little Rich Girl daughter was a well-developed and surprising character. I would’ve liked a bit to see a bit more of Gillard’s boss, scary Alison Rigby - hopefully she’ll feature more in future books.
It’s all set pre-Covid - I’m not sure how long authors are going to be able to avoid introducing this aspect into ongoing series, but it’s nice to be able to escape from it for a while!
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review.
The Bodies at Westgrave Hall is published on February 25th.
Billionaire Alexander Volkov throws a lavish Christmas party at his sumptuous stately home to celebrate his engagement to a famous TV presenter, and show off his latest acquisition - a massive plesiosaur fossil imported at great expense from Kazakhstan. As fireworks light up the sky, gunshots ring out, and the host, his bodyguard, and his long term rival, are found dead in the library - but CCTV shows all the main suspects were outside and no one can work out how the killer escaped. Gillard and his team are assigned the case, but MI5 meddling and the entitled antics of the victims family are going to make this his toughest case yet!
Locked Room mysteries have come back into fashion in recent years, happily for me, (I’m so over serial killers!) and I enjoyed this modern version with a range of deliciously awful suspects to choose from: was it the spoiled gangsta-wannabe son, the sexy palaeontologist fiancée, one of the hulking bodyguards, or a Russian government agent? There are also some wonderful Comic Relief characters like Wolf the jovial head of security, and ever-hungry Detective Hoskins. As this series has progressed we’ve gotten to know Gillard’s likeable, diverse & competent team - especially the fabulous Rainy, and I thought the investigative and forensic details were well done. I did guess how the crime was committed, but not by whom.
In the earlier books in this series, I had some issues with how women were portrayed, including Gillard’s attitudes to them. This has completely turned around, and I loved that the most desirable women here are all in their forties, smart and powerful, and the female police officers also play a major part in the investigation. Even the neglected and manipulative Poor Little Rich Girl daughter was a well-developed and surprising character. I would’ve liked a bit to see a bit more of Gillard’s boss, scary Alison Rigby - hopefully she’ll feature more in future books.
It’s all set pre-Covid - I’m not sure how long authors are going to be able to avoid introducing this aspect into ongoing series, but it’s nice to be able to escape from it for a while!
Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review.
The Bodies at Westgrave Hall is published on February 25th.
February 25, 2021
The Bodies at Westgrave Hall is the seventh instalment in the DCI Craig Gillard series, based in and around Surrey. Westgrave Hall is a huge estate and stately home set against the tranquil backdrop of rural Surrey and owned by the affluent Alexander ”Sasha” Volkov, a prominent Russian oligarch. It's there he decides to throw a sumptuous no expenses spared Christmas Eve party to both celebrate his engagement to an internationally famous television personality and present his latest acquisition to his 1000 invited guests — he had recently the most humongous plesiosaur fossil ever discovered in Kazakhstan imported and shipped to his home where it would hold pride of place in the sprawling library. Many of the locals weren't happy when he purchased the historic property and when he began constructing the library months ago it angered the townsfolk greatly. Fireworks are the perfect way to top off a fantastic, lavish evening but during them, shots can be heard ringing out shattering the nearby library windows and startling the guests. Volkov had been giving a private guided tour of the library when he was shot dead alongside Max Talin, a former rival whom he was now in the process of doing business with and his faithful bodyguard. DCI Gillard is then called in to investigate the bloody crime scene and he discovers that Volkov’s ex-wife Yalena Yalinsky ended up trapped alone in the panic room as the chaos unfolded in front of her. If this is the case then where exactly did the shooter and the gun disappear to?
Hours and hours of CCTV of the residence is carefully combed through yet no one was seen entering or exiting the library. The police have a tough case on their hands with 1000 guests to interviewband over 60 rooms to search. Can they work exactly how this happened and why? This is a riveting, compulsive and exciting police procedural with an interesting and action-crammed plot where police must do a whole load of intensive leg work to discover exactly what is going on. Louth, as always, makes excellent use of twists, turns and misdirection throughout bringing some surprises to the narrative and the whole thing moves at a pretty brisk pace. You quickly begin to realise alongside detectives that the possible motives for the murders are endless with many people who would've liked to see Sasha burn in hell, and although I worked out the perpetrator I was compelled to continue as I had no idea about the motive behind it or even how it was carried out without the killer being seen. Primarily told from Gillard’s perspective but interspersed with the point of view of several others, this allows you to become immersed in the story and makes it a fully rounded experience. It's a refreshingly original thriller with plenty of intrigue surrounding the strange deaths. An entertaining and enthralling, clever and engrossing tale and an easy comfort read. Louth and this series are both going from strength to strength; I find his books to be extremely well woven and he always ensures there's never a lull or boring part and crafts it with a whole lot of action, intensity and drama. Roll on book eight. Highly recommended.
Hours and hours of CCTV of the residence is carefully combed through yet no one was seen entering or exiting the library. The police have a tough case on their hands with 1000 guests to interviewband over 60 rooms to search. Can they work exactly how this happened and why? This is a riveting, compulsive and exciting police procedural with an interesting and action-crammed plot where police must do a whole load of intensive leg work to discover exactly what is going on. Louth, as always, makes excellent use of twists, turns and misdirection throughout bringing some surprises to the narrative and the whole thing moves at a pretty brisk pace. You quickly begin to realise alongside detectives that the possible motives for the murders are endless with many people who would've liked to see Sasha burn in hell, and although I worked out the perpetrator I was compelled to continue as I had no idea about the motive behind it or even how it was carried out without the killer being seen. Primarily told from Gillard’s perspective but interspersed with the point of view of several others, this allows you to become immersed in the story and makes it a fully rounded experience. It's a refreshingly original thriller with plenty of intrigue surrounding the strange deaths. An entertaining and enthralling, clever and engrossing tale and an easy comfort read. Louth and this series are both going from strength to strength; I find his books to be extremely well woven and he always ensures there's never a lull or boring part and crafts it with a whole lot of action, intensity and drama. Roll on book eight. Highly recommended.
July 30, 2023
I just love a locked room mystery, and although the 'room' in this story is actually a large, very large mansion, it works well. We have some filthy rich people here, some of them engaged in a love triangle. I must admit is took me a while to get my head around understanding exactly who's been married to whom, who was having an affair and who is the couple that is planning to marry soon. There is so much going on, and some of the details are not very clear in the beginning. But at about halfway the book I got it and I began to see what was happening. There is some cleaver policing - as we are used to now in this series - but there are also some real surprises thrown in.
January 22, 2021
This is the 7th book in the DCI Craig Gillard series by author Nick Louth. I read the previous book in the series and was keen to read the latest one.
A Russian oligarch named Alexander Volkov is murdered at his palatial Surrey residence while entertaining a 1000 guests. Volkov is giving a private tour of the library when a gunman kills him and wounds his ex-wife. A bloody crime scene for DCI Craig Gillard and no obvious forensic evidence ensure that this case is not going to be straight forward. Available CCTV shows that no one entered or left the library, and everyone seems to have an alibi. There is not much to go on making this a fascinating case.
This is an interesting read with fascinating characters and lots of action.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Canelo for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
A Russian oligarch named Alexander Volkov is murdered at his palatial Surrey residence while entertaining a 1000 guests. Volkov is giving a private tour of the library when a gunman kills him and wounds his ex-wife. A bloody crime scene for DCI Craig Gillard and no obvious forensic evidence ensure that this case is not going to be straight forward. Available CCTV shows that no one entered or left the library, and everyone seems to have an alibi. There is not much to go on making this a fascinating case.
This is an interesting read with fascinating characters and lots of action.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Canelo for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of The Bodies at Westgrave Hall, the seventh novel to feature DCI Craig Gillard of the Surrey Police.
Gillard is called out to a bizarre crime scene on Christmas Day. Russian oligarch, Alexander Volkov, his bodyguard and his ex-wife’s new partner have all been gunned down in the locked library of his home, Westgrave Hall. The problem is that no one, except the victims, was seen to enter or leave the building.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Bodies at Westgrave Hall, which is a modern take on the locked room formula. It is told mostly from Gillard’s point of view but switches occasionally to others to give the reader a wider perspective. This is intriguing because all this wider perspective does is throw up more possibilities and suspicions. Of course, the words Russian oligarch mean that the possibilities are endless and a fair few are explored, from the political to the personal. There are plenty of references to the alleged acts of the Russian security services and none of them is beyond the realms of possibility. I found it fascinating and eye opening.
I must admit that while I guessed almost immediately how it was done I had no idea of motive or the perpetrator. There is so much going on in the novel it is difficult to see these latter clearly and too little hard evidence to draw conclusions. The answer came as a real surprise. This novel gives the reader a real idea of the difficulties involved in running such a vast investigation. Things get ignored, not because of a conscious decision but because they can’t get to everything immediately and priorities have to be set. It’s one of the few times I’ve seen this in crime fiction.
The characterisation in this novel is fairly standard in some ways. The detectives are hard working, smart and dedicated and their humorous dialogue brings a smile but the others are all easy to suspect. I wondered about their motivations, thought processes and the reliability of their words - they live in a different world and some of them could out-Machiavelli Machiavelli.
The Bodies at Westgrave Hall is an immersive read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Gillard is called out to a bizarre crime scene on Christmas Day. Russian oligarch, Alexander Volkov, his bodyguard and his ex-wife’s new partner have all been gunned down in the locked library of his home, Westgrave Hall. The problem is that no one, except the victims, was seen to enter or leave the building.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Bodies at Westgrave Hall, which is a modern take on the locked room formula. It is told mostly from Gillard’s point of view but switches occasionally to others to give the reader a wider perspective. This is intriguing because all this wider perspective does is throw up more possibilities and suspicions. Of course, the words Russian oligarch mean that the possibilities are endless and a fair few are explored, from the political to the personal. There are plenty of references to the alleged acts of the Russian security services and none of them is beyond the realms of possibility. I found it fascinating and eye opening.
I must admit that while I guessed almost immediately how it was done I had no idea of motive or the perpetrator. There is so much going on in the novel it is difficult to see these latter clearly and too little hard evidence to draw conclusions. The answer came as a real surprise. This novel gives the reader a real idea of the difficulties involved in running such a vast investigation. Things get ignored, not because of a conscious decision but because they can’t get to everything immediately and priorities have to be set. It’s one of the few times I’ve seen this in crime fiction.
The characterisation in this novel is fairly standard in some ways. The detectives are hard working, smart and dedicated and their humorous dialogue brings a smile but the others are all easy to suspect. I wondered about their motivations, thought processes and the reliability of their words - they live in a different world and some of them could out-Machiavelli Machiavelli.
The Bodies at Westgrave Hall is an immersive read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
May 6, 2021
4,5 Stars
Three people murdered in a library, and no one else entered or left the place at the time of the shooting. How is DCI Gillard supposed to solve this riddle? With lots of help from the whole time and a little bit of gut feeling!
Nick Louth constructs a very complex murder case involving a couple of insanely wealthy people, the Russian intelligence service and an intensive backstory surrounding a fossil larger, older and more valuable than I can even imagine it being.
Since no one (neither the reader nor the police) knows which information is crucial in solving the case, you have to keep in mind lots of details, which made it a bit hard to follow for me in the very beginning. But this all also leads to a multi-layered story with several twists and turns - and I only saw very few of them coming!
Three people murdered in a library, and no one else entered or left the place at the time of the shooting. How is DCI Gillard supposed to solve this riddle? With lots of help from the whole time and a little bit of gut feeling!
Nick Louth constructs a very complex murder case involving a couple of insanely wealthy people, the Russian intelligence service and an intensive backstory surrounding a fossil larger, older and more valuable than I can even imagine it being.
Since no one (neither the reader nor the police) knows which information is crucial in solving the case, you have to keep in mind lots of details, which made it a bit hard to follow for me in the very beginning. But this all also leads to a multi-layered story with several twists and turns - and I only saw very few of them coming!
May 5, 2021
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Canelo for approving me for an ARC of this book. Unfortunately I forgot to download the book before it was archived so I decided to listen to the audio instead.
If you are a regular follower of my blog then you will know that I discovered the DCI Craig Gillard series on NetGalley, we are now seven books into the series and I feel like these are more than just characters in a story. I feel like I am part of the team. I’m in the thick of it trying to solve the latest case, I’m laughing at their jokes and growing frustrated when another theory goes out the window. I should also point out that if you haven’t read any of the previous books in this series then this does work as a standalone.
Whilst I was frustrated with myself for not downloading the ARC in time I’m really pleased I listened to the story. Martson York does a fantastic jobs of bringing unique voices to all the characters and I am in complete admiration of his ability to do a Russian accent! It was like meeting the characters all over again and finally putting voices to the names I’d read so much about.
As I’ve come to expect with Nick Louth he always has a trick up his sleeve. I’ve often given up trying to figure out the who, the why and the how as I am always wrong! He is the master of deception, red herrings and knock out revelations and he did not disappoint with this latest instalment.
I will admit that I did get a little confused with all the Russian character’s names, particularly the Volkov family, as they sounded quite similar and there did seem to be a lot of characters in this story. Of the Russian characters Wolf was my favourite. His love for Only Fools and Horses and his clever wit often made me smile to myself (this probably had something to do with Marston York’s delivery too).
I’m hoping that this series will continue as I’ve got used to having regular cases to work on with Gillard, Hoskins and Rainy. I’d like to see more from Craig’s wife, Sam, especially as she has featured quite heavily in previous books. Only time will tell I guess.
If you are a regular follower of my blog then you will know that I discovered the DCI Craig Gillard series on NetGalley, we are now seven books into the series and I feel like these are more than just characters in a story. I feel like I am part of the team. I’m in the thick of it trying to solve the latest case, I’m laughing at their jokes and growing frustrated when another theory goes out the window. I should also point out that if you haven’t read any of the previous books in this series then this does work as a standalone.
Whilst I was frustrated with myself for not downloading the ARC in time I’m really pleased I listened to the story. Martson York does a fantastic jobs of bringing unique voices to all the characters and I am in complete admiration of his ability to do a Russian accent! It was like meeting the characters all over again and finally putting voices to the names I’d read so much about.
As I’ve come to expect with Nick Louth he always has a trick up his sleeve. I’ve often given up trying to figure out the who, the why and the how as I am always wrong! He is the master of deception, red herrings and knock out revelations and he did not disappoint with this latest instalment.
I will admit that I did get a little confused with all the Russian character’s names, particularly the Volkov family, as they sounded quite similar and there did seem to be a lot of characters in this story. Of the Russian characters Wolf was my favourite. His love for Only Fools and Horses and his clever wit often made me smile to myself (this probably had something to do with Marston York’s delivery too).
I’m hoping that this series will continue as I’ve got used to having regular cases to work on with Gillard, Hoskins and Rainy. I’d like to see more from Craig’s wife, Sam, especially as she has featured quite heavily in previous books. Only time will tell I guess.
February 17, 2021
I have to say, I do love this series, and this one is something different. It’s all contained in Westgrave Hall. I would have loved to live in a place like that, with all the splendour and the nooks and crannies to explore, how wonderful, but I expect it was a tad eerie at night. I don’t think I’d like to be alone there.
Well the story is a excellent one, with Craig trying to sort out the murders, MI5 and other departments sticking their noses in and a wife who, I have to say is a bit mardy for me. (Don’t all shout at me, I sympathise with her PTSD but before that she was mardy! )
The two main characters have been shot, along with the bodyguard and what a place for the CSI to try and collate the forensics.
From Craig’s point it’s all a bit odd, did the two men shoot each other? It’s proving hard work to try and ascertain what happened. Is the Russian government behind it all? Well, the story marches on and really it’s not until the last minute that we discover who’s behind it all, I couldn’t work it out, and although I had worked out how it had been done, I didn’t know who it was until the end!
I do like Craig and I’m glad his wife was in the background more, she really irritates me, she knew what Craig did for a living before she married him!
All in all, it was another brilliant addition to the series, albeit as I said, set in one place.
My thanks to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.
Well the story is a excellent one, with Craig trying to sort out the murders, MI5 and other departments sticking their noses in and a wife who, I have to say is a bit mardy for me. (Don’t all shout at me, I sympathise with her PTSD but before that she was mardy! )
The two main characters have been shot, along with the bodyguard and what a place for the CSI to try and collate the forensics.
From Craig’s point it’s all a bit odd, did the two men shoot each other? It’s proving hard work to try and ascertain what happened. Is the Russian government behind it all? Well, the story marches on and really it’s not until the last minute that we discover who’s behind it all, I couldn’t work it out, and although I had worked out how it had been done, I didn’t know who it was until the end!
I do like Craig and I’m glad his wife was in the background more, she really irritates me, she knew what Craig did for a living before she married him!
All in all, it was another brilliant addition to the series, albeit as I said, set in one place.
My thanks to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.
October 15, 2023
Russian oligarchs, amazing fossil finds, lots of red herrings, multiple manipulations of the police and no one to trust.
February 14, 2025
Absolutely brilliant.
August 15, 2023
I live this series of DCI Craig Gillard and am trying not to binge read just these books. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this one as much as some of the others, but I was totally wrong, it was an excellent read. Intense at times but exciting and you really wanted to know who was the killer. I did guess earlier in the book but having read so much crime fiction is probably to blame!
Now the question is do I start the next book in the series or go onto something else first? I would live to see these stories as a TV show they are written perfectly for that. Another corker of a book by Nick Louth
Now the question is do I start the next book in the series or go onto something else first? I would live to see these stories as a TV show they are written perfectly for that. Another corker of a book by Nick Louth
August 20, 2021
I loved this series to begin with, but this is two very weak entries in a row. I don't mind that the "bad guy" was barely in the book, but having a motive that the reader doesn't learn about until the data dump on the end is not playing fair. Add that to a twist that depends entirely on someone being too dumb to live.....
February 26, 2021
Amazing
Amazing book gripping right to the end for once I was glad of lockdown. Cannot wait for the next one
Amazing book gripping right to the end for once I was glad of lockdown. Cannot wait for the next one
June 2, 2022
I’ve only recently started Nick Louth’s DCI Craig Gillard series. I’m trying to read them in order; the first few were good but not extraordinary. With this recent book (#7) he’s really knocked it for six. As is the case with previous books I’m ‘reading’ the audiobook, which is well performed as the others have been.
Much of the book is set in Westgrave Hall, which is a Surrey estate recently acquired against locals’ wishes by Russian oligarch (Alexander Volkov). He is a large, likeable man but the locals don’t like that he’s used his wealth and political influence to change their village. They also don’t like his spoiled children flouting laws with impunity. At Christmas he has used his influence to divert traffic and close roads so that the 1000 guests he’s invited to a massive party can have access and parking. During the party some guests are getting a tour of this new library housing the largest fossil of a prehistoric Plesiosauraus mother and newborn. During the private tour, gunfire breaks out killing Volkov, wounding his ex-wife, killing her beau along with private security/bodyguards.
Gillard is called in to sort out the large, messy, blood-spattered crime scene. It is not a neat, professional hit. He can’t tell if the Kremlin is involved or if the source of the violence could be down to competing oligarchs or from within the family. CCTV shows no one could have entered or left the library and everyone even remotely possibly guilty has unassailable alibis. This is a new twist on the old locked-room murder theme.
Gillard also has to deal with being kept in the dark by national security services, who have motives other than finding justice for a killings. This is a fairly recent book and it contains references to well-known extra-territorial killings arranged by the Kremlin so it is quite topical and relevant.
It has never been part of my reading routine to try to figure out who is guilty before the author does his/her big reveal. That said, I was about 50% right with this book but, where I was wrong, I was REALLY wrong.
Whether it’s plausible or not is another matter. Louth is really good at dropping nearly invisible clues, some of which turn out to be red herrings and others quite relevant to finding the truth. I don’t think he can be accused of keeping the reader in the dark and then springing the reveal as if it’s something that’s never been hinted at before. The plot is complex but it holds together in a very clever way and it is blessedly easy to follow, mostly without the time changing hoo-haa pervading so many so-called thrillers these days. The narrative is good and refreshingly lacking in most of the gimmicks used by so many writers today. It also neatly merges modern technology with old fashioned deduction. IMHO this is the best book in the DCI Gillard books to date; it’s local and global and it’s current yet timeless.
Much of the book is set in Westgrave Hall, which is a Surrey estate recently acquired against locals’ wishes by Russian oligarch (Alexander Volkov). He is a large, likeable man but the locals don’t like that he’s used his wealth and political influence to change their village. They also don’t like his spoiled children flouting laws with impunity. At Christmas he has used his influence to divert traffic and close roads so that the 1000 guests he’s invited to a massive party can have access and parking. During the party some guests are getting a tour of this new library housing the largest fossil of a prehistoric Plesiosauraus mother and newborn. During the private tour, gunfire breaks out killing Volkov, wounding his ex-wife, killing her beau along with private security/bodyguards.
Gillard is called in to sort out the large, messy, blood-spattered crime scene. It is not a neat, professional hit. He can’t tell if the Kremlin is involved or if the source of the violence could be down to competing oligarchs or from within the family. CCTV shows no one could have entered or left the library and everyone even remotely possibly guilty has unassailable alibis. This is a new twist on the old locked-room murder theme.
Gillard also has to deal with being kept in the dark by national security services, who have motives other than finding justice for a killings. This is a fairly recent book and it contains references to well-known extra-territorial killings arranged by the Kremlin so it is quite topical and relevant.
It has never been part of my reading routine to try to figure out who is guilty before the author does his/her big reveal. That said, I was about 50% right with this book but, where I was wrong, I was REALLY wrong.
Whether it’s plausible or not is another matter. Louth is really good at dropping nearly invisible clues, some of which turn out to be red herrings and others quite relevant to finding the truth. I don’t think he can be accused of keeping the reader in the dark and then springing the reveal as if it’s something that’s never been hinted at before. The plot is complex but it holds together in a very clever way and it is blessedly easy to follow, mostly without the time changing hoo-haa pervading so many so-called thrillers these days. The narrative is good and refreshingly lacking in most of the gimmicks used by so many writers today. It also neatly merges modern technology with old fashioned deduction. IMHO this is the best book in the DCI Gillard books to date; it’s local and global and it’s current yet timeless.
January 29, 2021
Alexander Volkov has the sort of money the rest of us can only dream of. The Russian oligarch also has the ear of governments, royalty, and A listers around the world, a new palatial home in Surrey, and a beautiful, internationally famous, girlfriend, what else could he possibly need?
For the Russian holding a Christmas Eve party at his new house for over a thousand guests with fake snow, skating rinks, and an outside dance floor is nothing out of the ordinary. As Christmas Day dawns, however, gunfire is heard in his private library and, as the smoke clears, the bodies of three men are discovered in a blood-soaked crime scene which, according to witnesses and CCTV footage, no one entered or left after the final victim arrived.
DCI Craig Gillard was looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas at home with wife Sam until the phone rings and brings that plan screeching to a halt. Faced with an initially confusing locked room mystery he and his team also have to deal with a press desperate for information, and a family intent on keeping secrets from everyone around them.
This is a whodunnit of the highest calibre. It starts slowly but, like the fireworks at Volkov's party, reaches more than one surprising crescendo. In many ways the locked room is the lesser of all evils but everything which happens because of it follows a coldly calculated logic that shows however much money or power you have, you will eventually reap what you sow.
Craig Gillard is an engaging, slightly put upon, main protagonist who comes across as a thoughtful man with a streak of ruthlessness running through him. His team are loyal to a fault but work independently and the occasional foray into their points of view add an additional depth to the investigation.
This is the seventh book in the series and I wondered if it would be as satisfyingly exciting and tautly written as previous books as the beginning has quite a bit of scene setting. I needn't have worried! Everything here has a reason and at the end there was nothing missing from my perception of what a first class thriller should be.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it didn't disappoint in any way. I sincerely hope there will be a book eight in the not too distant future.
For the Russian holding a Christmas Eve party at his new house for over a thousand guests with fake snow, skating rinks, and an outside dance floor is nothing out of the ordinary. As Christmas Day dawns, however, gunfire is heard in his private library and, as the smoke clears, the bodies of three men are discovered in a blood-soaked crime scene which, according to witnesses and CCTV footage, no one entered or left after the final victim arrived.
DCI Craig Gillard was looking forward to spending a quiet Christmas at home with wife Sam until the phone rings and brings that plan screeching to a halt. Faced with an initially confusing locked room mystery he and his team also have to deal with a press desperate for information, and a family intent on keeping secrets from everyone around them.
This is a whodunnit of the highest calibre. It starts slowly but, like the fireworks at Volkov's party, reaches more than one surprising crescendo. In many ways the locked room is the lesser of all evils but everything which happens because of it follows a coldly calculated logic that shows however much money or power you have, you will eventually reap what you sow.
Craig Gillard is an engaging, slightly put upon, main protagonist who comes across as a thoughtful man with a streak of ruthlessness running through him. His team are loyal to a fault but work independently and the occasional foray into their points of view add an additional depth to the investigation.
This is the seventh book in the series and I wondered if it would be as satisfyingly exciting and tautly written as previous books as the beginning has quite a bit of scene setting. I needn't have worried! Everything here has a reason and at the end there was nothing missing from my perception of what a first class thriller should be.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it didn't disappoint in any way. I sincerely hope there will be a book eight in the not too distant future.
April 14, 2021
As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot (there are plenty of reviews like that out there already!)
This is the 7th book in the DCI Gillard series. I have read some - but not all - of the previous novels, but this could be read as a standalone as there is enough background information for readers unfamiliar with the regular characters.
The book has an intriguing opening, with a huge and mysterious object being transported from Kazakstaan to a small village in the UK (I won't reveal what the object was to avoid spoiling the surprise!). The writing manages to capture the essence of the classic English village mystery (by the inclusion of typical village types), as well as the glamour of the uber-rich international jetsetter.
DCI Gillard is called in after a bizarre incident in what is effectively a "locked room" ends in the death of three men. A further twist in the tale leaves two more dead and one seriously injured - are the two incidents linked? (you'll have to read it to find out!)
It was good to catch up with the characters from the previous novels, and there are some well written new characters - my favourite being the unintentionally amusing "Wolf". Some unpleasant characters round off the cast nicely - particularly the sinister "Ghost".
An excellent mystery (rather than a thriller as such). I have to admit that I did not guess how the murders had taken place, nor the identity of the perpetrator(s), so hats off to Nick Louth for an excellent plot. Looking forward to the next in the series.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
This is the 7th book in the DCI Gillard series. I have read some - but not all - of the previous novels, but this could be read as a standalone as there is enough background information for readers unfamiliar with the regular characters.
The book has an intriguing opening, with a huge and mysterious object being transported from Kazakstaan to a small village in the UK (I won't reveal what the object was to avoid spoiling the surprise!). The writing manages to capture the essence of the classic English village mystery (by the inclusion of typical village types), as well as the glamour of the uber-rich international jetsetter.
DCI Gillard is called in after a bizarre incident in what is effectively a "locked room" ends in the death of three men. A further twist in the tale leaves two more dead and one seriously injured - are the two incidents linked? (you'll have to read it to find out!)
It was good to catch up with the characters from the previous novels, and there are some well written new characters - my favourite being the unintentionally amusing "Wolf". Some unpleasant characters round off the cast nicely - particularly the sinister "Ghost".
An excellent mystery (rather than a thriller as such). I have to admit that I did not guess how the murders had taken place, nor the identity of the perpetrator(s), so hats off to Nick Louth for an excellent plot. Looking forward to the next in the series.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
March 22, 2023
Spoilers ahead. A locked room mystery.
A Russian oligarch is holding a huge Christmas party at his new British estate. At one point, he is in his vast library showpiece, which holds a humongous dinosaur fossil hanging from the ceiling. He is there with his ex-wife and her husband (or ex-husband, I forget) who is/was also his best friend/enemy. Multiple shots ring out and his bodyguard rushes in and the door closes and locks, locking everyone out.
When the police arrive, the oligarch Volkov, his friend Maxim and the bodyguard are all shot dead of multiple gunshot wounds and the ex-wife Yelena is locked in the panic room. No one is seen going in or out and there is no murder weapon, so who can be the killer?
The rest of the book is all police protocol. The Surrey police grabs everyone's electronic devices and tracks everyone to see where they are. The killers can be after the oligarch's money or it's the Kremlin. At some point the book does a very credible explanation of why Russian oligarchs are being killed or suicided in real life and makes pretty good reading.
The cops investigate everyone from Volkov's kids to his bodyguards, future wife, ex's, Russia, etc. as all have a motive. And as usual Nick Louth's book is full of interesting characters, which is what makes the book. The only reason I don't give this 5 stars is because there are too many tangents to the story and the mystery isn't tight. It does get exciting at the end but in the middle there were too many dead ends.
A Russian oligarch is holding a huge Christmas party at his new British estate. At one point, he is in his vast library showpiece, which holds a humongous dinosaur fossil hanging from the ceiling. He is there with his ex-wife and her husband (or ex-husband, I forget) who is/was also his best friend/enemy. Multiple shots ring out and his bodyguard rushes in and the door closes and locks, locking everyone out.
When the police arrive, the oligarch Volkov, his friend Maxim and the bodyguard are all shot dead of multiple gunshot wounds and the ex-wife Yelena is locked in the panic room. No one is seen going in or out and there is no murder weapon, so who can be the killer?
The rest of the book is all police protocol. The Surrey police grabs everyone's electronic devices and tracks everyone to see where they are. The killers can be after the oligarch's money or it's the Kremlin. At some point the book does a very credible explanation of why Russian oligarchs are being killed or suicided in real life and makes pretty good reading.
The cops investigate everyone from Volkov's kids to his bodyguards, future wife, ex's, Russia, etc. as all have a motive. And as usual Nick Louth's book is full of interesting characters, which is what makes the book. The only reason I don't give this 5 stars is because there are too many tangents to the story and the mystery isn't tight. It does get exciting at the end but in the middle there were too many dead ends.
January 19, 2021
The Bodies at Westgrave Hall is another great crime thriller with DCI Craig Gillard at the helm. This time he and his team have to investigate the murder of two Russian oligarchs and a bodyguard.
Alexander Volkov a multi billionaire has purchased and completely transformed Westgrave Hall much to the anger of the local villagers as he has ridden roughshod over council bylaws and closed down many ancient public footpaths through his land.
Holding a huge party when the murders are committed there are lots of witnesses so there is lots of interviews and forensic evidence to check, though it soon becomes clear all that evidence they find makes this crime no clearer. The British secret service also show an interest and take away some of the evidence and infuriating Gillard by withholding any useful information from him.
We learn how these Russians obtained their vast wealth, their love triangle and Volkovs son and daughter’s lifestyles.
A great story with lots of action and characters that are good, bad and also loathsome. Thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining as usual from this author, and with an ending I didn’t see coming
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.
Alexander Volkov a multi billionaire has purchased and completely transformed Westgrave Hall much to the anger of the local villagers as he has ridden roughshod over council bylaws and closed down many ancient public footpaths through his land.
Holding a huge party when the murders are committed there are lots of witnesses so there is lots of interviews and forensic evidence to check, though it soon becomes clear all that evidence they find makes this crime no clearer. The British secret service also show an interest and take away some of the evidence and infuriating Gillard by withholding any useful information from him.
We learn how these Russians obtained their vast wealth, their love triangle and Volkovs son and daughter’s lifestyles.
A great story with lots of action and characters that are good, bad and also loathsome. Thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining as usual from this author, and with an ending I didn’t see coming
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.
January 19, 2021
286 pages
4 stars
Oligarch Alexander Volkov purchases a manor in Surrey and begins to remodel. The noise and rudeness of his employees and his son upset everyone in the village.
He invited a thousand people over for a Christmas party and at the stroke of midnight fireworks are set off. Concurrently, gunshots are heard. Three people, including Alexander are dead.
DCI Craig Gillard and his team catches the Christmas call. It becomes a very complicated case very quickly. A locked room mystery. The police follow several leads, many that go nowhere. There is much going on in this novel on several levels. The reader must pay close attention. The are several suspects – almost all of them unlikable. (A thousand guests. I should guess so...)
Mr. Louth writes a very good story. I liked the head of security fellow. I found him rather endearing and I am a sucker for Russian accents. I found myself not liking this story as much as his previous books. I am unsure why. Perhaps it was a little too confusing – too much going on.
I want to thank NetGalley and Canelo for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions are my own.
4 stars
Oligarch Alexander Volkov purchases a manor in Surrey and begins to remodel. The noise and rudeness of his employees and his son upset everyone in the village.
He invited a thousand people over for a Christmas party and at the stroke of midnight fireworks are set off. Concurrently, gunshots are heard. Three people, including Alexander are dead.
DCI Craig Gillard and his team catches the Christmas call. It becomes a very complicated case very quickly. A locked room mystery. The police follow several leads, many that go nowhere. There is much going on in this novel on several levels. The reader must pay close attention. The are several suspects – almost all of them unlikable. (A thousand guests. I should guess so...)
Mr. Louth writes a very good story. I liked the head of security fellow. I found him rather endearing and I am a sucker for Russian accents. I found myself not liking this story as much as his previous books. I am unsure why. Perhaps it was a little too confusing – too much going on.
I want to thank NetGalley and Canelo for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions are my own.
February 19, 2021
In the heart of the Surrey countryside, you dont expect to find a construction like Westgrave Hall. It sounds like a country manor and that was what it originally was. Now owned by a Russian oligarch it is hosting a party for a thousand people, the likes of which this quiet village has not seen.
Fortunately for all, the police were always in attendance when complaints started pouring in regarding the noise, the blocked street and when the shooting started, amidst the fireworks, three of the principal people were left dead with no trace of how the murderer got in or got out. Trying to work their way through a thousand reluctant guests, the Russians trying to outwit and hide all information possible, the hierarchy in the British intelligence not wanting to start a war and hindering the local bobbies from doing their work, was never going to get the job done of finding our murderer.
Shades of humour in plenty, lots to ogle at of how the other half lives, and a clever, scheming murderer who almost got away.
Fortunately for all, the police were always in attendance when complaints started pouring in regarding the noise, the blocked street and when the shooting started, amidst the fireworks, three of the principal people were left dead with no trace of how the murderer got in or got out. Trying to work their way through a thousand reluctant guests, the Russians trying to outwit and hide all information possible, the hierarchy in the British intelligence not wanting to start a war and hindering the local bobbies from doing their work, was never going to get the job done of finding our murderer.
Shades of humour in plenty, lots to ogle at of how the other half lives, and a clever, scheming murderer who almost got away.
September 13, 2024
The Bodies at Westgrave Hall is the seventh in the DCI Craig Gillard series.
This is a true locked room murder mystery. A Russian oligarch throws a huge party. While he is giving a tour of his private library, a gunman kills him, another oligarch and his bodyguard. Meanwhile, his ex-wife esp aces unharmed into an adjacent panic room. As much as the team investigates, they can’t figure out how someone got in and out without being picked up on the internal CCTV.
There were some interesting characters here, especially Wolf, the head of the oligarch’s security team and Anastasia, Volkov’s daughter. I got a kick out of the humorous interchanges between the team members.
The story moves at a brisk pace with plenty of red herrings thrown in. There’s an ingenious solution to the how-it-was-done. But I did find the final unveiling of the murderer to be lacking with a not so believable motive/ability. It was like Louth went one too far trying to sow confusion.
I listened to this and Marston York seemed to struggle with some of the accents.
This is a true locked room murder mystery. A Russian oligarch throws a huge party. While he is giving a tour of his private library, a gunman kills him, another oligarch and his bodyguard. Meanwhile, his ex-wife esp aces unharmed into an adjacent panic room. As much as the team investigates, they can’t figure out how someone got in and out without being picked up on the internal CCTV.
There were some interesting characters here, especially Wolf, the head of the oligarch’s security team and Anastasia, Volkov’s daughter. I got a kick out of the humorous interchanges between the team members.
The story moves at a brisk pace with plenty of red herrings thrown in. There’s an ingenious solution to the how-it-was-done. But I did find the final unveiling of the murderer to be lacking with a not so believable motive/ability. It was like Louth went one too far trying to sow confusion.
I listened to this and Marston York seemed to struggle with some of the accents.
January 26, 2021
The seventh book in the excellent Craig Gillard series. This one involves a multiple killing at a Christmas Party at the stately home of a Russian oligarch. As the killings take place in a locked room, the "how" of the murders appears to be very puzzling.
This is a well-planned story with lots happening. The plot twists and turns and leaves the reader guessing all the way through. A fast-paced story with excellent characters. This series is highly entertaining and well worth reading.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
This is a well-planned story with lots happening. The plot twists and turns and leaves the reader guessing all the way through. A fast-paced story with excellent characters. This series is highly entertaining and well worth reading.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
February 5, 2021
This is one very busy story! I haven't read any others in this series, but I never got lost in that particular rabbit warren. The assortment of foreign nationals and the massive renovation of a historic mansion to accommodate a ginormous fossil was a different problem entirely. The characters were very well defined, the action and investigations which were complicated enough before the meddling from MI5, and the interdepartmental issues really added to this variant of the classic Locked Room Mystery. Kept me up too late reading it!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Canelo via NetGalley. Thank you
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Canelo via NetGalley. Thank you
February 22, 2021
When Russian Oligarch Sasha Volkov buys Westgrave Hall the local villagers are most displeased. They had hoped that it would be left to the National Trust but instead they now have a very wealthy neighbour who insists on bringing lots of people and noise to the village. The Hall is transformed into a lavish palace with a large security detail guarding Volkov and his family. So how, with such heavy security in place does someone murder not only Sasha Volkov but also one of his guests and his personal bodyguard whilst they are in a locked room? DI Gillard and his team face a seemingly impossible task. An intriguing read.
June 13, 2021
This is a review of the audiobook.
This is a favorite series. The stories and the characters are good. I have felt, however, that Craig needs to be more concerned with taking care of Sam.
The “locked room” scenario is a great mystery trope. I’ve read some good ones and some that make no sense at all. I never thought of this solution. And the ending surprised me. And, in one particular case, disappointed me.
The narration was mostly well done but the voices for Anastasia and her brother were grating.
All in all, this was a good book that I stayed up way too late listening to. Bring on the next one!
This is a favorite series. The stories and the characters are good. I have felt, however, that Craig needs to be more concerned with taking care of Sam.
The “locked room” scenario is a great mystery trope. I’ve read some good ones and some that make no sense at all. I never thought of this solution. And the ending surprised me. And, in one particular case, disappointed me.
The narration was mostly well done but the voices for Anastasia and her brother were grating.
All in all, this was a good book that I stayed up way too late listening to. Bring on the next one!
September 27, 2024
Intense
A large country mansion a locked room . A gruesome murder. Russian oligarch Alexander Volkov has invited 1000 guest to a party at his palatial residence Westgrave Hall ,but while giving a private tour of the library a gunman kills Volkov wounding his ex wife and slaying her new beau . So there it is a proper who done it . What did I think well it's certainly a different storyline that I'm used to and took a while to get in to , but on the whole I really enjoyed the read and the twist at the end was brilliant. So thank you Nick Louth and it's on to the next book for me
A large country mansion a locked room . A gruesome murder. Russian oligarch Alexander Volkov has invited 1000 guest to a party at his palatial residence Westgrave Hall ,but while giving a private tour of the library a gunman kills Volkov wounding his ex wife and slaying her new beau . So there it is a proper who done it . What did I think well it's certainly a different storyline that I'm used to and took a while to get in to , but on the whole I really enjoyed the read and the twist at the end was brilliant. So thank you Nick Louth and it's on to the next book for me
March 20, 2021
7th book in the DCI Craig Gillard crime series was an interesting read. The story incorporates some current day technology and raises the awareness of what might be possible.
Gillard and his crew are tasked with solving the murders of three victims, two are known to basically be rivals and one is the unfortunate body guard. There is no evidence of how the shooter escaped the locked room — no apparent egress and no footprints — with more than one possible suspect, this makes for a good who-done-it!
Gillard and his crew are tasked with solving the murders of three victims, two are known to basically be rivals and one is the unfortunate body guard. There is no evidence of how the shooter escaped the locked room — no apparent egress and no footprints — with more than one possible suspect, this makes for a good who-done-it!
March 22, 2021
A Craig Gillard Masterpiece!
DCI Craig Gillard masterfully seeks order in a sea of chaos. After murders occur at a revered English estate over Christmas Holiday, the DCI assembles his investigative team and sorts through the baffling circumstances while managing the difficulties of dealing with aristocratic witnesses and suspects alike, both foreign and domestic as well as political interference.
DCI Craig Gillard masterfully seeks order in a sea of chaos. After murders occur at a revered English estate over Christmas Holiday, the DCI assembles his investigative team and sorts through the baffling circumstances while managing the difficulties of dealing with aristocratic witnesses and suspects alike, both foreign and domestic as well as political interference.
September 5, 2021
I have always loved an old fashioned locked room mystery. This one added a modern twist, as well as some misdirection,. The plot included an interesting group of characters, all with their own issues and flaws. Although sometimes described as a thriller this is 100% mystery. I enjoyed the read, the details of the mystery and that I was able to figure out who did it, and how it was accomplished.
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