What do you think?
Rate this book
Monika Paniatowski #5
Lambs to the Slaughter
The colliery village of Bellingsworth is already divided over an impending strike, so the last thing it needs is a murder - but that's exactly what it gets, when a retired miner called Len Hopkins is found battered to death in his outside lavatory.
Detective Chief Inspector Monika Paniatowski, called in to track down the killer with all possible speed, finds herself working in an atmosphere as thick with suspicion and distrust as the mine is with coal dust. It's not only the investigation which is giving her headaches - the behaviour of her right-hand man, Detective Inspector Colin Bereford, is threatening to tear the team apart, and though she doesn't know it yet, a mysterious stranger has her beloved daughter, Louisa, in his sights.
Detective Chief Inspector Monika Paniatowski, called in to track down the killer with all possible speed, finds herself working in an atmosphere as thick with suspicion and distrust as the mine is with coal dust. It's not only the investigation which is giving her headaches - the behaviour of her right-hand man, Detective Inspector Colin Bereford, is threatening to tear the team apart, and though she doesn't know it yet, a mysterious stranger has her beloved daughter, Louisa, in his sights.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2022
131 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Sally Spencer
82 books152 followersA pseudonym used by Alan Rustage.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.
He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.
He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.
His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.
Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.
Sally Spencer is a pen name, first adopted when the author (actually called Alan Rustage) was writing sagas and it was almost obligatory that a woman's name appeared on the cover (other authors like Emma Blair and Mary Jane Staples are also men).
Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a teacher. In 1978-79 he was working in Iran and witnessed the fall of the Shah (see the Blog for what it was like to live through a revolution). He got used to having rifles - and, one occasion, a rocket launcher - pointed at him by both soldiers and revolutionaries, but he was never entirely comfortable with it.
He lived in Madrid for over twenty years, and still considers it the most interesting and exciting city he has ever visited, but for the last few years he has opted for a quieter life in the seaside town of Calpe, on the Costa Blanca.
His first series of books were historical sagas set in Cheshire (where he grew up) and London. They were very popular with his English readers, but his American readers find the dialect something of a strain.
He has written twenty books featuring DCI Woodend (a character based partly on a furniture dealer he used to play dominoes with) and ten (so far!) about Woodend's protegé Monika Paniatowski.
His DI Sam Blackstone books are set in Victorian/Edwardian London, New York and Russia, and the Inspector Paco Ruiz books have as their backdrop the Spanish Civil War.
Alan is a competitive games player who likes bridge and pub quizzes. It is only by enforcing iron discipline that he doesn't play video games all the time.
He now lives on Spain's Costa Blanca.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 2, 2023
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
There is a murder in a mining village where there is talk of a strike. Monika Paniatowski and her team are sent to investigate and arrest the killer. The police investigation has more twist and misdirection leading every which way. In the end it leads to the unexpected killer and a happy ending. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡🏡
There is a murder in a mining village where there is talk of a strike. Monika Paniatowski and her team are sent to investigate and arrest the killer. The police investigation has more twist and misdirection leading every which way. In the end it leads to the unexpected killer and a happy ending. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡🏡
February 19, 2022
Lambs to the slaughter by Sally Spencer.
I very seldom give 5 stars, but after reading the Authors notes at the back, I knew I had too. Parts of the storyline at times seems like wee bits were missing, but with more knowledge at the end of the book, this all seems to fall into place now. Certainly an interesting read and will definitely recommend.
I very seldom give 5 stars, but after reading the Authors notes at the back, I knew I had too. Parts of the storyline at times seems like wee bits were missing, but with more knowledge at the end of the book, this all seems to fall into place now. Certainly an interesting read and will definitely recommend.
June 16, 2024
Another tight mystery in this series. Setting is a coal town, an upcoming strike, and Monika pulled into the whole mess on a personal level. Complex, you never know where the story is going and it kept me guessing until the end.
Read
November 6, 2024DCI Monica Paniatowski #5. Can't stand these plots with some conspiracy versus the police or more particularly their families. The writing was poor and I quickly lost interest. NB: The author is actually male. DNF so no rating.
May 6, 2015
This was the 5th in a series of books written about a female DCI and it was very confusing. Too many characters and not enough clarification. I have not read the other books and the author made no attempt to bring new readers up to speed. It was set in the past around the time of the miner's strike but he (the author's name is a pseudonym) didn't mention until the end of the story that Harold Wilson was the p. m. Then he gave a potted history right at the end of the book, but it was mostly about the 1984 miner's strike and Margaret Thatcher. I am glad this was a library book and I won't be trying any more of his books.
January 3, 2013
Ah, if only mystery writers could write as tightly woven a story as Spencer. This is just one of her series, and I think it is the best. Her inspector Woodend has turned over his duties to his subordinate, Monica -- and she and her crew get the job done without too much extraneous material, but some character development along the way. A really nice read, a complex mystery, and Spencer keeps the characters changing and adapting to their environment. Well done!
January 23, 2013
I love this series. The stories are always tight, interesting and compact - just the way a murder mystery should be. The characters continue to evolve with each new title. This one, with the team investigating the murder of a coal miner is a worthy addition to the series. It is set in Northern England in 1974 amidst the strife around potential closure of the coal mines and the end of a way of life for thousands. Recommended!
April 26, 2022
Finally no massive grammatical errors!
I can just talk about what a glorious time I had reading this book. Monika is thrown sideways by her second in command and a purely personal issue.
How she figures it all out and who’s to blame for a sadistic murder makes for an interesting story.
I can just talk about what a glorious time I had reading this book. Monika is thrown sideways by her second in command and a purely personal issue.
How she figures it all out and who’s to blame for a sadistic murder makes for an interesting story.
October 11, 2013
Interesting description of small town Northern England coal mining community. A murder mystery with a complicated plot but I found the wrap up unsatisfactory and a bit contrived. The police procedure and investigation was also rather poorly done as well. Not worth a read in my opinion!
November 3, 2017
I'm surprised at the good reviews. I found the characters to be one-dimensional, the plot convoluted and ridiculous, and the writing style choppy and amateurish. Won't be reading any more by this author.
February 14, 2022
What the other hand is doing.
Set against the pending miners strike, a man is killed and its Monica's job to solve the case.
The dead retired miner had strong views and symbolised one side of the dispute, the initial chief suspect represented the other.
Set against the pending miners strike, a man is killed and its Monica's job to solve the case.
The dead retired miner had strong views and symbolised one side of the dispute, the initial chief suspect represented the other.
April 10, 2022
Lambs to the slaughter
I thought this book was a bit slow at first it it built up and turned out to be very good I really like Sally Spencer as a writer as she seems to have a way of weaving a good mystery.
I thought this book was a bit slow at first it it built up and turned out to be very good I really like Sally Spencer as a writer as she seems to have a way of weaving a good mystery.
May 17, 2022
Contrary to some of the other reviews I've read, this was a very good story. If people would only start at the beginning of a series, they would understand who the characters are and how they fit into the story.
January 21, 2023
This entry is from one of the best shorter format UK police procedural series I read. Engaging enough to keep me reading despite some familiarity from a previous reading, I enjoyed the plots turns & familiar characters. I’m planning to read several more of the early series entries soon!
December 21, 2013
Good but not her best so far...
March 8, 2014
Much better treatment of the miners' issues in the north of England than Peter Robinson's Children of the Revolution. Also, I love DCI Monika Paniatowski and her crew.
July 1, 2018
Would read more by this author.
April 6, 2019
An easy simple read, lacked depth.
June 23, 2020
Excellent book. Kept my interest throughout. I found the ending to be a bit complex. I could never have guessed it in a million years.
August 29, 2021
Not a fan of this book. Boring
January 1, 2022
Very good sequel
Good sequel,even if each book stands alone.Only main characters remain the same,stories are all new.Excellent main character,supported by others who stand out
Good sequel,even if each book stands alone.Only main characters remain the same,stories are all new.Excellent main character,supported by others who stand out
May 20, 2022
Okay not brilliant
August 6, 2023
Another great storyline with quite a few twists that I really didn't see coming.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews