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The Case of the Half-Baked Mummies
When mummies start appearing in some of London’s most historic and iconic locations, whom do they turn to for solving such a macabre crime? DI Louise Sargant and DS Jay Neelands, the Met’s answer to Mouldy and Scally (for trademark purposes). Not so much Death in Paradise, more Death in the Rain.
Accompanied by Velma, the sarcastic forensic scientist, they will hunt down the murderer to get answers, even if finding the answers could be the death of Louise.
Aided by a cast of characters they will uncover some connections to King Solomon scattered around London, starting with finding a body in a cemetery. One that shouldn’t be there. That bit is important. Bodies are something cemeteries are usually connected with. This one is new and shouldn't be there. As they follow the breadcrumbs the case takes a series of surreal turns.
Louise has escaped from two of the James London novels (Spirits in the Material World and The Man Who Sold the World) to tackle a case on her own. And she is absolutely definitely going to solve this one before the killer strikes a fifth time and they take the case off her.
Accompanied by Velma, the sarcastic forensic scientist, they will hunt down the murderer to get answers, even if finding the answers could be the death of Louise.
Aided by a cast of characters they will uncover some connections to King Solomon scattered around London, starting with finding a body in a cemetery. One that shouldn’t be there. That bit is important. Bodies are something cemeteries are usually connected with. This one is new and shouldn't be there. As they follow the breadcrumbs the case takes a series of surreal turns.
Louise has escaped from two of the James London novels (Spirits in the Material World and The Man Who Sold the World) to tackle a case on her own. And she is absolutely definitely going to solve this one before the killer strikes a fifth time and they take the case off her.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 22, 2022
7 people want to read
About the author
Iain Benson
22 books19 followersIain is a fifty-something computer programmer from Manchester. He writes mainly thrillers, dashing in sprinklings of science-fiction, psychology and humour. Although he's written novels and shorts since childhood, he only got into indie publishing on turning forty, when the other choices for a mid-life crisis looked too expensive. Successes in short stories almost translated into becoming a traditionally published novelist in 2010. Instead, he moved into indie publishing with the well-regarded "Fakebook.con". He refuses to admit how much research he did in writing it. Fifteen books later, he shows no sign of slowing.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 21, 2022
The Case of the Half-Baked Mummies by Iain Benson is a brilliant detective story with a nice supernatural/occult element which makes up the basis for the killer's raison d'etre.
A mummy is found in Highgate Cemetery and D/I Louise (Lou) Sargant and D/S Jay Neelands are given the case.
But when the mummy turns out to be a recently murdered prostitute, they realise they are dealing with a killer not an archaeological find. And then two more turn up so they have a serial killer on the streets.
This is an excellent book and one of the best detective stories I have read in a long time. The characters are real and so true to life. I love the police station humour and banter. A decent and friendly senior officer in Peyton (named after a place, lol) makes a refreshing change. The will they/won't they speculation about whether or not Jay and Velma the forensic scientist will ever go on a date.
I love Lou in her sensible shoes, sizing up potential boyfriends/husbands and disregarding them because she doesn't like the sound of matching up her name, Lou, to their surname - as in Lou Broush. Read it aloud.
The pop culture references were excellent.
And to cap it all, the plot is gripping and unputdownable.
I can't wait to read the next one.
A mummy is found in Highgate Cemetery and D/I Louise (Lou) Sargant and D/S Jay Neelands are given the case.
But when the mummy turns out to be a recently murdered prostitute, they realise they are dealing with a killer not an archaeological find. And then two more turn up so they have a serial killer on the streets.
This is an excellent book and one of the best detective stories I have read in a long time. The characters are real and so true to life. I love the police station humour and banter. A decent and friendly senior officer in Peyton (named after a place, lol) makes a refreshing change. The will they/won't they speculation about whether or not Jay and Velma the forensic scientist will ever go on a date.
I love Lou in her sensible shoes, sizing up potential boyfriends/husbands and disregarding them because she doesn't like the sound of matching up her name, Lou, to their surname - as in Lou Broush. Read it aloud.
The pop culture references were excellent.
And to cap it all, the plot is gripping and unputdownable.
I can't wait to read the next one.
May 8, 2022
Fun science fiction detective comedy
I bought this book because I love the X Files and it seemed to have the same kind of vibe, only set in England with police detectives and lots of humor.
I really liked the main character of Louise Sargant and her partner Jay Neeland. I thought they were realistic, likable and funny. I loved all the comments about Louise’s sensible shoes. I didn’t know they were characters from the author’s James London series before I started the book. I don’t think I missed out too much by not reading those other books, although their previous adventures sounded fun and it explained why they were so quick to accept weird things going on in the city.
While there is a lot of humor in this book, and the tone is light, the murder mystery is actually handled in a very serious manner and really held my interest. I liked that the case was so involved and well worked out, which I didn’t expect for a book with such a comedic name. I also liked all the scientific discussions, the explanations of police work, and the references to pop culture from the 1990’s.
Altogether an enjoyable and satisfying read.
I bought this book because I love the X Files and it seemed to have the same kind of vibe, only set in England with police detectives and lots of humor.
I really liked the main character of Louise Sargant and her partner Jay Neeland. I thought they were realistic, likable and funny. I loved all the comments about Louise’s sensible shoes. I didn’t know they were characters from the author’s James London series before I started the book. I don’t think I missed out too much by not reading those other books, although their previous adventures sounded fun and it explained why they were so quick to accept weird things going on in the city.
While there is a lot of humor in this book, and the tone is light, the murder mystery is actually handled in a very serious manner and really held my interest. I liked that the case was so involved and well worked out, which I didn’t expect for a book with such a comedic name. I also liked all the scientific discussions, the explanations of police work, and the references to pop culture from the 1990’s.
Altogether an enjoyable and satisfying read.
January 28, 2026
I've started all of this authors books in kind of mixed reverse order. Every new one that erupts into being, I have devoured enthusiastically each one being absolutely fantastic.
And with the third in this series coming soon I figured I should get on with these ones. In retrospect I probably should have started with the James London books first as these are a spin off series and there were a few references I didn't quite get.
However, this story was brilliant. Mixing The Bill with the occult was genius and every character was endearing. Reading them is almost like you already know them, and you find yourself rooting for Jay and Velma to have their date, and Louise to not get the sack.
Overall a great read and I cannot wait to read the next one.
And with the third in this series coming soon I figured I should get on with these ones. In retrospect I probably should have started with the James London books first as these are a spin off series and there were a few references I didn't quite get.
However, this story was brilliant. Mixing The Bill with the occult was genius and every character was endearing. Reading them is almost like you already know them, and you find yourself rooting for Jay and Velma to have their date, and Louise to not get the sack.
Overall a great read and I cannot wait to read the next one.
April 9, 2022
It was the title that attracted me first to this book. I mean, how can mummies be half-baked?
When I eventually found out, I couldn’t help smiling and thinking – yes, good one Mr. Bensen!
There’s a great start to the book, and I was pulled in from the first page – from the first sentence in fact; ‘Fog rolled in off the river.’
The author certainly knows how to keep the reader turning those pages. There’s everything one could ask for in this novel – intrigue, suspense, amusement, comedy and romance.
Not only has the author done a fantastic job keeping the mystery going all the way through as we follow the investigations, but he has a gift with words, bringing to life the three main characters Louise, Jay and Velma.
A little plus to the story was the budding (or not-so budding romance) between Jay and Velma.
Mr. Bensen has incredible imagination, and I’ll be looking out for book two in the series.
Good pace. Good character development. Good read.
When I eventually found out, I couldn’t help smiling and thinking – yes, good one Mr. Bensen!
There’s a great start to the book, and I was pulled in from the first page – from the first sentence in fact; ‘Fog rolled in off the river.’
The author certainly knows how to keep the reader turning those pages. There’s everything one could ask for in this novel – intrigue, suspense, amusement, comedy and romance.
Not only has the author done a fantastic job keeping the mystery going all the way through as we follow the investigations, but he has a gift with words, bringing to life the three main characters Louise, Jay and Velma.
A little plus to the story was the budding (or not-so budding romance) between Jay and Velma.
Mr. Bensen has incredible imagination, and I’ll be looking out for book two in the series.
Good pace. Good character development. Good read.
May 23, 2022
A delightful read all the way through. I love the X Files and reading the synopsis and first little bit of this book hinted that’s what I’d getting. It didn’t fail.
A sci-fi murder mystery set in London, the main character Louise is stumped by all the mummified corpses that keep turning up. She is helped by her partner Jay, and a forensic scientist named Velma. Despite the serious content of the murder mystery, the author tackles it with humour, sarcasm, and a little bit of romance thrown in. I was kept in suspense throughout as the clues were laid out in a manner that kept me wondering, and trying to solve it myself as it went.
I love a good mystery and this one doesn’t disappoint. The flow of the story, the way it was all laid out, kept me reading and not noticing how much time had flown by. I only reluctantly put it down when I realized it was so late and had to go to bed. I picked it up again the next morning and finished it through.
The cover itself has a mysterious air to it, intriguing me to want to read it. Although, the eyes of the woman on the front seem a little too large and are a little unsettling. But I suppose that was intentional given the content of the story.
The dialogue between the characters was well-written, witty and funny. I love Velma’s sarcasm. She’s definitely a good fit within the little team of investigators.
The title suggests this is book 1. I will be waiting for book 2 and more beyond that. This is the beginning to what could be a very good mystery series.
A sci-fi murder mystery set in London, the main character Louise is stumped by all the mummified corpses that keep turning up. She is helped by her partner Jay, and a forensic scientist named Velma. Despite the serious content of the murder mystery, the author tackles it with humour, sarcasm, and a little bit of romance thrown in. I was kept in suspense throughout as the clues were laid out in a manner that kept me wondering, and trying to solve it myself as it went.
I love a good mystery and this one doesn’t disappoint. The flow of the story, the way it was all laid out, kept me reading and not noticing how much time had flown by. I only reluctantly put it down when I realized it was so late and had to go to bed. I picked it up again the next morning and finished it through.
The cover itself has a mysterious air to it, intriguing me to want to read it. Although, the eyes of the woman on the front seem a little too large and are a little unsettling. But I suppose that was intentional given the content of the story.
The dialogue between the characters was well-written, witty and funny. I love Velma’s sarcasm. She’s definitely a good fit within the little team of investigators.
The title suggests this is book 1. I will be waiting for book 2 and more beyond that. This is the beginning to what could be a very good mystery series.
September 18, 2023
A delightful read all the way through. I love the X Files and reading the synopsis and first little bit of this book hinted that’s what I’d getting. It didn’t fail.
A sci-fi murder mystery set in London, the main character Louise is stumped by all the mummified corpses that keep turning up. She is helped by her partner Jay, and a forensic scientist named Velma. Despite the serious content of the murder mystery, the author tackles it with humour, sarcasm, and a little bit of romance thrown in. I was kept in suspense throughout as the clues were laid out in a manner that kept me wondering, and trying to solve it myself as it went.
I love a good mystery and this one doesn’t disappoint. The flow of the story, the way it was all laid out, kept me reading and not noticing how much time had flown by. I only reluctantly put it down when I realized it was so late and had to go to bed. I picked it up again the next morning and finished it through.
The cover itself has a mysterious air to it, intriguing me to want to read it. Although, the eyes of the woman on the front seem a little too large and are a little unsettling. But I suppose that was intentional given the content of the story.
The dialogue between the characters was well-written, witty and funny. I love Velma’s sarcasm. She’s definitely a good fit within the little team of investigators.
The title suggests this is book 1. I will be waiting for book 2 and more beyond that. This is the beginning to what could be a very good mystery series.
A sci-fi murder mystery set in London, the main character Louise is stumped by all the mummified corpses that keep turning up. She is helped by her partner Jay, and a forensic scientist named Velma. Despite the serious content of the murder mystery, the author tackles it with humour, sarcasm, and a little bit of romance thrown in. I was kept in suspense throughout as the clues were laid out in a manner that kept me wondering, and trying to solve it myself as it went.
I love a good mystery and this one doesn’t disappoint. The flow of the story, the way it was all laid out, kept me reading and not noticing how much time had flown by. I only reluctantly put it down when I realized it was so late and had to go to bed. I picked it up again the next morning and finished it through.
The cover itself has a mysterious air to it, intriguing me to want to read it. Although, the eyes of the woman on the front seem a little too large and are a little unsettling. But I suppose that was intentional given the content of the story.
The dialogue between the characters was well-written, witty and funny. I love Velma’s sarcasm. She’s definitely a good fit within the little team of investigators.
The title suggests this is book 1. I will be waiting for book 2 and more beyond that. This is the beginning to what could be a very good mystery series.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews