Bottled Spider

Suzie Mountford #1

by John Gardner

It is the autumn of 1940 and night after night, Hitler's bombs fall on England, killing hundreds of ordinary people. But there is another terror on the loose. Golly Goldfinch is killing young women - killing them with a noose of piano wire. And the extent of his campaign of slaughter has yet to be revealed. When he snuffs out the life of a popular BBC announcer, it is inexperienced, temporary Detective Susannah Mountford who finds herself investigating the case. Suzie is soon involved in a series of crimes that eventually brings tragedy upon her own family. It begins to seem as though the killer is in another's control...

Genres: World War II

Audio Cassette

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Before coming an author of fiction in the early 1960s, John Gardner was variously a stage magician, a Royal Marine officer and a journalist. In all, Gardner has fifty-four novels to his credit, including Maestro, which was the New York Times book of the year. He was also invited by Ian Fleming’s literary copyright holders to write a series of continuation James Bond novels, which proved to be so successful that instead of the contracted three books he went on to publish some fourteen titles, including Licence Renewed and Icebreaker.

Having lived in the Republic of Ireland, the United States and the UK, John Gardner sadly died in August of 2007 having just completed his third novel in the Moriarty trilogy, Conan Doyle’s eponymous villain of the Sherlock Holmes series.

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serial killer amidst the Blitz

Written by British author John Edmund Gardner known for continuing the James Bond series. Not to be confused with American author John Champlin Gardner, Jr. known for GRENDEL.

This is a mystery/police procedural set mostly in London and environs during the 1940 Battle of Britain. An insane serial killer prowls the dark streets and countryside, killing specific victims as instructed by the voice. In those days before computers and almost instant communication, the relationship among the killings goes unnoticed until newly promoted detective sergeant Susannah Mountford is, almost accidentally, assigned to one of the cases.. But there is much more to this story than just an insane, vicious killer.

The writing is good but there are a few bobbles. Some information is repeated and the police don't seem to notice a few obvious things. Those things include a witness who says that a photo of a victim is not the woman he knew. Another witness says that the victim cannot be the woman identified because that woman was in his office at 3 am that morning. He is never questioned about this. When Mountford has dinner with him to try and casually obtain information, it is not mentioned by either.

There is also a whirlwind romance between Mountford and her new superior officer nicknamed Dandy Tom. She suspects that her former boss is bent. There are many more little details adding life to what could have been a simple and not so interesting a story in other hands.

The title is from Shakespeare, Richard III.

[Stephanie Heath Nash · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much plot potential here, but the author was reductive and repetitive in the extreme. There are some great descriptions of settings and events, but there are so many inane phrases repeatedly used to describe the main characters’ actions and thoughts that you have a hard time seeing these characters as more than caricatures. You can tell by the modern phrasing at times that this was written after 2000, and that takes you out of the action—damaging the world-building momentum. There is just such a lack of finesse in this writing, I would have believed this to be a first novel, a great idea with too many dangling ideas that go nowhere. It should have either been longer with a more complex study of the characters or shorter with less exposition and both options would have benefited from tighter editing. Overall, I am not interested in pursuing the rest of the series even though it’s part of KindleUnlimited and I can do so for free.

[Oundle Crime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read this after reading a magazine article about the author, who died in 2007. I suppose it could almost be called a classic by now, because it was published in 2002 and was the first of five books about DS Suzie Mountford. It’s set in London during the Blitz in 1940 and Mountford is a young and naïve policewoman who has recently been promoted to work in CID. She’s given a really difficult murder case to investigate and soon comes to realise that it’s the work of a serial killer – something she doesn’t really have the experience to deal with. I found it a bit far-fetched in places but it was a gripping story nonetheless. So much so, in fact, that I'm now trying to track down the other 4 books.
Review by: Mo, Oundle Crime

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Convoluted and rambling

Very disappointed. I absolutely loved The Secret Families Trilogy and looked forward to Gardner take on 40's London. Unfortunately, it did nothing for me.
Highly convoluted and rambling with characters that just did not ring true.

[liz jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read

Really enjoyed this book so much so I read and read until 3am when I had to get to sleep. I loved the characters and look forward to the next book in the series

[Daniel Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting period piece

Quite a bit different from other work by this prolific author. Hard to see the same hand that carried the Bond series for so long, but it grows on you.

[Heather]

⭐️ DNF — I really tried to like this book, but the supervisor was so freaking obnoxious and the sexism was so rampant that I couldn’t tolerate any more.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

1940 When Jo Benton a BBC employee is murdered WDS Suzie Mountford is put in charge of the case. But this is not the first killing or the last. We know virtually from the beginning who the guilty party is, but not the why. Soon Mountford is involved in the bigger investigation.
An entertaining historical mystery.

[Jan Funnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book the setting felt genuine (not that I experienced the London Blitz) the story was different and held your attention. I like the additional twist of a possible bent copper.

What I didn't like was the many typos, these books need to be very carefully proof read before they are released for sale.

All in all a really gripping story with a great ending.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bottled Spider by John Gardner is book one in the Suzie Mountford series. Right out front I want it known that I received this book as a review copy from the publisher, Endeavor Press, this didn't favor this review in any way. The book and its above title character are in London during the almost nightly bombing raids during World War II. Detective sergeant Mountford is what amounts to field promoted to her position because The Yard needs people. This doesn't mean that she doesn't do a great job she in fact does. Gardner does a great job with keeping the reader aware of his historical surroundings while making life as natural as in that era could be. Mountford and her crew after the DCI was hurt on an investigation, is tasked with finding a serial killer who came to the forefront after killing a prominent radio personality. Gardner is one of the best writers I've read and certainly one of my favorites. He weaves an intriguing thrill ride that was pulse pounding fun! That being said I found it a very slow starter it was hard to turn the first few opening pages, but once it gets going it never stops. The slow start makes Bottled Spider a four star read. This series is one of John Gardner's lesser known series, but is yet another one that can't be missed.

[Tom Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought all the books in the series. This is the first one. The series revolves around a female police detective (Suzy Mountford) for Scotland Yard during WWII. In this book Suzy and her mates are on the hunt for murderer who strangles his victims with piano wire. It took a bit getting used to some of the english terms but the author has tried to make it as time period correct as he can. I have read some of John Gardner's previous works as he has written some of the James Bond books after Ian Fleming died.

[Patricia Gulley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The words used were accurate for the time period, but many left me confused. An index might have helped. This book was clearly a male version of what a female feels, and since she was 23 and so capable but still found herself falling for her super made it sound, in parts, like a romance from the same time period. Otherwise, this is a rather good mystery of Why, not Who. Graphic in parts.

[Brenda Hawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great series set in World War II England: a female police detective, her aristocratic boss/boyfriend and strange criminals to catch. Well written.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too graphic for me.

[Sarah]

Golly is a very disturbing!