Dead end: A Bill Slider mystery

Bill Slider #4

by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Very near fine in fine dust jacket (usual toning to the pages). SIGNED hardcover first edition - Little Brown,, (1994). SIGNED hardcover first edition -. Very near fine in fine dust jacket (usual toning to the pages).. First printing. Fourth mystery featuring Dectective Inspector Bill Slider, a police procedural set in London, where a famous conductor has been killed at a rehearsal in a church. SIGNED on the title page. 234 pp.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Procedural, Fiction, British Literature, Mystery Thriller

234 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.

She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.

She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.

In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.

Reviews

[Deb Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the primary designation of this series is as a police procedural, it is, even more, a study of human beings, their interactions and motivations. The plots are well-drawn and the pace is forward-moving, but never at the expense of the depth of the characters and their experiences.

I've read the first four of Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' Bill Slider series and am solidly hooked. I look forward to reading the entire series.

[ElaineY · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far I find this series very low-key in terms of the murders and the ensuing investigation. I'm, at times, a little bored and will drift off, only to be jolted back to the book by the inclusion of music inserted very badly at the chapter starts. The audio is clearly produced in the 90s as the production is poor. Not the sound quality but the "putting-together". The snippets of music is inserted very abruptly and loudly following a long silence. Then it suddenly cuts out, then another log silence before the narration begins. While this gives away how dated the book is, I far prefer it to our modern-day audiobooks like James Patterson's Alex Cross where the chapter start music continues long into the narration, making it very intrusive and mars my listening pleasure.

Storywise, this was average. The only thing that makes you want to start with the first book is Slider's evolving relationship he has with Joanna while he's married to another woman. Murder plotwise, you could start with any book, IMO, and not miss out on anything significant.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this British crime drama, it was the first in the series I'd read, and I would like to read others though I am not going to immediately run out and buy them, as I'm trying to buy no more books until I read more of the 6000 or so I have. The resolution was unexpected, the detective and his allies were likable, and the story kept me turning pages. Overall, a good mystery.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most enjoyable aspects of this mystery was how police detective Bill Slider's personal life (and the wreckage it had become) always loomed large in the background. Frankly, sometimes even more interesting than the murder. That's a realistic element that is usually missing in these sorts of books.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading these in order, enjoying them all. This one was a bit less complicated than the earlier ones, with fewer suspects that were easier to keep straight. Here a world-famous conductor (and completely wicked man) is shot off the podium at an orchestral rehearsal. ("What's the difference between a bull and an orchestra? A bull has horns in front and an arse in back.") With a lot of this kind of humor, very clearly delineated characters, and a band of quirky investigators familiar from earlier books, the police proceed to hunt for the killer. I like books with chapter titles. These are relevant to the plot and most are also humorous groaners: "The Days of Woes and Rises," "A Stroll Down Felony Lane," "There's No Police Like Holmes," and my favorite "If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead?" And yet, believe it or not, these books have genuinely romantic scenes as well.

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sir Stefan Radek is not the most sympathetic of murder victims and Bill Slider has his work cut out to identify the murderer in this complex murder mystery. He is also trying to deal with his divorce and his estrangement from Joanna, the love of his life. As it happens Joanna witnessed the killing as she was playing in the orchestra at the rehearsal at which Radek, the conductor, was shot dead.

This is an interesting and well written mystery with plenty of believable – if not always likeable – characters. I particularly disliked Radek’s grandson, Marcus, who has to be one of the most obnoxious young men ever created in fiction! I enjoy the touches of, often macabre humour in this entertaining crime series and I like the way the police characters interact – especially Bill Slider himself and his bag carrier, Jim Atherton.

The novels in this series can be read in any order but it is interesting to see how the characters develop by reading them in the order they were published. This is the fourth book in the series.

[Radosław Magiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ślepy zaułek (Dead End) jest kolejną powieścią kryminalną z cyklu o Billu Sliderze, którą zafundowała nam znana londyńska pisarka Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. Bill jest detektywem londyńskiej policji i tym razem zmierzy się z zagadką zabójstwa znanego dyrygenta i szlachcica, notabene rodem z Polski.

O ile inna cześć przygód Slidera, Symfonia Śmierci, wydała mi się całkiem sympatyczna, autentycznie oryginalna i na swój specyficzny sposób wartościowa, to o Ślepym zaułku nie odważyłbym się takich rzeczy powiedzieć. Ot kryminał jakich wiele.

Może oceniłbym tę powieść wyżej, gdyby nie totalna niekompetencja. Nie wiem czyja, bo zebrały się dwie baby do kupy (autorka i tłumaczka; Joanna Grabarek). Jak ktoś nie wie, czym się różnią pocisk, kula i łuska, jak nie potrafi wyjść poza te pojęcia i sięgnąć choćby po takie jak nabój, ładunek i spłonka, gdy miesza je niczym groch z kapustą, to nie powinien pisać (lub tłumaczyć kryminałów). Nie tylko wyjaśniając techniczne aspekty identyfikacji sprawcy przestępstwa z użyciem broni palnej ośmiesza się w oczach znających temat, to na dodatek, i to jest chyba jeszcze gorsze, miesza w głowach tym, którzy o takich sprawach niewiele wiedzą, a być może chcieliby coś zrozumieć. Może nawet przełknąłbym tę wpadkę, w sumie tylko jedną taką rażącą na całą powieść, ale pamiętając wrażenia ze wspimnianej już Symfonii oczekiwałem czegoś lepszego. A może to przeczytane niedawno świetne szwedzkie powieści sprawiły, iż oczekiwałem za dużo? Jakkolwiek by nie było, nie dam Ślepemu zaułkowi więcej niż naciąganą czwórkę w starej skali ocen. Jeśli lubicie Billa Slidera to sobie to poczytajcie, ale jeśli go jeszcze nie znacie, to może sięgnijcie po coś innego

recenzja pierwotnie opublikowana na blogu klub-aa.blogspot.com dokąd zapraszam na wymianę wrażeń z lektury i nie tylko

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 in the Bill Slider series.
Things are changing for Detective Inspector Bill Slider in England. His wife Irene has left him and his girlfriend Joanna as well. His job takes up a lot of his time and he is always working odd hours.
His next case is a gun shot victim, an apparent murder of an elderly orchestra conductor with wild white hair and a very large ego, Sir Stefan Radek. They were rehearsing and a lone shooter came into the church and fired one shot.
There were many who wanted him dead because of the way he treated people. Joanna, as a concert violinist was helpful in providing background on the maestro and the people in his inner circle.
Deep investigating, many interviews and questions lead to the solving of the case.
I had to look up a few words in the dictionary because it it written in the proper English style. One of my favorites was a cotton bud, which in America we know as Q-tips, or ear cleaners.

[Vic Lauterbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well designed and competently written police procedural. The investigation aspect is well done. [Quasi-spoiler alert!] The crime is in the 'not as simple as it looks' category, but guessing that early on won't ruin things. The mystery isn't baffling, but it was good enough to hold my interest. Overall, this is a novel that deserves to be liked more than I did. For reasons I can't explain, I was underwhelmed by it. Some readers may be enthralled by several romantic subplots including DI Bill Slider's ongoing romance with Jo, who is one of many witnesses to the crime, but those elements didn't add much interest for me. Whether you enjoy this one enough to continue reading the series boils down to your taste in mysteries, so I can recommend it. If you like the genre, you may really enjoy this book.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspector Bill Slider investigates the murder of a famous conductor at a concert held in a London church. There are many suspects (including the orchestra and the conductor's family) and the case is difficult to solve. Slider's life is a mess; at the end of the previous book his girlfriend, Joanna, broke up with him because he wouldn't leave his wife and his wife left him taking his 2 children with him to live with another man. Helping Slider investigate, as usual us his partner, Detective Sergeant Jim Atherton.

In addition to an excellent mystery, there is plenty of humor interjected by the author in Slider's reaction to people and the titles of the chapters.

[Pgchuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a very satisfactory mystery: the solution to the murder of Sir Stefan was a little twisty and turny towards the end, but the final outcome did put to rest things that had niggled me, which I suppose is good plotting.

The humour pleases me, although I suspect I miss some of the jokes - I certainly can't place all the allusions. At times it reads as if it is set far in the past (when was it written?) - there are attitudes and turns of phrase which are no longer acceptable (and never should have been).

[Sarah Hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite an early Bill Slider story. Slowly, I’m building up his background and now I see how he and Joanna got back together again. In this book, a revolting conductor, Sir Stefan Radek, is apparently shot at a rehearsal for a charity event. Everyone heard the gunshot, some even spotted the gunman leaving but are things what they seem? You’ll have to read this to find out.

[Mrs Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting to know the man Bill Slider

Bill Slider is being fleshed out story by story. Where will he go in the remaining stories? Glad I accepted my wife’s advice and started reading this series.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would read another in the series. I usually start with number one, but this I happened to get and it is a quick read and liked the humor.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good series. This is number 4 and known as Dead End in the US.

[Lila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read about half of the books in this series and am going to go back and read the ones I've missed that are at our library.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read and unexpected twist Highly recommended.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like this series but this one was just ok. Figured it out at beginning and Bill is annoying with his pursuit of Joanna. Will continue series but could have skipped this one.

[Denise Haney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoy this series.

[Paula Stern · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not very interesting!

[DolphinBlue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consistently entertaining

This is a very consistently entertaining series so far. The writing continues to be both intellectual and amusing. In addition to the hilarious chapter titles, here are some clips in the fourth installment that made me guffaw:

"He had better things to do than to wait on Mad ivan's thought processes"

"if I go tomorrow, I want to go with my stick in my hand." [double entendre].

"The sort of a vast Victorian pile which usually turned out to be either a private school or a lunatic asylum, not slider thought, that there was much difference."

"...gathering the ex-rainforest together..." (picking up the newspapers and circulars at his door)

"I'm so unlucky I could fall in a barrel of tits and come out sucking my thumb."

"Everything in the office seemed to have been chosen to declare that if money was no object, good taste certainly wasn't either."

"The drawback to being a human was that pleasure tended to be over quite quickly, while unhappiness went on for great big indigestible lumps of time."

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

London Detective Inspector Bill Strider is down on his luck. His wife has recently left him for another man and Joanna, the woman he's in love with, wants nothing to do with him. He is sent to investigate the murder of world famous (though little liked) conductor, Sir Stefan Radek,who was murdered during a rehearsal of the London Philharmonic orchestra at a neo-Byzantine church. But there's an upside for the Inspector -- it brings him back into contact with Joanna, who is a violinist and was at the rehearsal when Radek was murdered . The mystery is complex, full of twists and turns, and the characters are amusing and appealing. I enjoyed the musical world setting and Bill's dour humor.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Slider--well worked out and fine characterizations. I'm glad the unhappy-marriage subplot was finally resolved. That one dragged on for too long, across too many books. While one can sympathize with the difficulty of the situation, enough already.

This one had some nice insights into the music world, but the resolution was a bit problematic. The final act was rather abrupt, which was good for Slider since there was no concrete proof. A surprising resolution of the boss problem, too. Again, less motivated and clear than some.

[Shirley Hartman-Rozee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow! This book had so many unlikeable characters; I found it difficult to like any of them; and as for the conductor who was murdered, “good riddance.” But to give Cynthia Harrod-Eagles her due, she did pepper the book with some humorous lines and ruminations. Slider, musing on the ironic twist in his life (his wife leaves him and then Joanna is teed off because he didn’t choose her first). This line sort of sums up his life: “If I fell into a barrel of tits I would come out sucking my thumb.”

[Catherine Woodman]

This is a very good series, with Bill Slider as the lead detective and quirky hero. His wife has left him becasue he was never there--becasue of his work, not his affair with another woman, who also leaves him, so he is on his own and he has to sole the mystery of the murder of a famous conductor--well written.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that the marriage/affair issue is resolved, I'm liking this series more. The witticisms continue, not as densely packed as a Lord Peter/Harriet Vane novel but very much in evidence and very clever. The plot is interesting. I'm still feeling wary about this series but I hope to be less judgmental in the future.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grave Music is a police procedural with plenty of suspects and intersecting threads. It is a competent mystery which I may be underrating because I read books 5 and 6 in the series before reading this one (#4) so know what happens in the personal lives of some of the characters. That takes away a bit of the tension. Still, I zipped through it in a couple days.

[Candy Wood]

Police procedural and the classical music scene in London--beginning of good series. Or maybe not, since I see that Goodreads says it's #4. It must have felt like the beginning when I read it, even though I had already read others in the series.

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the wordplay in these mysteries. I'd read them just for that, but the plots are well done and so is the back story. I managed to figure out one key part early, but the rest was well hidden and a surprise.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crucial book in the series as it introduces a significant character. I really enjoy this whole series.