What do you think?
Rate this book
Susan Prescott series #3
After Ariel - It Started as a Game
Detective Inspector Susan Prescott never dreamed that at her age she would be keeping a secret from her husband, David, but before she gets around to revealing all, he is called away on what she suspects is dangerous business. If that isn't enough to worry about, two murders - which she believes are connected - have to be investigated, one of them involving a close friend. Pamela Miller, classical flautist, having overcome her debilitating stage fright after intensive hypnotherapy, is looking forward to her major concert at the Concert Hall at Southbank. However, her triumph is somewhat muted after a devastating discovery and its aftermath. The advent in her life of a sexy detective is a bonus, but is she hoping for more than he is prepared to give? Ariel is delighted by the gorgeous musician she meets on the plane from Sydney, but is frustrated by not being able to boast about it to her girlfriends. He's asked her to dinner, but she has a better idea - how about a fun night at home? Dingo just wants to play games. Then it all goes wrong.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 10, 2014
13 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Diana Hockley
9 books46 followersDiana HOCKLEY has completed her third book, AFTER ARIEL, now published in e-book and paperback.She has six short stories on Amazon along with the first two in the Susan Prescott series, The Naked Room and The Celibate Mouse. She writes, edits and reviews for the online Californian magazine, Kings River Life. Currently writing the next in the Susan Prescott stories - A Dark and Lonely Place.
Diana is a strong animal welfare advocate . She produces and presents a weekly classical music program - Thursday Night Concert, 7-9pm Brisbane, Queensland time which is streamed on the net: www.rimfm.org
Diana has four pet rats. She and her husband, Andrew, lost their beloved cat, Fuss, who died Saturday 15th February, 2013m aged 20. They do not want to have another cat or dog for fear it will outlive them :(
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 28, 2015
“Grant Winslow went down in a shower of Kevlar vests and testosterone with a police dog hanging off his bum.” –After Ariel
After Ariel is the third Diana Hockley novel I’ve read and I think her best yet. Hockley’s writing is fluid, the characters engaging, and the plot intriguing. It’s a suspenseful, fast and easy read with a distinct Aussie flavour. (The author provides a glossary for readers not familiar with the Australian vernacular.)
And I loved the twist at the end, which caught me by surprise. Highly recommended.
After Ariel is the third Diana Hockley novel I’ve read and I think her best yet. Hockley’s writing is fluid, the characters engaging, and the plot intriguing. It’s a suspenseful, fast and easy read with a distinct Aussie flavour. (The author provides a glossary for readers not familiar with the Australian vernacular.)
And I loved the twist at the end, which caught me by surprise. Highly recommended.
December 6, 2014
Brutal murders threaten a classical flutist in Australia
A young flute soloist on the cusp of stardom, a creepy killer and classical music scenes inhabit this tense, tightly-plotted mystery by Diana Hockley. Pamela, the young flute soloist, is shocked when her photo-journalist cousin is brutally murdered. Worse, it may be related to another homicide. Days earlier a young girl (later identified as Ariel) was also murdered.
We get inside the creepy killer's head as he stalks Pamela in a desperate attempt to destroy the evidence of his murders. Pamela's growing romantic involvement with a sympathetic police officer complicates matters. Hockley's masterful descriptions of people and places paint a fine picture. The scenes in the concert hall and the behind-the-scenes workings of the music business are especially vivid. Sharp dialogue and an action-packed plot bring this thrilling mystery to a satisfying conclusion. If you're looking for engaging characters and suspenseful action, After Ariel is right up your alley
A young flute soloist on the cusp of stardom, a creepy killer and classical music scenes inhabit this tense, tightly-plotted mystery by Diana Hockley. Pamela, the young flute soloist, is shocked when her photo-journalist cousin is brutally murdered. Worse, it may be related to another homicide. Days earlier a young girl (later identified as Ariel) was also murdered.
We get inside the creepy killer's head as he stalks Pamela in a desperate attempt to destroy the evidence of his murders. Pamela's growing romantic involvement with a sympathetic police officer complicates matters. Hockley's masterful descriptions of people and places paint a fine picture. The scenes in the concert hall and the behind-the-scenes workings of the music business are especially vivid. Sharp dialogue and an action-packed plot bring this thrilling mystery to a satisfying conclusion. If you're looking for engaging characters and suspenseful action, After Ariel is right up your alley
April 4, 2015
Author Diana Hockley describes herself as an “Australian granny who writes, volunteers and loves classical music. Is rat-mad and has currently, four.”
From this whimsical depiction comes an adept crime fiction writer who understands the rhyme and reason of a book.
In the past you may remember me mentioning that I look for authors who have a certain twist of phrase.
Hockley always springs to mind. While the phraseology is occasional it’s enough to make you smile and/or nod to yourself when you happen upon it.
Hockley’s current book After Ariel features the return of Detective Inspector Susan Prescott and characters from previous books. I’m quite taken with Prescott and enjoy watching her work. She’s the right blend of sass and capability, speaking to me on several levels. I hope to read more of her moving forward.
For me Hockley’s writing shines brightest on the police procedural side but that won’t surprise anyone. On the other hand, her solid knowledge of classical music and musicians is enjoyable. Whichever or both, Hockley is a very good writer. Buy her murder mystery books and find this out for yourself.
From this whimsical depiction comes an adept crime fiction writer who understands the rhyme and reason of a book.
In the past you may remember me mentioning that I look for authors who have a certain twist of phrase.
Hockley always springs to mind. While the phraseology is occasional it’s enough to make you smile and/or nod to yourself when you happen upon it.
Hockley’s current book After Ariel features the return of Detective Inspector Susan Prescott and characters from previous books. I’m quite taken with Prescott and enjoy watching her work. She’s the right blend of sass and capability, speaking to me on several levels. I hope to read more of her moving forward.
For me Hockley’s writing shines brightest on the police procedural side but that won’t surprise anyone. On the other hand, her solid knowledge of classical music and musicians is enjoyable. Whichever or both, Hockley is a very good writer. Buy her murder mystery books and find this out for yourself.
March 11, 2019
Crime and classical music collide in this engaging police procedural. Pam is a brilliant flautist. After beating debilitating state fright she is coming into her own as a force to be reckoned with in the classical music world. But violence threatens to upend her promising future. Pam reunites with DI Susan Prescott now remarried to her hottie ex David. Susan becomes involved in an investigation of a teenaged girl left dead in a park. Then Pam's indomitable photo journalist cousin Goldie is murdered at home. could the two homicides be related?
This was an enjoyable and engaging read. although the characters have been featured in other books it does stand alone. Narration rotates between various characters. This is less a who done it than a will they catch him. the pacing is good although there are too many characters and a bit too much domestic angst for my tastes. The main mystery is resolved though there is a semi-cliffhanger, really more a promise of a storyline continuing in the next novel. Good read, quick pace, well done.
This was an enjoyable and engaging read. although the characters have been featured in other books it does stand alone. Narration rotates between various characters. This is less a who done it than a will they catch him. the pacing is good although there are too many characters and a bit too much domestic angst for my tastes. The main mystery is resolved though there is a semi-cliffhanger, really more a promise of a storyline continuing in the next novel. Good read, quick pace, well done.
August 12, 2017
What a breath of fresh air and enjoyment! Ms. Hockley weaves a thoroughly entertaining tale about the exploits of Senior Detective Susan Prescott. I would classify this story as a romantic cozy mystery but categorization does not do this work justice . It has a wonderfully developed distinct ensemble of characters, excellent pacing, and an interesting plot. But technical analysis aside, the book's strength lies in how the story is told. Ms. Hockley's writing style is confident, effortless, and engaging. The story drew me in from the first page and kept me entertained throughout, with a wonderful mix of drama, humor, and romance. I highly recommend After Ariel.
June 15, 2019
An excellent and polished mystery!
I immensely enjoyed this clever, polished mystery set in Brisbane, Australia. Unlike in a “standard” mystery, the reader knows early on who the killer is: The interest in the story is in how the police track him down. He is very clever, and on the surface not at all like the kind of person one would expect to commit multiple murders. The characters are original and compelling, and also, a romance is weaved into the novel that helps keep it interesting until the end. Now that I have read After Ariel, I’m sure that I will want to read more novels by this excellent author, and I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to other mystery readers!
I immensely enjoyed this clever, polished mystery set in Brisbane, Australia. Unlike in a “standard” mystery, the reader knows early on who the killer is: The interest in the story is in how the police track him down. He is very clever, and on the surface not at all like the kind of person one would expect to commit multiple murders. The characters are original and compelling, and also, a romance is weaved into the novel that helps keep it interesting until the end. Now that I have read After Ariel, I’m sure that I will want to read more novels by this excellent author, and I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to other mystery readers!
March 24, 2019
The Murderous Concert Player
The book was great it had suspense and romance mixed in together.
You would never know a man involved in the music industry would kill two young women.
The book was great it had suspense and romance mixed in together.
You would never know a man involved in the music industry would kill two young women.
May 6, 2019
I have enjoyed all of Diana Hockley's "Susan Prescott" books, including this one, but I only give it 3 stars because this seemed to me like an unedited (or poorly edited) draft rather than a final product. There were parts of the book where I was confused -there seemed to be timeline issues, and what seemed to be plot lines that started but were never continued. Despite these "issues", I recommend the book and will be looking for the next installment in the series.
December 12, 2014
Hockley’s style is solid and the ingredient I like most about her books. Like a visit with good friends, her latest offers an extra helping of character, and the plot unravels in an unusual and intriguing manner. I like to savor a book, but I couldn’t slow down with this one.
February 28, 2015
I am enjoying this series & am looking forward to the next one
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews