An Urgent Murder

This is an exquisite game of cat and mouse. I just finished An Urgent Murder by Alex Winchester his writing prose is smart, swift and well-informed. Leaving the reader full invested in his novel of sustainable suspense! I loved it!"

This seems like a long story but there are a wide range of things going on and background to be covered in some of it. George Armstrong is poisoned. All of the evidence points to the nurse who visits him but John a very experienced detective thinks otherwise. John begins to think this isn't a one time thing. He watches the house where George has died and see something no one else has noticed. There is a bird feeder facing the house and in a position to see the coming and going of everyone. There is a camera in the bird house and this is a key to much of what happens from then on with the case. Alison, John's partner is kidnapped and this also keeps us all busy trying to find out why and who is behind it. Well worth the read.

An intriguing setting, descriptive characters, and well written action sequences are selling points for this book. The author is often critical of society with their diction which fits well into the current climate of shows, movies, and books being produced. In addition, the writing holds an energy that keeps the reader entertained. With that said, there are certainly some slower parts to the story that kept me from giving this a higher rating. There are lengthy periods were the scene is being set that seem unnecessary in detail, especially when introducing characters that have yet to contribute to the story. However, when the plot moves, it really moves. In addition, some of the discoveries and revelations made by the detectives seem stale and predictable, while others are genuinely exciting. I would recommend this to readers that are new to the mystery/thriller genre, or for anyone looking for a quick read.

Best read for some time. A suitably intricate story or more accurately two stories in one. Almost unable to be put down once into the story. Great escapist reading. If I was to have any negative it would be the grammar, I found some chapters were confusing however as a whole it was a great, informative and thrilling read.

A murder in a private home is quickly and easily solved by the police, their culprit established by fingerprints on the murder weapon: a jar of poison. The private care nurse neither denies nor admits to it. A clear cut case - but one detective isn't sure. John is an experienced Metropolitan Police detective with a chequered background and a laissez faire attitude who is knocked back when he is suddenly teamed with Alison, a prim young Sussex officer who is out to learn as much as possible in her ambitious pursuit of senior rank. With different approaches to the case and influences from various people, the two must learn to work together in order to bring the true killer to justice. Can Alison trust John? Can John shield Alison for what is to come? And are more laws about to be broken when a nefarious crime lord learns from a highly placed mole that their lucrative way of life is about to come to an end? The plots are well thought out but I think it could have been written as separate books because it was a long book and the two different stories could have each been their own book. There are so many characters appearing that I found it some what of a challeng to remember who they are. Other than that, this was an excellent book!