A man is found dead attached to the complicated electrics in his home. Examination reveals that he was shot first and then stapled to the mains. It’s a ‘shocking’ case for DS Jason Smith and his team…
The Electrician is the 25th book in the DS Smith series. There are some references to events and murderers in earlier books in the series but the main reason I would advise reading all 25 books is that they’re FAB-U-LOUS!
I have always been a bit scared of electricity and don’t really understand it. Its power is being used to wreak havoc in York by a killer with a mission. We are made aware of the motive quite early on as a child is tortured by others. The desire for revenge is understandable even if we abhor the actions.
Smith and his team are straight into the case and dread every time there is a power cut as it suggests another victim is about to be found. The graphic details of the deaths and bodies are very unpleasant, and this is further emphasised by the revulsion exhibited by the shocked police officers.
There are also some personal subplots which give emotional depth to the characters. Smith is having nightmares in which he is haunted by dead colleagues. Meanwhile his adopted daughter Lucy is 16 and pregnant. Added to this is a new neighbour acting suspiciously and his senior officer confides that his wife has cancer.
The Electrician is full of drama, action, death and emotion.
The Electrician (A DS Jason Smith Thriller Book 25)
From bestselling author: Stewart Giles comes another brilliant addition to the Detective Jason Smith series.
If the lights go out – you’re as good as dead.
Detective Jason Smith is called out in the middle of the night to the scene of the most bizarre murder he’s ever seen.
A man has been shot dead and his hands have been stapled to the mains line in the distribution box. The family of the victim were blissfully unaware that anything was happening.
All the team have to go on is a witness who claims the lights in the area went out around the time of the murder.
After another man meets the same fate Smith is wide awake when he hears the testimony of his 4 year old daughter. She didn’t see who killed her father but the four words she heard him speak chills the marrow in Smith’s bones.
Ol’ Sparky is back.
The Electrician is in the city, and as long as Smith and the team are kept in the dark, he’s going to finish what he started.
What readers are saying about THE ELECTRICIAN
I thought this an intelligent, interesting read with a great gripping conclusion. I thought this an intelligent, interesting read with a great gripping conclusion. – Carol
Stewart, you have a skill, a rare talent for putting the reader at the heart of things, so much so its as if the characters are old friends. Please keep doing what you are doing. It’s brilliant. A heart stopping thriller of a read I most certainly won’t forget in a hurry. – Misfits Farm
Creepy powerful amazing read to be picked up and read another outstanding book from this author with Smiths sense of humour added right to the end that will make you hold your breathe so be prepared and just follow your dreams. family life and work are Jason’s priorities in life, i just love all this series from the start, and there’s more in store. – Booklover Bev
Stewart Giles – Author Bio
After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.
In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.
3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.
The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.
I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.
After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brought together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.
The Miranda trilogy is something totally different. A psychological thriller trilogy. It is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before.
The Detective Jason Smith series continues to grow. I also have another series featuring an Irish detective who relocated to Guernsey, the Detective Liam O’Reilly series. There are also 3 stand alone novels.
Twitter: @stewartgiles
The slightly hapless Inspector Witherspoon is ably yet secretly assisted in his latest murder case by his housekeeper Mrs Jeffries who is in turn supported by the other staff.
The Inspector and Mrs Jeffries is the first book in a cosy historical murder mystery series. However, it does make references to previous cases which was a little confusing!
Inspector Witherspoon and his housekeeper Mrs Jeffries are really easy to like. Luckily he has household staff who work together to help him without his knowledge. Mrs Jeffries has a delicate touch to dripfeed information and make the inspector think it was all his brilliant deduction.
Part of me felt disappointed that Mrs Jeffries isn’t able to claim the credit for solving cases. Meanwhile another part of me admires her devotion to her employer. The historical setting in Victorian England supports this as she would be unable to work as a police officer herself so does the next best thing.
I enjoyed the little touches of humour in the style of writing and the two main characters are wonderfully depicted. I did have one bugbear though: the chapters ended on a cliffhanger so frequently stopped mid scene which I found a little annoying.
The Inspector and Mrs Jeffries is an enjoyable historical cosy murder mystery and I would be interested in reading (or listening to) more of the series.
Book blurb
This charming series of Victorian murder mysteries features mild-mannered Inspector Witherspoon of Scotland Yard and, more importantly, Mrs Jeffries, his housekeeper. A policeman’s widow herself, her quick wits allow her to nudge the Inspector in the right direction to solve the crime.
When a doctor is discovered dead in his own office, Mrs Jeffries is on the look-out for a prescription for murder, determined to discover the culprit, despite how her employer feels about interviewing suspects . . . “He hated questioning people. He could never tell whether or not someone was actually lying to him, and he knew, shocking as it was, that there were some people who lied to the police on a regular basis.”
Hours after solving a murder, Cressida and her friend Dotty are heading back south when a man is shot dead. His wife is the obvious suspect but Cressy is sure that someone else is to blame. ..
Death on the Scotland Express is the fourth book to feature Cressida Fawcett and DCI Andrews. It follows on directly from the previous book, Death in the Highlands, but there are no spoilers about the plot outcome.
Cressy and Dotty are hoping for a relaxing trip back home, but this dream is shattered by the resounding bang of a gunshot. The victim was a businessman who was also a serial adulterer and was on board the train with his latest mistress. His wife was also a passenger and is the natural prime suspect. DCI Andrews certainly thinks so but Cressida has some doubts and cannot resist investigating once again.
I loved the setting of a steam train and was reminded of the majestic Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. There was plenty of mystery and red herrings even within the limited setting and range of suspects. The murder happens quite early on so Cressida is straight into action despite still bearing the injuries from her last murder investigation just hours earlier.
The book has a wonderfully light touch to the tone with gentle humour. Cressy’s dog Ruby offers light relief as well as spotting clues. The historical setting is brought to life and the train journey was vividly imagined, both being well researched by the author.
Death on the Scotland Express is an enjoyable murder mystery with a vivacious amateur detective.
Book Description:
Someone on board has a deadly destination in mind… can Cressida stop them before it’s too late?
After an eventful trip to the Scottish Highlands, Cressida Fawcett is looking forward to being back among her society friends in London. Enjoying an ice-cold martini in the lounge car of the express train, loyal pug Ruby on her lap, she’s ready to blow off some steam!
But Cressida’s hopes for a relaxing journey are dashed when a gunshot resounds through the carriages. Industrial tycoon Lewis Warriner has been shot dead in his cabin. And as this train has been racing through the countryside, the culprit must be among Cressy’s fellow passengers…
Teaming up with Detective Andrews of Scotland Yard, also on his way back to London, they work their way through the suspects. Did Warriner’s mistress, a famous dancer, see his death as her ticket on to the silver screen? Or was it the mysterious man who can’t take his eyes off Lewis’s close companion?
When the murder weapon is found in the compartment Mr Warriner’s wife occupies alone, she becomes the chief suspect. Until there’s another gunshot. When Cressida finds out that Andrews is hit, panic sets in, but she must try to stay calm.
But with her friend and co-investigator out of action, can Cressida get the journey, and the investigation, back on track? And will she catch the murderer before they reach their final destination?
Fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey and Lee Strauss will absolutely love this addictive Golden Age cosy mystery.
Author Bio:
Fliss Chester lives in Surrey with her husband and writes historical cozy crime. When she is not killing people off in her 1940s whodunnits, she helps her husband, who is a wine merchant, run their business. Never far from a decent glass of something, Fliss also loves cooking (and writing up her favourite recipes on her blog), enjoying the beautiful Surrey and West Sussex countryside and having a good natter.
Buy Link:
You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo
Fiona is feeling bored and frustrated. She returned from her latest spy adventure in Italy and is now stuck doing paperwork. But then she is asked to investigate an anti-vivisectionist group of wealthy women so she dons a disguise and gets to work…
Arsenic at Ascot is the fourth book in the Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane series of historical murder mysteries. I have read and reviewed the first books in the series: Chaos at Carnegie Hall, Covert in Cairo, and Mayhem in the Mountains. There are mentions of events from previous books, in particular Fiona’s developing relationships with other characters, but no spoilers about the murder plots.
Fiona’s recent trip to Italy has left her wanting more drama so she is disappointed to be back behind a desk. Finally she is about to see some action by going undercover and this coincides with a coded note to meet her nemesis, German spy Fredrick Fredricks. The pair recently locked horns in Italy but now both are back in England and she wants to protect her country for the German spy.
The murder doesn’t happen until over a third of the way through the book. There is quite a bit of build up to show Fiona’s situation and her adept skill with disguises. She also has some heartache and confusion as she spots Archie whose marriage proposal she recently turned down. She is also wondering where Kitty is, again not turning up until quite a way through the book. The plot developments are rather slow as the narrative is character driven.
I love Fiona’s character and the use of first person narration bring her to life. She has fabulous quirks and nuances which add a touch of humour to very serious circumstances. Her behaviour is sometimes erratic as she is often led by her heart rather than her head. Her emotional and romantic aspects bring out another side to her personality as well as acting as a subplot.
Arsenic at Ascot is an enjoyable cosy historical murder mystery.
Arsenic at Ascot (A Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery Book 4)
Saddle up for this first class historical mystery, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon and Verity Bright.
London, 1918
Fiona Figg finds herself back in Old Blighty saddled with shuffling papers for the war office. Then a mysterious card arrives, inviting her to a fancy house party at Mentmore Castle. This year’s Ascot-themed do will play host to a stable of animal defense advocates, and Fiona is tasked with infiltrating the activists and uncovering possible anti-war activity.
Disguised as the Lady Tabitha Kenworthy, Fiona is more than ready for the “mane” event, but the odds are against her when both her arch nemesis, dark-horse Fredrick Fredricks, and would-be fiancé Lieutenant Archie Somersby arrive unexpectedly and “stirrup” her plans. And when a horse doctor thuds to the floor in the next guest room, Fiona finds herself investigating a mysterious poisoning with some very hairy clues.
Can Fiona overcome the hurdles and solve both cases, or will she be pipped to the post and put out to pasture by the killer?
Author Bio –
Kelly Oliver is the award-winning, bestselling author of three mysteries series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, and the historical cozies The Fiona Figg Mysteries, set in WW1. She is also the Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University and lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She is bringing new titles in the Fiona Figg series to Boldwood, the first of which, Chaos in Carnegie Hall, will be published in November 2022.
Social Media Links –
TRIGGER WARNING: memories of spousal and child abuse
Ingrid Barker runs away from her abusive husband and takes her daughter Susan to a remote area of Scotland to act as housekeeper for the McCleod family. But both parties are harbouring dangerous secrets…
What Happened At The Abbey is a sinister mystery book with elements of the supernatural. The book is set during Victorian times although the exact date is not specified.
Ingrid is desperate to escape her husband. She has happy memories of her childhood in Scotland so returns to the area to take the position of hosekeeper. But within minutes of arrival she discovers that her actual role in more akin to housemaid and she is trapped between the master’s warring children, a disgruntled and talentless cook and maid.
Reluctantly, she accepts the change in circumstances due to her desperation but is unsettled by strange episodes including cold drafts and odd smells as well as the discovery of notes from her predecessor. Gertrude McCleod is flexing her new power within the household and her brothers Miles and Blake are angered by her behaviour. All of the main characters are haunted by the past…
The book is written in the first person throughout. However, I felt a little confused as the narrator changes from Ingrid to Miles without warning, sometimes within a chapter. A simple name at the start of each chapter or section would have eliminated this entirely. However, I almost felt that Miles’ narration was unnecessary to the plot development but did offer additional insights.
I have to mention the remote Scottish location and the associated bog and ruined abbey which contribute to the setting and supports the backdrop to events. The sinister and tense atmosphere is effectively created and secrets are gradually revealed. There were some good twists as the conclusion approached and I wanted Ingrid to find safety, happiness and peace for herself and her daughter.
What Happened At The Abbey is an entertaining, spooky and emotional mystery novel.
What Happened at the Abbey
When Ingrid flees a violent husband to become a housekeeper in the Scottish Highlands, she discovers the family she works for has a much darker history than her own.
Who haunts Strathbairn? Why are the adult McCleod children at each other’s throats? And why does the youngest sneak off at night? As Ingrid searches for answers, she grows ever more fearful that her husband will track her down.
Set in late 19th century Scottish Highlands, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE ABBEY is a gothic mystery brimming with intrigue, ghostly drama, and family secrets.
Purchase Links
Author Bio – Isobel Blackthorn is a prolific novelist of unique and engaging fiction. She writes across a range of genres, including gripping mysteries and dark psychological thrillers.
The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Reader’s Favorite book awards. A Prison in the Sun was shortlisted in the LGBTQ category of the 2021 International Book Awards and the 2020 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. Her short story ‘Nothing to Declare’ was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. Her dark thriller A Legacy of Old Gran Parks won a Raven Award in 2019. The Cabin Sessions was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2018 and the Ditmar Awards 2018.
Isobel holds a PhD in Western Esotericism from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking study of the texts of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey. Her engagement with Alice Bailey’s life and works has culminated in the biographical novel The Unlikely Occultist and the full biography Alice A. Bailey: Life and Legacy.
Isobel carries a lifelong passion for the Canary Islands, Spain, her former home. Six of her novels are set on the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These standalone mystery novels are setting rich and fall into the broad genre of travel fiction.
Isobel has led a rich and interesting life and her stories are as diverse as her experiences, the highs and lows, and the dramas. A life-long campaigner for social justice, Isobel has written, protested and leant her weight to a range of issues including asylum seekers and family violence. A Londoner originally, Isobel currently lives in the Canary Islands, Spain.
