An Accidental Death: A DC Smith InvestigationThe story opens with the apparently accidental drowning of a British sixth form student in the Norfolk countryside. As a matter of routine, or so it seems, the case passes across the desk of Detective Sergeant Smith, recently returned to work after an internal investigation into another case that has led to tensions between officers at Kings Lake … between officers at Kings Lake police headquarters.
As an ex-Detective Chief Inspector, Smith could have retired by now, and it is clear that some of his superiors wish that he would do so. The latest trainee detective to work with him is the son of a member of his former team, and together they begin to unravel the truth about what happened to Wayne Fletcher.
As the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that others are involved – some seem determined to prevent it, some seem to be taking too much interest. In the end Smith operates alone, having stepped too far outside standard procedures to ask for support. He knows that his own life might be at risk but he has not calculated on the life of his young assistant also being put in danger.
Perfect for fans of Colin Dexter, Ruth Rendell, P D James, R D Wingfield or even John le Carre.
DC Smith Investigation Series;
- Book 1: An Accidental Death: A DC Smith Investigation
- Book 2: But for the Grace: A DC Smith Investigation
- Book 3: Luck and Judgement: A DC Smith Investigation
- Book 4: Persons of Interest: A DC Smith Investigation
- Book 5: In This Bright Future: A DC Smith Investigation
- Book 6: The Rags of Time: A DC Smith Investigation
What readers are saying –
“Really enjoyed this book. A police procedural with its own twist and a detective with a different way than others I have read in this very full market. As a first book I doubt it could be faulted.”
“This first story is much deeper than it first appears and had me gripped from the very start to the extremely satisfying ending. There isn’t a lot of blood and gore, the language never strays into the offensive tirades that have become all too common in crime books these days and all in all it is, for me in the same league as Morse and Lyndley et al and that’s a jolly good league to be in I think.”
“As an American fan of British mysteries, I was delighted to find a new voice who deserves attention for creating a character who is warm, funny and endearingly human.”
“I absolutely loved this book. It has everything a British mystery should have: great characters and an interesting police case. It definitely makes me want to read the rest of his books. A new favorite author!”
“I was introduced to this series by a friend who is a great Anglophile. His recommendation was that it was his favorite British detective series. The first book, An Accidental Death, is a great read and I have now downloaded the whole series.”more
British Scot Yard with a twist or rather twists. Excellent read.
This is now my favorite series! A police procedural with very rich, well developed characters and fascinating stories set in the north coast of England. Thoughtful, beautifully written, with plenty of action but primarily driven by the extraordinary mind of D.C. Smith, a well respected black sheep with a haunting background.
Good read. I love the Brit books.
Read all the way through which is unusual for me – I bore easily. Main character is well delineated and fairly appealing, though turns out to be yet another ex-army superman which is a little disappointing. Story line is cryptic enough that the denouement is uncertain until the end which was the best part of the book. Liked it enough I bought the sequel.
Liked the characters, the Australian setting. Thought they got a little carried away with some of the characters and parts of the story. Usual happy ever after ending was probably unnecessary and unoriginal, but the mystery was unpredictable and the book pretty well-written. Liked the detective.
Since I read the first DC Smith procedural a month ago, I have tracked them all down and devoured them. DC is a more mature and philosophical cop than I have run into for a while, and even his arrests that aren’t murders are procedurally detailed and well written enough that I like them for the chase. There’s nothing wrong with a little intellectual footwork, and an old-fashioned cop like Smith is ready to do it, even if there is a learning curve. He and I both hate learning curves.
It’s not very often that you come across a new-to-you author that completely captures the milieu about which he or she is writing AND makes you sad when the book ends. Luckily, DC Smith is the main character in a whole series of Peter Grainger’s wonderful novels. Wit, a bit of humor, a cast of coppers that feel absolutely right and plots that are sophisticated but followed with ease.., Grainger should be in the hands of a top notch publisher. I’d gladly pay full price for this and the other books in his DC Smith series, but dang… they’re less than $4.00 or even free. Do yourself a favor and begin a love story with DC Smith.
new favorite author!!
Shows the extent that politics can play in what should be impartial and
objective police work. Very probably just the same in the U.S.
Starting with an unusual and interesting premise for a murder mystery, the story unfolded with a logical (although unpredictable) plot, and dealt with contemporary issues of immigrant communities and cross-cultural interaction as well as the solving of the mystery behind the death of the young man. The main character, Detective Sergeant D C Smith, is a somewhat embattled member of Kings Lake Police, in an unspecified region of England. He reminded me of several other male detective protagonists in mysteries I’ve read, but his character is developed with consistency and compassion. Since it is an English novel, some of the abbreviations for police work in England were unfamiliar, but that did not detract from the story.
A good but not great read.
This was a very enjoyable mystery, with likeable characters and a fairly realistic plot.
I liked D C Smith, the “old guy,” taking time, reasoning carefully, and solving an accidental killing that the younger guys didn’t even recognize or suspect. Also the British understatement that forms so much of their wry humor.
literate detective story. The author credits the reader with a bit of intelligence. Real character depth, too. AND a good story!
Another great Peter Grainger who-dun-it across the pond. Love the characters and how they think.
Drags a bit, but it was entertaining enough to read it to the end.
A sad story with some humor. The main character is a good detective and enjoyed his story.
Love DS Smith
I liked this book very much and will recommend it to my friends.
I especially liked the narration, it fit the characters and storyline. There was lots of surprises. I bought because it sounded interesting and it didn’t disappoint. I recommend it as a good read.