A self-labeled enigma, Detective Inspector Jack Austin is at once miserable and amusing, melancholy and motivated. Running the Community Police Unit from his deck chair, D.I. Austin is known for his ability to solve crimes out of the blue.Trying to work cases while struggling with his mental issues, Austin deals with a variety of major crimes, including bicycle theft. But when the case of an … of an executed police officer lands on his desk, he accidentally uncovers a malevolent scheme.
Can he discover who is behind it all – and keep what’s left of his sanity?
more
Cause and Effect: Vice Plagues the City is one of five books in a series called ‘Kind Hearts and Martinets’ being published this year from author Pete Adams and publisher Next Chapter. I read a review from someone I follow and thought if they liked it so much, perhaps I should read it too. Today, I’m sharing my thoughts and feedback on the first one in the series, also the first book I’ve read from this author.
Detective Inspector Jack Austin is our protagonist in the British police force. The two things I found the most memorable and fun about him are: (1) he has a nickname (or multiple) for everyone and (2) the man can be almost killed or hurt more times than I can count, yet he always survives. Now there’s a hero for you! Jack’s experience makes him an unrelenting yet real-life detective. He’s used to less severe crimes recently… things like bike theft. After a murder of a fellow officer hits a little too close to home, it’s a game-changer. Jack must solve this case and solve it quickly. Of course, he does, but only after many shenanigans, ‘romps in the hay,’ and several near-death experiences.
I enjoyed reading the book… to me, as an American reader, it shows an entirely different approach or outlook on writing style and imagining police forces. At first, it was a bit of a shock to get adjusted to the tone and humor. I’ve read other British police procedural novels, but they hadn’t prepared me for this one. I suspect this must be quite authentic on multiple levels, humorous and intentionally over-the-top on others. It makes for a good balance, as you’re never quite sure what to expect. Author Adams creates vibrant characters who stick out in your mind long after finishing the book. There are tons of pop references, some of which I easily understood, others which seemed more British and unfamiliar to me. I looked up a few to stay glued to the story, but that’s just me. I like to know everything I’m reading about.
Key things to know about Jack: He’s widowed and back out on the market. He always gets his criminal. He lives and breathes by his humor and relationships. His colleagues are rowdy and banter a lot, providing levity in the murder, missing people, and bike story line, so readers aren’t always stuck in an intense chase the killer trap (always a good thing!). If you like something more authentic with an edge, tons of pop culture and wicked jokes, and a curious mystery, you will enjoy this one. Kudos to the author for the new release!
Inspector Jack Austin, known as Jane to the rest of the team, is by no way a normal detective. He tends to make up the rules as he goes along. He thinks through a case, from a deck chair in his office, before rushing out to get involved and he never minces his words. He has given all his team nicknames. Therefore, from the moment you start reading this book, you know that it is going to be different from the usual police novels.
During the course of this novel, Jane is stabbed, shot and blown up, while working on a case that has really got to him. Yet he brushes all that aside, insisting that he wants to get back to work.
There is also romance involved, as the inspector has taken rather a liking to Superintendent Amanda Bruce, nicknamed Mandy, but does she feel the same way about him.
I am not going to say anymore as I don’t want to spoil the story.
This is a great read and I am sure you will enjoy it immensely. Highly recommended.
Detective Jack – nicknamed Jane, is a wisecracking, sassy, uncoordinated character who seems to get himself into a fix whatever he is doing and wherever he goes. This is a complex storyline. Jack seems to be dealing with four seperate incidents, which all eventually relate to one another and pull the story together. The plot is dark and covers certain topics which are rarely written about but Jack´s eventual romance with Mandy helped to lighten the reading.
The book is littered with British humour, slang and references to old movies and television series. That, coupled with the fact that all Jack´s co-workers have nicknames, took me a while to remember who was who and to get into the storyline but, in the end, it was well worth the read.
Detective Jack, aka Jane, is a character full of sass and witty comebacks. He’s also a magnet to disaster, the kind of guy who’s always meeting an accident or another.
He’s also a kind, humorous, widow with a big heart and a teenager’s attitude.
The topics covered in this book are hard, dramatic and heavy – not for the faint hearted – going as far as child abuse.
Detective Jack is determined to get to the bottom of his cases, and he doesn’t care who he’ll have to cross to get there.
Along the way we have some romance, which was a nice addition and somewhat a mood lifter from all the darker aspects of the story.
The writing style is unique and it took me a few chapters to get used to it, but once in, my cynic heart was amused. There are a lot of references to Mary Poppins and other classics, mostly used to humor some other character.
All in all it was a complex, great book. I recommend it to those who enjoy witticism, sarcasm, and heavy and hard British detective work.
This book captures your attention from page one. Detective Inspector Jack Austin, (who his colleagues call Jane), immediately jumps off the page and draws you into his story, whilst wearing baggy shorts and with a toe bandaged with tissue and sellotape! The characters of this book are beautifully written with such wit and charm and the main character, Jack, manages to get himself into all sort of predicaments that often leave him physically hurt in some way. Throughout this, there is love, romance, power plays and plenty of crime between the pages of this gripping read, along with some strong and fiesty female characters, which I loved.
If you are looking for a crime novel that is written with humour and style, then this is the book for you. I’ve already ordered book 2 in the series and am looking forward to finding out what happens to Jack next.