Book Review: Malice in London

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Malice in London     Amazon US PB Amazon UK PB Amazon Canada PB
Graham Thomas
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural
Series: Erskine Powell # 4
Fawcett, Apr 2000, $6.50, 240 pp.
ISBN: 080411840X

New Scotland Yard’s Detective-Chief Superintendent Erskine Powell feels lonely with his wife on a one-year sabbatical in Canada and their two sons attending an overseas university. To pass the time, Erskine wants to get involved in a juicy investigation.

However, his superior and nemesis Sir Henry Merriman assigns to a less than thrilled Erskine the month old case involving the murder of Richard Brighton, a Southwark politician. The corpse was found floating in the Thames with his head bashed to a pulp. The local police have no viable suspect. Erskine thinks this case is a dead end loser. He feels he received the assignment as a form of punishment and his boss is retaliating because Erskine did not support Sir Henry when he tried to become the new commissioner. Although feeling hopeless from the onset, Erskine begins his inquiries into who murdered Richard.

Anyone who enjoys a well-written British police procedural will want to read MALICE IN LONDON (as well as the previous three “Malice” tales). The story line captures the essence and atmosphere of London in a way not often seen in a mystery. The likable protagonist is an ordinary person feeling a bit lonely in a pre empty nest syndrome sort of way. The secondary charcaters play a major role in the investigation, which, in turn, allows the audience to feel as if they too are involved in the investigation. Some cast members return from the well-designed previous novels and that provides a sense of homecoming to fans of the series. Those who demand a first class reading experience must purchase Mr. Thomas’s latest mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner