Title: Spence In Petal Park
Author: Michael Allen
Stars: 4 out of 5
Review:
Again another brilliantly written British Police procedural murder mystery. Detective Superintendent Spence is on top of his game as he investigates the murder of a young male who resides near a girls private school. He is able to sort the wheat from the chaff in his all business and no nonsense manner and solves the case in short order.
I have given this book a four star rating. I really like this author's style and highly recommend him if you enjoy cozy British murder mysteries.
I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.
Kindle Edition, 200 pages
Published August 9th 2016 by Endeavour Press
Synopsis:
Roger Parnell is a rich, good-looking young man, living in the plushiest suburb of a South Coast resort.
When he is found dead in his driveway three days before Christmas, Detective Superintendent Spence immediately gets to work.
Spence believes in method, groundwork, and a proper filing system. In a mobile police unit near the scene of the crime, the investigation is soon under way.
And there's plenty to investigate.
Parnell's life-style included sharp business practices, an unhealthy interest in the girls at the expensive school behind his house, blackmail and seduction.
Interviewing Parnell's neighbours, associates and lovers, Spence soon concludes that plenty of people had cause to hate him.
But which of the apparently sensible, ordinary people behind the privet hedges of exclusive Petal Park actually killed him?
Spence in Petal Park weaves the stories of the people in Parnell's life into a complex web of cause and effect, which Spence's careful work finally unravels — just before Christmas.
Michael Allen was born in Peterborough in 1939 and was educated at Oundle and Queens' College, Cambridge. Between leaving school and going to Cambridge, he worked for six months on the staff of the New York Herald Tribune in New York. He now works as an Area Administrator at the University of Bath, and lives with his wife and two children at Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire.
About The Author:
Michael Allen is best known for writing popular mainstream fiction, and he's been doing it successfully for more years than he cares to remember. (Actually his first novel was published in 1963.) Here are some quotes from reviews of his work:
'Absolutely first class' The Bookseller
'Solidly constructed' New York Times Book Review
'A pleasing narrative style' Daily Mail
'Beguiling entertainment' Kirkus Reviews
'Don't miss it' The Observer
These days, Michael publishes all his new work in Kindle format. Much of his earlier work is now out of print, and some of the printed books listed on Amazon are only available secondhand; but most of this earlier output will gradually be republished in Kindle versions. In addition, there are some brand-new publications, listed on Amazon Kindle for the first time anywhere. To take a look at Michael's output and see what appeals to you, click on the Kindle category below and scroll down.
Michael Allen is also known for his practical books for writers:
How to Write a Short Story that Works
The Truth about Writing
On the Survival of Rats in the Slush Pile
From 2004-07, Michael wrote a daily blog, the Grumpy Old Bookman. Still available online, this contains over one million words of essays, book reviews, and useful information for writers. Michael has recently reopened this blog for occasional reviews, news, and opinion pieces.
Links:
https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Allen/e/B001KHJ4S6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1484152563&sr=1-1
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