I quite enjoyed this mystery novel. I liked the semi-retired, loner detective theme and the plot that had some twists but enough clues to figure it out. ( )

This book is way too long at 463 pages and tells a complex story with a ultimately satisfying conclusion, that is, the murderer gets caught. It isn't until almost the end that there's any clue as to his identity. Stylistically, the storytelling rambles and goes off track in several places which for me caused it to be long-winded and a too chatty police procedural novel.

There's numerous interesting characters that come and go throughout the book. With the protagonist Chief Inspector Peter Cammon it is in some ways difficult to accept that he has reached the exalted status -- he's a lone wolf that doesn't play well with others. (Cammon has a protector in high places which may help). He acts like Ian Rankin's Rebus but the story telling is not as crisp as Rankin or Peter Robinson. It's more like Alexander McCall Smith. My short description of the writing is discursive and prolix.

This book is a good introduction to Cammon because there's much talk of his past exploits and there's material for at least one prequel.

I'm withholding my final decision until I read the next in the series. ( )

I definitely read more of his work. ( )

I definitely read more of his work. ( )

There was something compelling about the protagonist, Peter Cammon. Cammon is a retired chief inspector from New Scotland Yard, but he is often called in as a consultant on difficult cases.

A husband is accused of throwing his wife over a cliff, and then disappearing. Is he dead or has he just arranged a successful disappearance? At the same time a series of murders has occurred along the Dorset coast and Cammon is persuaded that that both cases are linked. Cammon is well-known for his independent work ethic, although there are a few fellow officers he trusts implicitly. He's also well-educated having read English literature at Oxford. He is drawn to word games and word puzzles. I had a hard time getting to know Cammon and getting into the book, but as mentioned before there was something compelling about the novel. The writer's style is more inferential than direct, which may be part of the difficulty; the reader can't relax. I also think that some of the time spent on deciphering the Biblical references and word puzzles was distracting. I also did not care for the unrealistic dreams and meanings attached to them. I did like the relationship between Cammon and his wife, although I'm not sure the way he involved in his investigation was realistic. This was a debut novel, so I hope that some of the "kinks" will be worked out for future novels. ( )