Review: THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING FRENCHMAN, H. L. Marsay

• This edition read as an e-book on Kindle (AmazonAU)
• 
  ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CXP7YRDP
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tule Publishing, Publication date ‏ : ‎ 13 August 2024
  
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1962707633
• Book 3 of 4: The Lady in Blue Mysteries 

Synopsis  (AmazonAU)

Even in war, your enemies can linger too close to home…

While war and revolution continue to ravage Europe, Dorothy Peto embraces her new role at Scotland Yard as she and several detectives investigate a series of jewel thefts. Then Dorothy is tasked with assisting the inscrutable Inspector Derwent and the charming Colonel Lamarchant to find a missing French aristocrat. Their enquiries take them to a country house in Yorkshire, that’s been converted to a hospital for wounded soldiers and was the last place the Frenchman visited. However, the more questions they ask, the more questions they have.

When the body of a man suspected of being the marquis is discovered, the investigative team returns to London, but the dead man is a stranger. Dorothy speculates that the death, the jewel thefts and the missing Frenchman may be connected. She finds herself tangled in a web of conscientious objectors, Irish republicans and communist agitators, and not everyone is who they appear to be.

My Take

I must confess that I haven't read earlier titles in this series but this one seems to work well enough as a stand-alone. However while the story was interesting, it didn't feel particularly enriched by the historical period in which it is set.

It comes with this disclaimer: Inspired by the remarkable life of Dorothy Peto, the Metropolitan Police’s first female superintendent. 

My rating: 4.4

I have also read

4.4, A LONG SHADOW -#1

4.4, A VIKING SHADOW - #2 

4.4, A GHOSTLY SHADOW -#3

4.4, A ROMAN SHADOW -#4

4.5, A FORGOTTEN SHADOW #5

4.5, A CHRISTMAS SHADOW #6

Review: A ROMAN SHADOW, H.L. Marsay

• 
  This edition on Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09CG6RCG3
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tule Publishing (February 3, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 196 pages
• Chief Inspector Shadow #4

Synopsis (Amazon)

There’s no such thing as a coincidence in York…

As Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year approach, the ancient city of York is busier than ever and so is Detective Chief Inspector John Shadow. First he has the theft of valuable Roman artifacts from a museum, then a Chinese tourist is reported missing. During his investigations, he encounters jewellers, chocolatiers, museum curators and Roman soldiers—all pieces to a puzzle he must solve. After discovering a series of coincidences, he begins to suspect there may be a link between the two cases.

John Shadow is a man of contradictions. A solitary figure who notices the smallest details about other people, but endeavours to avoid their company. A lover of good food, but whose fridge is almost always empty. Although he would prefer to work alone, he is ably assisted by his eager partner Sergeant Jimmy Chang.

Shadow suspects he knows who the culprit is, but he needs proof. And then there’s the headache of trying to dodge attending an important party, even as the normally easygoing Jimmy behaves out of character…  

My Take

I'm thoroughly enjoying this small series of cozies set in York. Not only are the plots credible but the characters are being fleshed out well. The main characters are developing well, and the human interest side of each story is coming along too.

If you are going to pick them up, do take the trouble to start from the beginning. The Kindle versions won't cost you much. Recommended.

My rating: 4.4

I've also read

• 4.4, A LONG SHADOW -#1
• 4.4, A VIKING SHADOW - #2 
• 4.4, A GHOSTLY SHADOW -#3

Review: A GHOSTLY SHADOW, H. L. Marsay

• 
  This edition, format Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0973LJSTX
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tule Publishing (October 14, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 203 pages
• #3 Chief Inspector Shadow Mystery

Synopsis  (Amazon)

Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you…

This Halloween, the notorious rivalry between York's iconic ghost walk tour guides spirals out of control when the body of one guide dressed as the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin is found hanging from a tree. A few days later, his partner, who plays Guy Fawkes, is killed by an explosion of gunpowder at their office.

Detective Chief Inspector John Shadow is a man of contradictions. A solitary figure who notices the smallest details about other people, but endeavours to avoid their company. A lover of good food, but whose fridge is almost always empty. Although he would prefer to work alone, he is assisted by his eager and easygoing partner Sergeant Jimmy Chang. Despite a sprained ankle, a stray cat and an impromptu trip to Oxford, the two men investigate the shocking murders that have York on edge. Are the murders the work of a madman or a business feud?

And then the killer strikes again.

My Take

I am thoroughly enjoying this series of cozies set in modern day York, so much so that I have pre-ordered the next, A ROMAN SHADOW, due to be published in just a few days time.

There is a lovely blend of tourist events in York, a believable plot with enough clues and red herrings, and a cast of well drawn characters. In particular John Shadow and Jimmy Chang are developing well. Shadow is one of those detectives who uses a mixture of hard work, pounding the beat, logic and intuition to solve the crimes. He is always under pressure from the Chief Constable to work more efficiently and quickly.

Recommended, but do read the titles in order.

My rating: 4.4

I've also read

• 4.4, A LONG SHADOW -#1
• 4.4, A VIKING SHADOW - #2
  

Review: A VIKING'S SHADOW, H. L. Marsay

• 
  This edition on Kindle (Amazon)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B094PMF95F
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tule Publishing (August 12, 2021)
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 167 pages 
• Chief Inspector Shadow Mystery #2

Synopsis (Amazon)

The shadows of the past are never far away...

Detective Chief Inspector John Shadow is doing his best to ignore the madness of York’s annual Viking Festival when duty calls. The body of a wealthy businessman, who was playing the role of the Viking king, is found slain by his own ancient sword. The murder scene looks staged, but before Shadow can compile a list of people to question a second body is found. Shadow doesn’t have to look far for suspects—the victims were by no means model citizens.

John Shadow is a man of contradictions. A solitary figure, who shuns company, but is a keen observer of all he meets. A lover of good food, but whose fridge is almost always empty. He prefers to work alone but is ably assisted by the eager Sergeant Jimmy Chang. Together, the two men navigate a web of corruption and family drama to solve the murders before the killer can strike again.

My Take

Another quick and enjoyable read, just a little longer than the first in the series. The characters of  the detection duo are developing nicely, and once again the subsidiary characters are well fleshed out.

Although Inspector Shadow works out eventually who to arrest for the main murder, the author pinned it on a character that I would not have chosen. Shadow and Chang present two main themes in modern police procedurals: on the one hand, the older copper with years of experience that he combines with intuition, and on the other hand, the face of modern policing, enthusiastic, not afraid to ask questions, and keen to use modern technology.

My rating: 4.4

I've also read
4.4, A LONG SHADOW, H.L. Marsay

Review: A LONG SHADOW, H.L. Marsay

• 
  This edition on Kindle (Amazon.com)
  
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08D6JR8FC
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tule Publishing (May 13, 2021)
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 148 pages
• Chief Inspector Shadow #1
  

Synopsis (Amazon.com)

Old sins cast long shadows…

When the bodies of a young, homeless girl and a girl who disappeared thirty years ago are found on the same day, residents in the historic city of York are aghast. It seems unlikely the two cases are related, and yet some of the same players knew both victims. As Detective Chief Inspector John Shadow and his eager new partner, Sergeant Jimmy Chang, dive into their investigation, they uncover a complicated web of pop stars, pub owners, shopkeepers and old school friends who each have something to hide.

John Shadow is a man of contradictions. A solitary figure who shuns company, but is a keen observer of all he meets. A lover of good food, but whose fridge is almost always empty. He prefers to work alone and is perpetually trying to dodge his partner, who’s full of energy, modern ideas and theories.

But as the two men gradually learn to work together to solve the case, it’s clear that the past is never as far away as you think.

My Take

A new contemporary police procedural series set in York, a new pair of detectives to get to know.  I enjoyed this first outing. The plot came together well towards the end, the characters were well drawn and the scenario believable. Detective Chief Inspector Shadow is a bit curmudgeonly, his offsider Jimmy Chang a "modern boy", technologically-savvy, and keen to make an impression. There are two pathologists who appear frequently and contrast well with each other.

I have been to York a few times and enjoyed walking around the city.

This was a relatively easy read, and really a novella in length, and I will be reading #2 in the series.

My rating: 4.4

About the author
H L Marsay has always loved reading detective stories and promised herself that some day, she would write one too. “A Long Shadow” is the first book in her Chief Inspector Shadow series. Fortunately, living in York, a city full of history and mystery, she is never short of inspiration. When she isn’t coming up with new ways to bump people off, she enjoys red wine, dark chocolate and blue cheese – not necessarily together!
On the rare occasions when it isn’t raining in North Yorkshire, she can be found tramping across the windswept moors with the five men in her life - two sons, two dogs and one husband!

From Fantastic Fiction - the series so far

Chief Inspector Shadow Mystery
   1. A Long Shadow (2021)
   2. A Viking's Shadow (2021)
   3. A Ghostly Shadow (2021)
   4. A Roman Shadow (2022)