A Long Time Dead (DCI Charlie Woodend Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Sally Spencer (Author)

Book Description

Series: DCI Charlie Woodend Mysteries | Publication Date: June 1, 2006

The latest Detective Chief Inspector Woodend mystery When Captain Robert Kineally went missing from Haverton American Army base in Devon in 1944, it was generally assumed he had lost his nerve and deserted. But now, twenty years after the War ended, a body found on the near-derelict base seems to tell an entirely different story. DCI Charlie Woodend has strong reasons for not wanting the case. As a sergeant on secondment to the Americans, he served at Haverton himself, left it only a few days before the murder, and he is personally involved. However, he is given the case, and it is soon plain that while the British Government expects one outcome, the American Government will be happy with nothing less than the opposite.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend's latest case takes him back to World War II, when he was dogsbody for a particularly unpleasant officer, Douglas Coutes. Decades later, Coutes is a government minister, and Charlie is a chief inspector. But their paths never cross until Coutes calls Charlie to say he's been accused of murder and to ask for Charlie's help. The case is complicated by the fact that the murder took place in 1944; a further twist is that the victim was the brother of an influential American politician. The U.S. flies in an FBI team to "assist" on the case, and they're quick to poke fun at Charlie's plodding technique. But the FBI seems exceptionally eager to close the case, and when they confirm Coutes' innocence in a few days with little evidence, Charlie smells a rat. This is an outstanding British police procedural, and it may just be the best yet in this popular and inventive series. Don't forget Woodend when you're compiling those lists of best British coppers: he belongs in the same league with Rebus, Resnick, Harpur and Iles, Morse, et al. Emily Melton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Spencer was born and brought up in Cheshier. She has been a teacher in England and Iran.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 233 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers; 1st World Ed edition (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727863630
• ISBN-13: 978-0727863638
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,290,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My First Sally Spencer & I'm intrigued, May 27, 2007

By 

Cherry Prather (Madison, MS United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Long Time Dead (Chief Inspector Woodend Mysteries) (Paperback)

Sally Spencer's writing style is interesting, the book is certainly a "page turner". The characters are well defined, the plot twisting and turning, the end a little of a surprise; also, there's plenty of realistic humor.