An Accidental Death: A DC Smith Investigation

The story opens with the apparently accidental drowning of a British sixth form student in the Norfolk countryside. As a matter of routine, or so it seems, the case passes across the desk of Detective Sergeant Smith, recently returned to work after an internal investigation into another case that has led to tensions between officers at Kings Lake police headquarters.

As an ex-Detective Chief Inspector, Smith could have retired by now, and it is clear that some of his superiors wish that he would do so. The latest trainee detective to work with him is the son of a member of his former team, and together they begin to unravel the truth about what happened to Wayne Fletcher.

As the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that others are involved - some seem determined to prevent it, some seem to be taking too much interest. In the end Smith operates alone, having stepped too far outside standard procedures to ask for support. He knows that his own life might be at risk but he has not calculated on the life of his young assistant also being put in danger.

Perfect for fans of Colin Dexter, Ruth Rendell, P D James, R D Wingfield or even John le Carre.

DC Smith Investigation Series;

• Book 1: An Accidental Death: A DC Smith Investigation


• Book 2: But for the Grace: A DC Smith Investigation


• Book 3: Luck and Judgement: A DC Smith Investigation


• Book 4: Persons of Interest: A DC Smith Investigation


• Book 5: In This Bright Future: A DC Smith Investigation


• Book 6: The Rags of Time: A DC Smith Investigation

What readers are saying -

"Really enjoyed this book. A police procedural with its own twist and a detective with a different way than others I have read in this very full market. As a first book I doubt it could be faulted."

"This first story is much deeper than it first appears and had me gripped from the very start to the extremely satisfying ending. There isn't a lot of blood and gore, the language never strays into the offensive tirades that have become all too common in crime books these days and all in all it is, for me in the same league as Morse and Lyndley et al and that's a jolly good league to be in I think."

"As an American fan of British mysteries, I was delighted to find a new voice who deserves attention for creating a character who is warm, funny and endearingly human."

"I absolutely loved this book. It has everything a British mystery should have: great characters and an interesting police case. It definitely makes me want to read the rest of his books. A new favorite author!"

"I was introduced to this series by a friend who is a great Anglophile. His recommendation was that it was his favorite British detective series. The first book, An Accidental Death, is a great read and I have now downloaded the whole series."