Gone Tomorrow: A Bill Slider Mystery

The base plot of __ GONE TOMORROW __ is almost generic. A group of dedicated policemen (and women) have multiple murders to solve. At first there seem to be no clues and no motives for the killings. There are no witnesses to anything, at least no witnesses who are willing to talk to the police. Anyone who might know anything seems to be frightened almost "out of his or her wits." As is often the case in Police Fiction, the higher-ups who are politically motivated but who have no actual experience in investigative work, are putting pressure on our hard working heroes to solve the murders yesterday for publicity purposes. This, then, is the background for this latest Bill Slider mystery. Into the plot mentioned above are thrown the first murder victim, who is discovered, stabbed, sitting upright on a children's swing in a park, without any identification; a couple of later murder victims; Detective Inspector Slider, and his domestic problems; Detective Atherton, and his domestic problems; Slider's boss whose wife has just died; and an assortment of witnesseses, victims, and good and bad guys, who sometimes are not so good or not so bad; and, oh yes, an oddball witness or two such as a blind man and his retarded adult son. What I think that Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (the author) does so well is to show how a group of police investigators, working as a team, and following up each lead, no matter how minor, doing repetitive, fatiguing legwork, can make a case out of seeming bits and pieces of nothing. She also makes almost all of her main characters come to life, and gives them lives and problems of their own, outside of the main plot. I was also fascinated by the sense of humor she showed in her chapter titles, each one a masterful pun. Following are a few of my favorites: "Opening the Male" "The Eyes Have It" "From Err to Paternity" "Bra-Tangled Spanner" And, my personal absolute favorite: "Bet Your Bottom Deux Lards" To find out how well each of these and ten or so more chapter titles fit into the content of their respective chapters, I guess that you'll just have to read __ GONE TOMORROW __ yourself.

This is my first bill slider mystery. Without having been prejudiced by other bill slider books, I enjoyed this one immensely. I agree that the ending is a bit rushed and can be improved upon. However, the dialogues are lively and witty; the characters are well-developed. (For a mystery, that is. After all, this is not supposed to be a "character piece.") What I found most amazing was how Ms. Harrod-Eagles can bring a character alive in a few paragraphs by a description of his mannerisms and his speech. I would definitely recommend this book for someone who has not read her other bill slider books.

Once again I am impressed with Ms Harrod-Eagles. How did she keep all the layers straight? She really keeps you guessing. I have been following Slider's career for several years now, and when I was in Shepherd's Bush I was tempted to find the police station and some of the streets and pubs mentioned in her books. They just seem so alive to me. And that Atherton....too bad he's taken now. I wouldn't mind testing his cooking some time! But Bill and Joanna having a baby?? I never guessed that this was the talk she wanted to have with him. I thought she was going to dump him. Won't Irene have a ball ripping her apart now!! But back to the mystery...there were so many lively and shady characters to pick from I really just gave up and enjoyed the ride. Once again, the only complaint I have is that I've finished it and have to wait with baited breath for her next one. I have never read her other series..the Moorland books, I am stuck on Bill...and Jim...and Nora..and Joanna..., etc. They are like the old gang. Thanks, Cynthia!

A large part of the charm of this series is Bill's police team at Shephard's Bush many of whom have been with him from the very beginning. The Head has changed several times but this one despite his fractured sayings is a good egg who gives support when needed. Joanna is on the fringes (working in Amsterdam) but delivers a really good up ending for Bill ditto Atherton's own ending in this one (perhaps a bit to much coincidence here). The actual mystery is a mystery up till the very end dispite the increasing body count but the cast of miscreants are rich and vivid no matter how small a part they play. I want more.

In London, the Hammersmith Park attendant discovered the male adult corpse sitting on a children's swing. The police arrive on the scene led by Detective Inspector Bill Slider. The cops have little to go on, as the victim is unknown with apparently no identification on him. The discernible deathblow is a single stab wound to the heart. The killer searched the victim, but left behind a substantial amount of cash. Bill and his cohorts conclude a professional performed the hit.With little to go on, Bill and his squad begin making inquiries in the Shepherd's Bush neighborhood. Though they make slow progress on solving the homicide, they inch closer to the truth. However, Bill realizes the clock is ticking even if additional murders had not occurred. If they do not attain a break through soon, Bill's superiors will remove him and his team from the case even though it is their turf and professional pride propels them to find the culprit.The Bill Slider police procedurals are some of the best sub-genre novels of the past few years. The DI's latest case is exciting from the opening paradoxical imagery of a murder victim resting on an innocent children's swing until the final climax. Bill retains his wit though the investigation baffles him and his romance disconcerts him just as much. Fans of the series and any reader who enjoys a well written cleverly designed murder investigation will gain much delight with Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' GONE TOMORROW.Harriet Klausner