Illegal Tender

Gerald Hammond wraps up the Three Oak Series with Illegal Tender where one of the minor characters Henry Kitts from the series takes the lead role in this adventure. Hammond certainly did not retire after Illegal Tender as is implied by another reviewer who as frequent users of this site know constantly gets things wrong. In fact at the time of this review Hammond has written 17 more novels many of which are mysteries similar to what the Three Oaks Series is, sometimes with dogs sometimes without. Hammond explains why he decided to wrap up his long going successful series in a preface at the start of Illegal Tender but at no time states or implies he is retiring from his writing career. I think it is great when an author is proud enough of a series not to ruin it by putting out average novels when they've run out ideas diminishing the overall series just to cash in on the money. Many authors James Patterson to name one, simply give into temptation or pressure from their fans and publishers but it takes a great author to stand up and say no that's done. Although subsequent independent stories have varied dramatically in quality Hammond has put out quite a few masterpiece quality novels since the end of the Three Oaks Series. The Dirty Dollar, On the Warpath and The Snatch are the best of these. Illegal Tender has Henry Kitts' ward Elizabeth discovering she has lost over a million pounds in an e-mail banking scam. Henry of course reassures her and is determined to do what he can to track down the fraudster and get back the money. Maurice Cowieson also dies in a car crash which soon becomes apparent was staged and he was in fact murdered. Hammond novels since Illegal Tender was published. Grail for Sale (2001) Dogsbody (2002) The Dirty Dollar (2002) The Snatch (2003) Down the Garden Path (2003) The Hitch (2004) Saving Grace (2004) The Outpost (2004) Dead Letters (2004) His Or Her Grace (2005) Cold in the Heads (2005) Heirs and Graces (2005) Cold Relations (2006) On the Warpath (2006) Keeper Turned Poacher (2006) A Dead Question (2007) Waking Partners (2007)

An excellent entry into the series. For the first time we get to see Henry Kitts on his own, without the others at Throaks. While John Cunningham is very much a favorite of mine, it was delightful to see Henry & to see the power of his quick & agile mind. Bravo to Mr. Hammond for penning another very worthwhile installment in the series. Long may such characters live in our hearts and minds, for they are a true inspiration to those of honor.

Isobel and Henry Kitts are well known characters in the Three Oaks series. Isobel is resident vet and dog trainer, and Henry, a retired banker assists the Throaks staff wherever necessary. In this novel, Henry gets a call from the granddaughter of an old friend. She asks him to join her syndicate in a shoot in addition to helping her with a financial problem. Henry is one of her trustees as well as being a fellow director in the Agritechnics firm. Apparently Elizabeth has been taken in by an email scam, to the tune of one and a half million pounds. Then a debtor of Agritechnics is found dead by Henry, who embroils himself in yet another murder mystery.This was a very good mystery, although I missed the folks at Throaks. Henry is an often overlooked character in the series, and this novel developes his character more fully.

Gerald Hammond is the author of over forty mysteries, most using the field sports-fishing, upland bird hunting and shooting-as back drops. Having lived beyond the normally allotted "three score and ten" Hammond writes in his introduction that Illegal Tender will be his last mystery.Henry Kitts, the husband of Isobel Kitts, a veterinarian and part owner of Three Oaks Kennels, is the protagonist of this valedictory novel. Former army officer John Cunnigham usually is featured in the Three Oaks Kennels mysteries, with Henry a lively, though somewhat doddering, assistant sleuth. Hammond strongly identifies with Henry, he even says so in the preface, which makes him a fitting "star" of the book.A character driven mystery, Illegal Tender is also pleasantly anachronistic. There is more than a hint of the bitterweet on these pages. Henry's views are hardly politically correct. Women are indeed the fairer sex, though his attempts at a more modern view are charming. A mystery buff will have little trouble "solving" the crimes (an e-mail fraud and a murder).Hammond's books have always been delightful. A couple of hundred pages of pure escapism with interesting, flawed, quite human characters and a generous dollop of single malt scotch, fine shotguns, fly rods, hunting dogs, driven pheasant hunting, salmon fishing and the genteel life of sporting Scotland. I'll miss the old boy.

Sir Peter Hay, the rich owner of Hay Lodge, and Henry Fitts, part owner of Three Oaks Gun-dog Kennel are friends. When Henry died, his entire estate went to his granddaughter Elizabeth Ilwand with Henry acting as executor until she either marries or is mature enough to manage the empire.Henry and Elizabeth are close friends so he accepts her invitation to hold a business discussion over dinner. At dinner, Henry mentions an e-mail scam he learned about. When Elizabeth haers about this, she nearly faints. She explains that she gave banking information to the con artists who wiped out a million and a quarter pounds from her account. As Henry tries to track the money trail, he and Elizabeth look at another account causing problems that might require personal takeover. This delinquent account and the e-mail scan are related and dangerous to anyone who seeks the connection.Now seventy, author Gerald Hammond says in the preface that this will probably be his last mystery. Hopefully a talent as good as Mr. Hammond will change his mind and provide his loyal following with at least a dozen more tales. However, if ILLEGAL TENDER is his finale, it is a great way to go into retirement. The characters are realistic and the non-violent story line makes for a fascinating mystery. The book's climax is a surprise that will fool everyone into yelling at Mr. Hammond for one more encore at a minimum of a dozen times.Harriet Klausner