The Mushroom Man

DCI Charlie Priest is such an ordinary bloke that I found I had to keep reminding myself that he is a fictional character. He is so genuine and so real. The plot is true to life too because Charlie finds himself involved in not one but two major crimes and that is what policing is all about - prioritizing and juggling resources. First there is a missing girl and then there is someone going around killing priests and vicars. I really enjoy this new series (to me anyway), and am looking forward to reading more about Charlie and his foibles, as well as good-humoured outlook on life. He's not really as cynical as a lot of good cops are and that's a good thing.

Stuart Pawson had a career as a mining engineer He followed this with a spell working for the probation service, before he became a full-time writer. He lives in the pleasant waterside village of Fairburn in Yorkshire. A well known haunt for bird watchers from far and wide. Stuart Pawson has a gem of a character in Charlie Priest, a copper's copper with the tenacity of a bull terrier and the staying power of a steeple chaser. Not much gets past Charlie Priest and the books featuring him are a joy to read. The dry wit of the author transmitted through his lead character is typical of Yorkshire and his storylines are based on the way a detective would approach a case, rather than the crash bang wallop type writing of many so called crime writers. This is one of the early offerings of the author, but his writing is consistently good right through from his earliest books to the present and not one has disappointed me so far. Living within a 10 mile radius of where most of the books are set is of course a benefit and makes them that little more atmospheric for me personally. However it would not matter if I lived in Timbuktu the books are still extremely readable and entertaining. PS: The last time I looked the rhubarb sheds were still there.

DCI Charlie Priest is assigned to the kidnapping of wealthy businessman Miles Dewhurst's eight-year-old daughter Georgina. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom and Dewhurst seems frantic. However, when Charlie starts investigating, he turns up some things that don't seem so koshir. Something isn't quite right and Charlie begins to feel the worst. Meanwhile, a kidnapping isn't the only thing Charlie has to worry about, because is seems someone has killed three clergymen, a serial killer who has left the picture of a destroying angel mushroom by the body of the last victim. However rather then dub the killer "The Destroying Angel, the police call him "The Mushroom Man". Now Charlie and his crew at the Heckley police station have two crimes to solve in this fast-paced story that has red herrings guaranteed to fool, characters guaranteed to please and a plot guaranteed to pull you back to the book should you set it aside for any reason. Charlie is a likable copper with a delicious sense of humor, to say the least. I just love Mr. Pawson's books and I think you will too. Reviewed by Vesta Irene