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Cynthia Harrod-Eagles's Bill Slider stories have never been massive. I'm not sure why not. They're funny, literate, well-plotted and have a core of strong characters who you know you'd really like in real life – a bit like those peopling Stuart Pawson's books. This volume contains two books featuring London DI Bill Slider and his sidekick DS Jim Atherton – SHALLOW GRAVE and BLOOD SINISTER. The former has the team investigating the death of a builder's wife after her body is found in a hole on the terrace of an old rectory. And in the latter an award-winning journalist with little love for the police is found bumped off in her flat. In both cases the police unearth all manner of dodgy secrets. Harrod-Eagles is an exuberant writer who loves word play and who makes Reginald Hill look like a shrinking violet when it comes to language. Just occasionally, though – and this may be a disadvantage of reading the two books back to back – you'd like her to rein it in a bit, as smart-arsedness threatens to swamp the proceedings at times! The books, though, are a fun and fluent read. The plotting is fine, although it doesn't take a MENSA candidate to work out whodunit, as Harrod-Eagles plays fair with the reader and is generous with clues along the way. What scores most highly, though, is the developing characterisation as the series moves along and in particular the relationship between Slider and Atherton who, as well as being inspector and sergeant, are also friends outside of work. There's plenty of tension for the pair with the respective love lives. Harrod-Eagles's other life as a romance writer often peeks through, and I suspect some readers will find Slider's ongoing private life saga with current girlfriend Joanna and ex-wife Irene a bit too intrusive at times. The clichéd portrayal of gays in the books is rather tiresome and Harrod-Eagles does occasionally stray towards the stereotypical in the characters outside of the police. But she presents the tight-knit police team with a sharp eye and clear affection. That’s where the dialogue really crackles and little pen portraits of the various officers come through. I was rather fond of Nicholls, the handsome Scottish custody sergeant with his blue eyes and voice like silk emulsion. And my favourite scenes were those with Det Supt Fred 'the Syrup' Porson in, the man with the unfortunate wig and a talent for mangling any sentence. But Harrod-Eagles is laughing with him, not at him, and portrays him as a boss worth having. Harrod-Eagles's books are always great fun, and a treat to be savoured. A word of warning, though – she's a so-and-so for finishing the books on a cliff-hanger, which makes the wait for the next one all the more infuriating!
Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, January 2007
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