• Time and Tide

  • DC Smith Investigation Series, Book 7
  • By: Peter Grainger
  • Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
  • Length: 13 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,930 ratings)

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Time and Tide

By: Peter Grainger
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
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Publisher's summary

Change is afoot at Kings Lake Central police station. A most unexpected new detective inspector takes up his post this Monday morning, and the oldest detective in the place takes a momentous decision.

Around them, other officers are considering their own situations, and even the building itself seems to be facing an uncertain future. But life and death go on, nevertheless, and by lunchtime someone will make a grim discovery on the Norfolk saltmarshes. A stranger seems to have suffered a slow and agonizing death out there.

As the team from Kings Lake uncover his story, they reveal another, much older one with its origins far back in the previous century. In the tide that governs the affairs of men, it seems, love and loss, betrayal and revenge are timeless themes. Fans of Colin Dexter, P. D. James, and Ruth Rendell have all found much to enjoy in DC Smith's previous investigations.

©2017 Peter Grainger (P)2018 Tantor

What listeners say about Time and Tide

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful British modern detective series!

Time and Tide is Book 7 in the DC Smith series. Like the prior 6 novels in the series it earns 5 stars. DC Smith is a police detective with 30 years experience who got tired of being in management as Detective Inspector and asked to be demoted to Detective Sargent in order to work cases. Those who report to him love working for him, but he is nothing but trouble for most of those in management who consider his high rate of solving cases to be luck rather than skill. Also, he tends to disobey direct orders and generally shows a lack of respect for authority. But he solves 100% of his cases. At the beginning of this book he finally takes retirement (2 years late) giving 3 months notice. Will this be the final novel in the series?

Gildart Jackson's outstanding narration of this series deserves special recognition. His voice and pace are pitch perfect.

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29 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Best Yet in an Outstanding Series

Peter Grainger has , out of nowhere, become one of my favorite writers. This feat is especially amazing since, incredibly, his books are still only available in audio or e-book formats. It seems criminal to me that I can’t give his books as gifts to friends and family who prefer good old- fashioned books.

The D.C. Smith series is almost breathtaking. At first glance, one might see it as just another detective series. And a very good one it is. But the prose, and especially the characters, take this far afield from any typical detective series. The latest in the series, Time & Tide, is the best of what are a bumper crop of elegant & incisive books, and Mr Grainger captures emotion, melancholy, and humor with such deadly accuracy that at times I just have to pause and review. Few authors can make me do that...get through my defenses so expertly that I want to re-read (or re-listen), just to enjoy a turn of phrase or a beautifully written idea again.

I must add that Mr Grainger is expert in slowly, craftily doling out details in such a way that we genuinely feel Smith’s uncertainty as he stands on the precipice between his beloved wife who has passed and this new person of interest, Jo Evers. So sparingly so that I’m fairly dying for them to connect, which isn’t usually foremost in my mind in a typical detective series. But as I’ve said, these books are anything but typical, nor run-of-the-mill. Peter Grainger’s writing is something special.

And Gildart Jackson inhabits each individual character so expertly, and so believably, that I can’t imagine another narrator for these books. He has won another serious fan; he’s an amazing talent, and ideally conveys the considered words in Grainger’s writing.

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15 people found this helpful

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Wonderful Series

This may be the last DC Smith book and that is sad. This character seems so real to me that I imagine him, retired, living an active and satisfying life, possibly sometimes missing the challenge of his days as a policeman.

In this story, DC's retirement is in the near future. This isn't an "action packed" story, but it is an instructive story. DC passes on the things he has learned in his years as a police officer to the younger people who will take over the work. DC also comes to terms with himself about the upcoming major change in his life. He does both things very well.

I would be delighted if there is another DC Smith book, but I'm not expecting it. I will listen to the entire series again and expect I will be as entertained as I was the first time.

Gildart Jackson's narration is just perfect.

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14 people found this helpful

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What? It’s over???

I loved this series! Nevermind the murder, what about the characters? I have read all of DCSmith books in a reading binge- I couldn’t believe it was over. I hope the author will be continuing this series.

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13 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another Great One!

If you have not yet been introduced to Sargent DC Smith before now, you are in for a treat. Once again Peter Grangier unfolds a mystery that proceeds at a pace to keep the reader/listener involved and on the edge of your seat, eager to know what comes next.

Mr. Grainger does all of this without wallowing in ugly scenes and profanity. He is a master of his craft and I am anxiously awaiting the next installment.

Although “Time And Tide” stands on it’s own as a great read, the experience is enhanced by having read the previous books in this series. All of the Sargent DC Smith’s build from the place where the previous book ended.

The reader’s performance is absolutely perfect for this series.

I highly recommend this book!

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11 people found this helpful

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Highly Addictive!

Everything about the DC Smith series is excellent - from the structure of the novels to the development of the characters to the case in each book. To top it all off is the brilliant narration by Gildart Jackson. I dread coming to the end!

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7 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Well done

I just love this writer and reader. Great character development along with descriptions of rural Great Britain make for a thoughtful engaging thoroughly English mystery. It's similar to something we might watch on PBS mystery. I've enjoyed the whole series and hope there will be more.

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7 people found this helpful

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Let's hope DC Smith returns!

Peter Grainger and Gildart Jackson voicing DC Smith are an irresistible combination. In Smith, Grainger has created a wonderful character, ready to deploy brilliance and sarcasm in equal measure. With Smith's retirement, this appears to be the finale of an incredible series, but i hope Grainger brings Smith back from the brink, allowing him to continue to manage his colleagues of senior and junior rank.

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5 people found this helpful

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There is no better police procedural

This is the seventh book in the series and without a doubt it is the best. I consider it to be the finest police procedural novel in existence. Period. While probably not necessary to read the first six books, I would strongly urge you to do so you will know the characters. The players are of course important. Besides, the worst of the six novels still gets well over four stars. You can’t go wrong. Enjoy!

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Hope this isn’t last of DC Smith!

So enjoyed this series. The way the crime is investigated and resolved is masterful. I hope this is not the last installment we get to enjoy of DC Smith’s life.

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4 people found this helpful