A Killer By Any Other Name....

A Chief Inspector Thaw Mystery

It appeared to be the most simple of cases. Two men meet in a room, one man is later found murdered while the other man vanishes. To everyone involved it was an open and shut case. To everyone, that is, except Detective Chief Inspector James Thaw...

Complex Whodunnit

Don't expect to "know the killer" when reading a Chief Inspector Thaw mystery! Like Sherlock Holmes, the main character is a self-absorbed know-it-all with no social skills, but in these stories those characteristics are exaggerated almost to the point of parody. The reaction of Thaw's colleagues to his unpleasant persona is entertaining. The detective's conclusions are valid and logical, but often ridiculously complex. The author's "Doctor Watson" is appropriately likeable. I appreciate the puzzles and the characters, but the choice of reader is unfortunate. Some Virtual Voice voices are very good and they're getting better all of the time, but this one sounds like he can't decide if he is a British announcer or an American cowboy. All in all, if you like a good whodunnit that is uncluttered by personal sagas and the inevitable (and often contrived) on-off relationship, this is a good series to read.