An Accidental Death

A DC Smith Investigation Series, Book 1

By: Peter Grainger

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

The story opens with the apparently accidental drowning of a sixth form student in the Norfolk countryside. As a matter of routine, or so it seems, the case passes across the desk of Detective Sergeant Smith, recently returned to work after an internal investigation into another case that has led to tensions between officers at Kings Lake police headquarters. As an ex-DCI, Smith could have retired by now, and it is clear that some of his superiors wish that he would do so. The latest trainee detective to work with him is the son of a member of his former team, and together they begin to unravel the truth about what happened to Wayne Fletcher. As the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that others are involved - some seem determined to prevent it, some seem to be taking too much interest. In the end, Smith operates alone, having stepped too far outside standard procedures to ask for support. He knows that his own life might be at risk but he has not calculated on the life of his young assistant also being put in danger.

©2013 Peter Grainger (P)2016 Tantor

Perfect Interlude In A World of Violence

This is my kind of police mystery. No crude language and no over the top violence... yes, there was a murder, and yes it does need to be solved, but you get so much more from this author. Can't wait to read the next installment.

Good Police Procedural

An even-paced investigation into a boys "accidental" drowning, turns into something more. A grizzled cop (on the verge of retirement) is given a rubber-stamp case that just doesn't add up.

Loved it!

Perfect police procedural. Great story and great narrator. I love British police procedurals and this one did not let down!

What we all look for in an audio book

Very few books make me laugh out loud. This one did a few times. DC Smith is his own man and he does it his way. The story is good, the characters are honest, and the narration is stellar, Nicely done! I'm in.

Brit Crime Detection to a Tea

Well written and performed. Interesting storyline and fleshed out characters. Given the topic; murder investigation, there are no unstoppable villains and gore ad museum. I have listened to all 3 available on Audible and will purchase the remaining 3 in Paperback.

humorous

Didn't like at first but it got better. Humor so dry it makes you thirsty. Which made it more funny.

Great story and reader. Funny and clever

I love every thing about the way the story is written and I think Peter Grainger found the perfect reader and performer in Gildart Jackson

Unassuming, plodding detective is a good character

DC Smith an interesting enough character, sort of deceptively uninvolved and unassuming Detective Sargent (formerly a Detective Inspector) in the kind of Columbo mode, but he's lacking enough wit or heart to make me want to read more too much more about him. A good setting, a good mystery, but I don't know that I'll go on to Book 2......I can see the author tried to set up some mystery around him (he accepted a demotion rather than retiring, he plays blues guitar in his off hours, he pretends to be unable to navigate the internet and social media) but it just wasn't enough for me.

I'm not disappointed in this one, but I think that's it for the series for me.

Good read/listen, I enjoyed it.

Would you consider the audio edition of An Accidental Death to be better than the print version?

I did appreciate the accent on the audio. Since this takes place in Britain it made the story flow a bit better.

What was one of the most memorable moments of An Accidental Death?

It kept my attention, had nice detail and kept the story flowing.

Have you listened to any of Gildart Jackson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I did enjoy this one.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, I did not have any extreme reactions.

Any additional comments?

The very, very end of the book seemed a bit unnecessary.

Great characters!

Engaging and believable story. great, realistic characters. Especially the main character, DC Smith. Loved it.