I needed to figure out a way to start reading series where I am not current or the series is finished but haven’t read them yet. So it’s a way to commit myself to read my backlist, particularly series. Of course, I chose a series to begin which I didn’t put in my graphic. lol
Today, I am reviewing a few of the audiobooks from the DC Smith series by Peter Grainger. I have read the series which follows in this world, Kings Lake Investigation. In Kings Lake series, DC Smith is retired and Chris Waters is our main point of view on the cases. So now I wanted to go back and read the foundation series.. I own several of these audiobooks which I bought at Audible sales. The ebooks are in KindleUnlimited currently. I am receiving the newest one as an audio ARC, which I will review later.
An Accidental Death by Peter Grainger Narrator: Gildart Jackson
Series: DC Smith #1
Published by Tantor Audio on August 26, 2016
Genres: Mystery
Length: 6 hours, 52 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
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.
We start with DC Smith having been a DCI and after a huge case, and the death of his wife to cancer, is back as a DS without interest in moving into management. Chris Waters is a brand new trainee. He is the son of Doug Waters who DC Smith worked with but he retired after the big case and started his own PI firm. The brass sort of want DC to retire as he is the most expensive DS they have probably.
The story begins with students going around the river to swim and relax. They are heckling some of the boaters. One young guy dives in after a boat to further taunt the boater and his friends don’t see him again until he turns up dead. Things start out looking like An Accidental Death but then there are some aspects which don’t fit. The mystery has foreigners who are living in England after the war in Bosnia and Yugoslavia and now Hungary.
But For The Grace by Peter Grainger Narrator: Gildart Jackson
Series: DC Smith #2
Published by Tantor Audio on October 11, 2016
Genres: Mystery
Length: 9 hours, 16 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
We are living in the departure lounge,” said Ralph Greenwood, “and flights leave with monotonous regularity.” So when another resident of the Rosemary House care home is found dead in her chair one Saturday evening in December, no-one is very surprised – not until the results of a routine post-mortem reveal something extraordinary. Sergeant DC Smith and his team have to tread carefully as they investigate what took place, and Smith himself has to confront some difficult memories. Others, meanwhile, seem intent on getting him to leave the force altogether, while, despite his best efforts, his social life also becomes a little more complicated. To top it all, Kings Lake has been waiting weeks for the snow to fall, in a winter that seems as if it will never end…
DC Smith continues to consider his options of retiring or doing other types of work. They’d like to put him on a major crime task force so he is off the local payroll. He also has women interested in spending time with him. He’s not sure if he’s ready for it. There’s a writer, who used to be a DS, wanting to write about the big case. So this series, will have a layer of his personal life and choices woven in with the mystery.
Now they’ve a women who dies in a nursing home. It would be ordinary since the residents are all elderly but she was fine at her doctor visit the day before and they find some irregularities. DC learns about her friends and family. He questions and narrows down the time with the carers and gets their input on her demeanor and health. He thinks he knows what happened but it will be very hard to prove. But For The Grace looks at getting old, perhaps ill, and dying with dignity when one is ready.
Narration:
Gildart Jackson is a favorite narrator. I seem to be able to enjoy him in multiple series without getting him stuck in my head as just one character. I was able to listen comfortably at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip HERE
About Gildart Jackson
With acting credits that span stage and screen, Gildart Jackson is most often recognized for his role as Gideon on Charmed. Other notable TV roles include Jackson Palmer on Providence and Simon Prentiss on General Hospital, as well as guest appearances on Stargate: Atlantis, Las Vegas, and CSI. Theater roles include Trigorin in The Seagull, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, and Adrian in Private Eyes at the Old Globe.
About Peter Grainger
A British author, the writer Peter Grainger is a well known novelist of mystery fiction, largely focused on detective lead investigations. This his been the prime focus for much of his career, as he takes much of his inspiration from that of other infamous British detectives, such as Inspector Morse. The influence is clearly evident here, as he brings his own detective, DC Smith, to life, along with other books as well. Setting his mysteries firmly within the world of British detective fiction it is clear where his tastes lie as an author of his increasingly popular stories, stories that only increase in popularity as time goes on.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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That’s a great idea for holding yourself accountable to finish out series or get to a long awaited series by posting an update list. I’m not familiar with this series you picked first, but I enjoy the narrator already so I’ll have to try the first book at some point.
Thanks Sophia. I LOVE LOVE this series and the one which follows. I hope you enjoy it.
Ooh, another police procedural series to check out! Thank you, Anne💜
I hope you do. I LOVE LOVE these.
I love this idea. I struggle to keep up with all the series I’m reading and love, too. I’m behind in Harris’s Sebastian St. Cyr series, but did just get a copy of the Castillo’s latest Kate Burkholder novel. Good luck catching up with all your series! 😀
Thanks Kara. This is my attempt to get myself to read them which isn’t hard because I want to read them but it’s more to convince me to fit them into my schedule.
So many books to keep up with! I just checked and the first audio is available from my library and I can get the e-copy from KU. I’ll have to check the series out since I love crime procedurals!
I hope you love them. It’s a favorite narrator too.
Great idea! I wonder how many series I’ve fallen behind on (that I actually want to continue reading). I’ve forgotten by now! LOL
yes, this new meme is my attempt to read at least one, or more, books a month to catch up on series I really want to read.
Fun!!!
Thanks. It’s a way to get myself to read things I really have wanted to read, instead of taking more ARCs.
There are so many series that I want to read. I started picking a few to tackle every year and schedule one per month. It has been working so far and I have had a lot of fun getting through some of those older books on my tbr.
That’s the plan here. I just may not stick to one series a year or even a month. We will see how it goes as there are so many I want to read.
I think I’d enjoy these. Nice reviews Anne.
I hope you get to try them. They seem easily available on audio at the library, although I have bought most of them. I love them.
I really like this idea! I think I will run with it and see how it goes. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Melissa. You are more than welcome to join me in this and use the tag #SundaySeries and you could grab the graphic but you may have different series and want to make your own thing. I just am trying to read at least 1 backlist a month. I’m doing better than one though, so far.