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The Syndicate Six Murder
Detective Superintendent Ralph Blade never liked Detective Harold Ashington. These two men had history. Ashington never forgave Blade for marrying his former girlfriend, Julie, and he was convinced that Blades’ son was his own.
Now Ashington is dead, murdered at the world-famous Police Staff College in the heart of rural Hampshire. And Julie can’t explain why she had planned to meet him on the night he died.
HAS A FORGOTTEN LOVE TRIANGLE TURNED DEADLY?
But Ashington was a bully and a blackmailer, and widely disliked. There are plenty of other suspects — and all of them are either senior police officers or closely connected to the force.
Then Blade’s prime suspect and one of his team are brutally attacked and left for dead.
CAN BLADE AND HIS NEW SECOND-IN-COMMAND DETECTIVE DOROTHY FRASER UNCOVER WHO HAS MOTIVE, MEANS AND OPPORTUNITY?
Now Ashington is dead, murdered at the world-famous Police Staff College in the heart of rural Hampshire. And Julie can’t explain why she had planned to meet him on the night he died.
HAS A FORGOTTEN LOVE TRIANGLE TURNED DEADLY?
But Ashington was a bully and a blackmailer, and widely disliked. There are plenty of other suspects — and all of them are either senior police officers or closely connected to the force.
Then Blade’s prime suspect and one of his team are brutally attacked and left for dead.
CAN BLADE AND HIS NEW SECOND-IN-COMMAND DETECTIVE DOROTHY FRASER UNCOVER WHO HAS MOTIVE, MEANS AND OPPORTUNITY?
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2020
About the author
Geoffrey Osborne
10 books3 followersGeoffrey Osborne, born in Gravesend on March 10, 1930, lived in Erith, Kent, until 1939, when he was evacuated to his grandparents' farm in North Wales. Later, education at King's School Rochester was followed by National Service in Germany with the Royal Scots Greys, as the gunner in a Centurian tank. His career as a journalist began as a reporter on the Gazette in South Shields, where he met his late wife, Dorothy. Later, after working as a sub-editor on the Journal in Newcastle and The Daily Telegraph in Fleet Street, he joined Bristol's Evening Post, becoming the chief-sub-editor. The author of six spy thrillers and many short stories, he lives in North Somerset. The Syndicate Six Murder is the first of a series featuring Detective Inspector Dorothy Fraser.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 30, 2020
When DS Ralph Blade is called to investigate a possible murder, he's surprised to see that he knows the victim. Detective Harold Ashington had a history with Blade .... and not a good one. Blade's wife, Julie, had dated Ashington before dropping him for Blade. Ashington never forgave him for taking his girlfriend away .. and was always sure that their son was his.
Someone has killed Ashington, which really comes as no surprise. He was widely disliked and had even gone so far as blackmailing certain people.
Blade has a problem .... his wife, Julie, as he found out later, had arranged to meet Ashington the night he died. He also learned, after the fact, that their adult son was in the same bar/restaurant and saw his mother. Did either of them kill Ashington?
There are many other suspects, most who had motive. Blade finds that even senior officers need to be investigated.
Blade's prime suspect and one of his team are brutally attacked and left for dead.
Blade needs a motive ... and to ensure that his family are not ultimately involved.
This reminds me of authors Ed McBain. P D James, Ellery Queen whose works realistically depicted the routine activities of a group of police officers who frequently work more than one case at a time. This police procedural is well written with deftly drawn characters doing what they do best amid a story of murder and mayhem. It's a short read, around 200 pages, but it's packed with suspense, and a few twists and turns. I enjoyed how the professional lives of Blade and his team blended well with their personal lives. I look forward to seeing this turn into a series.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Someone has killed Ashington, which really comes as no surprise. He was widely disliked and had even gone so far as blackmailing certain people.
Blade has a problem .... his wife, Julie, as he found out later, had arranged to meet Ashington the night he died. He also learned, after the fact, that their adult son was in the same bar/restaurant and saw his mother. Did either of them kill Ashington?
There are many other suspects, most who had motive. Blade finds that even senior officers need to be investigated.
Blade's prime suspect and one of his team are brutally attacked and left for dead.
Blade needs a motive ... and to ensure that his family are not ultimately involved.
This reminds me of authors Ed McBain. P D James, Ellery Queen whose works realistically depicted the routine activities of a group of police officers who frequently work more than one case at a time. This police procedural is well written with deftly drawn characters doing what they do best amid a story of murder and mayhem. It's a short read, around 200 pages, but it's packed with suspense, and a few twists and turns. I enjoyed how the professional lives of Blade and his team blended well with their personal lives. I look forward to seeing this turn into a series.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 15, 2021
A police procedural involving the murder of a high ranking officer Detective Harold Ashington whose body is found in a chest at Bramshill, the world famous Police Staff College. Detective Superintendent Ralph Blade is put in charge of the investigation. Harold was known as a bully and a blackmailer while he and Ralph have a history as well involving Ralph's wife Julie and their son and their time together at MET. It seems that Harold had pushed too many buttons the wrong way and the list of who would have liked to end his existence is pretty long. It is upto to DS Ralph and his new second in command Detective Dorothy Fraser to solve this case before things get heated up for DS Ralph.
This was a fast paced police procedural and a short one in length but it was anticlimactic for me in terms of who the real culprits turn out to be....it seems even DS Ralph manages to figure it out halfway through the book who the culprits are but only reveals it in the end.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Joffe Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book. The book was published on 30th October 2020. I had read this book in December but am sharing my review now.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐💫
This was a fast paced police procedural and a short one in length but it was anticlimactic for me in terms of who the real culprits turn out to be....it seems even DS Ralph manages to figure it out halfway through the book who the culprits are but only reveals it in the end.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Joffe Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book. The book was published on 30th October 2020. I had read this book in December but am sharing my review now.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐💫
October 27, 2020
DS Ralph Blade never liked Detective Harold Ashington. They had history and Ashington never forgave Blade for marrying his ex-girlfriend, Julie, and he was convinced that Blade's son was his own. But now Ashington is dead. He had been a bully and a bully and blackmailer who was widely disliked. Blade's prime suspect and one of his team are brutally attacked and left for dead. Can Blade and his new second in command, Detective Dorothy Fraser uncover who has a motive.
This was a really easy book to get into. A police Detective has been murdered and he's just the first as the body count rises. There's a love triangle between Blade, Ashington and Blade's wife,Julie. I did not like any of the characters as they seemed a little flat. But it will be interesting to see how they develop. An interesting whodunit. This is another quick read with just 150 pages.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #GeoffreyOsborne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really easy book to get into. A police Detective has been murdered and he's just the first as the body count rises. There's a love triangle between Blade, Ashington and Blade's wife,Julie. I did not like any of the characters as they seemed a little flat. But it will be interesting to see how they develop. An interesting whodunit. This is another quick read with just 150 pages.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #GeoffreyOsborne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2020
The Syndicate Six Murders is a gripping police procedural, set in and around the Halls of the renowned Bramshill Police Staff College in scenic Hampshire, England. When a body is discovered in an antique chest in the grand hall of the college, Detective Superintendant Ralph Blade is called in to investigate. The murder victim is Detective Harold Ashington, known well to investigative lead Blade as they've had run-ins before due to Ashington’s shady under-the-table dealings and bullying behaviour. Along with a plethora of other people, Blade also had motive to want Harold dead. Despite the relationship between Blade and Ashington having been fraught and a clear conflict of interest existing, Blade is still allowed at the helm because no one else wants to get involved. Amongst his criminal exploits, Harold enjoyed a spot of blackmail. With the murder scene surrounded by a large gathering of intrigued law enforcement officers, it's going to be no mean feat identifying who decided to take the law into their own hands. Blade and team get to work interviewing possible suspects and then a second body drops...
This is an original, gripping and captivating police procedural and the most fascinating part is that the criminal activities are being carried out by those we trust to not only uphold the law, like the rest of us, but to hold themselves to a higher standard than the rest of the population. Then there's the fact that the killer is a police officer in some capacity which is not unheard of in a crime thriller but it's certainly fairly unique and interesting. I loved that Harold Ashington had crossed so many people in a multitude of different ways that the possible suspects list was seemingly endless making any guesses as to the real culprit way off the mark, and I really didn't see the twists coming. He's a nasty piece of work and most are glad he's been dealt with. This is a fast-paced, dramatic and intense read with enough exciting developments to keep the heart-pounding and a ratcheting up of the tension throughout the story. It all culminates in a shocking and satisfying conclusion. A quick, easy and entertaining read which was fun to rip through in a single evening. Recommended. Many thanks to Joffe for an ARC.
This is an original, gripping and captivating police procedural and the most fascinating part is that the criminal activities are being carried out by those we trust to not only uphold the law, like the rest of us, but to hold themselves to a higher standard than the rest of the population. Then there's the fact that the killer is a police officer in some capacity which is not unheard of in a crime thriller but it's certainly fairly unique and interesting. I loved that Harold Ashington had crossed so many people in a multitude of different ways that the possible suspects list was seemingly endless making any guesses as to the real culprit way off the mark, and I really didn't see the twists coming. He's a nasty piece of work and most are glad he's been dealt with. This is a fast-paced, dramatic and intense read with enough exciting developments to keep the heart-pounding and a ratcheting up of the tension throughout the story. It all culminates in a shocking and satisfying conclusion. A quick, easy and entertaining read which was fun to rip through in a single evening. Recommended. Many thanks to Joffe for an ARC.
October 25, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Syndicate Six Murder, a police procedural set in the Hampshire trading college at Bramshill.
Superintendent Ralph Blade is called to Bramshill for a murder enquiry, a body has been found in an antique chest in the hall of the college and even worse he recognises the victim, Superintendent Harold Ashington, a man he has a history with. Suspects abound as Ashington was known for a spot of blackmail.
The Syndicate Six Murder is a simple tale of whodunnit. Blade and his team interview various suspects, including his own wife and son, until he comes up with a solution. The plot is fairly well thought out but there is little sense of professionalism about the investigation, like Blade should never have been allowed to lead it with family involvement. There is an old fashioned feel to the novel with its emphasis on interviewing and motive which latter seems to revolve entirely around sex and relationships. The body being found in the chest is as imaginative as it gets.
I found all the characters clunky and many of their reactions to events and what is said to them unnatural, although I understand that they are necessary to further both the suspense and the plot.
The Syndicate Six Murder is an easy way to while away a few hours.
Superintendent Ralph Blade is called to Bramshill for a murder enquiry, a body has been found in an antique chest in the hall of the college and even worse he recognises the victim, Superintendent Harold Ashington, a man he has a history with. Suspects abound as Ashington was known for a spot of blackmail.
The Syndicate Six Murder is a simple tale of whodunnit. Blade and his team interview various suspects, including his own wife and son, until he comes up with a solution. The plot is fairly well thought out but there is little sense of professionalism about the investigation, like Blade should never have been allowed to lead it with family involvement. There is an old fashioned feel to the novel with its emphasis on interviewing and motive which latter seems to revolve entirely around sex and relationships. The body being found in the chest is as imaginative as it gets.
I found all the characters clunky and many of their reactions to events and what is said to them unnatural, although I understand that they are necessary to further both the suspense and the plot.
The Syndicate Six Murder is an easy way to while away a few hours.
November 9, 2020
I was drawn to the book cover. I have to admit, that was the main reason that I picked this up. I also have a penchant for British murder mysteries, so this was right up my street.
The story is a police procedural set in rural Hampshire. A police Detective is murdered at a police training college and Detective Superintendent Ralph Blade has to investigate his colleagues to get to the bottom of the case. Matters are exacerbated by the fact that Blade and Ashington have a 'past.' This also creeps into the present, when Blade's wife and son become suspects.
I like police procedurals, if they are done right. This is a good read. The pacing was fine and although it was not a thrilling page turner, neither did I have to plod through it (pun intended).
I did have a few doubts though - taking Blade's negative association with the victim would he had really been allowed to head the investigation? Especially when his own son was implicated? That was a bit difficult to believe. Also, the culprits were not too hard to figure out...
So I'm on the fence with this one...
I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
The story is a police procedural set in rural Hampshire. A police Detective is murdered at a police training college and Detective Superintendent Ralph Blade has to investigate his colleagues to get to the bottom of the case. Matters are exacerbated by the fact that Blade and Ashington have a 'past.' This also creeps into the present, when Blade's wife and son become suspects.
I like police procedurals, if they are done right. This is a good read. The pacing was fine and although it was not a thrilling page turner, neither did I have to plod through it (pun intended).
I did have a few doubts though - taking Blade's negative association with the victim would he had really been allowed to head the investigation? Especially when his own son was implicated? That was a bit difficult to believe. Also, the culprits were not too hard to figure out...
So I'm on the fence with this one...
I received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 30, 2020
You know you're in good hands with this writer. The storytelling is crisp and confident and packed with incident. The setting is Bramshill, a police training college, and the suspects are all connected with the police. The plotting and the detail are entirely convincing and make for a real page-turner.
November 17, 2020
A murder, you say? A body found in an antique chest in at the world famous Police College? Ok, sure, I’ll check it out.
Turns out more than one murder and oodles and I mean oodles of people to solve it. So many cooks are stirring this pot, it gets too busy in the kitchen. In fact, lots of them and some of their families knew the victim and had perfectly good reasons to do away with him. So a proper mess and it’s down to the excellently named detective Ralph Blade and his intrepid team to figure this out. Which they do and in pretty reasonable time, all things considered.
Police procedurals are some of my least favorite types of murder mysteries, but when done right, they are perfectly palatable. This one was done…well, kind of right. It’s very British, which is always nice. It’s decently written. It has a lot of leads and clues and all that to confuse the readers away from the real culprit. And it’s short, which is just excellent, because succinctness can be really admirable in a genre often prone to overwriting.
On the other side, I didn’t love the characters, found their involvement with each other to be overwhelmingly tangled and their love lives all too intricately convoluted. And the overall tone was very…mild, somehow, despite the, you know, dead bodies.
This isn’t a cozy mystery by any means, but the thrills here are measured and it’s easy to picture an elderly British gentleman of staid bearing and tweedy attire retiring to his respectably sedate study to smoke a pipe while reading it.
Perfectly decent, if not especially memorable or exciting, quick read. Thanks Netgalley.
Turns out more than one murder and oodles and I mean oodles of people to solve it. So many cooks are stirring this pot, it gets too busy in the kitchen. In fact, lots of them and some of their families knew the victim and had perfectly good reasons to do away with him. So a proper mess and it’s down to the excellently named detective Ralph Blade and his intrepid team to figure this out. Which they do and in pretty reasonable time, all things considered.
Police procedurals are some of my least favorite types of murder mysteries, but when done right, they are perfectly palatable. This one was done…well, kind of right. It’s very British, which is always nice. It’s decently written. It has a lot of leads and clues and all that to confuse the readers away from the real culprit. And it’s short, which is just excellent, because succinctness can be really admirable in a genre often prone to overwriting.
On the other side, I didn’t love the characters, found their involvement with each other to be overwhelmingly tangled and their love lives all too intricately convoluted. And the overall tone was very…mild, somehow, despite the, you know, dead bodies.
This isn’t a cozy mystery by any means, but the thrills here are measured and it’s easy to picture an elderly British gentleman of staid bearing and tweedy attire retiring to his respectably sedate study to smoke a pipe while reading it.
Perfectly decent, if not especially memorable or exciting, quick read. Thanks Netgalley.
December 17, 2020
Geoffrey Osborne is a new author to the brilliant Joffe Books so I was intrigued to find out what he had to offer. I wasn't disappointed this is a very intriguing mystery that kept me intrigued all the way through.
A body is found in a chest and Ralph Blade is called to the scene. He knows the victim and so does Blade's wife. As the story unfolds Blade, his wife and son find themselves all suspecting each other but apart from the family suspicions there are many other suspects. The victim was not well liked and many would be pleased to have him off the scene. The investigation hasn't progressed very far when another body turns up that of one of the suspects Blade was eager to speak to and so the story progresses and becomes more intriguing as the pages turn.
The characters are realistic and the author sets the scenes very well to enable the reader to envisage them effectively. The story moves along at a steady pace allowing the reader to get into the nitty gritty slog of detective work.
A very engaging read I am hoping for more in this series.
A body is found in a chest and Ralph Blade is called to the scene. He knows the victim and so does Blade's wife. As the story unfolds Blade, his wife and son find themselves all suspecting each other but apart from the family suspicions there are many other suspects. The victim was not well liked and many would be pleased to have him off the scene. The investigation hasn't progressed very far when another body turns up that of one of the suspects Blade was eager to speak to and so the story progresses and becomes more intriguing as the pages turn.
The characters are realistic and the author sets the scenes very well to enable the reader to envisage them effectively. The story moves along at a steady pace allowing the reader to get into the nitty gritty slog of detective work.
A very engaging read I am hoping for more in this series.
November 21, 2020
A murder mystery set in a police training academy where all the suspects are police officers! When the killer is an officer of law, they would know better than to leave behind any evidence.
The mystery behind the murder was really good. The digging for clues was impressive too. Having said that, the investigators jumping into conclusions is something I did not expect to read this in a murder mystery. I did not like it, either. The investigators seemed so 'sure' of the fact that they were right in their assumptions.
Also, the character portrayal was too mushy for my taste. A glimpse into the characters' personal lives does make the story better but in this case, we see a whole lot of cooing and emotional outbursts.
The mystery behind the murder was really good. The digging for clues was impressive too. Having said that, the investigators jumping into conclusions is something I did not expect to read this in a murder mystery. I did not like it, either. The investigators seemed so 'sure' of the fact that they were right in their assumptions.
Also, the character portrayal was too mushy for my taste. A glimpse into the characters' personal lives does make the story better but in this case, we see a whole lot of cooing and emotional outbursts.
October 23, 2020
Set in Hampshire. we get introduced to D.S. Ralph Blade him and C.S. Harold Ashington both have history, Then Ashington is found in Bramshill murdered Poisoned with Cyanide Ralph's wife Julie and son Richard are involved and this is all about revenge and threats, and Blade is signed onto the case along side D.I. Dorothy Fraser so he heads off to Bramshill, and another similar murder occurs whats going on? is this a double killing. so look out as this book has a lot of twists, and suspects along the way. all coming out the woodworks, it's a fabulous who dunnit that I enjoyed tremendously right through.
My first book from this author who i think will go a long way with his writing in the future.
And Blade and Fraser have definitely nailed this case and they both make a damned good team, its left me looking forward to more that I will look out for. Brilliant.
My first book from this author who i think will go a long way with his writing in the future.
And Blade and Fraser have definitely nailed this case and they both make a damned good team, its left me looking forward to more that I will look out for. Brilliant.
October 22, 2020
THE SYNDICATE SIX MURDER opens with a shocking disturbing find. Early indications of fierce animosity could compromise the inquiry. A hair-raising incident interferes with a vital avenue of investigation. Ranks and complicated interpersonal relationships make solving this spine-chilling, bewildering mystery akin to navigating a minefield. Rarely can the crossing of a minefield happen without an explosive ending and THE SYNDICATE SIX MURDER does not disappoint.
THE SYNDICATE SIX MURDER IS A WINNER!
THE SYNDICATE SIX MURDER IS A WINNER!
January 2, 2021
An excellent mystery that kept me guessing and hooked till the last page.
A gripping plot, full of twists and turns, excellent characters and a solid mystery.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
A gripping plot, full of twists and turns, excellent characters and a solid mystery.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
January 28, 2021
I think I would give this book 3.5 stars (but seeing as I'm nice I rounded up). The plot is compelling, but a couple of aspects made this book a bit more confusing. Firstly, we jump between different members of the police force during their investigation. This would not be a problem if it weren't for the fact that the book is only 180 pages. I felt like I was trying to get to know each person alongside following the interview process. All in all though, I still recommend this book. It's an enjoyable read with a clever plot.
January 15, 2021
Well plotted, complex mystery
This complex, multilayered plot line started slow as the various characters were introduced but moved faster as the suspects increased. It was fun trying to unravel all the motives and opportunities.
This complex, multilayered plot line started slow as the various characters were introduced but moved faster as the suspects increased. It was fun trying to unravel all the motives and opportunities.
December 27, 2020
Fair enough
I read this kind of book a lot. Can't say this was one of the best.
It's not horrible, it's just not something I would tell you to read.
I read this kind of book a lot. Can't say this was one of the best.
It's not horrible, it's just not something I would tell you to read.
November 9, 2020
Rating: 2.75/5
A body was found in a very old chest in the world-famous Bramshill Police Staff College. Detective Superintendent Ralph Blade is assigned to solve this murder, but the victim turns out to be an old rival of DS Blade. As cops investigate cops, this fast-paced mystery is not solved without many complications.
This is a pretty small book, so it reads pretty fast. Despite my rating, I did enjoy most of this book. The fast-paced beginning was on point and made me very interested on continuing to read. Many mysterious facts were laid out from the start and that kept interested. I loved the writing style as well. Especially for the first half of the book. The way everything was described made me imagine this story as a detective tv show and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.
I did have many issues though. My main issue was the thought process of the characters. At first, there is a lot that I did not understand, which is totally normal, since it is a mystery. But the more it went on, the more I had trouble keeping up with the different hypotheses. I didn't understand why some characters were putting up a certain hypothesis when nothing in the story supported it. They made no sense to me whatsoever. I did find it hard to keep up with their trains of thoughts throughout the book. And unfortunately, the resolution did not make up for it. It was a little predictable, but even if it was, I still don't understand on what evidence the DS Blade character solved the murder. And nothing in the book explained why the body was found in the chest at the beginning. A lot of these hypotheses were not supported by the plot or the facts stated in the book. This is the main reason why I rated this just under 3 stars. I have watched a lot of detective/police/crime shows as a teen and as an adult, so I was disappointed with this aspect.
Another thing that bothered me in the book is some of the relationships that went on like roller coasters. It didn't feel realistic to me to have characters being great together one day, then being very mad at each other because of something that happened, and then being great again the next day, as if nothing ever happened.
It may be because it was set in England and there was a cultural difference, but it bothered me how many cops were involved in the investigation and I have to admit I got lost as to who was who. But that was a very minor issue.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this book. I preferred the first half, but still enjoyed it in general. I do not recommend this book to avid crime readers. But if you do like fast-paced mysteries and small books, you could certainly enjoy this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the e-ARC.
A body was found in a very old chest in the world-famous Bramshill Police Staff College. Detective Superintendent Ralph Blade is assigned to solve this murder, but the victim turns out to be an old rival of DS Blade. As cops investigate cops, this fast-paced mystery is not solved without many complications.
This is a pretty small book, so it reads pretty fast. Despite my rating, I did enjoy most of this book. The fast-paced beginning was on point and made me very interested on continuing to read. Many mysterious facts were laid out from the start and that kept interested. I loved the writing style as well. Especially for the first half of the book. The way everything was described made me imagine this story as a detective tv show and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.
I did have many issues though. My main issue was the thought process of the characters. At first, there is a lot that I did not understand, which is totally normal, since it is a mystery. But the more it went on, the more I had trouble keeping up with the different hypotheses. I didn't understand why some characters were putting up a certain hypothesis when nothing in the story supported it. They made no sense to me whatsoever. I did find it hard to keep up with their trains of thoughts throughout the book. And unfortunately, the resolution did not make up for it. It was a little predictable, but even if it was, I still don't understand on what evidence the DS Blade character solved the murder. And nothing in the book explained why the body was found in the chest at the beginning. A lot of these hypotheses were not supported by the plot or the facts stated in the book. This is the main reason why I rated this just under 3 stars. I have watched a lot of detective/police/crime shows as a teen and as an adult, so I was disappointed with this aspect.
Another thing that bothered me in the book is some of the relationships that went on like roller coasters. It didn't feel realistic to me to have characters being great together one day, then being very mad at each other because of something that happened, and then being great again the next day, as if nothing ever happened.
It may be because it was set in England and there was a cultural difference, but it bothered me how many cops were involved in the investigation and I have to admit I got lost as to who was who. But that was a very minor issue.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this book. I preferred the first half, but still enjoyed it in general. I do not recommend this book to avid crime readers. But if you do like fast-paced mysteries and small books, you could certainly enjoy this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the e-ARC.
November 7, 2020
If there’s one thing that I like doing, it’s discovering new authors. Geoffrey Osborne is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for ‘The Syndicate Six Murder’ and it certainly sounded like a very intriguing and thrilling read. I wasn’t wrong either because I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Syndicate Six Murder’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to say that it took me a little while to get into this book. I don’t mean that in a derogatory manner but I was tired when I started to read the book and I found it hard to concentrate for any length of time. Once I got into the story then that was it and I was away as the saying goes. This wasn’t a book that I was able to read over the course of a single day because boring things like life got in the way, but I did binge read the book over the course of a couple of days. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I found myself becoming so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading three chapters and more later. I loved the cast of characters in the story and it seemed that a fair few people had motive to kill the deceased. At times I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough as I raced my way through the story. I soon got to the end of the story and I had to bid farewell to the different characters.
‘The Syndicate Six Murder’ is well written. Geoffrey certainly knows how to grab your attention and to make his book stand out from the crowd as it were. Geoffrey drew me into the story from early on in the book and then took me on one heck of a journey. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me this book was perfectly paced- the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat for most of the story. I felt as though I was part of the story myself thanks to Geoffrey’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Syndicate Six Murder’ and I would recommend this boo to other readers. I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I have to say that it took me a little while to get into this book. I don’t mean that in a derogatory manner but I was tired when I started to read the book and I found it hard to concentrate for any length of time. Once I got into the story then that was it and I was away as the saying goes. This wasn’t a book that I was able to read over the course of a single day because boring things like life got in the way, but I did binge read the book over the course of a couple of days. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I found myself becoming so wrapped up in the story that I would still be sat there reading three chapters and more later. I loved the cast of characters in the story and it seemed that a fair few people had motive to kill the deceased. At times I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough as I raced my way through the story. I soon got to the end of the story and I had to bid farewell to the different characters.
‘The Syndicate Six Murder’ is well written. Geoffrey certainly knows how to grab your attention and to make his book stand out from the crowd as it were. Geoffrey drew me into the story from early on in the book and then took me on one heck of a journey. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me this book was perfectly paced- the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat for most of the story. I felt as though I was part of the story myself thanks to Geoffrey’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The Syndicate Six Murder’ and I would recommend this boo to other readers. I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
October 21, 2020
A modern police procedural with undertones of old-fashioned country house mystery, The Syndicate Six Murder takes place at a police training centre staffed by a variety of senior and junior police staff as well as a number of civilians. These two groups represent the "upstairs" and "downstairs" aspects of traditional whodunnits, whereas the investigative team led by DS Ralph Blade bring the novel into a modern setting.
Blade is put in charge of the murder investigation regardless of the fact that his past puts him in a somewhat invidious position with regard to the victim. Knowledge of their DS's history causes minor dissent and difficulties in Blade's team, who are tasked with - amongst other things - interviewing officers of far higher rank than themselves. As well as introducing us to Blade and his team and the relationships between them, there is also a family aspect to the story as Blade's marriage is put under strain.
Whilst I felt that there were aspects of the story that could have been explored more deeply - the dissent within the team, for instance, or the difficulties involved in interviewing your superiors, this did not detract from my overall positive impression of the book and I am keeping my fingers crossed that this heralds the start of a series. The story presented here is pared down and linear, undemanding in the most positive sense of the word. The book is short and to the point without superfluous detail (other than some perhaps slightly unnecessary discussion of the characters meals - cooked breakfasts, roast beef, soggy sandwiches, liver and onion and omelettes are all mentioned at various points). Nevertheless, I think with a little more character development and slightly more complex plots, Geoffrey Osborne is onto a winning formula and future instalments (should there be any) certainly have the potential to sit comfortably alongside the likes of Mark Billingham, Paul Finch and Peter James.
I hope to read more of Blade's exploits in the future and will keep a look out for future books by this author.
Enthusiastically recommended, particularly if you are looking for something you can polish off in an evening or two.
Blade is put in charge of the murder investigation regardless of the fact that his past puts him in a somewhat invidious position with regard to the victim. Knowledge of their DS's history causes minor dissent and difficulties in Blade's team, who are tasked with - amongst other things - interviewing officers of far higher rank than themselves. As well as introducing us to Blade and his team and the relationships between them, there is also a family aspect to the story as Blade's marriage is put under strain.
Whilst I felt that there were aspects of the story that could have been explored more deeply - the dissent within the team, for instance, or the difficulties involved in interviewing your superiors, this did not detract from my overall positive impression of the book and I am keeping my fingers crossed that this heralds the start of a series. The story presented here is pared down and linear, undemanding in the most positive sense of the word. The book is short and to the point without superfluous detail (other than some perhaps slightly unnecessary discussion of the characters meals - cooked breakfasts, roast beef, soggy sandwiches, liver and onion and omelettes are all mentioned at various points). Nevertheless, I think with a little more character development and slightly more complex plots, Geoffrey Osborne is onto a winning formula and future instalments (should there be any) certainly have the potential to sit comfortably alongside the likes of Mark Billingham, Paul Finch and Peter James.
I hope to read more of Blade's exploits in the future and will keep a look out for future books by this author.
Enthusiastically recommended, particularly if you are looking for something you can polish off in an evening or two.
November 4, 2020
The syndicate six party takes us to The Bramshill Police Staff College in Hampshire England. There we meet Detective Superintendent Ralph Blade as he has a case to investigate that involves his nemesis Detective Harold Ashington. There is no love loss between these two detectives and it has a lot to do with a woman. Of course not many people really liked Detective Ashington and that might be why his body was found inside of an antique chest inside of the police staff college. While it might seem like a conflict of interest, no one else wants to take the case due to Ashington’s shady dealings and bullying behavior. Blade starts immediately investigating and asking questions. But when he gets to Julie something strange was said. She was on her way to meet Ashington the night he died. Blade starts to get more involved when there is a member from his team that is brutally attacked and left for dead. There are too many suspects to name and the bad part is that they are all either police offices or working with the police in some capacity. Why was Julie going to see her ex that night and could she have a reason to want him dead? Or could it have been her son who was supposed to be out with he that night also? There are a few twists in this story that keep you enthralled and wanting more. The author does an amazing job of blending the characters and keeping the intensity of this thriller. Police procedurals for me are hit or miss. I do not want an author to write about police work that they may have seen on television because I feel that insults my intelligence to a degree. Obviously, Osborne has done research because the story had so much validity to it. I was very impressed with the fact that not only is the premise great, the research was perfect and spot on also.
Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 7, 2020
The Syndicate Six Murder by Geoffrey Osborne is a captivating and gripping police procedural set in and around the Halls of Bramshill Police Staff College in Hampshire. Detective Superintendant Ralph Blade is called in to a case of a body being discovered in an antique chest in the Grand Hall of the college The victim turns out to be Detective Harold Ashington, a man well known to Blade due to his various dodgy dealing and his bullying behaviour.This is a man who has a multiple number of people who could be a suspect in his death, even Blade has a reason himself. As no-one else is willing to handle this case Blade, even with his conflict of interest is left to head up the case.Blade and his team begin to interview suspects in this case that has gathered rather a lot of interest from the curious police colleagues at the college.Just to male matters way more complicated for Blade, another body is discovered.
This is a pretty original and definitely interesting read. The fact that the victim is a police officer who is as shady as they come and the killer must be connected somehow to the police service adds a frisson of excitement. Just the fact that members of the police are supposedly held to account for their behaviour and are expected to hold the line of respectability makes this book a fascinating read.
Harold, is a character that you see in these films at tv programmes, always up to no good. The victim everyone has a reason to off, and one no-one sympathises with. Certainly made a change from the victim being the one who doesn't deserve to die!
An excellent book with an original plot and characters that I had a range of different emotions for and the twists and turns within the story succeeded in making sure I didn't put the book down until I finished it.
Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for the copy of the book in order to write this review for today
This is a pretty original and definitely interesting read. The fact that the victim is a police officer who is as shady as they come and the killer must be connected somehow to the police service adds a frisson of excitement. Just the fact that members of the police are supposedly held to account for their behaviour and are expected to hold the line of respectability makes this book a fascinating read.
Harold, is a character that you see in these films at tv programmes, always up to no good. The victim everyone has a reason to off, and one no-one sympathises with. Certainly made a change from the victim being the one who doesn't deserve to die!
An excellent book with an original plot and characters that I had a range of different emotions for and the twists and turns within the story succeeded in making sure I didn't put the book down until I finished it.
Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for the copy of the book in order to write this review for today
October 26, 2020
Overall, this was a fast-paced, well crafted police procedural mystery. The characters were well developed and the mystery was fun to follow along with.
The pacing of this book was pretty fast, but not in a bad way - it really felt like an hour long episode of a TV crime drama.
My favorite part of the book was by far the relationship between the different people in the investigative team. I thought the main three - Ralph Blade, John Hyde, and Dorothy Fraser - were really well fleshed out characters. The other members of the investigative team did tend to blend together more for me, but they had much less character development than the main three. I liked how we got scenes in each of the main three's home lives with their spouses and their individual routines. It really helped to see them as their own characters with their own complex lives. We don't get a lot of these home scenes, but the ones we do get are packed with information and are used very effectively. The reader gets small glimpses into the lives of these officers and then we can see how some of their home lives bleed into the case their working on which is pretty interesting.
Full thoughts available on the blog: https://fictionmajorette.blogspot.com...
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC - publication date is October 30, 2020
The pacing of this book was pretty fast, but not in a bad way - it really felt like an hour long episode of a TV crime drama.
My favorite part of the book was by far the relationship between the different people in the investigative team. I thought the main three - Ralph Blade, John Hyde, and Dorothy Fraser - were really well fleshed out characters. The other members of the investigative team did tend to blend together more for me, but they had much less character development than the main three. I liked how we got scenes in each of the main three's home lives with their spouses and their individual routines. It really helped to see them as their own characters with their own complex lives. We don't get a lot of these home scenes, but the ones we do get are packed with information and are used very effectively. The reader gets small glimpses into the lives of these officers and then we can see how some of their home lives bleed into the case their working on which is pretty interesting.
Full thoughts available on the blog: https://fictionmajorette.blogspot.com...
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC - publication date is October 30, 2020
October 24, 2020
REVIEW:
I absolutely loved this book! It was like reading Agatha Christie and Midsummer Murders! Lots of characters to get your teeth into, and although the fingers were pointing the right way, I wasn’t sure whodunnit.
The characters were believable, poor old Blade with his wife and son coming under scrutiny due to past misdemeanours and his team in the meantime all trying to find out who’d murdered their obnoxious, bullying Ashington, when another murder happens. The setting was wonderful, and being as the author had been there made it all the more believable and authentic. Apart from the murders, there was nothing horrendous or horrible in the book, which makes a nice change.
The team were a good bunch too, eager Sgt Hyde the newly wed, out to impress and Adrian the rugby player, it was very Miss Marple, they even used cyanide to kill the victims.
All in all, it was a well thought out crime, and as a first novel for these characters, it certainly paved the way, should the author wish to continue. Five stars 🌟 loved it.
My thanks to the author and Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
I absolutely loved this book! It was like reading Agatha Christie and Midsummer Murders! Lots of characters to get your teeth into, and although the fingers were pointing the right way, I wasn’t sure whodunnit.
The characters were believable, poor old Blade with his wife and son coming under scrutiny due to past misdemeanours and his team in the meantime all trying to find out who’d murdered their obnoxious, bullying Ashington, when another murder happens. The setting was wonderful, and being as the author had been there made it all the more believable and authentic. Apart from the murders, there was nothing horrendous or horrible in the book, which makes a nice change.
The team were a good bunch too, eager Sgt Hyde the newly wed, out to impress and Adrian the rugby player, it was very Miss Marple, they even used cyanide to kill the victims.
All in all, it was a well thought out crime, and as a first novel for these characters, it certainly paved the way, should the author wish to continue. Five stars 🌟 loved it.
My thanks to the author and Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
November 11, 2020
Many thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
A UK police procedural, this book grabbed my attention from the first page and did not let go until I closed my Kindle after finishing the last page. This was an excellent mystery — some twists kept the plot from being predictable but it was not so complicated as to confuse the reader. The characters — namely Ralph Blade, Dorothy Fraser, and John Hyde — were my favorites. Osbourne wrote them to be very human — definitely not perfect but likable and interesting all the same. By the end of the book I definitely had a tender spot in my heart for all three of them, and I would love to see further books starring them as characters!
As I mentioned above, I did not guess the whodunit — although at times I came close. The story wrapped up neatly and the ending was satisfying. I will say, there were times that Osbourne had me yelling out loud that one of the main characters needed to recuse himself — so kudos to the author for eliciting a real-time emotional response from me! That is not typical and takes a lot of skill to accomplish, as my emotion responses are very uncommon.
A UK police procedural, this book grabbed my attention from the first page and did not let go until I closed my Kindle after finishing the last page. This was an excellent mystery — some twists kept the plot from being predictable but it was not so complicated as to confuse the reader. The characters — namely Ralph Blade, Dorothy Fraser, and John Hyde — were my favorites. Osbourne wrote them to be very human — definitely not perfect but likable and interesting all the same. By the end of the book I definitely had a tender spot in my heart for all three of them, and I would love to see further books starring them as characters!
As I mentioned above, I did not guess the whodunit — although at times I came close. The story wrapped up neatly and the ending was satisfying. I will say, there were times that Osbourne had me yelling out loud that one of the main characters needed to recuse himself — so kudos to the author for eliciting a real-time emotional response from me! That is not typical and takes a lot of skill to accomplish, as my emotion responses are very uncommon.
October 21, 2020
Detective Superintendent Ralph Blade is called to Bramshill Police College after the discover of a body in a wooden antique chest. Blade recognises the victim - Chief Superintendent Harold Ashington - and there was no love lost between the two men. Blade and Ashington dated the same woman with Blade eventually marrying her and Ashington had threatened to ruin Blade’s career several times over the years. Blade’s immediate concern is that his wife comes to mind as a suspect as he knows she lied about her whereabouts the previous evening. As the investigation proceeds his son is dragged into the case too and Blade finds himself keeping secrets from his team. When one of the prime suspects for the murder and one of officers is injured Blade and his team realise that the case is far more complicated than they first thought.
A really enjoyable read from start to finish. Interesting characters and it will be interesting to see how they develop in future books.
Thanks to Joffe Books and Geoffrey Osbourne for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
A really enjoyable read from start to finish. Interesting characters and it will be interesting to see how they develop in future books.
Thanks to Joffe Books and Geoffrey Osbourne for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
October 26, 2020
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
Dead body of Detective Ashington is discovered at the Police Staff College in rural Hampshire. The members of the area try to discover what happened while actually discovering the truth about hidden lies and secrets with their families and a love triangle gone wrong.
This book caught my attention from the start, but then quickly fizzled out. You immediately are interested in the dead body and even the authors intro for inspiration for the book, but I think it could’ve been better executed as a short story Bradbury-style. The love triangle turned the tone of this book from more of an intense thriller to a family drama vibe which I wasn’t too crazy about. Some of the character development was indistinguishable and the writing was a little quick. With a thriller, the pace can already feel fast enough so it’s nicer when it’s less of “he said she said” type of sentences. Otherwise a fun thriller read for spooky season!
Dead body of Detective Ashington is discovered at the Police Staff College in rural Hampshire. The members of the area try to discover what happened while actually discovering the truth about hidden lies and secrets with their families and a love triangle gone wrong.
This book caught my attention from the start, but then quickly fizzled out. You immediately are interested in the dead body and even the authors intro for inspiration for the book, but I think it could’ve been better executed as a short story Bradbury-style. The love triangle turned the tone of this book from more of an intense thriller to a family drama vibe which I wasn’t too crazy about. Some of the character development was indistinguishable and the writing was a little quick. With a thriller, the pace can already feel fast enough so it’s nicer when it’s less of “he said she said” type of sentences. Otherwise a fun thriller read for spooky season!
November 8, 2020
DS Ralph Blade is called out to the Bramshall Police Staff College in Hampshire to investigate the discovery of a body.
The man has been hidden in a large chest, Blade is surprised on closer inspection that he recognises the victim.
He is non other than Detective Harold Ashington, a man he had a history with. Ashington in the past had dated Blade`s wife Julie. When Julie chose Blade, Ashington never forgave him.
Even going so far as to allege Blades son was actually his.
Ashington was widely known for being a bully and to have blackmailed many on his way to the top.
Consequently there are plenty of suspects to choose from.
The question is who killed him?
They all have alibis, they all have motives and they are certainly all telling lies.
The book moved along at a fair pace, the characters are entertaining.
All in all a good whodunnit.
Thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC, I will look out for more by this author.
The man has been hidden in a large chest, Blade is surprised on closer inspection that he recognises the victim.
He is non other than Detective Harold Ashington, a man he had a history with. Ashington in the past had dated Blade`s wife Julie. When Julie chose Blade, Ashington never forgave him.
Even going so far as to allege Blades son was actually his.
Ashington was widely known for being a bully and to have blackmailed many on his way to the top.
Consequently there are plenty of suspects to choose from.
The question is who killed him?
They all have alibis, they all have motives and they are certainly all telling lies.
The book moved along at a fair pace, the characters are entertaining.
All in all a good whodunnit.
Thanks to Joffe books for the chance to read this as an ARC, I will look out for more by this author.
November 10, 2020
I love a good procedural murder mystery where everyone looks like the killer. This book is fast paced and very entertaining.
DS Ralph Blade and his team work to solve the murder of Detective Harold Ashington. The first problem for DS Blade is that he has a strong dislike for the victim. The second problem for DS Blade is that his wife doesn't have an explanation as to where she was the night the victim does.
Detective Harold has many enemies that he has created due to him being a blackmailer. Thus everyone is a potential killer.
This is a quick short read that is not lacking in detail. Since this book is short, the author didn't have to be repetitive to lengthen the book which I love!
The ending reminded me a lot of Hercule Poirot books when he brings in all the characters at the end to solve the murder.
I will definitely be reading more of Geoffrey Osborne's books.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
DS Ralph Blade and his team work to solve the murder of Detective Harold Ashington. The first problem for DS Blade is that he has a strong dislike for the victim. The second problem for DS Blade is that his wife doesn't have an explanation as to where she was the night the victim does.
Detective Harold has many enemies that he has created due to him being a blackmailer. Thus everyone is a potential killer.
This is a quick short read that is not lacking in detail. Since this book is short, the author didn't have to be repetitive to lengthen the book which I love!
The ending reminded me a lot of Hercule Poirot books when he brings in all the characters at the end to solve the murder.
I will definitely be reading more of Geoffrey Osborne's books.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
November 11, 2020
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Book Review ⠀
The Syndicate Six Murder ⠀
Geoffrey Osborne⠀
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The Syndicate Six Murder immediately caught my attention when I read the synopsis. I’m a huge fan of crime fiction murder mystery’s. ⠀
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A body is found stuffed in a trunk, in the building where the police are trained. When the officer in charge shows up he recognizes the body of his long time adversary. ⠀
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The beginning of this book was good, and had me hooked. It wasn’t long though before I figured out the murders. The middle of the book was long and drawn out. The characters were lacking development. ⠀
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Overall this was a very basic murder mystery with no twists or surprises. I was bored through most of it and had a hard time finding the motivation to finish it. ⠀
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Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ⠀
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Book Review ⠀
The Syndicate Six Murder ⠀
Geoffrey Osborne⠀
⠀
⠀
The Syndicate Six Murder immediately caught my attention when I read the synopsis. I’m a huge fan of crime fiction murder mystery’s. ⠀
⠀
A body is found stuffed in a trunk, in the building where the police are trained. When the officer in charge shows up he recognizes the body of his long time adversary. ⠀
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The beginning of this book was good, and had me hooked. It wasn’t long though before I figured out the murders. The middle of the book was long and drawn out. The characters were lacking development. ⠀
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Overall this was a very basic murder mystery with no twists or surprises. I was bored through most of it and had a hard time finding the motivation to finish it. ⠀
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Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ⠀
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February 9, 2021
Firstly, I have to say that this novel reads like a traditional, old-school, murder mystery novel reminiscent of Christie, Sayers, and the like.
Unique in its setting, the real-life, world renowned police college in Hampshire called Bramshill, the murder investigation is almost solely comprised of police officers and their families.
I enjoyed the moral dilemma that Blade was experiencing with his wife and son clearly suspects in the murder. Other professional allegiances were tested as well.
The plot was well-paced and the writing polished. The final reveal, like all traditional mystery stories took place with all of the suspects gathered together in one room.
This police procedural murder mystery covered themes of ambition and blackmail. I enjoyed the read and I'm curious as to why this is the first in a prospective series featuring DI Dorothy Fraser and not Detective Superintendent Ralph Blade who was clearly the protagonist...
Unique in its setting, the real-life, world renowned police college in Hampshire called Bramshill, the murder investigation is almost solely comprised of police officers and their families.
I enjoyed the moral dilemma that Blade was experiencing with his wife and son clearly suspects in the murder. Other professional allegiances were tested as well.
The plot was well-paced and the writing polished. The final reveal, like all traditional mystery stories took place with all of the suspects gathered together in one room.
This police procedural murder mystery covered themes of ambition and blackmail. I enjoyed the read and I'm curious as to why this is the first in a prospective series featuring DI Dorothy Fraser and not Detective Superintendent Ralph Blade who was clearly the protagonist...
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