Souls of Men

February 6, 2017
The beating death of 15-year-old Sheila Watson in East London propels Ashworth’s strong debut, a series opener. When a bus driver says that a passenger, later identified as American surgeon Peter Willend, got off at the same stop as the victim, Det. Insp. Elaine Hope’s instincts tell her he’s not the killer, but then she finds him undeniably attractive. With the help of a promising new colleague, Det. Constable Liz Barker, and a crack team, Elaine follows a labyrinthine set of clues while the bodies pile up. Ashworth spins a gritty mystery buttressed by shady deals, dirty money, and a vast criminal enterprise. It’s easy to root for the smart, empathic Elaine, whose vulnerabilities (including hinted-at childhood trauma) only add to her appeal, and Ashworth surrounds her with intriguing players, including an obnoxious colleague who may be more than what he seems. This is a procedural with heart, yet it doesn’t shy away from the dark. Agent: Elizabeth Trupin-Pulli, JET Literary Associates.

March 1, 2017
DI Elaine Hope gets a promotion to DCI and a chance at romance in this debut mystery.A teenage girl is found beaten, slashed, and dumped by the tracks in East London. DI Hope and her senior partner, DCI Marcus Benford, discover that Sheila Watson sneaked out a window at night to go dancing with an older bloke known as Danny. Security camera footage reveals she took a bus ride with Dr. Peter Willend, a handsome surgeon. Benford prematurely latches onto him as the culprit, but Hope's intuition says he's a decent man. Her intuition is confirmed when Willend is not only cleared by forensics, but even saves Benford's life when the detective has a heart attack while interrogating him. Benford's retirement opens the way for Hope's promotion; Dr. Willend's release clears the way for him to ask Hope out on a date. Meanwhile, Hope and her protegee, Liz Barker, connect Sheila's death to the murder of Geri Harding, the leasing agent for the property next to the first crime scene. All signs point to the property's owners, a shady Serbian family, and their lowlife lawyer. While questioning the lawyer, Barker and Hope run into Danilo, a young member of the crime family whose sports car--the same make as the one Sheila was seen getting into--and aggressive flirtation mark him unmistakably as Sheila's killer. Now it's a race against time as the Metropolitan Police fight the crime family's machinations to prove that Danilo is the killer before he strikes again. The characterization is thin, and the violence against women goes well past gritty into gratuitous. Worthwhile only for thriller addicts with too much time on their hands.

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Starred review from March 1, 2017

When the beaten and slashed body of a teenage girl is found, it isn't long before London Metropolitan Police DCI Marcus Benford targets a suspect. Dr. Peter Willend was on the same bus as the victim, and followed her down the street. Although Elaine Hope doesn't challenge her boss, she refuses to believe Willend is the killer. When Marcus collapses, Elaine is promoted to DCI and handed a bungled case that her superiors want solved quickly. Despite limited resources, she puts together a dedicated team when the body of a possible witness to the crime is found. The detectives carefully follow clues so as not to compromise a case that may have connections with extensive reach. But it's Elaine and her associates who are soon in peril. VERDICT Ashworth's solid British procedural debut will appeal to those who appreciate the step-by-step development of a case. Although the author could have fleshed out his characters more, that should come with time and more experience. A strong choice for fans of Deborah Crombie.--ACT

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