Book info

• Title A Touch of Frost
• Author R. D. Wingfield
• Year 1987
• Genre Mystery

Detective Inspector Jack Frost, officially on duty, is nevertheless determined to sneak off to a colleague's leaving party. But first the corpse of a well-known local junkie is found blocking the drain of a Denton public lavatory - and then the daughter of a wealthy businessman is reported missing. And now a wave of crime threatens to submerge sleepy Denton. A robbery occurs at the town's notorious strip joint, the pampered son of a local MP is suspected of a hit-and-run offence and, to top it all, a multiple rapist is on the loose. But the manic Frost manages to assure his superior that all is under control. Now he has only to convince himself...

Thoughts

After reading the mammoth Crimson Petal, I needed something a bit lighter to read. I want to say easy-going, but that’s not really the right word for these Frost books.

I read the first in the series a while ago, and was keen to see what hijinks Mr Frost could get up to this time out. It’s more of the same, of course, Frost paired up with a younger partner who gets frustrated at his lackadaisical ways but is ultimately impressed when the mysteries are solved.

There’s something about the way Wingfield writes that really brings you into the story. Last time, I mentioned that although it was set in winter, the story made you feel warm and cosy and involved. This time, the pair are so overworked and tired, cases piling on them, and you just really feel it too. Maybe it’s just because I was feeling tired as well, though.

Anyway, overall, I really enjoyed it. It felt, perhaps, slightly more serious in tone than the first book, but I’m still keen to read more.

Rating: 4 / 5