Book info

• Title Night Frost
• Author R. D. Wingfield
• Year 1992
• Genre Mystery

A serial killer is terrorizing the senior citizens of Denton, and the local police are succumbing to a flu epidemic. Tired and demoralized, the force has to contend with a seemingly perfect young couple suffering arson attacks and death threats, a suspicious suicide, burglaries, pornographic videos, poison-pen letters... In uncertain charge of the investigations is Detective Inspector Jack Frost, crumpled, slapdash and foul-mouthed as ever. He tries to cope despite inadequate back-up, but there is never enough time; the unsolved crimes pile up and the vicious killings go on. So Frost has to cut corners and take risks, knowing that his Divisional Commander will throw him to the wolves if anything goes wrong. And for Frost, things always go wrong...

Thoughts

Just as good as the previous two in the series, you spend the first half of the book watching the pressure pile on Jack Frost, and the second half hoping he can muddle his way through.

As ever, Jack is partnered with a young, up and coming chap who thinks he is completely useless and is proved wrong on more than one occasion. Whilst there is nothing wrong with this formula, I’m curious if the final two books keep up this same concept, or if there is another kind of relationship that could be attempted.

In terms of the story, I thought perhaps this one was a bit more violent, certainly a lot more bloody, and although Frost managed to find some sympathy for the killers towards the end, I found it very hard to do the same.

Nevertheless, it was excellent, and I’m looking forward to the next one.

Rating: 4 / 5