The latest book in this series is just as good as the others - Jago and Cradock are still working with Scotland Yard and find a man who has burned to death in his car. They discover he was a rather shady commercial traveller, selling chocolates, and from there have a tangled web of deceit and theft to unveil before they discover who killed him and why.

The setting of London in WW2 is fascinating, and the author really paints a clear picture of the bombings and deprivations, as well as the budding romance between Jago and Dorothy, the American journalist.

A great series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Allison & Busby for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this a really thrilling and exciting book to read. I thought the crime was set up well and i liked how the twists and turned were done. The characters were written well and i thought they were done in a way that made them seem somewhat realistic. The progression of the story was good and i found the conclusion was done in a way that it was all wrapped up neatly.

The Camden Murder is the latest in the Blitz Detective series from Mike Hollow that follow DI John Jago and his assistant DC Cradock. In The Camden Murder, Les Latham is found dead in a burning car, and it’s almost instantly clear that he was killed before the car was set ablaze. Jago and Cradock are on the case and find that Les had a lot of secrets and a lot of people had motive to kill him.

I picked this book out purely because of the cover. I’ve not read any of entries to the series and I’ve never come across them before. Sometimes a good cover is all it takes to get my attention and I’m so glad that this one did. I was completely gripped to the story. It wastes no time getting to the mystery and introducing the main characters.

I had absolutely no idea who the killer was for most of the story, although I had some theories. It’s a really gripping mystery and I flew through the pages, reading over 200 pages in sitting when I started the book. It’s set during the second World War, and there’s some nice scene setting and context building throughout the story. It felt a little like a history book in places. It’s not intrusive to the story at all and is a really nice touch.

While the book is part of a series, it can be read completely on its own. At no point did I feel like I was confused or that I didn’t know the characters. I think that’s mostly because the focus is on the case rather than characters. When I found out there were more books I was happy to know there’s more to read. Mike Hollow’s writing style is so easy to read and I will definitely be checking out more.

On the downside some of the dialogue is weak and unnatural. Some characters speak in pure exposition just to explain how ration books work or the real estate market during the war. It’s not the biggest issue, but it’s quite obvious. It also makes the characters come across a little thin, especially the side characters.

Overall The Camden Murder is a very enjoyable light read. It’s very fast paced and easy to get into. Perfect for a night time read before bed.

In the early hours of the morning a burning car has been found in an abandoned builder’s yard in Camden. And it contains the body of a man, who according to the fire brigade, should have been able to escape…if he was alive when the fire started. In the midst of WWII London, at the height of the Blitz, DI John Jago and DC Peter Craddock are sent to investigate this highly suspicious death.

The author has created a old-fashioned police procedural, and done it very well. The plot is nicely crafted with a complex tangle of motives and weaves in a few nice subplots, adding to the complexity of the mystery. The story was made all the more interesting by its depiction of London in the early days of the war. We get a picture of the challenges faced by the police, and the populace, in a world complicated by shortages, restrictions, danger and criminal opportunities.

This is the seventh book in the “Blitz Detective” series, but the first that I have read, and I quite enjoyed it. My one quibble is that I found the characters of Jago and Craddock a bit difficult to engage with. I have the sense that if I had read the previous books, and understood more of their history, the characters would have had more depth for me. But even with that, I found this to be an interesting and enjoyable read. I’ll just have to go back and check out the series from the beginning!

Loving this series of the Blitz Detectives. Jago & Craddock make a fine partnership. These novels give a good picture of London and even though the crimes are not pretty there is humour throughout, especially Craddock and his constant hunger. I have not read all of them but will go back to the beginning. Thanks to Netgalley and Allison & Busby.

The Blitz Detective is a great WWII series taking place in London. In an early morning of 1940, a man runs into a local policeman in Camden (part of London) and tells him there is a car on fire with a man in it in the midst of a bunch of warehouses. The fire brigade is called, and after getting the fire out, the fireman tells the police that the car door opened easily, and he wonders why the man didn't just get out. Thus, the idea the man may have been already dead arises, Scotland Yard is notified, and DI John Jago and DC Craddock arrive. They quickly trace the registration to Baring and Sons confectionery. They then find the car is assigned to Les Latham who lives nearby. After interviewing his wife, and getting a picture of her husband and the name of his dentist, they soon know that he is the victim. Les was a traveller for the company and often was away; he was actually supposed to be leaving for Cambridge after meeting someone first thing. He was known as Lucky Les, but his luck has run out!

Although his company thought he was one of their best travelling salesman, Jago and Craddock gradually find out a lot more about Latham, and it soon appears he is a poor husband, seems to have stolen ration coupons for fuel, and was not such a great employee! However, it takes a lot of questioning by Jago and Craddock before all comes out. This means there are several possible suspects. However, it's not until almost the end of the book before the reader realizes who is the killer.

I thank Netgalley and Allison & Busby for the ARC so I could read and review this book.

The Camden Murder is Mike Hollow’s latest book in his series about the Blitz Detective, DI John Jago. It starts with a couple of bobbies on the beat finding a burning car with a body inside. The fireman leading the crew extinguishing the fire points out that the car door was unlocked and that the fuel pump was switched off. It looks like murder.

The book is well-written but I found the premise quite sad, although it is true-to-life. During the war, many people weren’t as honest as they should be: there is murder; trading in stolen petrol coupons; fiddling expenses; and someone cheating their best friend at poker. We also meet an innocent woman who’s been traumatised by the bombing of Coventry. Although there is humour in the book, there is also sadness, both aspects beautifully delineated by Hollow. Mike Hollow has obviously researched heavily: his books reek of authenticity and I’m confident that they reflect how things were in London during 1940.

One minor quibble which reflects my personal preference rather than any criticism of the book at all: I do wish Jago would decide how to progress his relationship with the American journalist, Dorothy. And it appears from the last page of the book that Dorothy wishes that too!

#TheCamdenMurder #NetGalley

I would like to thank Netgalley and Allison & Busby for an advance copy of Camden Murder, the seventh novel to feature DI John Jago of Scotland Yard, set in 1940.

DI Jago and his assistant, DC Peter Craddock are sent to investigate when a burning car with a body in it is found in an abandoned builder’s yard in Camden. The victim is quickly identified as a commercial traveler in confectionery, Les Latham, but the motive is more obscure until Jago finds a mysterious picture and some potentially illegal petrol rationing coupons in his belongs.

I enjoyed The Camden Murder, which is a straightforward police procedural set in the complicated world of the London Blitz, complicated because war offers unique challenges in terms of restrictions, danger and criminal opportunities.

The novel is told entirely from Jago’s point of view and that is my favourite way as it gives the reader no additional insight or detail and allows them to guess alongside the detectives. I would like to say that I guessed it all in advance because I’m smart, but, in reality, the solution was a bolt from the blue for me, I had no idea of the who or why. I found the solution when it came neat, slightly mundane and up till then well disguised.

The storytelling has an old fashioned feel to it. Obviously the setting contributes to that, but even so it is an investigation that runs down the leads, uncovers associated crimes and uses a little bit of instinct to get the solve. I was glued to the pages as Les Latham’s secrets, and a few others, come to light over the course of the novel. It is a satisfying read because there is no ambiguity or shading of right and wrong, if you break the law you will be punished. I know real life doesn’t function that way, but fictional just desserts are great.

I don’t know enough about wartime conditions to judge the novel, but it’s atmospheric enough to give the reader a flavour, even down to Craddock feeling constantly hungry and always thinking about food.

The Camden Murder is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I love this series and I think this is the best story so far: a complex, well plotted, and gripping mystery that kept me guessing and hooked.
I was surprised till the end and I didn't guess any of the twists. Jago and Craddock are a great investigating team and I'm always glad to catch up with them.
The setting and the descriptions of everyday life are detailed, vivid and well researched. I iike to read the note at the end of the book and discovering new things.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

The Camden Murder is the latest Blitz Detective book from Mike Hollow and it is another highly enjoyable police murder investigation set during World War 2 that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.

There are currently a number of authors writing crime novels set during the Second World War, and Mike Hollow’s “Blitz Detective” series is consistently one of the best. “The Camden Murder” is the seventh book in the series and sees Detective John Jago and his sidekick DC Craddock despatched to investigate the suspicious death of a travelling salesman.
As with the other “Blitz Detective” books, Mike Hollow captures the period perfectly. The setting is believable, the language and terminology used is pure 1940’s and the descriptions of wartime London are accurate. Hollow always includes spot-on details about the day to day issues facing Londoners at this period in history, adding a realistic dimension to his stories.
Being the seventh book in the series, there is a lot of backstory that is alluded to in the book, but it can still be enjoyed by new readers. As always with Mike Hollow, “The Camden Murder” is a gripping and twisty police procedural which will keep the reader guessing until the end.