I enjoyed listening to this audiobook and I found the narrator very skillful indeed, bringing all characters to life brilliantly. I have not read any of the other Simon Mason books and I hadn't realised that this is past of a series so to speak, but I enjoyed the character building/development and in my opinion he manages to create a very realistic and atmospheric setup for the story. The pace is fast and enjoyable, the plot twists don't disappoint and I was personally invested in the detectives' interpersonal relationship and lives. For someone who is a fan of the genre, I think I can safely say you will enjoy this very much.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my review audiobook, all opinions are my own.

Loved this audiobook, which was completely engaging, even for someone new to the series at book 3. Great to read an Oxford novel that sees the complicated reality of the city

Sorry couldn't get into this audio book I kept hoping it would get better as there was lots going on but it just didn't gel well for me

*Many thanks to Simon Mason, Quercus, and NetGalley for a free aduiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
My first book in the series and although some there were some moments which were confusing to me, in general the dynamics between the two main characters was clear. Interesting plot and the clash between the two worlds, one of which is not the one that comes to your mind when you think of Oxford, adds a lot to the story. I enjoyed the narrator's interpretation.

This is a great series and I do love the narration it really works. The two police officers have the same surname but so different and not related. That plays so well out.

I have listened/read to the other books in the series and it really works if you have the backstory - but then it could be read/listened as a standalone it just would give you a fuller picture.
The crime itself is interesting and I like how it concentrates on the homeless.

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

I read books 1 & 2 to prepare for this ARC and I am glad I did, there was a ton of backstory that I would have missed! These two detectives could NOT be less alike if they actually tried. But I love the juxtaposition of their styles and personalities. With all that he has going against him, Ryan is still trying and is a great crime solver! This was my 1st foray into Simon Mason's books and I am not mad! I am definitely going to read more of his books in the future!

#LostAndNeverFound
#NetGalley

In this 3rd outing for DCIs Ray and Ryan Wilkins, (no relation) Ryan is made lead detective in the case of the disappearance of Zara Fanshawe, a socialite with drug problems. Her Rolls Royce is found crashed and abandoned.

I love this mismatched duo who kept me entertained right through the book. The story is brilliantly plotted, intelligent, gritty, but with lots of humour too. I can't help laughing at some if the things Ryan comes out with! I adore Ryan's relationship with his 3 year old son, who steals the show whenever he appears. This is a fantastic addition to the series and if you g haven't discovered it already I urge you to start with book one, A Killing in November.

Matt Addis does a great job with the narration, bringing the book and the characters to life.

I've been a huge fan of the DI WIlkins Mysteries so far, Mason crafts a well woven plot and I especially enjoy the element of social comment (reminiscent of Ian Rankin) that he layers the narrative with. The narrator on the audiobook is absolutely excellent and I feel he has really nailed the voices of Ray and Ryan.

I enjoy Simon Mason's writing. The books are gentle in a way, with rather old-fashioned characters. Sometimes that's what you need. I love Ryan's character. He makes me laugh and yet sees more than many of the others in the tale. I can imagine these books as a TV series. I would watch

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance audiobook.

An engrossing and engaging procedural, I listened to this one almost in one sitting. This is my first Simon Mason, and I was impressed by the quirky characters and multi layered storyline. I’ll be looking out for more books in the series!

The narration is excellent and the production well made.

This high quslity aidio is a fantastic intro to a talented male narrator and my first outing with Ryan and Ray. The narration was true to life and totally engrossing. I was luvky enough to read and listen to this story and i found the audio version created more drama on my head. A male narrator really brought the chatacters alive its was a real pleasure to listen. It felt quite a short listen as i was so engrossed. The story was wrll told through the characters and it is do much mire than a simple whodunit.

High recommended. Thank you so much netgallery and publisher and author and narrator for this cracking 5 star listen. Hope the others are in audio so i can cstch up on this fab series

I absolutely adore this series from Simon Mason. DI Wilkins and DI Wilkins, Ryan and Ray – no relation, are such polar opposites it’s hard to see how they could/should work as a pairing, but they just do. The best part of this pairing is the way that they embrace the entire spectrum of people, from the homeless, to the celebrity, to the elite and from either side of the criminal line. This also means that the mystery at the heart of the novel has so many possible ways in which it could go, it is satisfyingly intriguing and as usual one that I couldn’t figure out.

Whether you choose to read or listen, they are fabulous novels, I am already eagerly anticipating the next outing of these two, and, of course, 'little Ryan'.

It's a bit predictable but still a compelling read with interesting characters and a good pace. I liked the juxtaposition between homeless and oxfordians

This was an enjoyable listen, but I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read it. This is nothing against the narrator - the narration was great, however the story was quite long and fairly slow paced I struggled to keep listening. I am intrigued to read the first two in the series, but will read them as the pacing isn’t quick enough for a listen. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers.

I haven’t read the preceding books in the series, but I quickly caught up with the dynamic between the two investigating officers, Ray and Ryan.

A female socialite has disappeared and her rare Rolls Royce is found. The tabloids are having a field day and Ray and Ryan are trying to balance their work and home lives, none too successfully.

I found the pace slow and the plot a bit convoluted, but it was an ok read.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Simon Mason and Quercus for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I’m really enjoying this series featuring the odd couple cops! Both DI’s called Wilkins, one is black with a first class Oxbridge degree and dresses like a model, the other from a trailer park, no qualifications who dresses mainly in shiny, loud tracksuits. Each is unique and the renegade Wilkins just about remains plausible. He has great insight and a unique approach to policing.

This outing sees the pair conflicted as an enquiry into the death of a posh girl turns out to have links with the world of drugs and the dark underbelly of Oxford’s homeless. The enquiry becomes very personal as the DCC, another oddball who’s made good, is involved, along with a close personal friend. It’s a tale with many twists as the body count starts to rise and a web of deceit over many years becomes apparent. There are a couple of major shocks along the way and I finished the book in a couple of sittings.

Simon Mason has created a couple of very interesting and quirky central characters. They bounce off one another, have interesting back stories and their wildly different approach is entertaining. I’m bordering on disbelief at some of the antics; they’re hugely entertaining and I can well imagine the rule book being thrown away in some circumstances, but I hope it doesn’t go too far. All the characters are distinct and Wallace, the senior officer, is driven to point of explosion more than once. A great story, really well narrated and the taster at the end for the in the series is a real teaser. An interesting new character….can’t wait!

Simon Mason's latest in his Oxford based series highlights the class inequalities of the city as he immerses the reader in the darker aspects, the large, hiding in plain sight, homeless community, underlined by the class differences between his protagonists. I both read and listened to the audio of this, approximately 9 hours and 15 minutes long, ably and delightfully narrated by Matt Addis who handles the wide range of characters remarkably well. The 2 DI Wilkins, are not related, the smooth, suave, designer dressed, ambitious, with his Nigerian background, Oxford educated DI Ray Wilkins, and his tracksuit wearing, brash, but effective, DI Ryan Wilkins, with his trailer park history, living with sister, Jade, who helps care for his young beloved son, the adorable little Ryan. At a town hall ceremony, superstar cop, the charismatic and controversial black Deputy Chief Constable Chester Lynch presents Ray with an award, making it abundantly clear to him she sees a bright stellar future for him.

Emergency services receives a strange phone call from the wealthy, beautiful, famous, recently divorced from her hedge fund billionaire husband, Lawrence Hobhouse, with a well known history of drug addiction, Zara Fanshaw, saying 'Always lost and never found'. What could this possibly mean? When her car, a Rolls Royce Phantom, is found crashed, with Zara having disappeared, the police know they have a hot potato on their hands with a guaranteed media frenzy. Ryan is sent to the scene, and much to the frustration and resentment of Ray, their boss, Superintendent Dave 'Barko' Wallace appoints Ryan as the lead investigator to the most high profile of cases. You have to wonder what Wallace was thinking, Ryan has no experience or training in taking charge of a case, nor of media presentations, he has no political skills, speaks without thinking, and is often offensive.

The scene is set for fractious relationships and explosive scenarios, it is perhaps no wonder that Ray is tempted by the offer of a huge promotion to a more ambassadorial police role. Nothing is as it appears in what turns out to be the most challenging and twisted of cases, of secrets and buried pasts, one that tests Wallace to his limits in a number of ways and which at the end has him telling Ryan he is the worst and best of police officers. This is a great, engaging and entertaining crime series, with a fascinating pair of odd couple protagonists, that I am sure will appeal to a wide range of readers who enjoy the crime and mystery genre. However, I hope Mason is planning to allow Ryan to make some steps towards learning to become a better police officer by developing his character, whilst perhaps having the police putting more effort into providing strategic support to address some of his glaring weaknesses. Many thanks to the publisher for the ALC and the ARC.

Simon Mason should be far better known for his Oxford crime - I prefer his to Morse! This latest instalment sees the dynamic between the two Wilkinses (definitely no relation!) deepen, so we have in-depth character development as well as a very topical plot (if you know Oxford, you’ll know about the homelessness there). I listened to the audiobook version and the distinction between different characters’ accents and mannerisms was very well done. Already looking ahead to the next one!!

Any police procedural set in Oxford suffers from the inevitable comparison with Morse, Simon Mason’s tecs do not drive an ancient Jag or salivate over Mozart so are distinct enough.

Lost and Never Found is an enjoyable read, or, in my case. A good listen as narrated by the excellent Matt Addis.

Some of the cameos are fantastic - my favourite was the oh so posh drug dealer who helped out his chums who needed a fix but was also pleased when rehab did the trick. There are plenty more as there is a large cast and all the characters are interesting from the billionaire hedge fund manager to the derelict cider driving rough sleepers

My main reservation relates to the pacing. The excellent descriptions of the characters, the weather, traffic and domestic travails of the wacky detectives are all well and good but at times they seem to overshadow the issue of who dun it. The investigation proceeds at a very leisurely pace and I think the story could benefit from a touch of jeopardy - the killer demanding some cash before he blows up the police station or something like that and to heck if the bone china is expensive and the tea is too weak.

Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy and I hope I don’t get struck off for this review.