This is on the grittier side of whodunits – though don’t expect anything in the way of violence or gore. Harrod-Eagles is too classy for that. Neither is there much in the way of bad language. What makes this a difficult read at times is that the author never lets you forget that a young girl has died and that her death is a terrible waste of a young life. There were several times I had a lump in my throat – and that doesn’t happen all that often when reading this genre.

However, I don’t want you to go away with the idea that this is an unremittingly grim read – it isn’t anything of the sort. DCI Slider is a compassionate man with a happy home life and a good relationship with his team – to the extent that the banter between them is funny enough to make me laugh aloud at regular intervals throughout the story. This welcome relief amid the investigation makes this murder mystery a thoroughly readable tale – to the extent that I finally put it down with a real sense of loss. I’ve only read a few books in this long-running series and keep promising myself to tuck into more of these entertaining, intelligently written whodunits – because while the characters are well depicted and nuanced, the descriptions vivid – it’s the plotting that sets these books apart and makes this one an excellent, memorable read.

We have a young woman who has been strangled in unusual circumstances – to the extent that initially, it doesn’t look as if she’s been murdered. Indeed, there are those who aren’t convinced that there’s been any foul play. Obviously, the main suspects are those closest to her. As the investigation wears on, DCI Slider finds himself under ever greater pressure to produce a viable suspect, especially as it becomes apparent that Rhianne was a troubled young woman with issues that put her at greater risk.

It was increasingly difficult to put this one down as Harrod-Eagles skilfully increases the tension – and as ever, produces a convincing and very satisfying conclusion to this nasty murder. And yes – I’m definitely going to fulfil that promise to myself and get hold of more books in this series. Ideal for fans of quality police-led murder mystery adventures. While I obtained an arc of Easeful Death from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10

Bill Slider and the other coppers are on the hunt for whomever was responsible for the death of a young woman. What makes things frustrating is the actual cause was a heart attack but the events leading up to it were certainly exacerbating if nothing else. There are a couple of pretty obvious suspects at first whose stories get disproven as the investigation continues. But does that make them culpable even if they had contact with the victim.

As probably happens in real life, the more the detectives learn about both the deceased and the people with whom she interacted, the less innocent any of them seem. But dislike does not cut it when pressing charges. The characters are all gritty and realistic and it heightens the story. Plus there are some good twists that will have the reader turning pages. It held my interest from beginning to end. I have read previous books in the series and can recommend them to fans of mysteries set in London.

Five solid purrs and two paws up.

What a gem!
This was my first encounter with Cynthia Harrod Eagles‘ DCI Bill Slider and his quirky team and it got me instantly hooked, so much so that I bought and binge-read all her previous books of the series! Slider and his ‚firm‘ are tasked with finding out who murdered 18year old Rhianne while she was sunning herself in her garden in Shepherds Bush. The painstaking procedural never gets boring, the plot is fast-paced and twisty and especially the main officers are immensely likeable, witty and hilariously humorous.

Unfortunately, I didn't particularly like this book. It seemed very long and some chapters were a bit unnecessary. It took me a long time to finish the book. Maybe I would have liked it better if I had read larger sections at a time.
For me, it was only a 2.5 star read.

This is my first book in this prolific series. I believe this could be read as a stand alone, but I do feel I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the series in order. I do plan to start at the beginning of the series. It seems I would have appreciated the relationship between the police officers even better. The story gave me an in depth insight into the nuances of an investigation. This story also had the best police chase scene I’ve ever read. It was quite tense. This story was very British and that made it extra special as well. There were of course several red herrings and I didn’t know whom the murderer was until the reveal. The only negative for me was the occasional, mild profanity. I highly recommend this book and series.

I was blessed with an ARC by NetGalley and the opinions expressed are my own.

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’ Easeful Death is a compelling and intricately plotted mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The novel follows the unsettling case of a young woman found dead in her home, a tragedy that raises more questions than answers. With masterful storytelling and well-paced suspense, Harrod-Eagles crafts a tale that doesn’t immediately reveal its secrets, allowing the reader to savor the investigative process.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to maintain intrigue. Unlike stories that prematurely disclose key details, Easeful Death carefully unfolds, allowing tension and curiosity to build. The investigation is handled with depth, ensuring that every clue and character development adds to the richness of the mystery. Harrod-Eagles’ writing is sharp and immersive, making it easy for readers to become invested in both the case and those working to solve it.

Beyond the central mystery, the novel offers nuanced characters and realistic police procedural elements, lending credibility and depth to the narrative. Fans of crime fiction will appreciate the balance between suspense and character-driven storytelling, ensuring that Easeful Death is more than just a puzzle to be solved—it is a story to be experienced.

For those who enjoy crime fiction that challenges them to think while delivering a gripping and well-paced mystery, Easeful Death is a standout read. Harrod-Eagles once again proves her skill in crafting a story that is as intriguing as it is satisfying.

This is the * entry in Harrod-Eagle's Bill Slider series. Slider is supposedly unorthodox, but he makes sense to me in his persistence and integrity in chasing down bits of evidence, never too small. The writing style is largely narrative, which I'd forgotten. It's enjoyable, sharp and often humorous but takes getting used to. In this case, we have the murder of a 15 year old girl, just ready to take her A-Levels, solidly middle class daughter raised by her mother and her stepfather, who treats her as his own. She is dead in the garden, strangled by a silk cloth that is not present. Her stepfather found her.

This is a good. police procedural with lots of potential suspects-- eventually. The crime scene revealed little and the need to track down all possible evidence leads to discoveries of lots of lies and false starts. The ensemble of characters who support Slider are great. Very enjoyable.

Another great case for SliderI love this series and can’t wait to see what they get up to next.. Plenty of twists and turns and suspense to keep me hooked. Well rounded characters. Great writing style. Eagerly awaiting the next adventure. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

This is the latest in a long running police procedural series featuring DCI Slater and his sergeant Atherton. A highlight for me is Slider’s multi-generational home life, anchored by his violinist wife Joanna. I also like the dry humor, puns and malapropisms of the different characters. Vivid descriptions of settings and characters make it easy to picture the investigation and I enjoyed following along as the team works to find the killer. This can be read on its own, and will appeal to fans of Grimes and Crombie. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Ease ful Death, Seven House, April 2025

Thank you to Seven House and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Cynthia Harrods Eagles' Bill Slider series is a standout among police procedurals, and Easeful Death is a welcome addition to the series. In this outing Slider's firm is investigating the sudden and unexpected death of 18 year old Rhianne Morgan, who was found dead by her stepfather. Rhianne after being strangled by something similar to a silk scarf that was removed from the scene by her killer.

Slider and his quirky team interview suspects, confirm or break alibis, and ultimately determine who killed Rhianne. Was her stepfather abusive and did he kill her as a result? Or perhaps it was Kenton, a boy she stopped seeing because she found an older man more attractive? Could the older man have been Kenton's older brother Corey? Or might the older man have been "Handy" Andy Denton, a recently released sex offender?

What makes the Bill Slider books so enjoyable is that over the course of the series, Harrod-Eagles has endowed each member of the team with a personality and a voice. There are, for example, Atherton, Spider's bagman, previously a don Juan of the highest order, now contemplating marriage, and Porson, Spider's boss, who is given to often hilarious malaproprisms. Slider's home life has also grown and changed over time. His wife Joanna, has been joined by their son, George, and their daughter, Zoe, Slider's father and his wife, a variety of cats and a tortoise named Habeus. Together they make for an engaging household.

Easeful Death is a strong entry in a series well worth reading. Highly recommend.

This is the 25th book in the brilliant DCI Bill Slider series. Reconnecting with DCI Slider and his Sergeant Jim Atherton is like a long awaited meet up with old friends you haven't seen for a while. Catching up on their lives outside of the force, laughing at the wonderful malapropisms of Mr Porson, Slider's boss, is a joy.

Slider and Atherton are called to investigate the murder of 18 year old Rhianne Morgan who was found by her step father in the kitchen of their home. Slider and Atherton soon hear from neighbours about arguments between Rhianne and her step father and from school friends about a boyfriend she had unceremoniously dumped quite recently. As always, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has written a great police procedural tale with a number of suspects, plentiful lies, misdirection and only circumstantial evidence for Slider and Atherton to base their theories on.

This is another excellent story in the series, which I highly recommend.

With many, many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of “Easeful Death.” All opinions and comments are my own.

The usual witty chapter headings are present, as is the laugh-out-loud dialog between participants in “Easeful Death,” the latest in the long-running series by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. It’s a quiet August so far, Slider’s working through paperwork, and our favorite sergeant Atherton is back from holiday and thinking about proposing. Surely the world is coming to an end. But not before they’re called to a crime scene, a young woman dead from apparent strangulation. And soon it will be up to our policemen extraordinaire to solve what becomes an intriguing case of back-and-forth alibis, of obvious and not so obvious suspects. Will our intrepid duo, of quick speech and dapper dressing, sort through the facts and bring a killer to justice? Gentle reader, you know they will.

Complete with the author’s firm grasp of description, people, and places (each one brought to life), quips, and of course, DCI Porson’s mangling of the English language, one mustn’t forget that “Easeful Death” includes a thorough police investigation with a successful case at the end. Now, on to the next one. Can’t wait.

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This book is the 25th book in the Detective Inspector Slider series. I started in the middle of this series but have been reading it for years. There are changes in the lives of the characters as the series progresses, but the cases stand alone from book to book. DI Bill Slider balances the job with his personal life, and I love the banter between him and his friend and colleague, Detective Jim Atherton. Slider is a good leader and he and his entire team work well together.

The case in this one is a sad one. I was interested to find out who killed a young woman who was found dead at her own home. There were a few different suspects to make things interesting, but there are some slow spots in the book. In spite of that, I enjoyed the book, especially seeing Slider and team solve the case. There are also a couple of developments that fans of the series will appreciate.

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of the ebook from NetGalley and Severn House for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

I enjoy this old-fashioned series featuring Bill Slider, the wisecracking Atherton, and assorted others. In this case, a girl is found dead just inside her middle-class parents' garden and it appears she was strangled. Could it be a random vagrant? Her stepfather, who seems often exasperated with the moody teen? The girl's boyfriend? Or what about this criminal recently released from prison? The clues are chased down, the avenues explored, and the interesting and ordinary lives of the characters and their families carry on without loads of angst or drama. It's in the Inspector Morse tradition and feels like a bit of a throw-back to a simpler time - maybe that's why I enjoyed it!

This latest in a long running series will be perfectly enjoyable as a standalone, especially for fans of well crafted procedurals. Bill Slider finds himself with a real puzzle on his hands when 18 year old Rhiannon is discovered by her stepfather. She's been strangled. There are several suspects, starting with her stepfather but Slider and his team will learn that there was more to the young woman than even her parents knew. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Nicely crafted with a bit of humor, this is one that will keep you guessing.

Easeful Death is the first DCI Slider book I’ve read and now I want to read them all! This is a story about 18 year old Rhianne Morgan who is found dead in her suburban home. This was an enjoyable mystery with lots of twists. I loved the characters and the detective’s banter.
Thank you NetGalley and Seven House! I’m happy this is the 25th book in the series—I’m looking forward to reading the other books!

Easeful Death, the 25 th book in the DCI Bill Slider series is a great example of a police procedural. It's always a treat to spend time with DCI Slider and his fellow officers. Ms Harrod-Eagles crafts her characters so well that I feel I’ve come to know them over the course of her many books. The dialogue between them is interspersed with humor and believably real life. It is not easy to maintain this high level of writing over so long a time but I am happy to report that it has happened yet again. This book can be read as a stand alone but treat yourself to some of the earlier works to really feel you know the characters.

DCI Bill Slider & his team investigate the suspicious death of 18-year old Rhianne Morgan. The teenager had typical rows with her mother & stepfather, and dabbled with both boys and drugs. So who wanted to end her life?

This was another solid entry in the long-running police procedural series.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Severn House. All opinions are my own.

This is number 25 in Cynthia Harrod-Eagles Bill Slider series. I had been wanting to read this series for awhile, and this was my first. The author did an excellent job of bringing me in as a new reader to the series, She gave enough detail that I understood the relationships between characters as well as a little of the history of Slider. It was slipped in so easily and didn’t interrupt the flow of the story or give too much detail.

This was a very well written police procedural with some humor and well drawn characters. The mystery kept me guessing throughout. It started off with the murder of a teenaged girl who had been giving her parents some grief and gone off the rails a bit. The story took us through the investigation and gave us insight into the police team and relationships. I’m anxious to read the rest of the series now, beginning with the first one.
If book 25 is this good, then I have high hopes for the whole series. I think if you enjoy the writing of Martha Grimes or Elizabeth George, you would enjoy Cynthia Harrod-Eagles as well.

#EasefulDeath #NetGalley #SevernHouse