4 - 5 stars

DI Ray Wilkins and DI Ryan Wilkins #3
Definitely no relation!

Oxford is a truly wonderful city, a city of rich and poor, a city where the homeless camp out wherever they can. They are the lost, but who are the never found?

There’s a surprise one day for workers at an illegal Oxford car wash when a Rolls-Royce Phantom glides in, a woman at the wheel. Later, the Roller is found buckled and wedged in the entrance to the station car park, it’s owner, wealthy celebrity Zara Fanshawe is nowhere to be seen. Later, she makes a cryptic call to the emergency services giving her name, then utters “Always lost and never found“. What does she mean?

Meanwhile, at the Thames Valley police gala, Ray Wilkins is stylishly sartorial as ever, whilst Ryan looks like the trailer park kid he once was, uncomfortable in an ill fitting, rented tuxedo. Highly decorated Detective Chief Constable Chester Lynch is the guest speaker and she is an entertaining one. To Ryan’s shock, she is also there to present Ray with an award, this situation is only going to get awkward and messier! Later, in the early hours of the following morning, Ryan is sent to investigate Zara‘s car and is later placed in charge of the inquiry into her disappearance which has an impact on the homeless community. As if this isn’t enough, Carol, Ryan’s “friend“ is in a spot of bother financially. Is Carol, not quite what Ryan believes? Thus starts a very twisty, mystery thriller, a cracking addition to a really good series.

First of all, those characters. Ray, whilst he is a good detective is much too perfect for my liking and I’d love to him to spill marmalade or coffee down his tie like a normal person (okay, I come from a family of spillers)! I do like Ryan but at times, he is so frustrating as he lets his feelings get the better of him. He really is his own worst enemy. He sure does cause havoc, so he needs to rein himself but oh boy is he ever entertaining to read about. I adore the bond between Ryan and his three year old son little Ryan, who is just the cutest and quite probably the smartest in the room with his “conversations“. The two Wilkins are best together although Ray finds Ryan absolutely exasperating but let’s face it, most people do. Here he does take a step back from the investigation much to Ryan’s frustration. I love the way this plays out as it’s very unexpected.

This is a rollercoaster of the read with the investigation getting odder and odder and more mysterious by the day. The two Wilkins make some shocking and horrifying discoveries, some are courtesy of Ryan’s gut instinct which is a whole story in itself. Things do not add up, they don’t make sense and it sure tests the relationship between Ray and Ryan, almost to breaking point. Some links begin to appear some from digging into the past and it’s a big surprise when those things start to make sense and piece together. The ending is very good with things you don’t see coming. It’s peppered with tension and suspense but is also alleviated with some wry humour usually delivered deadpan style by Ryan.

I thoroughly enjoy this latest instalment, which definitely takes the two main characters and the readers on a journey. I think the focus on the homeless community is a very good element to bring to the storytelling, adding much to think about.

With thanks to NetGalley, and especially to Quercus Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Having read and enjoyed the previous two books in the series I looked forward to this. But, I'm finding the presence of Ryan as a detective inspector investigating murders becoming more unlikely. He seems to have little training, his behaviour is not acceptable for an officer, and yet he seemingly gets away with it.
Although well written, with an interesting and believable plot, I'm not sure I'll continue with this series, if he doesn't 'grow up'.

With thanks to NetGalley and riverrun for an ARC.

Simon Mason has a series running with detectives Ray and Ryan Wilkins (no relation) and the stories revolve around their relationship as much as the storyline itself. Ray Wilkins is of Nigerian descent, with an Oxford University degree and a sharp dresser, whereas Ryan comes from a broken “trailer ready” background, isn’t fussed about his looks and presentation and is the picture found in the dictionary under “uncouth” and there is an obvious clash with the two backgrounds; equally, there is respect for each other, built up over the cases written about by the author.

This sparky relationship adds to the police procedural nature of the plot and makes the main characters far more relatable than might otherwise be the case.

Having said all of that, this is a well thought out story, with Ryan’s abrasive nature and political naïveté challenging superficial beliefs and ensuring that crimes that might not have had the police time and focus got properly investigated.

I enjoy reading a book rather than listening to it, but I did have the audiobook of an earlier release and would say that the narrator brought the two Wilkins’ to life. With that in mind, read the book yourself, or have it read to you, either way you should find this a great story to engage with.

I enjoyed reading a UK mystery, this definitely kept me gripped throughout and I didn't want to put it down.

Oxford, 3am. The emergency services receive and odd phone call. A short time later, Zara Fanshawe's Rolls Royce is found abandoned. There's no sign of the wayward celebrity.

Predictably, the media are all over it.

Less predictably, the wrong DI Wilkins is put in charge.

They're not related. Ray is a celebrated and decorated policeman, Oxford educated and a sharp dresser. Ryan isn't. He's a PR nightmare, who has a gob on him.

It's going to be an utter nightmare...