I was really pleased to receive an E-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.


This is the second installment for Inspector Frank Grasby. Grasby is a reluctant police officer who has fallen into his position In the wake of the second world war rather than by design who has once again been all too happy to accept an assignment to avoid having to spend Christmas with his horrible father, but this time he has to spend it with his equally horrible superior Juggers.

Although this is a comedy, the shadow of the war sits across the narrative and somewhat provides an explanation for a lot of the darker aspects in this book. The horrors and hardships are laid out in such a matter of fact way and the lack of hyperbole makes it even more horrific. It's for this reason the book can't be described as cosy so if you're looking for something festive and uplifting, keep looking.

This book is fast paced and full of action meaning I was reluctant to put it down and I finished it within a couple of days. I also enjoyed the unusual first person narrative.

This being the second book, it's important to have read the first book, there are quite a few things that you would have missed out on having not read it.

Overall I really enjoyed it and I was pleased that the ending set up the third instalment ready for next Christmas.

Call me mad but I couldn't wait till Christmas to read this

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. Thank you for the opportunity to review

Inspector Frank Grasby #2

It all starts just before Christmas in 1953 with a visit to Superintendent Juggers office. The pugnacious Juggers sends Frank to investigate the murder of a man found dead on Uthley Bay on the Yorkshire Coast; he’s been strangled with half a pair of stockings. That’s just for starters, especially as Frank discovers he has Juggers himself for company.

I love the tone that Denzil Meyrick strikes with these novels and Frank is lively and entertaining central protagonist, as he prevaricates and mulls things over! He’s funny,, witty, sarcastic and blooming good company. Juggers is hilarious although he won’t think he is and he could star in his own show.

This is a very atmospheric read, with the setting on the Yorkshire coast, the awful winter weather and its inevitable seaside North Sea chill utilised so effectively in the plot. Add in the locals who are all colourfully described but with an air of uncertainty over who to trust as our intrepid pair enter cold and choppy waters.

The plot meanders in a most engaging and compelling way into several very unexpected areas with plenty of chuckles along the way. Murder, mayhem and oodles of skulduggery, stockings and way more but you’ll have to discover that for yourself!

Some scenes make my eyes boggle (Reverend Grasby and Hetty Gaunt 🤐) and more than a couple worthy of pantomime season starring yours truly, the inimitable Juggers. Kudos to the author for the imagination!

As in the previous book, the context of the early 50’s is excellent with references to what’s gone before, tongue in cheek comments about the future as well as people, songs and events of the time period. The language used at this time and the Yorkshire parlance is spot on.

It’s maybe a tad on the long side but it’s undeniably great fun. What more can you ask for? It’s a ripping yarn, not just for Christmas.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK , Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Sorry this one wasn’t for me. The voice of this first person narrator just didn’t appeal. I’m sure others will enjoy it though.

Welcome back Frank! He is a lovable character who likes to let us know the how and why of everything he does. We are back in the ‘50s ( Frank is rereading his memoirs/diaries) and reliving the case of the stockings murders. The fact that it happens at Christmas allows the weather to play a huge part in the background of the story. This story has everything: organised crime, murder, snow, sex, accidents at sea, marriage proposals. All of which work together to produce a delightful narrative. I love Frank’s comments on what was happening, his predictions of the future. Juggers (his boss) is just as shambolic as the last escapade; taking credit for the efforts of others ( usually Frank), messing up. I particularly liked the exploding trousers and the old word for tobacco ( hadn’t heard that in a long time).
Thank you Denzil for another engaging, funny and entertaining read. Thank you also to Transworld for an ARC ebook.

‘The Christmas Stocking Murders’, which is the second book in the Inspector Frank Grasby mystery series, opens with a new festive case for Grasby accompanied by his senior officer Superintendent Juggers.Set in the remote Yorkshire village of Uthley’s Bay in 1953, they try to make sense of a case involving a fisherman’s murder and then the discovery of hundreds of pairs of stockings found lying on a shore.
This is an intriguing fast moving yarn,told with wit,which is spun in a captivating quirky manner that draws the reader in.The pace of the narrative fairly rattles along making it hard to put down.The central characters with their imperfect foibles make the story all that more interesting as they try to unravel who the culprits are.
A cracker of a tale,no matter what season it is read in.