Supping with the Devil

I am so glad to learn that there are so many novels already available from Sally Spencer, because if this book is anything to go by I will definitely be searching out more to read from this author. As you know by now, this is my first Spencer novel and it made a great impression on me. I love reading mysteries, but very seldom do I come across a group of main characters that are so fully developed. In fact, some of the situations two of these characters found themselves in were shocking to me and definitely went beyond where most authors want to take their main individuals. It was actually quite intriguing to read something presented in a different way.

DCI Monika Paniatowski is still trying to deal with the adverse career fallout resulting from a personal relationship with her boss which ended when a tragedy occurred. Chief Constable Baxter still wants Monika off his force but he has no grounds for firing her. Instead he has now assigned her to work in a situation where she will have no authority as a police officer at all at a rock concert on private grounds at Stamford Hall, the home of the de Courtney family. All arrangements for the concert have been arranged by the earl or his estate manager, even down to hiring security for the event in the form of the Devil's Disciples, a motorcycle gang. After all, this concert is all about peace and love and understanding your fellow man. Back at the police station a replacement has arrived for Monika's position and he seems to be settling himself in very comfortably. Her team isn't allowed to give him much of an appraisal period before a murder is discovered.

There were various plot lines taking place simultaneously and I had begun to wonder how the author was going to make them come anywhere close to each other. In the end she did a really good job of making it all come together in a perfectly reasonable way. This novel was harsher in some areas, more gritty in others than I find in most police procedurals. What it absolutely was for me was completely entertaining.

I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

First Sentence: The weathermen said it was going to be the hottest summer for fifty years, and on all the available evidence so far, they were right.

DCI Monika Paniatowski has a boss who is determined to ruin her career. Her latest assignment takes her away from her team and places her as a security advisor for the rock festival being put on by the Earl of Ridley. But she’s only allowed in the house, whereas security for the grounds and even are being handled by the Devil’s Disciples motorcycle gang. Things change when the body of a tabloid journalist is found.

Sally Spencer is a prolific author of three mystery series. Monika Paniatowski was first introduced to us in the 5th Charlie Woodend book, “The Golden Mile to Murder.” That said, it’s not necessary to have read that, or any of the previous books in this series as Spencer is very adept at giving us all the background we need to know about the characters within each book. This is a wonderful skill as new readers don’t feel they’ve missed anything. It is nice to see the way the series are somewhat blended as Woodend did make an appearance in this book.

Monika is something of a tough character to like, but there are good reasons for that, of which we learn. Even so, she is respected and appreciated by her team. All except for DCI Wellbeloved, who is anything but. That is balanced out by DS Meadows who is sharp, tough and has an interesting background of her own. If you like a badass, female cop, you’ll love Meadows.

The story has very good plot twists. Spencer is very good at the unexpected, at the same time presenting a strong, accurate perspective on the issues with which career women have had to deal; both in the 70s and today.

“Supping with the Devil’ is filled with excellent twists, turns and revelations. Spencer has become one of my favorite authors.

SUPPING WITH THE DEVIL (Pol Proc-DCI Monika Panatowsk-England-Contemp-1976) – G+
Spencer, Sally (aka Alan Rustage) – 8th in series Severn House, 2014

Hi Karen,
My next review is as follows:-
"Supping With The Devil:(A DCI Monika Paniatowski Mystery)",written by Sally Spencer and published in hardback by Severn House Publishers Ltd on 26 Jun 2014. 224 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0727884084

This mystery starts on the 9th August 1976, Monika Paniatowski’s boss is trying to destroy her career, but the dead end case he assigns her turns out to be something else entirely . . .
DCI Monika Paniatowski recognises her latest assignment as advisor to the Earl of Ridley’s rock festival for what it really is – an attempt by the chief constable to destroy her career. Yet it soon becomes apparent that matters are not as simple as they appear. Why, for instance, did the earl choose to employ the notorious Devil’s Disciples motorcycle gang to provide the security for the festival? And to what lengths will his mother, the dowager countess, go to destroy it? But it is when the half-naked body of a tabloid journalist is discovered in the middle of Whitebridge that things really start to hot up.

Detective Chief Inspector Monika Paniatowski is really fed up, she has been sent as an adviser to the Earl of Ridley who is holding a rock festival on his land. Strangely enough, he has decided to use a large biker gang of some forty men as security guards. She has had a disastrous personal relationship with the Chief Constable Baxter and he has sent her on this assignment for revenge. He has appointed in her place a DCI Wellbeloved who causes major ructions with her team of detectives. There are several well plotted strands to the story and I have read enough of her books to know that when she writes her police procedurals the story will be very well plotted, original but told with some wry humour.

Sally Spencer writes the book with her usual panache, which had me a little confused at first in that there are several plot lines happening simultaneously, Monika is involved with the rock festival, her old team are investigating a murder and trying to cope without Monika, but instead with her replacement but as an author of some fifteen or more titles under her belt nothing phases her and you end up with a really gripping police procedural of the most exciting kind which I could not put down. The plot with some dramatic twists and turns and the vivid and knowledgeable background and widely diverse scenes kept me transfixed until the last page. Well recommended.

Best wishes,

Terry
(to be published on eurocrime.co.uk)