Thicker Than Water

Detective Monika Paniatowski doesn’t get a chance to ease back into her duties after maternity leave. Back only three days and she’s on the scene of the brutal murder of a mother of three small children. If that’s not bad enough, the victim’s husband is a wealthy and influential politician. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that if Monika doesn’t solve this case, and fast, she’ll be out of a job. Luckily enough, she has her suspect right from the get go – councillor Danbury himself. Monika knows he’s the killer, but as the case explodes in the press and her superiors lean on her to find another suspect (the chief constable is Danbury’s best buddy), she has to be sure her case is airtight, or face letting a killer get away with murder. Spencer is one of my favorite British crime writers, her characters and pacing are dead on every time.

Be careful what you ask for! Don't judge a book by it's cover! How often have we heard these trite but true phrases? Well, I've been reminded once again that truth can be found in the least likely of places. I looked at the cover and thought "goody, a British cozy" and curled up for a comfy read. Only, in my haste to dig in, missed two important words in the description, "police procedural." Sally Spencer has brilliantly captured all the genre promises in possibly the darkest book I've read in twenty years. The heroine, DCI Paniatowski, has just returned from six months of maternity leave, now a single mother of twins boys in addition to her adopted teenaged daughter. She is very conflicted, knowing she can never keep the promises she has made to prioritize family life, and wondering how long it will take her babies to prefer their nanny. She does not suspect how much giving birth will influence her approach to policework. Her first case, not only a murder, but that of a brutally battered mother of three, (coincidentally twin boys and a girl,) puts her at odds with much of the hierarchy down to her immediate supervisor when the woman's husband, a rich, influential, and politically powerful councilman is the most obvious suspect. I admit there are occasional glimmers of light, when you remember not to despair over humanity, but predominately the author concentrates on the least admirable traits and most dire of circumstances, in both the current and backstory of most of her characters. In all, I found it rather depressing. I read for pleasure and encouragement, not necessarily avoiding truth but approaching it from a much more optimistic outlook, probably because I am naturally inclined to be somewhat of a pessimist myself. It says a lot for the author's skill that I finished this book, and also was significantly affected by the characters. Although I did not fall for the most likely suspect, I did not guess "whodunit" either. Spencer is a master of her craft, and I'm sure "Thicker Than Water" will delight her fans and win many accolades. This is certainly a book for mature readers as there is no glossing over the depravity of human nature, (nor does it hold with political correctness, a positive attribute in my opinion.) Thanks to the author for leaving in a few examples of caring and kindness in this expose of the human psche at its self preserving worst (and also for one small ray of hope at the end.) I appreciate Severn House and Netgalley for making this ARC available to me. All comments and observations are freely offered and expressly my own.

Spencer certainly has very unique and integrating characters working on her police force including herself. Mysteries and well-kept secrets are found among both the police and the persons of interest. Love how she works them all into her novels and keeps giving us unparalleled novels. Sometimes the reader finds oneself in stunned disbelief of what she has written.

After returning from maternity leave after the birth of her twins, DCI Monika Paniatowski is thrown straight in at the deep end when the body of mother of three, Jane Danbury, is found brutally murdered at her own home. Although Paniatowski is convinced from the outset that the victim’s husband, William, is the prime suspect, she faces pressure from those in authority as he is a councillor with friends in high places. The case soon takes a turn for the worse and the whole focus of the investigation shifts from a straightforward murder hunt to something far more harrowing…

Due to not having read any of the previous books in the series, I initially found it hard to get to grips with the characters as I felt that we were given information that was not needed as part of the plot. As the story progressed, however, I found that the story moved on at a quicker pace and I began to get a lot more engrossed. Setting the book in the 1970s is a great plot device as it gives the author a chance to show police procedures at the time when modern forensics was in its infancy. Also, at a time when high-ranking female police officers were very few and far between, Monika Paniatowski is portrayed as a strong character, fighting off sexism as she goes about her every day police business.

Sally Spencer addresses several taboo subjects in ‘Thicker than Water’, not least the issue of domestic violence, and at times you can almost feel yourself wincing as you sense what is about to happen.

I would recommend this book but I feel that it would be advisable to read the previous books in the series in order to build up the back stories of the main characters.

This was another killer read, and I really enjoyed it a lot!! In this book we meet detective Monitce Paniatowski (try saying that after a few vodkas!) again. She has just had two babies, and has to investigate a murder in one of the expensive areas of town. The book is set against the political, social and general environment of the 1970's which set the atmosphere of the criminal and police investigation scene. In the 70"s women were not considered as detectives, and modern science we get to see as "normal" due to shows like CSI wasn't available then.
It was interesting to see how she investigates the crime, with all the challenges of being a "woman", and doing it the old fashion way - by detecting!
It was an entertaining read, and an old-time-who-dun-it!

Hi Karen,
My next review is as follows:-

"Thicker Than Water:A Monika Panitowski British Police Procedural"written by Sally Spencer and published in hardcover by Severn House Publishers on 30 Oct. 2015.224 pages.ISBN-13: 978-0727885616

It is Wednesday 5th October 1977 and Detective Chief Inspector Monika Paniatowski has just returned to work at Whitebridge CID from a maternity leave of just three days, after giving birth to twin boys Thomas and Philip, when she is informed of a murder. The murder occurred in an area of very expensive and secluded houses, known as Milliners road. Jane Danbury had been brutally and savagely murdered whilst her three young children were asleep upstairs.

Her body had been discovered by the au pair on her return from a day out. Obviously, the primary suspect would be the husband, Councillor William Danbury, but he was away on a training course in a local town.
When Monika questions the husband she is shocked to learn that he is a real chauvinist with very high opinions of himself and a haughty contempt of being questioned by a mere woman particularly with her seniority.

These attitudes would be very surprising now, but in the 1970's when this story was set it was not that unusual. Monika discovers that William Danbury was often assaulting his wife and even breaking bones and she put up with it without any complaint.Councillor Danbury was considered a real pillar of the community with many influential male friends, including senior policemen such as Monika's boss. So Monika has to tread very softly but firmly to do her investigation.

Sally Spencer has written over 20 books including 10 in this series,12 in the DCI Charlie Woodend (Monikas predecessor) and others too numerous to mention. Her characters are very well described and the plots of her books are extremely well thought out with many red herrings to be explored before the final dramatic conclusion.

She writes with a light touch and there are often moments of sharp humour to lift the grim reality she often has to describe. I've read for review two of her previous books:- 'Deaths Dark Shadow'November 2013 and 'Supping With The Devil'March 2015. I enjoy reading this very gifted writers work very much and if you want an exciting book that is extremely difficult to put down once started then buy this one. Well Recommended.

Best wishes,

Terry
(Review to be posted on eurocrime.co.uk)

A riveting read involving murder, kidnap and domestic abuse.

DCI Monika Paniatowski has just returned from maternity leave when she is thrown into a murder which has occurred in the Whitebridge municipal authority of Lancashire. The victim is the wife of a ‘big knob’ in the community, Councillor William Banbury, and right from the outset, Monika knows she is going to be under pressure to solve this case.

What she is not immediately aware of is that there is also a missing child. Neither has she anticipated the reaction of Banbury when he arrives home. He is quite clearly a bully and a misogynist, and Monika takes an immediate dislike to him.

This is a very well thought-out thriller involving some very serious issues in our society. I did, at one stage, think that the writer, Sally Spencer, had a particular ‘down’ on men in general, considering the circumstances of Monika’s twin sons’ conception, and that the main male characters are flawed in differing ways. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the author was actually a man writing under a ‘nom de plume’!

Reconsidering my position, I think that this book highlights some of the problems that the female gender encounters in careers such as the Police and the Forces. They not only have to be seen to be doing their job well, but are expected to do it far better than their male counterparts.

The plot is cleverly laid out and moves apace with many twists and turns, right up to the very end. The characters are well-defined and the police procedures clearly laid out. Monika is also fortunate to have a good team of colleagues around her.

Thank you ‘Sally’ for this enjoyable thriller.
Sméagol