I put off reading this book for the longest time because when I read it in my Kindle App, the lines or whatever (words? sequence? dialogue?) are kinda messed up so I get confused as to who is saying what but putting that aside, surprisingly, I actually really enjoyed this book and only now realized it is the second book and there is an existence of a first (seriously Netgalley... must I go to Goodreads to find out this is the second in a series?)

As far as I remember most of the murder mystery books that I have read, their POV is usually the detective or the detectives buddy or somewhere along those lines in detectivery (not a word I know) but here the POV is from a crime journalist. So, since Colin Crampton is a crime journalist the pace of the plot was just GO!GO!GO! From the get go and it was quite understandable considering aside from trying to get to the bottom of the 'Milady Bath Night' murder/mystery he also had to write for the paper of which he was working for and that needed constant updating even if what he updated was just a rehash/recycle of a previous article of his.

Whilst the plot at its essence was quite predictable, where the motive was one where it dealt with human emotions rather than any sort of macabre killing fest, it was still enjoyable to read especially since I was so caught up with Colins' deductions and theories that I made a mistake that he made which was to disregard the most simplest answer that was available to him by making yet another mistake which was to underestimate the opponent. So when it was seen that he was wrong I was gobsmacked because the answers were all there in plain sight and I just disregard it like Colin did because I, like him, underestimated this one oddball of a character because I didn't think that said character would be capable of murder.

I loved how at the end when Colin was explaining why this incident happened to Fanny (granddaughter to one of the twin sisters), he said that it all started with the seed of envy and how even though envy was just one of the seven deadly sins it encourages the other 6 by burning their fire and nurturing it until it became an inferno (okay the whole nurturing the fire thing was my words but you get what I mean).

Another thing that made me think this book was great was how one murder was connected to a theft which was then connected to another death that happened ages ago. Like none of this had any chance of being linked together because its MO was so different but Colin realized or had a gut feeling that it was connected and lo and behold it really was. It would have been gone really bad had Colin/the author not explain how it was connected which thus explain the motive for murder.

Fast-paced and snappy - and one of the few mysteries that involve reporters in which the daily business of newspaper reporting seems rooted in reality (although, I don't have any experience in a newsroom so I could be talking nonsense). Brighton's seamy side rubs with the upper crust and the slightly down-at-the -heels atmosphere is nicely portrayed without being weighed down in too much kitchen sink misery. Is the mystery particularly intricate? Not really, but the action and plot twists sweep you along so you don't notice. Highly recommend.

This is an amusing throwback mystery. It's nominally set in the 1960s, but the style is akin to the wise-cracking, competitive, reckless, libidinous, hard-drinking, hard-boiled reporter/detectives of the 1920s (most famously [[ASIN:1618271288 Frederick Nebel's Kennedy]] who made it into 1930s movies with a sex change as [[ASIN:B003GW84R0 Torchy Blane]]). The author has softened the edges a bit. While the story contains all the violence and corruption of the originals, there is a light-hearted spirit and ironic perspective that make it more fun if less hard-hitting. You'll find all the elements; violence, blackmail, murder, insanity, bad sex, official corruption and old evil masked by social respectability; but not as a stinking slime that even the good characters cannot wash off, more as a containable infection that can be cured by vigorous honesty.

On the good side, there is a great story arc, supported ably by subplots and minor characters. The author manages to weave these strands together effortlessly. Each scene is exciting as a stand-alone drama, and they build into a coherent tale. Things are always moving as the hero juggles deadline pressure, multiple mysteries, romantic escapades, an unscrupulous rival reporter in league with an incompetent and vindictive police officer and personal issues; but the book keeps a steady course and never degenerates into confusion. There are good action scenes and better quiet scenes, skillfully interwoven.

On the bad side, the characters are one-dimensional and fail to develop. The lead character never comes into clear focus, despite this being a first-person account, and we're never sure if we like him for his honesty and determination, or dislike him for his apparent lack of principles--whether those are journalistic, regard for people or ethical.

Another criticism is the book gives no feel for the period. With a few minor alterations in technology, it could have been set in almost any decade of the 20th century. A minor gripe is there are a few anachronisms, 1970s features in a story set in the 1960s, but a bigger one is a lot of the behavior would have made more sense in the 1920s or 30s; and the attitudes seem more like the 1950s.

Overall, this is a quick fun read that will remind readers of its classic ancestry but is a worthy original entry in its own right. It doesn't rise to the level of the best mysteries of its type mainly due to thin characters, but it's still very good.

An ARC honest review for John Hunt Publishing Ltd., via NetGalley.

The second Crampton of the Chronicle mystery.

Colin Crampton, Ace Crime Reporter on the Brighton Chronicle gets outdone by his rival on the other Brighton newspaper on the scoop of the death on the pier.

What is the connection of a stolen saucy film from the pier - What the Butler Saw, identical twins and a suicide in the past, got to do with the murder of the piers night watchman?

Colin's rival is one step in front of him on Front page news, due to the lead detective on the case...or is he?

Colin thinks that they are on the wrong track to the killer and story.

And he needs to get the story first, before his editor Figgis fires him!

A really great fun read. Likable characters, well oiled plot, well written with humorous byplay.

Humorous and well written with a lot of 60s detail. I can't wait to read more of this series. Make sure you follow the link to download a free Colin Crampton short story. Filled with interesting characters

An intellectual who-dunnit, featuring well thought out characters with wit and panache to equal Agatha Christie.. I highly recommend this book as it has made me laugh and puzzle over the end result. It has more plot twists than DNA but keeps the reader gripped at every turn.
I can't say anything more than read it, read it, read it!

Sussex seems to be the venue for a few crime writers. this good tale being set in the Brighton area half a century ago.
An easy read, you get involved with the story and characters right away -though care needs to be taken that the light comedy at times can make the tale less believable so less interesting. Descriptions of locations and characters are pleasing and entertaining and sub plots keep the adventure going.

This story had to be set in the past to work. There is a good representation of a local newspaper office and their personalities as it would have been in 1963 - the year of the story and Profumo scandal.

A Superintendent is always in charge of a murder investigation, something some crime fiction writers get wrong this author has clearly got a desire for accuracy - without being too technical or dull. A well crafted entertaining read which may hopefully turn into a series featuring the main character crime correspondent Colin Crampton ,so looking forward to more from this author and his appealing characters.

Loved this book, well written,entertaining and it made me feel for some of the characters will definitely read more by this author.

This was a real fun book, I really enjoyed it, the mystery came out in increments, which made for some interesting twist and turn, just when I thought I was on top of the mystery, I need to start my rethinking all the clues. This left me wanting to keep reading well into the night. I certainly will be looking for more books by Peter Bartram.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I read this book without realizing it was the second in the series but I didn't have any difficulty following this story without reading the first. I really liked the MC in this one, it felt like a really unique spin having a crime reporter leading the mystery! Usually in crime novels, the MC is either a detective or some random person who happens upon the body or is a friend of the dead so they get all mixed up in this case. In this book, Colin is following the murder almost purely for his job. As a crime reporter, he wants to retain the upper-hand which means he needs to get the scoop before anyone else, and to get the best story Colin decides to just solve the case himself! Plus, the pace was perfect because it felt like it modeled a reporter chasing a story. It moves a little quick at times but this is as Colin gets closer to the suspect so it felt really natural.

Colin is pretty sarcastic and constantly trading quips with his boss and reporter rivals and it was nice to have this humour, beyond laughs, to lighten up the darker aspects that obviously are part of the territory with the crime novels. It reminded me some of Blue Bloods (one of my fave shows!) with the clever remarks passed back and forth.

This book takes place in the 1960s, which I didn't know before starting it. I went in assuming it was present-day so it was like a little mystery for me to pick up on the clues, like smoking inside and using typewriters, to figure out what decade it actually was. Even though I think it's pretty popular for authors to set their mysteries in the past, there were a number of things that I had never heard of before, like the clippers who work at the newspaper. It was really interesting learning more about the processes of running both newspapers and police cases.

There were some things I liked, one of which was that a few of the clues that helped Colin solve the mystery were very coincidental. Luckily, it was only a few so the book didn't feel overrun by this luck but it was enough to be noticed.

The part I had more a problem with was the treatment of the characters who were involved in nude films. There were repeated insinuations that the characters choosing to be involved in this work, and even possibly taking pride in that work, was degrading. Colin and several other characters are even openly disgusted by this behaviour and seem completely unable to understand it. These characters are choosing to do whatever work they like and this doesn't have any bearing on their character. It was really disappointing to see these opinions shared by so many characters, which seems to be more a show of the author's opinion.