The Case of the Hidden Flame: An Inspector David Graham Cozy Mystery (Inspector David Graham Mysteries) Paperback – December 14, 2015

Nice story, amusing characters and satisfying conclusion. Very simple story, easy reading. Great setting for this cast of odd characters . Loved the epilogue!

Detective Inspector David Graham has just arrived on Jersey in the English Channel, where he’s been appointed to lead the police force. He’s barely put his luggage down in his hotel room when a murder is reported. The body of a retired oncologist who’s been living at the hotel has been buried on the beach, found by the man who was getting ready to propose to her.The medical examiner suspects murder, although the body bear so no signs of violence. He determines that the cause of death was asphyxiation, brought on by a heart arrythmia. But she’d been perfectly healthy, and so he suspects poison.That’s not the only mystery; the time of death is uncertain. It’s likely that she was poisoned with a glass of wine brought with her lunch and left outside her door, except the glass is missing. Graham and his team have their work cut out for them.Suspects abound, too, including the almost fiancée, a wife who suspects her husband has been having affair with the retired doctor, a man whose son died from cancer while under the doctor’s care, and more.“The Case of the Hidden Flame” is the second in the DI David Graham series by Alison Golden, and it’s a charming (and relatively short) mystery lacking any gory detail (“ a little foam around the mouth” is as gory as it gets).Golden has three mystery and suspense series involving signature detectives. The Diana Hunter series is set in Vancouver; the series includes “Hunted,” “Snatched,” “Stolen,” “Chopped,” and “Exposed.” The Rev. Annabelle Dixon series is set in Cornwall. And the Inspector David Graham series is set on Jersey, one of the Channel Islands. The last two are officially “cozy mysteries,” which translates as minimal violence, and any romantic interest will not involve graphic sex. Golden also includes recipes mentioned in the books at the end of the Anabelle Dixon stories. Raised in Bedfordshire, England, Golden now lives in the San Francisco area.“The Case of the Hidden Flame” is an easy-reading story perfect for vacations. If I lived near a beach, I would have read it while sitting in my beach chair under a large umbrella, while keeping an eye out for anyone who might want to slip something in my wine.

I really enjoyed this light read. Enjoyed the characters and all their individual whims and character traits. It took me three quarters of the way through to figure out the murderer.

I've always wanted to know more about the Channel Islands, so when I saw that this book was set on Jersey, I couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately, the author doesn't really do more than describe a resort, we don't get a sense of local life on the island or the setting, other than generic beach scenes and the resort inn.Despite this disappointment I enjoyed the first part of this book--the characters are funny and interesting, although there was a lot of switching, without warning, from one character's thinking to the next. I was prepared to like DI Graham, too, but was put off by the author trying to tell us what to believe about him, rather than showing. Especially since what she told us didn't match what we were shown of his character.For instance, we are told, rather than shown, that DI Graham is "surprisingly sophisticated." (Why is it surprising? And what does he do that's sophisticated?) He's also "a cultured, interesting, competent, charming man." All we know about this guy at this point by his behavior is that he does what every other cop would do heading a murder investigation, he drinks tea, and his female sergeant has the insta hots for him. We're not shown any culture or charm--in fact, we're shown the opposite when he uses crude language and describes the murder victim as "dead as a dodo."In addition, he has a habit of ignoring people when they're in conversation with him, and all the characters mentally bend over backwards to excuse him and assure the reader that he's not being rude, not really. It's obvious the author is in love with her creation and wants us to be, too, but it's also obvious that she isn't doing a good job of showing him to be a P.D. James-type hero. This is no Adam Dalgliesh by any means. I find him mildly obnoxious and self-involved. However, it doesn't seem to impact the story too much. I read to the end and had moments of enjoyment.But this brings us to the ending of the story which is very lame. There is no real possibility of the reader guessing whodunnit because the author keeps all the clues hidden and only in the detective's mind, which he graciously shares with us as the truth comes out. This isn't playing fair and makes the ending seem "made up" and not very believable.On the plus side, the over all story is well-written and the pages turn quickly. She has some inspired moments of description as well, such as when she describes a character as having "thick, black hair that made its own decisions." It's worth it to read the book for moments like these alone. Here's hoping the series improves in the upcoming books because she has a ton of potential.

This second book is just as charming as the first. As I started reading, I was instantly back on the island, savouring tea while looking out at the peaceful garden. The dedicated Inspector Graham is the kind of person one gets attached to very quickly--such a fascinating character!

O livro flui num ritmo razoável e é agradável de ler. É uma estória bem contada, no estilo de autores ingleses tradicionais, como Agatha Christie.O clímax é a reunião final de esclarecimento do crime: o detetive reúne os suspeitos e vai revelando como chegou ao criminoso... Déjà vu?(Com Spoiler) Mas alguns pontos não ficam bem explicados: por exemplo, se o corpo da médica assassinada foi arrastado por uma escada de pedra do alto da falésia para a praia, como não ficou nenhuma marca / arranhão detectável no exame postmortem?Ainda outra questão que esqueci de incluir na resenha: não entendi o porquê do título; que 'hidden flame' é essa?Refere-se à paixão que levou ao crime? Muito enigmático.

Well researched mystery. Local flavour described aptly. A surprise ending. Play of words on title becomes clear only at the end.

Another great book, that keeps you guessing to the end, I can normally figure out whose done it but not this time. Engaging characters, interesting storyline well worth reading

The story rakes you in and slowly allows you to unravel the threads. Before know it, you are hooked and DI Graham, well, he is smart. It's also good to see the side characters developing. Love the series!