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A Killing in November

DI Wilkins, Book 1

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A Killing in November

By: Simon Mason
Narrated by: Matt Addis
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About this listen

A Killing in November is an Oxford-set crime series of surprising twists, troubled pasts and a dynamic duo who are brought together by a mysterious murder investigation.

Ryan Wilkins grew up on a trailer park, a member of what many people would call the criminal classes. As a young Detective Inspector, he's lost none of his disgust with privileged elites - or his objectionable manners. But he notices things; they stick to his eyes. His professional partner, DI Ray Wilkins, of affluent Nigerian London heritage, is an impeccably groomed, smooth-talking graduate of Balliol College, Oxford. You wouldn't think they would get on. They don't.

But when a young woman is found strangled at Barnabas Hall, they're forced to.

Rich Oxford is not Ryan's natural habitat. St Barnabas' irascible Provost does not appreciate his forceful line of questioning. But what was the dead woman doing in the Provost's study? Is it just a coincidence that on the night of her murder the college was entertaining Sheik al-Medina, a Gulf state ruler linked to human-rights abuses in his own country and acts of atrocity in others?

As tensions rise, things aren't going well. Ray is in despair. Ryan is in disciplinary measures. But their investigation gradually disentangles the links between a Syrian refugee lawyer now working in the college kitchens, a priceless copy of the Koran in the college collection and the identity of the dead woman.

A Killing in November introduces an unlikely duo from different sides of the tracks in Oxford in a deftly plotted murder story full of dangerous turns, troubled pasts and unconventional detective work.

©2022 Simon Mason (P)2022 Quercus Editions Limited
Crime Fiction Police Procedural Mystery Fiction Exciting Detective England
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Critic reviews

Mason avoids the obvious tropes, and rather movingly focuses on Ryan's relationship with his young son. Well plotted, too. It's the first in a series: start now and avoid the rush. (Mick Herron)
My favourite crime novel of the year was Simon Mason's A Killing in November . . . it was enhanced by deft prose and the detective duo of social misfit Ryan Wilkins and the Balliol-educated Ray Wilkins. (Nicholas Clee)
Simon Mason's Ray Wilkins crime novels are my latest addiction. I wait impatiently for each one. What are the triple pillars of any great story? Character, Plot and Language. In the twin heroes of his novels (both called Wilkins and so unalike: they somehow create together one immortal police detective) he has created characters for the ages. His plots race thrillingly around an Oxford you never knew existed. His language though ... without exhibiting a trace of "writerly" self-consciousness, he is capable of phrase-making and description of the very highest quality. Those three perfect pillars support truly memorable crime novels, as great a contribution to the noble British genre of detective fiction as any writer for decades. (Stephen Fry)
My favourite UK series. (M W Craven)

What listeners say about A Killing in November

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Wonderful detective novel with a difference!

I absolutely loved this novel because it’s rather different to the usual run of the mill crime novel, it’s well written, has pace, lots of humour and plenty of edge. I’ll most certainly be pre-ordering the next instalment which is due to be published in February 2023. I can see a really interesting, long and rewarding future ahead for Ryan and Ray Wilkins, so on to the next escapade!

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Great characters

Really strong characters well drawn. Plot complicated enough but not confusing to follow. Looking forward to the next one. The reader got into a bit of a repetitive ’tune’ on the narration which was a bit irritating but was great at the character voices.

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Beautifully read.

The characters were well drawn and thoroughly believable. The narrator was great. I found the plot not particularly well constructed however an enjoyable listen.

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Enjoyably different

Chose the book based on the narration by Matt Addis. The story was fresh and quirky. I'm unsure of the believability of the main character but despite that, thoroughly enjoyed the tale .

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Genius

The author and narrator both need a medal.
First book in over 600 to completely capture me and make me laugh out loud. Looking forward to the release of the second book.

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Enjoyable listen

I liked the premise of the story but found the Ryan character rather unbelievable. I don't think he needed to be quite such an extreme caricature. I couldn't believe that he had achieved the rank of Detective Inspector without some of those rough edges being smoothed.
The narration was good and the story well placed and enjoyable, very twisty.
Another irritation was the constant references to Ryan juggling work/childcare and forgetting to pick his son up. Partly needed for the storyline - but overplayed.

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Brilliant book

Had this in my library for quite a while and lost track of it. Delighted to have downloaded it and given it a go. Great story with unusual and interesting characters.
Very well read…except for unusual and jarring pronunciation of provost…which is said 100s of times through our the story.

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Complexity without confusion

DI Ryan Wilkins is an unusual policeman in every way. Refreshingly and interestingly so. You can fully understand why he drives his colleagues to distraction. Like them, however, you end up impressed by his wit and intelligence, and admiring how he works his way through everything life throws at him. This is a very well written and narrated detective story with plenty of interesting twists. Wilkins has been described as “a Morse for our times”. That is high praise, and we’ll deserved.

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A Killing in November

I really enjoyed it. Ryan was a little different to other detectives in stories. I liked the change. I also enjoy stories set in Oxford because it’s where I’m from.

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Best book I’ve read in ages

A crime story with a difference. Not just a good plot, but likeable characters and humour.
Loved it..

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