Darkly Funny & Fast Paced (A Killing Frost - R.D. Wingfield)

Member Name: festactown

Product:	A Killing Frost - R.D. Wingfield
Date:	06/11/09 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant characterisation, exhilerating

Disadvantages: Humour that may offend

A Killing Frost is the latest book by R. D Wingfield, published in October 2008 it reunites us with the Detective Inspector Jack Frost, a sardonic, chain-smoking, rough diamond whose blatant insubordination and 'ends justify the means' approach, make him a force to be reckoned with inside and outside the station.

The central story concerns two young teenagers who have gone missing and are feared to be murdered. Frost has to piece together the truth behind their disappearance, whilst being bombarded with cases of paedophile rings, blackmail and extortion at a local supermarket, a missing nurse, a body on a railway line and arson.

The first couple of chapters leave the reader feeling as if they have been 'slegehammered'. Frost, along with nearly all the plot lines and a myriad of characters are introduced to the reader- it's fast paced and hectic, if not a little busy. Wingfield accurately reflects how overworked Frost and his staff are by doing this. It's exhilarating but exhausting to read. From here the plots twist and turn to a satisfying conclusion.

Wingfield's skill is clear in his ability to bring characters to life, even the peripheral character's are memorable. Wingfield manages to provoke a reaction to each character almost immediately whether it is shock, outrage, sympathy or a blatant distaste.

It's a dark tale so the reader should be prepared for some hard-hitting themes and at times the humour really does seem a little inappropriate and certainly caused an uneasy reaction in me.

Overall, it's an unsentimental roller-coaster ride. I loved it!

Summary: A must read!