I haven't read any books by this author, and therefore was intrigued when I glanced at the reviews of this that a number of readers didn't rate this new DC Constance Fairchild series as highly as his previous Inspector McClean series. Not having those as a benchmark, I went in to DC Fairchild's first book with virgin eyes. And I thoroughly enjoyed it.

In fact, there wasn't just 'no time to cry', there was hardly time to draw breath! Constance…or Con…as she likes to be known, is a hard-nosed, feisty, independent, kick-arse protagonist. And she has to use every one of those resources, and more, to prove her innocence when she is accused of wrecking a whole undercover operation that was tragically blown when her boss in charge of it is brutally murdered.

I had a few misgivings about a man writing as a woman, but Oswald does it well. It's hard to dislike Con, not just because she's determined and smart…it's easy to understand why she's a DC…but because she's dedicated to her profession: putting away the bad and badder guys. It's written in first-person POV, which is fine, and in the present tense (sorry, not fine, but a good book makes that just about forgivable).

The book marches along at a cracking pace. The scene is set from the get-go, and then it grips you unashamedly.

One teensy niggle is Oswald's inability to get there's and there are right. 'There's better ways....' There are better ways, please, and too many other instances of this.

Notwithstanding, I'm not only motivated to read subsequent DC Fairchild books, but I'm definitely going to catch up with Inspector McClean too. ( )

DC Con Fairchild is building her career in the Metropolitan Police until the day her boss is shot dead. As part of the undercover team Con finds herself in the frame for the murder but when she is targeted the response of her bosses is puzzling. Suspended from duty Con is determined to clear her name and also solve the mystery of a 16-year old girl missing in London. This investigation brings Con into contact with figures from her past and suddenly the dots are joined.
Oswald is a solid writer of police procedurals and I so wanted to like this novel which is the first in a new series. However I found that I didn't really warm to the main character - Lady Constance Fairchild felt a little too 'Dempsey and Makepeace' for me. The plot was tangled but also didn't really make sense, some good ideas were extrapolated too far. Of course it was still an entertaining and enjoyable read but I wanted more. ( )