The Secret Hangman (Peter Diamond Series #9)

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Overview

“[A] master of the classic puzzle.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Lovesey’s delicate balance of humor and suspense [is] one of the delights of contemporary crime fiction.”—The Wall Street Journal

“A master storyteller.”—Kirkus Reviews

Widowed Inspector Peter Diamond is being pursued by a secret admirer as he pursues a serial killer. Delia Williamson, a mother of two young girls who works as a waitress, is first reported missing by her own mother. She is found in a public park, hanged from the crossbar of a children’s swing set. There seems to be no reason for her to have committed suicide, and the postmortem reveals that she was murdered. Her present partner, her ex-husband, and a traveling salesman who dined at her table in the restaurant where she worked, are all suspects. Then her former husband is found in a cave, also hanged. A remorse suicide? Diamond doesn’t think so. When a well-to-do couple is found dead, both hanged, a suicide pact is suggested. Diamond is dubious; too many couples are dying by the same method. Before he can figure out what is going on, one more person will die.

Peter Lovesey has been honored with the British Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement, as well as with American prizes, such as the Edgar Award. He is an acknowledged master of the mystery form. This is his tenth Peter Diamond mystery set in Bath, England.

Editorial Reviews

Marilyn Stasio

Writing in a style that accepts no boundary between morbid and merry, Lovesey proves that the traditional puzzle mystery is always a bit of fun and games.
— The New York Times

Publishers Weekly

British author Lovesey deftly blends suspense and humor in his excellent ninth whodunit to feature Peter Diamond (after 2004's The House Sitter). Diamond, a detective superintendent in Bath, though still traumatized by the murder of his wife, finds himself the object of amorous attention from two women, one an admirer who sends him anonymous letters. The curmudgeonly but astute sleuth also finds himself again at odds with his superior, Assistant Chief Constable Georgina Dallymore, when his investigation into the separate hangings of a woman and her one-time partner suggests that both were murdered, contrary to the ACC's belief that they were victims of a murder-suicide. Fighting to devote precious time and resources to the inquiry, Diamond soon discovers evidence of a history of similar crimes and suspects the serial killer will strike again. While the solution isn't Lovesey's trickiest, its ingeniousness amply demonstrates that this classic series is still going strong. (June)

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Kirkus Reviews

Inspector Peter Diamond, three years a widower, gamely accedes to a lady's advances. How's this for a cute meeting? Peter Diamond runs over costume researcher Paloma Kean's groceries in a parking lot and insists on paying, and she reciprocates with an offer of dinner. Paloma, a divorcee, seems smitten with the burly, cantankerous detective, and her son Jerry, a religious fanatic and hospital volunteer, doesn't object. But romance must take a back seat to the latest scourge of Bath, an unknown serial killer who likes to hang his victims from high, very public places. The first to be found is Delia Williamson, followed by her ex, Danny Geaves. But digging by the Murder Squad turns up a prior couple, the Twinings, two years back. Then Jocelyn Steel is strung up. If the pattern holds, her missing husband Martin will be next to go. As if that's not work enough for the bone-tired Diamond, smash-and-grab robbers are looting the stores and half of his squad is reassigned. Worse yet, Paloma's son comes under suspicion, jeopardizing the new romance. Lovesey (The Circle, 2005, etc.), master of the switchback twist, has several in store here, but savvy readers may find them a notch or so below his crafty best.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781569474884
Publisher: Soho Press, Incorporated
Publication date: 4/1/2008
Pages: 320
Sales rank: 395,357
Series: Peter Diamond Series , #9
Product dimensions: 5.03 (w) x 7.46 (h) x 0.89 (d)

Meet the Author

Peter Lovesey is the author of 26 highly praised mystery novels and has been awarded the CWA Gold, Silver, and Diamond Daggers (for Lifetime Achievement) as well as many US honors. He lives in West Sussex, England.

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Anonymous

Posted September 5, 2007

Riveting read!

Read this last week, then read another, and am now finishing The Vault, one more of the Diamond mysteries. Addictive, great plotting, intriguing and fast paced. Diamond is a very human character, too smart to be where he is, but he could never be anything but this. Lovesey's writing is intelligent and often very funny. Everything fits and flows making Lovesey's books so enjoyable. Years ago I read 'The False Inspector Dew,' the most amusing mystery I've ever read, then lost track of the author. So glad to have rediscovered him.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Troon62

Posted January 29, 2010

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My First Take on Inspector Peter Diamond

Somewhat of an Angolphile, I am naturally drawn to mysteries set in the UK, whether hundreds of years ago or in the midst of today's headlines. Not knowing what to expect from author Lovesey, I ventured into The Secret Hangman with minimal expectations. Those soon went by the wayside as I took a keen interest in the middle-aged, curmudgeonly Chief Inspector Diamond, his sad personal history, and his edgy relationships with his very human staff at the nick. Lovesey's inventive mystery kept all of Diamond's team on tenterhooks, as it did me, until the last few pages. Delighted by my new find, I am now onto the Peter Diamond trail, eager to read much more of Mr. Lovesey's marvelous works.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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harstan

Posted December 9, 2008

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an exciting Diamond English police procedural

Bath Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond still grieves the death of his wife even as he feels some guilt over her being murdered. He currently pretends to not be excited over a secret admirer sending him notes, but inside he is thrilled and albeit a shade more guilt.--------- On the job, Diamond investigates the public park hanging death murder of waitress Delia Williamson, a mother of two young girls. He quickly finds three prime suspects: her former spouse, her current significant other, and a traveling salesman witnessed as having dined with her just before she died. When they find the ex Danny dead hanging in a cave, Diamond believes two murders occurred while his boss Assistant Chief Constable Georgina Dallymore insists it was a murder-suicide. As he digs deeper to prove his theory, Diamond uncovers a shocker of similar double murders by a serial killer on the loose.-------- THE SECRET HANGMAN is an exciting Diamond English police procedural. The serial killer case is cleverly dawn so that Diamond and Dallymore can argue over the deaths of Delia and Danny whereas all these Ds mean delightful to fans as the crusty widower soon seeks a diabolical brilliant serial killer who hides his or her work in the guise of murder-suicide. This is a wonderful entry in a strong crime series.---------------- Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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