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Where Death Delights (A Richard Pryor Mystery Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Bernard Knight (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 101 ratings
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The first in a new series from author of the ‘Crowner John’ books - 1955. Forensic pathologist Richard Pryor uses his ‘golden handshake’ to set up in private practice with scientist Angela Bray. A friendly coroner gives them a start, and when two women both claim that human remains found near a reservoir are their relatives, the dilemma is given to them to investigate. Written by a former Home Office pathologist, the story carries the stamp of forensic authenticity.
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 3
    Richard Pryor Mysteries
  2. Print length
    256 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Severn House
  6. Publication date
    June 1, 2011
  7. File size
    846 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Knight brings his own experience as a Home Office pathologist to this absorbing first in a new series set in Britain's Wye Valley. When pathologist Richard Pryor and Angela Bray, a young biologist on the rebound from a broken engagement, go into business offering forensic expertise, they expect paternity tests and postmortems to be their bread and butter, but one of their first cases involves bones that two women each claim prove the death of a loved one. Later, what is first dismissed as an accidental drowning takes on a sinister dimension as a result of their testing. Knight (Crowner Royal and 12 other mysteries in his medieval Crowner John series) describes the arcana of autopsy without going into overly graphic detail. While the testing processes considered state of the art in 1955 are crude by today's standards, he succeeds in making them just as interesting. A couple of great plot twists at the end will leave readers eager for a sequel. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

This entertaining slice of nostalgia for life in 1950s Britain should please Anglophiles and will also appeal to fans of forensically detailed crime fiction. Dr. Richard Pryor, recently returned from Singapore, has joined forces with biologist Angela Bray, a former Home Office scientist, to form a private forensic practice in the Wye Valley. The pair are at first worried about making ends meet, but word of their expertise spreads, and they quickly have their hands full with everything from settling paternity cases to identifying dead bodies to proving that a young woman found drowned off the coast was murdered by her husband. Knight, a former Home Office pathologist, shows off his detailed knowledge of forensics, especially as the science was practiced in the 1950s. The appeal of this story lies very much in the engaging cast of characters, the interplay between Pryor and Bray, and the intriguing forensic details. Although the story may be too gentle for fans of taut, suspenseful police procedurals, it will engage those with either a more scientific mind-set or an interest in the period. --Emily Melton

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0058E11FG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House (June 1, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 1, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 846 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 101 ratings

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
101 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

bonnieB
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2013
Verified Purchase
Even though set in 1955, not medieval times, it was a real page turner. Looking for more books by this author
One person found this helpful
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Kate
4.0 out of 5 stars Where Death Delights
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
This was my first Pryor Mystery and I found it slightly heavy to the technical side but flowed nicely - particularly liked the opening chapter. Characters well described with interesting personal history and backgrounds. Great location description and points of interest both modern and historical. The flirting aspect was amusing and believable and never threatened to become a romantic novel. Overall much more tame than the Crowner John's but quite readable and definitely enjoyable.
One person found this helpful
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Patricia Gale
5.0 out of 5 stars where death delights
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2014
This was a wonderful read. The characters were a joy to get to know and I look forward to reading many more books in this series.
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Kathleen Ingram
3.0 out of 5 stars ) and also liked at least one of his Welsh books also
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2017
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Not my type of book although I adore Bernard Knight's Crowner John series ( every one of them!) and also liked at least one of his Welsh books also. I do like mysteries from countries other than US, but this one lacked some character depth and needed more detail.
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Kathleen Isaac
4.0 out of 5 stars DELIGHTFUL!
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2020
An introduction to 1955 in Wales. Forensic science of the time was on display for all of us non-scientific types and admirers of CSI. I enjoyed the area and the people created by Bernard Knight and hope there is more!
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Carol Cassidy
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best I've read all year. I read two - three books a week.
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2010
There are several different stories presented, the threads carried through and well resolved. The main character are well presented and I certainly hope that this will be an on-going series about a 1950's pathology team.
4 people found this helpful
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Tim Clouse
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read in an Unusual Time
Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2020
The novel takes place in Wales in the mid 1950`s, not an area much covered in mystery stories. Richard Pryor is starting his forensic pathology practice and is working on multiple cases at the same. Briskly plotted and moved right along.
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Nancy F. Musselman
1.0 out of 5 stars disappointed
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2010
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I was very disappointed in this book. It is not a Crowner John mystery-just written by the same author. I found the book very confusing with all of the different characters. Otherwise I would not have bought the book. It is not an historical mystery to me.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

G J.
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent 'page turner'
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
Does more than it says on the cover! The early days of 'kitchen table forensics' (by today's standards) in which 'Richard Pryor' sets up his own forensics company from a legacy and golden handshake. I wish I could have been in at the start, it's the situation which arose my lifelong interest in the capabilities of forensic science. A thoroughly good read.
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Olle Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars This book has all the usual qualities of a Bernard ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book has all the usual qualities of a Bernard Knight book-convincing and interesting characters authentic background and all the expected twists and turns.I do not normally read this genre of book except those written by Bernard Knight.
One person found this helpful
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Ellie's mum
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2014
Verified Purchase
Having read all the Crowner John series I hesitated about this as I thought it would be unlikely to match up. However, having adjusted to the more recent historical setting I couldn't put it down. Bernard Knights`s fantastic knowledge and personal experience made it riveting reading. Great! I`'ve another series to enjoy!
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E.Eastwaters
4.0 out of 5 stars Too many brand names used
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2014
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed the book very much but I was not impressed with the use of so many brand names, I thought they were superfluous.
I do look forward to the next in the series.
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VISA
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2017
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OK
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