A Killing in November: The Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month (DI Wilkins Mysteries)

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Each is, in its own way, well considered and I found it an involving and in places an exciting read. Oxford in general contains a high proportion of powerfully placed people operating quietly away from the glare of publicity. This is an entertaining and engaging crime read, with many threads, like asylum seekers, human trafficking, sexual harrassment, and abuse, a novel that I have no doubt will appeal to many crime and mystery readers.

Having two fast tracked Detective Inspectors named R Wilkins is unusual but their partnering is inspired. I wondered what sort of crime novel would suit these circumstances, and that’s when Ryan came into my mind.Also it's clear that his Dad is some kind of super bright young man so it makes sense that his son might be a little above average. Ray is closer to Morse, with his Balliol education and his classical music, while Ryan is more like the working class Lewis, albeit that he has none of Lewis's patience or measured approach to life and work.

The plot involving an Oxford college, a wealthy Arab Sheik and the murder of an unidentified woman, rattles along at a good pace and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. This novel uses the friction of ‘town and gown,’ well and throws fast tracked Ray into uncomfortable situations as he is first stunned by Ryan’s unconventional behaviour and yet finds his initial dislike changes into grudging respect. I like the setting, the characters and especially the wild Wilkins not so much, a bit over the top and so much stearing that it became tiresome.I'm a die hard Morse fan so probably very blinkered when it comes to the Oxford crime scene but with this novel Simon Mason has put a fresh up to date slant on life in the elitist educational capital bringing it right into the 21st century with a bang. Ryan Wilkins was raised in a trailer park, had a violent alcoholic father, his girlfriend died of a drug overdose and left him with a young son.