The Missing Thief — Roger Silverwood

Discover a bestselling series of murder mysteries set in south Yorkshire. One million books read!A detective who's no angel despite his name . . .Meet Detective Inspector Michael Angel. An old-school policeman who sometimes rubs his colleagues up the wrong way. He's got his flaws, but he never gives up on a case.A famous film director is found murdered on set in the South Yorkshire town of Bromersley.Nearby, a penniless tramp is discovered shot dead with a gold sovereign in his mouth.And Detective Angel's wife spots an attractive young woman in a raincoat scaling a wall. The female thief mysteriously drops a silver candle snuffer as she makes her escape.There are no clues or DNA for either murder. And who is the missing thief?Detective Inspector Michael Angel tackles these mysteries with his customary tenacity. But as usual, his superiors and the system seem to hinder him at every turn.Finding his life at risk, Angel has to apply his unique skills to overcome the danger, unravel the mystery and arrest the murderer before anyone else pays the ultimate price.A brilliantly gripping mystery full of twists. Perfect for fans of R.D. Wingfield, Colin Dexter, Peter Robinson, Reginald Hill, and Agatha Christie.Please note this book was first published as The Curious Mind of Inspector Angel.THE DETECTIVEMichael Angel is over fifty, married to Mary. They don't have any children. They are a devoted couple but the relationship sometimes breaks down due to his job or due to the problems of Mary's sister who lives in Edinburgh and imposes on their easygoing natures. Michael works at the small local police station and is devoted to defeating crime, murder, and dishonesty of any sort and has no personal ambition beyond being a good husband and a successful detective. He doesn't want promotion with all the routine office work and stress that goes with it. He is incorruptible but always short of money. THE SETTINGBromersley is a market town at the bottom of the Pennines surrounded by stone and hawthorn-edged fields grazed by cattle and sheep. It is cold as anywhere in the winter but its closeness to the mountains protects it from many gales and heavy falls of snow. The town's industry today includes the manufacture of ball bearings and whisky bottles, and a huge brewery produces Bromersley's best bitter, which is considered the finest beer for miles around. Wednesday is market day, and the town centre is host to the frequent cries of stall-holders hawking their wares while the enticing smells of cheeses, coffees, foreign spices and fish and chips tempt your taste buds as you wander through the stalls. The police always find it difficult to catch pilferers and pickpockets in such a crowd.PRAISE FOR ROGER SILVERWOOD: 'Solid plotting, unpretentious writing, thoroughly reliable entertainment.' Morning Star'A cast of characters you really want to populate with familiar faces of actors you see each week on TV - great fun. Angel is terrific.' Books Monthly'Once again Silverwood combines a classic mystery plot with well-developed characters.' Publishers Weekly