Shooting Elvis

by Stuart Pawson

Book Overview

A bizarre death leads to discoveries about low-tech industrial espionage, but is selling details of your employer's customer base to their rivals a reason for murder? Appearances deceive, and it... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0749081139
• ISBN13: 9780749081133
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Allison & Busby
• Length: 376 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.4" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

5 star ***** Hooray for Pawson and Charlie Priest!

I've read ALL of Yorkshire-based Stuart Pawson's available stories featuring the amiable Inspector Charlie Priest, the longest serving Detective Inspector in the East Pennine force in the fictional Yorkshire town of Heckley. This quirky title, which drew me to his books initially, is just one of Pawson's many strengths, and does eventually make sense, as with many more of his unusual and therefore equally memorable titles. Each book is a sheer delight, and a comforting read many times over. Please note: No Elvis was harmed in the making of this story. Charlie as usual solves a number of intertwining mysteries through solid police work and an occasionally unorthodox departure from procedure. The characters seem credible and well drawn, the plots brilliantly devised, disparate threads not seeming to have any relation, but eventually come together because they are handled expertly by a master. As it says on the tin (in this case, the cover) "If you've not read Pawson before..shame on you !" - mainly because you are, in fact, missing one heck of a treat. Run, don't walk to obtain a copy now. You'll be glad you did. Happy reading.

Shooting Elvis

The book arrived in good condition and quickly (in fact, I got two of them! - not sure whether that was my mistake or the book sellers!)

A nifty, inventive mystery

I really like the writing of Stuart Pawson. My first exposure was Over the Edge and that favorable impression was enhanced by reading Shooting Elvis. Pawson's plotting is inventive, his stories are not routine, and his procedurals are enlightening. But what really sets him apart is his wonderful ability with writing dialogue. Because Pawson writes in the first person, his Acting DCI Charlie Priest, main character of these books and really fun guy, is able to muse aloud to our delight and his. The repartee amongst Priest and his colleagues is especially witty and well done and you can just picture their working relationships. The main plotline in Shooting Elvis is a not-so-amusing series of puzzling murders that are done to order, but their genesis is puzzling and draws Priest and his cronies a little too close to home before the lightbulb goes on. A satisfying sidestory involves Priest and his happy relationship with Sonia, a former world-class runner who has lost her confidence due to an unfortunate injury. The scenes where Priest is helping rebuild Sonia and hopefully building a relationship as well are nicely done. I intend to seek out more Stuart Pawson - his writing appears to be worth the time and effort.