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Flick Fortune and Baggo Chandavarkar #2
Murder on the Second Tee
The first blow took Hugh Parsley by surprise. It fractured his right temporal bone and tore the middle meningeal artery. He stumbled and fell face down on the grass. A blow to the back of his neck cracked the occipital bone at the base of his skull. He was struck several times about the left temporal area. His brain ceased to function. Hugh Parsley was dead.
Murder on the Second Tee is the follow-up to the popular crime fiction novel Murder on Page One.
The directors of the niche Bucephalus Bank are meeting in a St Andrews hotel. One of them is found dead on the golf course. It is Flick Fortune’s first case as a detective inspector. As she struggles to uncover the murderer behind the bank’s respectable façade, she receives unexpected help from Detective Sergeant Bagawath Chandavarkar (Baggo), who is investigating a multi-million pound money laundering scam.
Another murder follows and Flick’s old boss and tormentor, ex-Inspector No, makes an unwelcome intrusion before the truth is revealed...
Ian Simpson is inspired by a number of authors, including PG Wodehouse, John Mortimer and William Boyd. His writing style is comparable to Christopher Brookmyre. Murder on the Second Tee is a pacey whodunit, laced with the humour that drew glowing reviews for Ian’s first novel, Murder on Page One.
Review
'Ian Simpson has written a superb read... St Andrews is defined to a tee, the author drawing on his childhood home town. A rollicking read.' --The Journal of the Law Society of Scotland
Murder on the Second Tee is the follow-up to the popular crime fiction novel Murder on Page One.
The directors of the niche Bucephalus Bank are meeting in a St Andrews hotel. One of them is found dead on the golf course. It is Flick Fortune’s first case as a detective inspector. As she struggles to uncover the murderer behind the bank’s respectable façade, she receives unexpected help from Detective Sergeant Bagawath Chandavarkar (Baggo), who is investigating a multi-million pound money laundering scam.
Another murder follows and Flick’s old boss and tormentor, ex-Inspector No, makes an unwelcome intrusion before the truth is revealed...
Ian Simpson is inspired by a number of authors, including PG Wodehouse, John Mortimer and William Boyd. His writing style is comparable to Christopher Brookmyre. Murder on the Second Tee is a pacey whodunit, laced with the humour that drew glowing reviews for Ian’s first novel, Murder on Page One.
Review
'Ian Simpson has written a superb read... St Andrews is defined to a tee, the author drawing on his childhood home town. A rollicking read.' --The Journal of the Law Society of Scotland
283 pages, Paperback
First published June 22, 2014
16 people want to read
About the author
Ian Simpson
6Ìýbooks24ÌýfollowersAfter doing criminal defence work at the Scottish bar, I spent eighteen years on the bench, latterly sitting part-time as a temporary High Court judge. When I retired due to ill-health I turned from crime fact to crime fiction. In 2008 I was shortlisted for the Debut Dagger by the Crime Writers' Association. Murder on Page One is my first book to be published. Murder on the Second Tee is my second. Murder in Court Three came out at Easter 2015. Murder in the Fourth Round is the latest in the series.
Sons of the Fathers and The Andrean Project are different from the others as they are 'faction'. I have always admired the great Bobby Jones, who has a special affinity to St Andrews, my home town. In these books I have weaved murder mysteries into true accounts of championships won by Jones at St Andrews. Aimed mainly at golfers, I have been pleased to get positive reactions from non-golfers.
Sons of the Fathers and The Andrean Project are different from the others as they are 'faction'. I have always admired the great Bobby Jones, who has a special affinity to St Andrews, my home town. In these books I have weaved murder mysteries into true accounts of championships won by Jones at St Andrews. Aimed mainly at golfers, I have been pleased to get positive reactions from non-golfers.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 2, 2014
It's hard to judge one's own work, but I am happy with this. I've tried to put interesting characters into challenging situations in an iconic setting. I've brought in golf, but not so as to put off non-golfers. I've also used humour, sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious. I hope people will read this and find themselves diverted and amused, perhaps pondering one of the ethical issues raised.
I could never give my own work five stars, but I'll give it four and hope that Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ readers concur.
I could never give my own work five stars, but I'll give it four and hope that Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ readers concur.
November 2, 2014
Second book; sometimes difficult to repeat a successful debut. Have no worries in this case, this is another clever and comedic story.
Set in St Andrews the detectives from the first book have moved on; this brings a fresh perspective to their characters and enables a complicated duel investigation to proceed without problem for the plot or reader to assimilate.
A bank is reeling from the financial crash; dodgy dealings mean their is an internal conspiracy to maintain secrecy but perhaps murder is a step too far. When a body turns up on the famous links we have a female detective short on confidence; pregnant and desperate to make an impression. Her character is very cleverly written as are her new supporting cast. Inspector No is also back for a cameo; now in retirement he is brought back by the back to stop the criminal investigation into the murder getting too close to the corruption taking place.
However, Detective Sergeant Bagawath Chandavarkar (Baggo)is undercover as a waiter investigating the bank fraud. He is another well drawn and likeable character. His independent thinking and insights provides a real assest to the murder enquiry running parallel to his own investigation. He also greatly enriches the reading experience.
You don't need to love golf or hate bankers to enjoy this book. It is a modern police procedural with a clever plot, harking back to more convential murder mysteries. It is light and full of humour but not at the expense of some serious issues it raises, including the impact on murder itself.
While some books refresh and purge you through unspeackable crimes and real menace, Ian Simpsons novels will inform and delight and leave a smile on your face. A perfect tonic to some of the darker thrillers on your bookshelf.
I eagerly await the third in this wonderful series and wonder what group of society he'll arrange to bump off next time - MPs, PPI cold callers or cowboy builders?
Set in St Andrews the detectives from the first book have moved on; this brings a fresh perspective to their characters and enables a complicated duel investigation to proceed without problem for the plot or reader to assimilate.
A bank is reeling from the financial crash; dodgy dealings mean their is an internal conspiracy to maintain secrecy but perhaps murder is a step too far. When a body turns up on the famous links we have a female detective short on confidence; pregnant and desperate to make an impression. Her character is very cleverly written as are her new supporting cast. Inspector No is also back for a cameo; now in retirement he is brought back by the back to stop the criminal investigation into the murder getting too close to the corruption taking place.
However, Detective Sergeant Bagawath Chandavarkar (Baggo)is undercover as a waiter investigating the bank fraud. He is another well drawn and likeable character. His independent thinking and insights provides a real assest to the murder enquiry running parallel to his own investigation. He also greatly enriches the reading experience.
You don't need to love golf or hate bankers to enjoy this book. It is a modern police procedural with a clever plot, harking back to more convential murder mysteries. It is light and full of humour but not at the expense of some serious issues it raises, including the impact on murder itself.
While some books refresh and purge you through unspeackable crimes and real menace, Ian Simpsons novels will inform and delight and leave a smile on your face. A perfect tonic to some of the darker thrillers on your bookshelf.
I eagerly await the third in this wonderful series and wonder what group of society he'll arrange to bump off next time - MPs, PPI cold callers or cowboy builders?
August 11, 2014
This a quirky Scottish murder mystery set in and around St Andrews and its famous golf course. A banker is found bludgeoned to death on the golf course and the investigations are lead by an odd couple police team of a woman inspector and a jolly Indian sergeant. Muddying the waters is their former drunkard boss who is now a private eye. The story is pacy and full of well-drawn characters. Complex financial shenanigans play a major part in the story and are described in a way that is accessible to the layman. I found a few minor elements of the story unconvincing but the whole hung together very well. This is the second of a series and I shall add the first to my reading list.
October 12, 2019
This is of local interest to me (although sadly I've never had the opportunity to go to the OC Hotel, apart from the odd drink in the Jigger). I'm not sure that I'd rush to read them otherwise. I did find there were too many characters introduced too quickly and I wasn't quite sure who they all were. Could have been better
June 17, 2016
Murder On The Second Tee is a police procedural set in St Andrews. Inspector Flick Fortune has moved to St Andrews from the Met and is called out on her first murder. Investment banker Hugh Parsley has been bludgeoned to death on the second tee of the Old Course. Suspicion soon falls on his fellow bankers who are with him on secret negotiations and is soon heightened when she runs into former colleague, Baggo, who is working undercover as a waiter in order to investigate the bankers after allegations of money laundering. Flick's cup overflows when she realises her hated former boss ex-Inspector No has been engaged by the bankers to find the murderer.
There are many strands to this novel and initially it may seem complicated but Mr Simpson does a tremendous job of bringing it all together seamlessly throughout the novel and making it an easy, compelling read which I couldn't put down. There is so much going on I just had to find out what was coming next and was so absorbed I didn't have time to try and guess whodunit!
Much of the charm of this novel comes from Baggo's character - smart and likeable with a sense of humour he is an excellent protagonist. Flick Fortune is his foil. Equally smart she is very much a by the book officer with no sense of humour. These traits could make her very unlikeable but Mr Simpson very wisely shows her more human side and you can't help liking her. She is low on self confidence, weepy in her early pregnancy and still feeling her way in the alien world of Scottish policing, all things we can identify with. Ex-Inspector No is quite frankly disgusting but a recognisable caricature of old style policing. He produces the slapstick humour.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murder On The Second Tee. It has a dense but understandable plot, likeable characters and a lovely setting so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
There are many strands to this novel and initially it may seem complicated but Mr Simpson does a tremendous job of bringing it all together seamlessly throughout the novel and making it an easy, compelling read which I couldn't put down. There is so much going on I just had to find out what was coming next and was so absorbed I didn't have time to try and guess whodunit!
Much of the charm of this novel comes from Baggo's character - smart and likeable with a sense of humour he is an excellent protagonist. Flick Fortune is his foil. Equally smart she is very much a by the book officer with no sense of humour. These traits could make her very unlikeable but Mr Simpson very wisely shows her more human side and you can't help liking her. She is low on self confidence, weepy in her early pregnancy and still feeling her way in the alien world of Scottish policing, all things we can identify with. Ex-Inspector No is quite frankly disgusting but a recognisable caricature of old style policing. He produces the slapstick humour.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murder On The Second Tee. It has a dense but understandable plot, likeable characters and a lovely setting so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
July 13, 2016
Hugh Parsley has found murdered on a golf course in a Scottish hotel. His colleagues, managers of a small but prestigious bank, stay there to sort out some problems. Detective Flick Fortune’s first case turns out to be much more complicated than assumed at first glance since the group of bankers is also observed by an undercover agent, Baggo, who is investigating money laundering at the same time. A third player in the game will make life even more complicated for the two.
Unfortunately, the crime novel could not really convince me. The constant shift between the murder investigation and the laundering scandal, personal animosities or the like was more confusing than creating suspense. Additionally, the characters did not really appear authentic and lively, especially Flick Fortune could not convince me as a real police detective.
Unfortunately, the crime novel could not really convince me. The constant shift between the murder investigation and the laundering scandal, personal animosities or the like was more confusing than creating suspense. Additionally, the characters did not really appear authentic and lively, especially Flick Fortune could not convince me as a real police detective.
November 27, 2016
I bought this in St. Andrews after asking a bookseller for some recommendations for a mystery with a female protagonist. This fit the bill, set primarily in the large hotel on the most famous golf course in Scotland. The heroine is trying to establish herself as the new detective in town. More corporate shenanigans than golf and plenty of personalities as potential murderers.
July 21, 2014
FOLLOWING A MEETING AT THE ST ANDREWS GOLF COURSE A BODY IS DISCOVERED AND A NEW DETECTIVE INSPECTOR IS CALLED OUT TO TAKE THE CASE ON, SOMETHING WHICH IS NEW TO HER. ITS A STORY OF MYSTERY, INTRIGUE AND A CRIME THRILLER WHODUNIT, EDGE OF SEAT READING.
November 9, 2014
Unfortunately, sometimes, you just can't get into a book. I started to read the book serveral times, but stopped after a few pages. I can't pinpoint why I didn't like the book, I only know that I couldn«,t finish it (wasn't even tempted to read the final chapter ...)
February 19, 2015
4 stars
June 21, 2015
The only character I liked in this book was St. Andrews. If this story was based in Aberdeen, I wouldn't have made it past page 50.
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