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Bill Slider #11
Game Over
Incorrigible middle-aged Detective Inspector Bill Slider and his team investigate the murder of an ex-BBC journalist � and find corruption in high places � in the eleventh mystery in the critically acclaimed series.
The murder of any journalist is bound to whip the news media into a frenzy. So when ex-BBC correspondent Ed Stonax is found dead, the last thing Detective Inspector Slider needs to complicate his life is the reappearance of an old enemy issuing death threats. Trevor Bates, aka The Needle, is on the loose and trying to kill him, and with a high-profile murder to solve, he must try to find a spare moment to marry Joanna before their baby is born � and stay alive long enough to do it . . .
Game Over finds the everyman hero and his team grappling with corruption in high places as two old cases come back to haunt him.
The murder of any journalist is bound to whip the news media into a frenzy. So when ex-BBC correspondent Ed Stonax is found dead, the last thing Detective Inspector Slider needs to complicate his life is the reappearance of an old enemy issuing death threats. Trevor Bates, aka The Needle, is on the loose and trying to kill him, and with a high-profile murder to solve, he must try to find a spare moment to marry Joanna before their baby is born � and stay alive long enough to do it . . .
Game Over finds the everyman hero and his team grappling with corruption in high places as two old cases come back to haunt him.
234 pages, Hardcover
First published June 19, 2008
37 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
152books471followersCynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 22, 2016
A former BBC correspondent is murdered in London and his journalist daughter arrives from New York seeking answers. DI Slider learns that a man he helped put away earlier has escaped from a prison van and is gunning for him. These two themes are embedded in the first of the Bill Slider mysteries, with the cast of possible suspects reaching into the upper echelons of government.
Though well-plotted, I was confused at times by the many characters. As a rule I avoid reading the first book of a series up front as it takes time to bed characters down, and this is the case here. I would probably have not have gone on to read other titles in the series and missed out on the wit and cleverness of Harrod-Eagles' other police procedurals. 3 stars
Though well-plotted, I was confused at times by the many characters. As a rule I avoid reading the first book of a series up front as it takes time to bed characters down, and this is the case here. I would probably have not have gone on to read other titles in the series and missed out on the wit and cleverness of Harrod-Eagles' other police procedurals. 3 stars
March 1, 2018
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles is one of my favorite "comfort" reads--the kind of reliable book I go to when I just want to settle in and read a good mystery with familiar characters that I know I like. I've read quite a few of the Bill Slider mysteries, and I really enjoyed the ones when Bill was falling in love with Joanna and tormented by the crumbling of his marriage. Perhaps it's inevitable that now that he and Joanna are living together and expecting a baby, that part of the story isn't quite so engaging. Still, I expected the mystery here to be a lot better than it was. A former investigative journalist is found murdered in his apartment. Even though his neighbors reported hearing him typing all day and night, it takes Bill and the crew until the 50% mark of the book to cotton on to the idea that he was murdered because of something he was investigating on his own. (This is not a spoiler--it will dawn on readers by chapter three). In the meantime, an escaped prisoner who Bill arrested is taunting him by phone and threatening him. The problem with both story lines is that all the suspects and villains are either already dead or in hiding or are faceless bureaucrats and politicians. All the action seems to occur off-stage. There's one chase scene, then everything wraps up with all the faceless characters we never met getting their comeuppance. Hopefully, this is just an off entry in an otherwise great series.
June 15, 2015
Maybe I have read too many Bill Slider mysteries, but this one seemed formulaic--kind of like Harrod-Eagles just phoned it in. The usual elements of a police procedural mystery and personal life drama are there, but they seemed predictable and I just didn't get engaged enough to care.
August 10, 2020
One of the comforts for me in a series such as Harrod-Eagles' Bill Slider series is the familiarity of the main characters, the setting, the story-telling. Game Over provides all of that.
These books can be read as stand-alones, but when read in order provide the pleasure of character development and the full history that sometimes is alluded to in a story.
These books can be read as stand-alones, but when read in order provide the pleasure of character development and the full history that sometimes is alluded to in a story.
August 29, 2016
It's been a while since I spent time with Bill, Joanna, Atherton, Swilley, Hart and the rest of the team. This was a good story but I knew where the key to unlocking the puzzle was only about a third of the way through and couldn't figure out why none of them could figure it out. Maybe I need to head to Shepherd's Bush. Porson makes me laugh out loud. A very fun read.
January 4, 2018
Maybe three and a half stars. A very good installment in the series, with a complicated mystery and the usual literate word-play. Just not as funny or as original as in some of the other books. These really should be read in order, since the through-story develops very gradually. But they are well worth the time.
February 10, 2020
A little too mired in politics to be totally engaging for me. I do wish Slider would treat his friend Pauline better. He's always taking advantage of her and never giving her anything in return.
I enjoyed Slider's group as always and enjoyed seeing the beginning of Emily & Atherton's relationship.
I enjoyed Slider's group as always and enjoyed seeing the beginning of Emily & Atherton's relationship.
May 24, 2012
Not my favorite Bill Slider mystery. It should have been, for all the personal stuff that happens. That part was very good. I just wanted more of a mystery, and I didn't feel that was there. I missed the clever word play as well.
September 20, 2022
A new series for me. Unfortunately the first one my library had was the 12th outing of DI Bill Slider . Fortunately there are already 23 in the series! This is a good UK police procedural. Limited graphic content with a nice mix of narrative and character development. Satisfying ending with all the bad guys getting what they deserve!
May 16, 2018
My first, and the eleventh, Detective Inspector Bill Slider whodunnit. Clearly a well-loved series, started in 1991, with a group of continuing characters and relationships. Policing in London.
The writing is serviceable and not quite crisp enough to give great enjoyment in it, but the plot and characters are well done and enjoyable, with a good mixture of humour and excitement as well as the police procedural method.
I can understand devotees reading the whole series with pleasure as the characters develop alongside the whodunnit plots. I have the first three books now, and will read them with high hopes of being sucked into the series.
The GR blurb:
'A Bill Slider Mystery - When ex-BBC correspondent Ed Stonax is found dead, the last thing Detective Inspector Slider needs to complicate his life is the reappearance of an old enemy issuing death threats. Trevor Bates, aka The Needle, is on the loose and trying to kill him, and with a high-profile murder to solve, Slider must try to find a spare moment to marry Joanna before their baby is born and stay alive long enough to do it . . .'
The writing is serviceable and not quite crisp enough to give great enjoyment in it, but the plot and characters are well done and enjoyable, with a good mixture of humour and excitement as well as the police procedural method.
I can understand devotees reading the whole series with pleasure as the characters develop alongside the whodunnit plots. I have the first three books now, and will read them with high hopes of being sucked into the series.
The GR blurb:
'A Bill Slider Mystery - When ex-BBC correspondent Ed Stonax is found dead, the last thing Detective Inspector Slider needs to complicate his life is the reappearance of an old enemy issuing death threats. Trevor Bates, aka The Needle, is on the loose and trying to kill him, and with a high-profile murder to solve, Slider must try to find a spare moment to marry Joanna before their baby is born and stay alive long enough to do it . . .'
May 5, 2021
This is now my very favourite Slider book purely for personal reasons—baby Derek, Emily and Atherton et al. It also heartbreaking because Emily’s father is murdered and we get to know him rather well through Emily’s memories and thoughts. And we like Emily because I think, finally, Atherton has his soul mate. After some serious death threats by the cursed—pronounced “curse ed”—Bates, who has been helped to escape captivity and not only death threats but death traps designed to end Slider’s life. But with the entire team working to find the murderer and at the same time trying to find Bates, the reason for the murder is discovered; and it makes a person ashamed to be part of a species that would endanger so many lives. But Justice prevails and we see several despicable miscreants go down, Joanna and Slider married, and baby delivered.
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February 19, 2023This is a solid British cop series that grew on me. I was initially entirely unimpressed with the vapid, weak-charactered Bill Slider. But as the series grew, so did he. In this book, he’s investigating the murder of former BBC reporter Ed Stonax. His daughter, Emily, is back from New York to attend the funeral, and she and one of Bill’s cop associates get super cozy quick. A man whom Slider had helped convict has escaped prison, and he insists he’ll either kill Slider or his pregnant girlfriend. As to the pregnant girlfriend, she wants a marriage before the child is born. Poor Slider is scrambling in multiple directions, and the escaped prisoner really wants him dead.
The mystery plotline is decent; it will keep you reading. Slider’s life-threatening convict connects to the journalist’s murder, and it’s a breezy but interesting plot.
The mystery plotline is decent; it will keep you reading. Slider’s life-threatening convict connects to the journalist’s murder, and it’s a breezy but interesting plot.
October 9, 2017
Not my favorite Slider, but then I really don't like plots that have conspiracies going to "the highest levels." I don't like spy novels, either, for that reason: you can trust no one, even the "forces of good." I find that profoundly disorienting and depressing. I don't think I'm naive, but I just don't want to spend any time with people who are corrupt and pretend not to be.
That said, Slider is always worth reading. And in this one, we get to see him and Joanna finally (finally) married. The human touches in the characters are so well done and the language so carefully chosen and funny that I'll even forgive Harrod-Eagles the conspiracies.
That said, Slider is always worth reading. And in this one, we get to see him and Joanna finally (finally) married. The human touches in the characters are so well done and the language so carefully chosen and funny that I'll even forgive Harrod-Eagles the conspiracies.
September 2, 2019
This really wasn't very good, sadly. The murder being investigated turned out to be related to those featured in the two previous instalments and involved corruption in the police, government, prison service, you name it. It was all totally unbelievable and that was before you got to the Atherton/Emily romance of the century and the Slider/Joanna wedding while she was in labour, both of which were frankly a little stomach-churning. I assume this is mean to be it for Atherton's love life, and I sincerely hope it is.
I also hope the next instalment marks a return to form.
I also hope the next instalment marks a return to form.
November 7, 2024
A reader’s comment on a book by another author lead me to try this series. I started with this one because it was available in my local library. While it reeled me in and, unusually, kept me reading into the early morning, I ended up skipping whole sections in the second half of the. I enjoy police procedurals but became impatient with the detail and unraveling.
I might try another, but my hopes of discovering an addictive new series are dashed.
I might try another, but my hopes of discovering an addictive new series are dashed.
July 29, 2017
A very tidy political/police mystery novel. This book was well written with good character development. Although it was a short book, there were many of twists and turns and a large number of characters to keep track of as you read thru the action. I would read a book by this author again.
I borrowed this book from the Berkley MI, Public Library.
I borrowed this book from the Berkley MI, Public Library.
March 14, 2017
When I picked up the book and checked the inside page, this was the only title mentioned for the Bill Slider series, so I thought it was the 1st novel.
Nope, its the 11th, but is good enough for me to go look for the 1st and start reading the series in order.
Nope, its the 11th, but is good enough for me to go look for the 1st and start reading the series in order.
February 8, 2018
Plenty of London suspense
Harrod-Eagles is a skillful plotter, which makes her series such a pleasure to read. I grew up in West London so I enjoy visiting old haunts as I turn the pages. There’s just enough grit to keep it real, and not so much that I have to put the book down.
Harrod-Eagles is a skillful plotter, which makes her series such a pleasure to read. I grew up in West London so I enjoy visiting old haunts as I turn the pages. There’s just enough grit to keep it real, and not so much that I have to put the book down.
February 6, 2022
loved this one!
The cast of characters just keeps getting better and better! Other than that I’m not giving anything else away except to say it’s important to read several books in the series in advance of this.
The cast of characters just keeps getting better and better! Other than that I’m not giving anything else away except to say it’s important to read several books in the series in advance of this.
January 17, 2018
Excellent! A super police procedural. Warm family life portrayed.
And those who would cheat the country were brought to justice-- and those who fought and represented law and order were rewarded
And those who would cheat the country were brought to justice-- and those who fought and represented law and order were rewarded
April 30, 2020
I do rather love these. Characters so warm.
May 8, 2020
Great series highly recommended
April 14, 2021
I haven't read much in this series but I probably need to go back and read them in order. Couldn't quite get into this book.
November 1, 2021
I love Bill Slider and all of this series!
March 13, 2022
A good read!
April 7, 2022
Good mystery though a bit too much focus in this one on the romantic relationships of the two main detectives, Slider and Atherton.
April 17, 2024
Perfectly serviceable British police procedural (my favorite genre!)
Read
March 4, 2025I'm happy to have found this author. Will read more.
March 12, 2008
GAME OVER (Police Proc-DI Bill Slider-London-Cont) - VG
Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia � 11th in series
Severn House, 2008, UK Hardcover � ISBN: 9780727866158
First Sentence: the habits learned in childhood tend to become ingrained, so that they operate on an involuntary level.
DI Bill Slider has a lot on his hands. His and his lover, Joanna, are trying to get married before their baby is delivered but their works keeps getting in the way. A former BBC correspondent, who joined the Department of Trade and Industry from which he was dismissed in a sex scandal, is found dead in his home. Trevor Bates, whom Slider had previous arrested but is now free, is conducting an escalating campaign of threats against Slider.
I am always delighted to see a new Bill Slider book come out. CH-E excels at characters and dialogue. There is a wonderful, diverse cast of characters from the dogged Slider, to the elegant Atherton, to their Det. Super. Porson who creates his own vocabulary “…wasn’t exactly a parody of virtue.� CH-E’s sense of place and plotting are well done. The plot begins with a seemingly straightforward murder, becomes more complex as the story progresses and ties up all pieces at the end. The suspense grows with the story and there is a wonderfully touching ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and sincerely hope this isn’t the last we see of Bill and the gang.
Harrod-Eagles, Cynthia � 11th in series
Severn House, 2008, UK Hardcover � ISBN: 9780727866158
First Sentence: the habits learned in childhood tend to become ingrained, so that they operate on an involuntary level.
DI Bill Slider has a lot on his hands. His and his lover, Joanna, are trying to get married before their baby is delivered but their works keeps getting in the way. A former BBC correspondent, who joined the Department of Trade and Industry from which he was dismissed in a sex scandal, is found dead in his home. Trevor Bates, whom Slider had previous arrested but is now free, is conducting an escalating campaign of threats against Slider.
I am always delighted to see a new Bill Slider book come out. CH-E excels at characters and dialogue. There is a wonderful, diverse cast of characters from the dogged Slider, to the elegant Atherton, to their Det. Super. Porson who creates his own vocabulary “…wasn’t exactly a parody of virtue.� CH-E’s sense of place and plotting are well done. The plot begins with a seemingly straightforward murder, becomes more complex as the story progresses and ties up all pieces at the end. The suspense grows with the story and there is a wonderfully touching ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and sincerely hope this isn’t the last we see of Bill and the gang.
February 20, 2018
Very Good British Police Procedural
Loved this intricately plotted mystery and author's polished writing. I also enjoyed the bits of sly, literate wit throughout. One negatve: I do wish the last few chapters didn't feel so rushed.
Loved this intricately plotted mystery and author's polished writing. I also enjoyed the bits of sly, literate wit throughout. One negatve: I do wish the last few chapters didn't feel so rushed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
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