A Killing in November cover art

A Killing in November

DI Wilkins, Book 1

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A Killing in November

By: Simon Mason
Narrated by: Matt Addis
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About this listen

A Killing in November is an Oxford-set crime series of surprising twists, troubled pasts and a dynamic duo who are brought together by a mysterious murder investigation.

Ryan Wilkins grew up on a trailer park, a member of what many people would call the criminal classes. As a young Detective Inspector, he's lost none of his disgust with privileged elites - or his objectionable manners. But he notices things; they stick to his eyes. His professional partner, DI Ray Wilkins, of affluent Nigerian London heritage, is an impeccably groomed, smooth-talking graduate of Balliol College, Oxford. You wouldn't think they would get on. They don't.

But when a young woman is found strangled at Barnabas Hall, they're forced to.

Rich Oxford is not Ryan's natural habitat. St Barnabas' irascible Provost does not appreciate his forceful line of questioning. But what was the dead woman doing in the Provost's study? Is it just a coincidence that on the night of her murder the college was entertaining Sheik al-Medina, a Gulf state ruler linked to human-rights abuses in his own country and acts of atrocity in others?

As tensions rise, things aren't going well. Ray is in despair. Ryan is in disciplinary measures. But their investigation gradually disentangles the links between a Syrian refugee lawyer now working in the college kitchens, a priceless copy of the Koran in the college collection and the identity of the dead woman.

A Killing in November introduces an unlikely duo from different sides of the tracks in Oxford in a deftly plotted murder story full of dangerous turns, troubled pasts and unconventional detective work.

©2022 Simon Mason (P)2022 Quercus Editions Limited
Crime Crime Fiction Mystery Police Procedural Fiction Exciting Murder Detective England

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Critic reviews

Mason avoids the obvious tropes, and rather movingly focuses on Ryan's relationship with his young son. Well plotted, too. It's the first in a series: start now and avoid the rush. (Mick Herron)
My favourite crime novel of the year was Simon Mason's A Killing in November . . . it was enhanced by deft prose and the detective duo of social misfit Ryan Wilkins and the Balliol-educated Ray Wilkins. (Nicholas Clee)
Simon Mason's Ray Wilkins crime novels are my latest addiction. I wait impatiently for each one. What are the triple pillars of any great story? Character, Plot and Language. In the twin heroes of his novels (both called Wilkins and so unalike: they somehow create together one immortal police detective) he has created characters for the ages. His plots race thrillingly around an Oxford you never knew existed. His language though ... without exhibiting a trace of "writerly" self-consciousness, he is capable of phrase-making and description of the very highest quality. Those three perfect pillars support truly memorable crime novels, as great a contribution to the noble British genre of detective fiction as any writer for decades. (Stephen Fry)
My favourite UK series. (M W Craven)
All stars
Most relevant
I enjoyed every minute of this audiobook. Good story (which I very much hope will be first of a series) with a fantastically entertaining narration.

Best listen of the year to date!

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I rarely write reviews but I really enjoyed this book. Great narration and not the normal stereotypical crime stories that a lot of authors serve up.

Hope there’s another one

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I am looking forward to the next in the series. Excellent all round!!
Cannot see Ryan getting his job back though!

a refreshing change to regular crime novels.

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I usually rate the audiobooks I've listened to when they finish but I think this is the first time I've felt compelled to write some more detailed comment. I read a lot of police/detective thrillers and this one kept surprising me with the quality of the writing, the excellent narration, and the strongly drawn central characters. There's a knotty plot and it's told with some humour but I don't usually burst into tears when listening to stories of gruesome murder and it's a testament to how much Mason put me inside these characters' heads that I was so moved at points. I was thoroughly absorbed and I wish I could straight on to a sequel!

Excellent!

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The author and narrator both need a medal.
First book in over 600 to completely capture me and make me laugh out loud. Looking forward to the release of the second book.

Genius

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