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Brass in Pocket: Inspector Drake Mystery (Volume 1)
- Narrated by: Richard Elfyn
- Series: Inspector Drake, Book 1
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
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didn't like it performance was not the best I've
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Summary
A psychotic with an ear for melodies. A detective trapped inside his own mind. Can he catch the killer before the final beat?
Welsh Inspector Ian Drake barely manages to keep his OCD under control. So, after two fellow police officers are brutally murdered on an isolated mountain route, the pressure to solve the case threatens to make him crack. But Drake feels his carefully constructed world falling apart when the killer taunts him with cryptic song lyrics and promises of more death.
As tensions build to a crescendo - both at home and at work - the weary detective’s fears are realized when a local politician appears slain by the same sinister hand. And as Drake keeps receiving the culprit’s cruel verses, his head pounds at the thought of more victims marching to their doom.
Can he catch the sociopathic felon before he loses his sanity...or his life?
Brass in Pocket is the first book in the dynamic Inspector Drake crime series. If you like police procedurals, clever mysteries, and gripping thrillers, then you’ll love Stephen Puleston’s unnerving whodunit.
What listeners say about Brass in Pocket: Inspector Drake Mystery (Volume 1)
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 14-11-18
Entertaining story and great narration
Detective Inspector Drake is called to the scene of a double murder where two police officers have been killed. The developing investigation is fast-paced and exciting. Drake is a nuanced and flawed character as are all great detectives. The narration is excellent bringing a great Welsh voice to the place names and bringing the characters to life. I am looking forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.
6 people found this helpful
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- jhanami
- 01-12-18
Brilliant narration by Richard Elfyn
Absolutely loved this story - a bunch of gruesome murders, a grumpy Inspector, a cast of interesting supporting characters and sinister suspects and the lovely Welsh twang of Robert Elfyn made this an absolute delight to listen to.
Highly recommended on audio, 5 stars!
4 people found this helpful
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- SandraL
- 24-11-18
Excellent crime thriller
This is the second DI Drake book I have listened to – the first was the prequel, Devil’s Kitchen, which introduced me to Drake.
The story starts with the murder of two police officers on the Crimea Pass in Snowdonia. Other murders follow and the killer sends clues in the form of song lyrics, hence the title of the book. I have to admit ‘ve been singing Brass in Pocket to myself since I started listening!
I loved the location of the book as I have spent several happy holidays in North Wales and so know lots of the places mentioned in the book. I enjoy police procedurals and the description of the police investigation seemed real. I was a bit surprised that the lyrics of the songs weren’t included in the book though; perhaps the author couldn’t get permission to use them? The story moved at a good pace and we were given several clues and also a few red herrings which kept me guessing right through the book but I didn’t guess who the killer was till close to the end of the book.
Stephen Puleston described DI Ian Drake’s OCD very well – the way he has to have a tidy desk, doing his daily Sudoku puzzle etc. I’m not sure I would like to work with Drake myself. His obsessions would drive me mad. I’m more like DS Caren Waits and I’d love to have a herd of alpacas!
Richard Elfyn’s narration was also spot on.
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading/listening to the rest of the series.
3 people found this helpful
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- NM
- 30-11-18
Next instalment please.
My first meeting with DI Drake and the story dived straight into the action and then led me on a complex path of what, where, when, who and how. The reference to the title within the book had me thinking one thing, but was actually another. Was quite pleased with my interpretation but alas, it was not meant to be.
Not sure that I got to know Drake and understood what made him tick. We are introduced to his family immediate and extended, but I wanted more. Maybe the next read will give me that.
Well narrated (how I enjoy a voice with a Welsh lilt to it) and the range of character voices were well executed. The story is set in Wales; any one who lives or knows the area would enjoy the references, I’m sure.
2 people found this helpful
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- WallE
- 27-11-18
Remember to value what you have.
This is not fast paced crime thriller but a slowly cranked up tale of love, lust, absence and hatred. Stephen Puleston gives us DI Drake to navigate the waters in a case too close to home; the clues random and familiar feeding Drake's obsessive personality.
This is not a happy tale with the Welsh landscape and local politics playing their part but it contains questions you want answered and people you want to understand.
Richard Elfyn captured the various moods of this story without the need for high dramatics.
2 people found this helpful
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- S. J. Hall
- 30-11-18
Do you know the song lyrics?
The murders are committed with references to song lyrics, but how are they relevant? This trip around Wales is a good story with strong characters. I had no idea who the criminal might be, until all was revealed.
The narrator worked well for this story as the voice gave character to the surroundings.
I was unsure why the two policemen were murdered during the first part of the story, but as more was read to me I began to understand. This was drawn out well.
I received from a free copy of this audiobook, which hasn’t influenced my review which is to say it’s a good listen and hopefully there are plenty more to follow. I didn’t know this author has written other books. I’ll certainly check out more in this series.
1 person found this helpful
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- EllenJ
- 25-11-18
Brilliant plot and narration
A great start to the Inspector Drake series of novels. The plot is gripping and engaging and the narration brings the characters to life. I’m looking forward to more in the series.
1 person found this helpful
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- DocRev
- 17-11-18
A cracking story!
I loved the songs running through the story.
I loved the way the story began really atmospherically with the first murders.
The author knows his police procedural stuff as he used to be a lawyer. The descriptions of the investigation were very detailed and completely realistic.
The story line kept me gripped all the way through. Great ending!
I'm not so sure about the narrator. I have to say he gave it 100% because he did. But one of his accents sounds just like Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage and it distracted me every time I heard it and made me want to laugh out loud. Other people may not find that a problem.
I will definitely read more from Stephen Puleston.
1 person found this helpful
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- TerryHeth
- 15-11-18
Excellent
This story stole my interest pretty quickly. I found it fast & paced so well.
It was creepy in parts, shocking & downright terrible with what happens in it.
But what a great tale! It kept me enthralled & when work finishes & I have to stop listening...well not amused.
Narrator was great too, lovely voice, great pace, would love to listen to more.
1 person found this helpful
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- san2har
- 29-10-18
Gave up!
I really couldn’t carry on with this book. Although I quite enjoyed the prequel I’m afraid Drake’s OCD really irritated me. It didn’t seem to help him with his detective work either. It was a convoluted story following the murder of two policemen and I really didn’t care in the end who did it or why it happened.
3 people found this helpful
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- Mindy H
- 30-11-18
Another Great story in the Drake series
The author weaves a wonderful tale that twists and turns and shakes up your expectations. The characters in the story are so well developed that you feel as though you have know them for a long time, and are still finding out little tidbits that make you say AH-ha!
Inspector Drake’s OCD issues make him one of the best at what he does, but strains his relationships in and out of work. I enjoy the way the author explores the effect OCD has on his life without drowning the reader and the minute details of such.
I have listened to the Audio and read the book. The narrator sound just like you would imagine him to sound! We know the series is based in Wales, and the narrators accent and tone take you there! His voice is crisp and clear and the accent does not confuse the American ear!
Each book in this series has been wonderful as a stand alone and part of an on going series.
17 people found this helpful
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- Reggie
- 08-11-18
The quirkiness of DI Drake
DI Ian Drake is awakened in the middle of the night for a case...two traffic officers were found murdered...very gruesomely. As Ian and his partner, Karen try to figure out the clues left behind, a number and song lyrics, bodies start piling up...another police officer. The killer seems to always be a step ahead. The quirkiness of Ian is cute , if not odd...he abhors dirt and disorder. Karen’s sloppy attire drives him batty, and he may be addicted to Sudoku. Quirkiness notwithstanding, Ian finally figures out the clues and the perpetrator is not who you expect. Narration was just right for this book. Looking forward to more in this series.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
11 people found this helpful
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- Karenique
- 18-12-18
Blah-blah-blah, a waste of 10 minutes and 10 hours
I got to the point where I didn't care about the ending to find who and why. I read Stephen Puleston's Devil's Kitchen and I really enjoyed it. Richard Elfyn's narration is spot-on but his talent was wasted on this one. The plot rambled on and on. Too many characters had me confused. Well, I did finish it. This has to be the most ridiculous and convoluted ending! I am returning it.
8 people found this helpful
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- Octopus Jones
- 09-03-19
Lost potential
Really good narrator who did his best with a poorly edited book.
There are all the elements here for a solid police procedural with an interesting detective but..... the story loses momentum due to poor editing and by the end I really didn’t care anymore. I’m returning this book.
5 people found this helpful
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- Clau
- 13-02-19
A great first book in the series
I really enjoyed this book. It has a good plot, and I like how the killer's perspective is given from time to time.
Inspector Drake it's a very interesting character, with his conflict between family and job, and his need to set the wrongs right. But sometimes his OCD become the protagonist, distracting from the plot.
The setting is presented vividly and makes you love Wales if you already didn't. And the secondary characters are rich and lively.
And the narrator, Richard Elfyn, does a very good job bringing the characters to life. All in all, this is a great book, worthy of your time.
3 people found this helpful
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- matt harrington
- 18-06-19
Dragged a lot at times
Too much attention to the Inspector's OCD. Too much time dealing with family that never went anywhere. Could have cut the story in half and it would have flowed better.
2 people found this helpful
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- Christopher
- 06-03-19
This author is all over the place.
The characters are not believable as Police.........all are insecure and worried about them selves. The DCI doesn't inspires confidence in him self or his team. The Author jumps around, the characters don't ask the questions that good detectives would. I had high hopes for this series..............alas.........not.
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- Jan
- 02-03-19
Perfect narrator!
procedural, wales, law-enforcement, murder
Realistic coppers with real responses to the evil that opened the book with the brutal shooting of two of their own who were not even in contact with a civilian as they drove along. The lead DI, Drake, has more OCD than the forensic techs, but that's a good thing because only the painstaking due diligence will solve this one as it escalates to include threats, suspense, and more murders. This is not a cosy nor the telescoped investigation of American TV, this is much more like the reality suffered by law enforcement everywhere.
Richard Elfyn seems perfect as narrator with clear speech and appropriate inflections.
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- Maine Knitter
- 02-03-19
Great start
I enjoyed this. I’m especially glad I listened to the audiobook because I never would have been able to pronounce the Welsh place names. However, I am extremely disappointed that the subsequent books are not available in that format.
An interesting character is DI Drake. Quirky, yes, but dedicated. I look forward to learning more about his colleagues and seeing more of their working relationships. That’s one of the things I enjoy in this genre.
The story was good. I didn’t guess the killer until near the end. For the first in a series, this was a great start. I would read more (listen) if, as mentioned, they were on Audible.
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- Amazon Customer
- 29-01-20
Angry, irritated, impatient frustrated
Those words pretty much describe the emotional range of DI Drake. And he's too impetuous and intolerant to be a good detective. No more Drake for me!
1 person found this helpful