A Breach of Security
By: Susan Hill
Narrated by: Steven Pacey
Series: Simon Serrailler, Book 8.5
Length: 1 hr and 28 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 09-16-14
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Crime Thriller, Police Procedures
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0 and Narration 4.0.
Publisher's Summary
When a bunch of neo-fascist thugs named The Bulldogs attack a Gay pride march in the sleepy country town of Lafferton, detective Simon Serrailler moves quickly to find the assailants. He’s already got his hands full making security arrangements for a memorial service to honour soldiers returning from Afghanistan. When anonymous threats come in, Serrailler wonders if the Bulldogs are behind these too - and worries that they know the Prince of Wales will be in attendance. As the day approaches, the threats intensify, and Serrailler finds himself racing against the clock to prevent catastrophe.
Susan Hill has won the Whitbread, Somerset Maugham, and John Llewelyn Rhys prizes, as well as being shortlisted for the Booker Prize. She has written 55 books in several genres, including the ghost story The Woman in Black, the play adapted from which is still running in London’s West End after 25 years. I'm the King of The Castle has been a GCSE set text. She has also published collections of short stories, fiction for children, several nonfiction books and the highly successful crime novel series about the detective Simon Serrailler, who features in a short story here for the first time. Her new novel, The Soul of Discretion, is the eighth in the Serrailler series, and will be published by Chatto and Windus in October. Susan Hill is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, a Fellow of King’s College, London, and was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Honours of 2012.
©2014 Susan Hill (P)2014 Audible Studios
Review:
Serrailler is a detective who takes his work seriously. He is focused on duties planning security for an upcoming memorial service at which the Prince of Wales is expected. Serrailler isn’t happy to have to investigate a gang of neo-fascists who call themselves The Bulldogs after they attack participants of a Gay Pride march. Then threats are received regarding the memorial event. Are the attacks and the threats connected? Can he and his coworkers keep the Prince and soldiers safe?
I enjoyed this very quick listen. The story is well written with enough character development and story plot to make it interesting. There is a glimpse of Serrailler's off duty time as he tries to relax with his sister and one of his nephews. I like Serrailler as a character and appreciate this chance to sample the author’s work. There is a bit of swearing that I don’t like but that is not unexpected in police, crime thriller genres.
Audio Notes: Steven Pacey provides solid narration. As the story began I double checked the narrator as the accent made me think of a (different) famous British actor. Pacey makes the story even more realistic with expressions of exasperation, disdain and frustrations totally fitting the setting and characters.
Source: Audible November 2016 Sale. This fits 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook Goals.
