A.L. Masters:
The Exciting New Name in Crime
Welcome to the world of
Detective Inspector “Spence” Hargreaves
For years, A L Masters had always sought out crime novels of a certain kind. They
should have a sense of place. They should have characters that were real,
believable, interesting and flawed. The protagonist should be someone that the
reader wanted to stay with. Villains should be ordinary and yet diabolical. He was
not drawn to those crime novels in which the author wanted to show off their years of detailed research into ballistics and forensics and complex police and legal
procedures. He wanted stories that were believable and yet took the reader in
unexpected directions and had that ‘what on earth is going to happen next’ quality.
And a touch of humour now and then does not go amiss either.
It was not always easy to find them.
And so, after over thirty years of writing History – books, articles and teacher guides –
he decided to write those crime novels himself.
Malicious Obsession
His name is Winston Leonard Spencer Hargreaves, but Detective Inspector Hargreaves of Wiltshire Police is ‘Spence’, even to the Chief Constable.
Delusions of Grandeur
Spence Hargreaves has been luxuriating in a local blues festival, held in wintry Malmesbury.
The Evil Of Virtue
Everything is separate, is unrelated, we are all living our own separate lives. Or are we?Reviews
Crime novel fans have not held back in their praise of A L Masters’ first “Spence Hargreaves” mystery, Malicious Obsession.
A L Masters’ first novel, “Malicious Obsession’, is a page turner. Evocative and moody, Masters successfully explores his characters and their strange world. ‘Spence’ Hargreaves is up there with the best. The reader is drawn in as the tension mounts and heads towards an uncertain resolution.
A really great first novel! A L Masters has that ability to keep his reader guessing right to the end. He creates well-drawn characters and maintains the tension, combining this with the unexpected and moments of humour. Can’t wait for the next one.
A L Masters has succeeded in creating a classic detective character in ‘Spence’ Hargreaves. What starts as an investigation into a brutal murder takes the reader into a world of fetish, jealousy and passion. As riveting a climax as I have read for some time!
A L Masters’ new crime thriller has everything necessary to keep you on the edge of your seat. Set in Southern England, DI ‘Spence’ Hargreaves and his team investigate a brutal murder that leads them into a web of fantasy, sex and obsession, the likes of which they have not encountered before. A clever and entertaining read. Looking forward to DI Hargreaves’ next case.
This rollicking psycho-killer mystery has more twists and turns than the urban alleys and Wiltshire lanes that are the backdrop for much of the action. The down-to-earth and slightly world-weary DI ‘Spence’ Hargreaves finds himself immersed in a cat- and-mouse, edgy world of colourful kink and murderous jealousies.
Masters has that ability to keep his readers guessing right to the end. Great characterisation and the sense of theatre is compelling. Couldn’t put it down and looking forward to ‘Spence’ Hargreaves’ next case.
Can Detective Inspector ‘Spence’ Hargreaves take his place alongside Alan Banks, Roy Grace and Tom Thorne? After reading A L Masters’ “Malicious Obsession” there can be no doubt that ‘Spence’ sits comfortably alongside these three. The setting is the West Country, where a Deputy Headmaster has been murdered. The reader is lead to the exciting climax through a series of twists and turns that keep you guessing. A classic whodunnit in the unlikely setting of Swindon. Looking forward to the next case ‘Spence’.
Loved this book, couldn’t put it down! A L Masters’ “Malicious Obsession” is up there with the best. It has been passed around my book group and all agree it is a great read. Looking forward to the next case of Detective Inspector ‘Spence’ Hargreaves.
Shop Now
Shop stories that take you in an unexpected direction.