Foul play by Fiona McIntosh

Fiona McIntosh brings back DCI Jack Hawksworth in the 5th mystery featuring this charismatic detective and his off-siders. This can be read as a stand-alone, as I did, but I am sure that readers will want to go back to read others in the series to see the development of the characters. In Foul Play, McIntosh examines extortion of superstar athletes as her main theme. When footballer Luca Bruni receives a photograph showing him in a hotel room with a woman, he swears that he was not involved and refuses to pay the ransom, instead getting in the police to investigate. Hawksworth and his team uncover numerous counts of athletes being swindled, all of whom have paid the ransom money, rather than going through the police and facing the inevitable media scandals. Luca Bruni is stubborn and is determined to bring the perpetrators of the extortion racket to justice, even though he must navigate marriage problems with his pregnant wife. When a brutal murder that Jack’s colleague Geoff is investigating overlaps with the extortion case the suspense is ramped up as the two teams investigate.

The action and tension were well paced and the sporting background and issues surrounding celebrity gave depth to the mystery. I particularly liked reading about young Luca’s life as a potential football star and the work and sacrifices he had to undergo to become a megastar. Jack is a very likeable character and details about his personal life were enjoyable, as were details about his teammates Kate and Geoff.

Foul play was hard to put down and easy to read because of its gripping plot. I certainly will be seeking out more books featuring Jack and his team.

Themes: Mystery, Extortion, Murder, Sport.

Pat Pledger