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A review by jen_meds_book_reviews
The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassell
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
The In Crowd sees the very welcome return of DI Caius Beauchamp and his colleagues, DS Matt Cheung and DC Amy Noakes, as they are once again drawn into the strange, and often underhand world, of the rich and the shameless. This time they are faced with two cases - both triggered by situations that may or may not be natural or accidental in causation - but which lead them into a very intriguing and muddled situation involving politics, cover ups and missing people and missing millions. Our lovely detecting trio aren't the only familiar faces we get to see again. albeit that I think most readers will be far happier with their presence than a certain other rogue from The Other Half, a very different Mr Beauchamp who has not yet learned his lesson in how to behave like a civilised human being it seems ...
What I love about this book, and it's predecessor, is that there is a wonderfully rich and warm vein of humour that threads through it, particularly from between the three Detectives as they navigate these two very different yet equally interesting cases, and somewhat complicated personal; lives, especially for Caius, even if he doesn't yet know it. From a rather unfortunate 'meet-puke" as the author puts it (very apt), to a tangled web of personal connections that lead him right back to his potential 'murder for millions' investigation, it seems the poor chap is destined to have a complicated love life. I do love him as a character, his well meant attempts to keep his colleagues healthy which are only ever met with a lukewarm reception, to his principled nature and dogged determination, he's a lot of fun to be around. Matt and Amy hold their own too, and as a trio they work well together. Matt has a strange obsession with lavender shortbread (don't ask) and Amy is chasing down a promotion, but they are just a fun bunch to spend time with.
The investigations this time are both complicated and strangely simple at the same time. One is a cold case, triggered by the situation in which Caius met Callie - the story of a teeneager who vanished from an exclusive boarding school a couple of decades earlier and who was never found. The second was that of a woman whose body was found in the Thames - the subject of an unexpectedly bloody opening to the book - who had been previously linked to a scandal in which a company pension fund had been syphoned away, the owner and the money never to be seen again. One is being motivated by a political angle, the other Caius' desire to do right by the missing girl. Both lead to some very surprising revelations and, in one case, a rather disturbing discovery.
The book has a good pace, the stories are equally compelling, and the characters are so varied and, sadly, believable, that even where they may seem to be exaggerated, they really probably aren't. Charlotte Vassell really does a brilliant job of creating that privileged politico-edged 'country club and pony set', both celebrating and riculing their pomposity and entitlement at the same time. And it works so well. I was completely immersed in their lifestyle, repulsed and fascinated by it, and laughing along with Caius, Matt and Amy as they poked fun and disbelief at how the other half lived. It's not the first time they have set foot in that particular world after all.
Definitely recommended. If you haven't read The Other Half then I recommend you start there first. Not entirely necessary - this book stands well alone - but it's good to see the progression of the characters and to understand the background of Beauchamp v Beauchamp a little better. The books, and characters are growing stronger each time and it's clear the author loves her Detectives just as much as we do. Can't wait for more.
What I love about this book, and it's predecessor, is that there is a wonderfully rich and warm vein of humour that threads through it, particularly from between the three Detectives as they navigate these two very different yet equally interesting cases, and somewhat complicated personal; lives, especially for Caius, even if he doesn't yet know it. From a rather unfortunate 'meet-puke" as the author puts it (very apt), to a tangled web of personal connections that lead him right back to his potential 'murder for millions' investigation, it seems the poor chap is destined to have a complicated love life. I do love him as a character, his well meant attempts to keep his colleagues healthy which are only ever met with a lukewarm reception, to his principled nature and dogged determination, he's a lot of fun to be around. Matt and Amy hold their own too, and as a trio they work well together. Matt has a strange obsession with lavender shortbread (don't ask) and Amy is chasing down a promotion, but they are just a fun bunch to spend time with.
The investigations this time are both complicated and strangely simple at the same time. One is a cold case, triggered by the situation in which Caius met Callie - the story of a teeneager who vanished from an exclusive boarding school a couple of decades earlier and who was never found. The second was that of a woman whose body was found in the Thames - the subject of an unexpectedly bloody opening to the book - who had been previously linked to a scandal in which a company pension fund had been syphoned away, the owner and the money never to be seen again. One is being motivated by a political angle, the other Caius' desire to do right by the missing girl. Both lead to some very surprising revelations and, in one case, a rather disturbing discovery.
The book has a good pace, the stories are equally compelling, and the characters are so varied and, sadly, believable, that even where they may seem to be exaggerated, they really probably aren't. Charlotte Vassell really does a brilliant job of creating that privileged politico-edged 'country club and pony set', both celebrating and riculing their pomposity and entitlement at the same time. And it works so well. I was completely immersed in their lifestyle, repulsed and fascinated by it, and laughing along with Caius, Matt and Amy as they poked fun and disbelief at how the other half lived. It's not the first time they have set foot in that particular world after all.
Definitely recommended. If you haven't read The Other Half then I recommend you start there first. Not entirely necessary - this book stands well alone - but it's good to see the progression of the characters and to understand the background of Beauchamp v Beauchamp a little better. The books, and characters are growing stronger each time and it's clear the author loves her Detectives just as much as we do. Can't wait for more.