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  • An Accidental Death

  • A DC Smith Investigation Series, Book 1
  • Written by: Peter Grainger
  • Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
  • Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (267 ratings)

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An Accidental Death cover art

An Accidental Death

Written by: Peter Grainger
Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
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Publisher's Summary

The story opens with the apparently accidental drowning of a sixth form student in the Norfolk countryside. As a matter of routine, or so it seems, the case passes across the desk of Detective Sergeant Smith, recently returned to work after an internal investigation into another case that has led to tensions between officers at Kings Lake police headquarters. As an ex-DCI, Smith could have retired by now, and it is clear that some of his superiors wish that he would do so. The latest trainee detective to work with him is the son of a member of his former team, and together they begin to unravel the truth about what happened to Wayne Fletcher. As the investigation proceeds, it becomes clear that others are involved - some seem determined to prevent it, some seem to be taking too much interest. In the end, Smith operates alone, having stepped too far outside standard procedures to ask for support. He knows that his own life might be at risk but he has not calculated on the life of his young assistant also being put in danger.

©2013 Peter Grainger (P)2016 Tantor

What listeners say about An Accidental Death

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Masterful Storytelling

In today’s celluloid world of storytelling script writers make the terrible mistake of pandering to a supposed unintelligent audience. Here, Mr. Grainger carries his audience into the world of how simple clarity of story coupled with the rich multi-layered of characters allows us to artfully become a part of the journey. Mr. Jackson’s performance brings to life the main character in such a fashion that this reader felt a long lost friend finally returned. Never missing the opportunity to react to a a crisis or or the differences in each of us there is a fragility in everyone. Mr. Grainger never missed the opportunity to express this. Just brilliant! In the horrors the globe is enduring right now AUDIBLE.ca grants everyone who partakes an escape we all well need! Thank you!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A clever, humorous and well written procedural

I really enjoyed this book, along with other Peter Grainger works. The writing is literate with much humour, which makes the reading/listening flow effortlessly. Character development is top notch.

Gildart Jackson does an excellent job narrating.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The narrator is amazing!

The narrator creates a whole new dimension to the book! He makes the British humor so much funnier than in my head. I'm not sure I would've enjoy reading the book as much as I did listening to it.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good start for a series

I loved this book. The story was clear, and the narrator was very good. I will certainly get the second book in this series.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Television Screenplay-Quality Procedural

Comparisons to BBC's 'Inspector Morse' or 'A Touch Of Frost' are spot-on. Peter Grainger's Norfolk ("King's Lake") Detective Sergeant David "DC" Smith - along with protégé DC Chris Waters - tackles a seemingly straightforward death inquest after a young college student is found drowned after apparently taking an ill-advised drunken swim. Capitalizing on suspicion, experience, and unmatched intuition, the two employ workmanlike investigation (interviews, stakeouts, etc.) to uncover a more-than-it-seems murder plot.
Grainger's characters are interesting, the dialogue is relatively lighthearted & full of humor, and the author adheres to a committment to PG-13 sensibilities (expect no sex, gore, or expletives here).
This first entry in a Netflix binge-worthy series is intermediate between "Cozy" and "Contemporary". It's perhaps a little too vanilla for me.. but undeniably entertaining.

Doubtless contributing to my largely favorable impression of the book is far above-average narration from Gildart Jackson. Mr. Jackson's professional diction/enunciation, easy-to-consume (for hours) timbre & cadence, and peerless voice-acting are matched with a pitch-perfect serious-not serious tone.

Altogether, 'An Accidental Death' is a bit too milquetoast for my personal Mystery genre tastes.. but the 7/10-star offering is absolutely worth a download if you can get it as a 'Plus' selection (good enough for me to try other likewise "free" audiobooks in the 'DC Smith' collection, for example). If they ask for a Credit, however, I suggest spending it elsewhere.

[Incidentally: the "old hand mentors the rookie" storytelling technique works absolutely brilliantly (readers learn techniques right along with new detective 'Waters'). More mystery writers should use it]

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well Read and Entertaining

I enjoyed it very much. Easy to follow even if you missed a minute or two.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen

A few twists and turns that make some very enjoyable hours of listening. Look forward to listening to other Peter Grainger books.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

pretty good

Second listen, better than I remembered. A solid procedural, with likable characters who are decidedly not messy mavericks. Not strictly rigid, by-the-book, either, but still- the protagonist was fairly well adjusted and respects the laws he is sworn to uphold. Which is a nice change of pace for me.
Weirdly, I've read a number of mysteries involving the oddly specific plot young person dying or disappearing while boating on a canal. No, really. I actually had this one confused with another when I started listening, but then I remembered, oh, no, this is the one that... It went in an unexpected direction, and I appreciated that. Rather than spoiled, amoral kids taking out one of the weaker of their number (and I'm not kidding, at least two other books have that plot!) this takes a rather more tragic and certainly more interesting turn.
I liked it. I'm not sure about the type of humor employed throughout but I still enjoyed it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

flat story. booring

I couldn't finish it. listened to half of the book. there is no heart beat just flat line

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Genuine Surprise

As you may guess, I am New to 'D.C. Smith', etc al., and the series. I am enjoying the quiet humour and scope of Detective stories from across the ocean. The stories exist in countries close to you, whereas, being in Canada, our major influence is USA and less subtle, and much more bloody. Looking forward to Book 2.

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