What do you think?
Rate this book
Taylor & Graham Mysteries #1
Death of an Ordinary Guy
book is in great condition covers show little wear spine is un-creased comes from smoke and pet free home.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Jo A. Hiestand
78 books571 followersJo A. Hiestand is the author of two British mystery series. While this may not seem so unusual, Jo was born in -- and still lives in -- St. Louis, Missouri.
To get around the technical difficulties dictated by living in one country and writing about another -- especially about police procedures and crime detection, of which she has no personal experience -- she travels to Britain every few years for research. It was on one such trip that she met English police Inspector Tony Eyre (now retired) who supplied police information for her first novel, "Death of an Ordinary Guy." Since then, two other English police officers have become close friends of hers and help with police procedure, catching American words that creep into her writing, and reading the novel manuscripts to eliminate police inaccuracies.
This is all well and good, but nothing beats hands-on experience for writing. Since one of her series features a team of police detectives from the Derbyshire CID and her other highlights an ex-cop who investigates cold cases on his own, Jo knew she'd either have to commit a crime to get first-hand police knowledge or enroll in a citizen's police academy course. The latter seemed safer, so she signed up through a St. Louis county's PD. It was there that she met future co-author police officer Paul Hornung. As Paul remembers their first ride-along, they talked more about writing than about police work. During several ride-alongs they established a bond through these two mutual interests; eventually they agreed to collaborate on books. They've done this with Paul supplying information, writing the fights scenes, and finally writing some of the chapters as one of the series characters. Writing together is definitely fun but sometimes a challenge. Neither knows specifically what the other person's chapter will be, as the storyline is never fully detailed to the other. This is so each can read the other's work with a fresh eye, untainted by "what I meant to say."
Jo took a short respite from novel writing to try her hand with a play. Her contest-winning play "Teething Pains" was produced on stage in 2010. She flatly denies that her fear of dentistry was instrumental in selecting the subject.
Her love of writing, board games and music combines in "P.I.R.A.T.E.S.", the mystery-solving game that uses maps, graphics, song lyrics, and other clues to lead the players to the lost treasure. She also enjoys walking through the woods, playing guitar and harpsichord, her animals (pets as well as backyard wildlife), and reading.
Jo realizes she's living many authors' dreams. Who else has three police officers helping her commit murder?
- Amazon.com
To get around the technical difficulties dictated by living in one country and writing about another -- especially about police procedures and crime detection, of which she has no personal experience -- she travels to Britain every few years for research. It was on one such trip that she met English police Inspector Tony Eyre (now retired) who supplied police information for her first novel, "Death of an Ordinary Guy." Since then, two other English police officers have become close friends of hers and help with police procedure, catching American words that creep into her writing, and reading the novel manuscripts to eliminate police inaccuracies.
This is all well and good, but nothing beats hands-on experience for writing. Since one of her series features a team of police detectives from the Derbyshire CID and her other highlights an ex-cop who investigates cold cases on his own, Jo knew she'd either have to commit a crime to get first-hand police knowledge or enroll in a citizen's police academy course. The latter seemed safer, so she signed up through a St. Louis county's PD. It was there that she met future co-author police officer Paul Hornung. As Paul remembers their first ride-along, they talked more about writing than about police work. During several ride-alongs they established a bond through these two mutual interests; eventually they agreed to collaborate on books. They've done this with Paul supplying information, writing the fights scenes, and finally writing some of the chapters as one of the series characters. Writing together is definitely fun but sometimes a challenge. Neither knows specifically what the other person's chapter will be, as the storyline is never fully detailed to the other. This is so each can read the other's work with a fresh eye, untainted by "what I meant to say."
Jo took a short respite from novel writing to try her hand with a play. Her contest-winning play "Teething Pains" was produced on stage in 2010. She flatly denies that her fear of dentistry was instrumental in selecting the subject.
Her love of writing, board games and music combines in "P.I.R.A.T.E.S.", the mystery-solving game that uses maps, graphics, song lyrics, and other clues to lead the players to the lost treasure. She also enjoys walking through the woods, playing guitar and harpsichord, her animals (pets as well as backyard wildlife), and reading.
Jo realizes she's living many authors' dreams. Who else has three police officers helping her commit murder?
- Amazon.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 29, 2022
I admit I struggled with this book. The author is new to me so it took me a while to get involved in the story. It just seemed to take forever for something to happen. But I am willing to read another one from Ms. Hiestand.
August 28, 2021
"HUNG OUT TO DIE
"The spectators, huddled against the November chill for the annual Guy Fawkes celebration in Upper Kingsleigh, were ready for the customary bonfire and revelry. Instead, one stunned official made a horrible discovery: the straw-filled effigy of Mr. Hawkes was flesh and blood -- or had been until somebody murdered the unlucky American tourist and left him to burn.
"Detective Brenna Taylor, Derbyshire CID, is assigned to the case by the brilliantly intimidating Detective-Chief Inspector Geoffrey Graham, and soon makes the connection between the victim and one of the local lords of the manor. Yet it remains unclear if his death was one of mistaken identity ... or calculated intent. The stakes are money, lies and family secrets, and when a second victim is found lying dead in the evening frost, it's apparent the two victims have strange similarities, as well as the same calculating -- and intractable -- killer.
~~back cover
An excellent mystery! A nice snapshot of village life in tandem with modern police methods. And nice interplay between Taylor and Graham ... something of a teaser. I'm looking forward to the next books in the series!
"The spectators, huddled against the November chill for the annual Guy Fawkes celebration in Upper Kingsleigh, were ready for the customary bonfire and revelry. Instead, one stunned official made a horrible discovery: the straw-filled effigy of Mr. Hawkes was flesh and blood -- or had been until somebody murdered the unlucky American tourist and left him to burn.
"Detective Brenna Taylor, Derbyshire CID, is assigned to the case by the brilliantly intimidating Detective-Chief Inspector Geoffrey Graham, and soon makes the connection between the victim and one of the local lords of the manor. Yet it remains unclear if his death was one of mistaken identity ... or calculated intent. The stakes are money, lies and family secrets, and when a second victim is found lying dead in the evening frost, it's apparent the two victims have strange similarities, as well as the same calculating -- and intractable -- killer.
~~back cover
An excellent mystery! A nice snapshot of village life in tandem with modern police methods. And nice interplay between Taylor and Graham ... something of a teaser. I'm looking forward to the next books in the series!
July 6, 2014
This is part of the Taylor Graham series that Jo Hiestand wrote. She is a wonderful English mystery writer. Now I don't mean "old-fashioned" English mysteries. This is not a "Miss Silver" mystery. The decades have passed.
If you like interesting characters that make a story grow and if you like characters that have so much personality you can't wait til the next book comes out, then you should read Jo Hiestand.
This series is as good as her McLaren series, humorous, a little sarcastic with characters thinking the very thoughts I wish I would have said if I'd been able to think of the words. Don't miss her books.
If you like interesting characters that make a story grow and if you like characters that have so much personality you can't wait til the next book comes out, then you should read Jo Hiestand.
This series is as good as her McLaren series, humorous, a little sarcastic with characters thinking the very thoughts I wish I would have said if I'd been able to think of the words. Don't miss her books.
August 25, 2013
I read this in the new kindle edition, which apparently has been updated by the author. Unfortunately she didn't check the formatting...
There are a few places where the line wrapping is wonky - ok, I can deal with that. But there seem to be many places where a visual indication of a scene break is missing. And I swear on some pages the sentences have got all jumbled up. Either that or the author has a very weird idea about the passage of time and how people have conversations.
The mystery itself was interesting enough for me to try the next book in the series, but if book 2 has the same problems as book 1, I'll probably give up.
There are a few places where the line wrapping is wonky - ok, I can deal with that. But there seem to be many places where a visual indication of a scene break is missing. And I swear on some pages the sentences have got all jumbled up. Either that or the author has a very weird idea about the passage of time and how people have conversations.
The mystery itself was interesting enough for me to try the next book in the series, but if book 2 has the same problems as book 1, I'll probably give up.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.