A Killing in November

DI Wilkins, Book 1

By: Simon Mason

Narrated by: Matt Addis

A Killing in November is an Oxford-set crime series of surprising twists, troubled pasts and a dynamic duo who are brought together by a mysterious murder investigation.

Ryan Wilkins grew up on a trailer park, a member of what many people would call the criminal classes. As a young Detective Inspector, he's lost none of his disgust with privileged elites - or his objectionable manners. But he notices things; they stick to his eyes. His professional partner, DI Ray Wilkins, of affluent Nigerian-London heritage, is an impeccably groomed, smooth-talking graduate of Balliol College, Oxford. You wouldn't think they would get on. They don't.

But when a young woman is found strangled at Barnabas Hall, they're forced to.

Rich Oxford is not Ryan's natural habitat. St Barnabas's irascible Provost does not appreciate his forceful line of questioning. But what was the dead woman doing in the Provost's study? Is it just a coincidence that on the night of her murder the college was entertaining Sheik al-Medina, a Gulf state ruler linked to human-rights abuses in his own country and acts of atrocity in others?

As tensions rise, things aren't going well. Ray is in despair. Ryan is in disciplinary measures. But their investigation gradually disentangles the links between a Syrian refugee lawyer now working in the college kitchens, a priceless copy of the Koran in the college collection and the identity of the dead woman.

A Killing in November introduces an unlikely duo from different sides of the tracks in Oxford in a deftly plotted murder story full of dangerous turns, troubled pasts and unconventional detective work.

(P) 2022 Quercus Editions Limited©2022 Simon Mason

Critic reviews

This is a terrific crime novel, with a startlingly original protagonist we're going to see a lot more of. Oxford's mean streets just got meaner.

This moody, atmospheric novel is full of surprises, with subplots about sexual harassment and the impact of the Syrian civil war.

It's a brave writer who sets a new crime series in Inspector Morse's Oxford but Mason has come up trumps with chalk-and-cheese cops DI Ryan Wilkins and DI Ray Wilkins...It's well plotted and very funny. *****

The first novel in a promising new police series set in Oxford that explores the working relationship between a chalk-and-cheese detective duo.

This has a TV series written all over it.

Simon Mason has reformulated Inspector Morse for the 2020s. This angelic two-year-old son, Ryan Jr ("Is it hard being a daddy?"), are superb and his relationship with Ray, a snob with a heart of gold beneath the sharp suit, shows huge potential. The good news is they'll be back.

The story has modern relevance, ingenious plotting, vivid characterisation, a touching father-son relationship and impressively accurate city geography.

[T]his is a very individual piece of work, with a satisfying plot involving Syrian refugees, snobbish dons and nimble interaction between the ill-assorted protagonists. There is real craftsmanship at work here.

Ryan Wilkins is about as far removed from George Smiley as a protagonist can be, he may in time become as memorable. He's an extraordinary creation, and demonstrates that even in the most suspenseful thrillers, character is king

Mason avoids the obvious tropes, and rather movingly focuses on Ryan's relationship with his young son. Well plotted, too. It's the first in a series: start now and avoid the rush. (Mick Herron)

Mason has reformulated Inspector Morse for the 2020s

Mason has reformulated Inspector Morse for the 2020s. The murder mystery is worthy of Colin Dexter but the result is less bookish and more bolshie

This moody, atmospheric novel is full of surprises.

My favourite crime novel of the year was Simon Mason's A Killing in November . . . it was enhanced by deft prose and the detective duo of social misfit Ryan Wilkins and the Balliol-educated Ray Wilkins. (Nicholas Clee)

Mismatched cops probe a college murder in this funny and well-plotted debut

A real page-turner . . . the relationship between the two detectives is beautifully developed, and it's brilliantly plotted and very funny

great listen

Really great listen. Characters were well developed and likeable and story was twisty and turny while not being too obvious. I am definitely going to read the next in the series.

Good story with humor and very unique main characters

The two main detectives were oddballs who made the story seem very realistic, hope they’re going to be in a lot more books

Same name Detectives

I loved this first of ,hopefully, a long series. London and England are almost characters in this Book 1. Good narration, too.

Great find

Big fan of Mick Herron and Slough House series, so when I saw Mr. Herron’s praise of this series by Simon Mason, I had to check it out. Very well done! Well developed plot and characters. Lots of twists, but none seemed contrived or silly. Really enjoyed this, and am moving enthusiastically to the next.

Amateurish in the extreme

This is really bad. I listened because a more recent book by this author was highly recommended by Stephen Fry, who is normally reliable. Poorly written, inane plot, terrible characters and - of course - no one actually solves it so the author resorts to explaining it himself. As if he also got so bored with it he just gave up and told us.