To Nick a Good Body by Barry Norman
An authentic and outrageously funny police procedural in the tradition of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct novels… from the beloved BBC host and critic Barry Norman.
Detective Inspector Nicholas Redford works in the “I” Division, a notoriously understaffed and and overworked part of the Metropolitan Police that handles all types of crime in their 100 miles square mile patch of London, but are lucky, given their lack of resources, if they can solve less than half of their cases. But Redford muddles on, despite troubles with his wife and tempting bribes, with his unique brand of wit and determination through muggings, a flu outbreak, knife fights, flashers, bank robberies, murders and endless paperwork.
“His police personnel are authentic and he has mastered their humor.” The Bolton News
“Norman describes very compellingly the problems and hardships of police procedural work in a Metropolitan division. The book deals with real, and very likable policemen. The plot is excellent and all the better for its complete lack of undo sensationalism.” South Wales Argus
“A valentine to overworked fuzz. Strikes a vein between Z Cars, Dixon of Dock Street and Ed McBain. It’s funny, too.” The Guardian
Books by Barry Norman
The Butterfly Tattoo
The second wild and witty "Bobby Lennox" adventure by legendary UK TV host and critic Barry Norman.
Bobby Lennox is an ex-boxer, reluctant "fixer," and a struggling London entrepreneur who does favors for Donovan, a crime boss angling for respectability. One way Donovan hopes to get it is by helping Archie Beckway, a womanizing, corrupt politician who is being blackmailed by three people dressed as Disney characters... one of whom has a butterfly tattoo on her shapely leg. But the assignment isn't as clear-cut as it seems, and twists right back to Donovan's doorstep.
The Birddog Tape
Cockney ex-boxer Bobby Lennox agrees to do a favor for an aging hitman, who is going into the hospital for an emergency hernia operation, so he can't meet his mysterious new client. So Bobby goes in his place, just to get the details for his friend, and soon finds himself on his way to Hollywood to kill a movie producer and his wife... an ex-hooker who happens to be Bobby's former girlfriend. And things only get worse from there.
To Nick a Good Body
An authentic and outrageously funny police procedural in the tradition of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct novels... from legendary BBC host and critic Barry Norman.
Detective Inspector Nicholas Redford works in the "I" Division, a notoriously understaffed and and overworked part of the Metropolitan Police that handles all types of crime in their 100 miles square mile patch of London, but are lucky, given their lack of resources, if they can solve less than half of their cases.
The Hounds of Sparta
Reluctant spy Paul Baker travels to Crete, Scotland, London, and places in-between, searching for a missing germ-warfare scientist while being pursued by an assassin, seduced by a deadly brunette, and shot at by just about everyone... and he's not entirely sure why. But that's what happens when amateurs are drafted as secret agents. The trick is to survive.
