"This was an immensely entertaining read." - The Waif Review

A review by Neal James*, author of several crime detective novels.

Imagine, for a moment, Thomas Hardy writing crime, and you have a close approximation to Julius Falconer’s descriptive talents in ‘The Waif’. Ally that to a style reminiscent of Edgar Wallace in ‘The Four Just Men’, and you have all of the necessary ingredients for a fascinating detective story. Now throw in, for good measure, ‘Bradshaw’s Guide’, and you are off on a journey filled with wonderful scenery as we traverse Europe in search of a miscreant so cunning, that DI Moat seems foiled at each and every turn.

‘The Waif’ sets Moat and his assistant, DS Stockwell, a seemingly unsolvable mystery going back three centuries, and culminating in what appears, on the face of it, to be a simple case of murder.
Falconer’s depth of knowledge of the environs, not just of Yorkshire, but also of several European locales, reveals a commitment to a level of research essential for a good detective thriller. Moat’s almost ‘Poirot’ characterization, and his invitations to ‘you dear reader’ to share in the story, will take you on an almost conspiratorial chase, as you tag along with them for the ride.
The three-dimensional Detective Inspector, depicted in wonderful detail is shown, not as an infallible entity but, in conference with his superior, having all of the human frailties which make the character totally believable.
The dénouement, when it came, though to me not unexpected, was delivered with such style as to have you reaching for the next in Falconer’s library.
This was an immensely entertaining read.

Books by Julius Falconer: (These novels are available on Amazon Kindle and Google Play.  Soon to be released on Kobo.)

1 - The Spider's Banquet

2 - A Death Twice Twice Avenged

3 - The Longdon Murders

4 - The Unexpected Death of Father Wilfred

5 - Mr Carrick is Laid To Rest

6 - The Bones of Murder

7 - A Time to Prey

8 - Troubled Waters

9 - Tempt Not the Stars

10 - Jagger

11 - The Wichenford Court Murder

12 - A Figure in the Mist
13 - The Waif

Julius Falconer’s latest novel, ‘The Alkan Murder’ is due out in Autumn 2012.

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*Neal James lives in Derbyshire, and has been writing since 2007. He has four published works and his books have found their way all across the world, with many good reviews. Neal James is the author of four books: 'A Ticket to Tewkesbury', 'Short Stories - Volume One', 'Two Little Dicky Birds' and 'Threads of Deceit'. These novels are available on Amazon Kindle and Google Play. Soon to be released on Kobo.

Julius Falconer is a mystery writer from Warwickshire, who is a former translator and a retired teacher. He now divides his time between a cottage in central France and the house in Yorkshire which he shares with his daughter and her husband. As well as some booklets and several dozen papers in professional journals, Falconer is the author of the following murder mysteries featuring the diffident and cultured Inspector Wickfield.