The Verge Practice

By Barry Maitland

Scotland Yard’s detective duo takes on a puzzling case in the posh world of international architecture: “[An] ever-enjoyable series” (Booklist).
 
Charles Verge, a powerful, cutting-edge architect, has disappeared into the blue, leaving behind his firm; his beloved—and pregnant—daughter; and his young and very dead wife. The case is stalled and, after months of fruitless searching leaves the authorities desperate to save face, Detective Chief Inspector Brock and Detective Sergeant Kolla are called in.
 
All of London is abuzz with questions about the high-profile case, which will send Kolla and Brock to some less-than-scenic locales in Barcelona, and back to their own stomping ground—where suspicion of internal corruption comes closer to home than they would like. As the investigation uncovers a dizzying web of possible suspects—including an ex-con gardener, a sinister doctor, and the missing Verge himself—it will reveal more than one crack in the shiny windows of the Verge practice’s sleek façade.
 
“Maitland burrows so deeply into the lives of Charles Verge, his associates, and the investigators that you’d think he was channeling P.D. James.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“Wow. This guy is good.” —Houston Chronicle
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Sep 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781628723120

Barry Maitland

Barry Maitland is the author of several mystery novels featuring D.C.I. David Brock and Det. Sgt. Kathy Kolla, including All My Enemies, No Trace, and The Raven's Eye. Born in Scotland and raised in London, Maitland lives in Australia. His work has been a finalist for the Barry Award, the John Creasey Award, and the winner of the Ned Kelley Award.

Reviews for The Verge Practice

[pgchuis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm still enjoying these, but this one was very complicated. I think I should have kept notes on the whereabouts of the Canada Cover. I have learnt something about stamp collecting, and am enjoying the slow burn Kathy/Leon romance (at least I hope that's what it will be).I kind of guessed the ending, although not all of it. These would be even better honestly if they were one or two degrees less convoluted.

[magentaflake · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book reminds me of the old detective stories which involved old fashioned police work. Thoroughly e njoyable read.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very good entry in this excellent series. Lots to learn about stamp collecting and forgeries. Once more, old and new crimes mesh to require complex solutions. Brock under siege and Kolla to the rescue

[condorena · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One of the more gruesome of the series.

[fvg_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Clever story.Good characters.Well written.Kept my interest throughout.Would definitely read others in the series.

[bcquinnsmom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Chalon Heads is the fourth installment of the series featuring DCI Brock and his partner, Kathy Kolla. As the book opens, Brock and Kolla are called to speak with Sammy Starling, a career criminal who some years earlier had been arrested, but turned the tables on the police force by handing them some dirty policemen. Now Starling wants Brock's help because his wife, Eva (much younger than Starling) has, it seems, been abducted, and the kidnappers want Sammy to buy a very valuable Chalon Head stamp at an upcoming auction, rather than money, as the price of Eva's return. Brock & his fellow officers agree to help, but something goes terribly wrong in the process, leading to Brock's ouster from the case. It will be up to Kolla to take the lead in the investigation, but too many people are keeping secrets that they do not wish to reveal, making her job a most difficult one. Add to that a number of suspects, all with axes to grind -- and you have a mystery novel that will keep you reading. As a police procedural, it's good, but the further into the investigation the principals get, the more complicated the story becomes, making it a bit difficult at times to keep up. The overall story is well done, and there's a solid mystery here with an ending that I didn't see coming. I would certainly recommend this novel to readers of British mysteries and police procedurals. If you're a cozy reader, this might be a bit dark but at the same time, it's not as gritty as more hard-core police procedurals I've read, falling somewhere nicely in the middle.Overall -- not bad, and it's on to the next Kolla and Brock mystery novel.