The Case of the Hidden Flame: An Inspector David Graham Cozy Mystery

★★★★★ "Please never end the series."

A quaint island resort. A murder on a quiet beach. Can a brand new inspector solve the case?

Detective Inspector David Graham has just arrived on the island of Jersey, with orders to take over the constabulary in the small resort town of Gorey. But molding this rag-tag team of misfits into a cohesive investigative unit may be a greater challenge than he bargained for…

Within minutes, Graham’s plans go awry. A local resident, former soldier Colonel Graves, makes a shocking discovery. As the military man kneels down on the beach, he is horrified to see the corpse of his soon-to-be fiancé, half-buried in the sand…

The town is appalled by this scandalous crime. Rumours swirl and the eccentric townsfolk begin to point fingers. But it falls to the brand new detective inspector to ferret out the clues and solve the case…while bringing his inexperienced team of cohorts along to assist.

The Case of the Hidden Flame is the second book in this best-selling traditional British detective mystery series with a modern twist. It packs humour and intrigue into a fiendishly clever puzzle that mystery fans will love – all accompanied by a fine cup of tea.

"Great mystery with lots of twists and surprises."

Praise for the Inspector David Graham mystery series:
"Great descriptions, good dialogue, and a pace that was masterful."
"The characters feel like old friends."
"Sweet, emotionally honest, with a lot of backbone in the characters and the writing."

Books in the Inspector David Graham mystery series:
The Case of the Screaming Beauty
The Case of the Hidden Flame
The Case of the Fallen Hero
The Case of the Broken Doll
The Case of the Missing Letter
The Case of the Pretty Lady
The Case of the Forsaken Child
The Case of Sampson's Leap
The Case of the Uncommon Witness
The Case of the Body in the Block
The Case of Castle Meadow

Take a trip to the isle of Jersey and dive into this addictive mystery series today!

Big city cop. A stroll along the beach. A body in the sand.

Detective Inspector David Graham has just arrived on the island of Jersey, taking over a rag tag team of questionable commitment and skill at the Gorey Constabulary, a team that he is supposed to lead and develop into a cohesive investigative unit.

Within minutes, his first challenge presents itself when ex-soldier, Colonel Graves, finds a dead body on the beach. As the military man kneels down, he discovers it is his soon-to-be fiancé half buried in the sand.

In a small resort like Gorey, this event is monumental, and almost unheard of. The rumors swirl yet it is the new Detective Inspector’s job, with a bag still packed and travel dust on his shoes, to ferret out the clues and solve the case…while bringing his team along to assist.

With a Sherlock soul, The Case of the Hidden Flame packs humor and intrigue onto a small island of eccentric characters, roiling sea undercurrents, and deceptive coincidences – all accompanied by a fine cup of tea.

Interview with the Creator of the Series

Q – So, what makes the Inspector David Graham series special?

A – When I set out to write these books, I wanted to create something that played like a movie in the reader’s mind. They are books with action, but also soul. They are ensemble pieces containing regular characters that are well drawn with strong personalities, humor and some tragedy. The Inspector David Graham books feel, to me, like good friends that never let me down. Every time we sit down to plan the books, I love to find out what the characters are going to get up to next!

The Inspector David Graham books are a great mix of genres. They sit firmly in the cozy mystery category and are set on the beautiful island of Jersey in the English Channel between Britain and France. They feature a British detective who is part-Sherlock Holmes, part-Poirot, and, of course, uniquely himself.

Q - In what order should I read the books?

A – The Inspector David Graham cozy mysteries can be read, and enjoyed, in any order. The Case of the Hidden Flame is book two in the series and is set on Jersey just as Inspector Graham takes up his new post. All the books are complete mysteries.

There is a prequel, The Case of the Screaming Beauty, that provides background to the series. I’ve made sure not to include any spoilers in it for those who are new to the characters and any existing fans of Graham’s adventures will still find plenty of fresh action and mystery as well as perhaps a few answers.

If you do want to read them in order, I'd suggest the following sequence:

Q – Why should readers give these books a try?

A – Because the Inspector Graham series is a gentle, but colorful romp through the wealthy but isolated English island, a place that is picturesque and peaceful but one filled with amoral and snobbish eccentrics who possess all kinds of vices.

Graham is a complex character who is intriguing from the get-go and yet evolves throughout the series while his sidekicks are worthy, interesting characters in their own right. We feature many English countryside rituals, institutions and customs.

Ultimately, readers who enjoy gentle pacing with a plot that twists and turns, features much fun, drama, quintessential British-ness, and, of course, small town murder all the way to the end will get a kick out of this series.

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