Death of an Officer by Mark Ellis

Death of an Officer by Mark Ellis fits comfortably across a number of genres such as historical fiction, police procedural and crime fiction.

‘While Europe continues to suffer under the iron fist of Nazi occupation, Britain remains battered but unbowed.

DCI Frank Merlin, already contending with a booming wartime crime wave in the capital, is confronted with a baffling case: the brutal murder of a respected doctor.

Following a puzzling trail that leads him into the hidden corners of clubland – and which appears to be linked to the disappearance of both British and American officers – Merlin must untangle a dark web of shocking secrets.’

Set in 1943 during the Blitz in London, everyday life continues, despite the threat of war overhead. Crime is at an all-time high, the underground club scene is booming, mobsters are trading in plain sight under the guise of reputable businesses and professions, and Detective Inspector Frank Merlin and his team at Scotland Yard have their work cut out for them. When the body of gynaecologist Mr Dev Sinha is discovered in suspicious circumstances at his apartment, Frank and his team are called in to investigate. Concurrently, during Sinha’s investigation, the body of a US soldier is discovered in a derelict bomb site. As the investigations progress, what seem like two very different circumstances and polar opposite victim profiles begin to merge, and the lines of investigation begin to tangle. The investigation team must unravel the facts and decide if it’s all just pure coincidence or if the cases are linked in some way. The trouble is, sometimes when you hear hooves it’s not always Zebras and Frank has to be careful not to assume anything, as lies, misinformation and cover-ups are coming from all angles.

The DCI Frank Merlin Series

Death of an Officer is Mark Ellis’ sixth book in the DCI Frank Merlin series, and my first of them to read. Ellis, a former barrister, brings the procedural elements of the book to life, lending it great credibility. His self-reported fascination with World War Two brings a richness to the storyline that allows the reader to trust the plot and become fully invested and immersed in the reading experience. This book will keep the reader hooked to the very end. It’s clever, and pacey, and when you think you know what’s going on, you realise quite quickly that you don’t. It’s an ideal read for fans of historical fiction; it has everything: intrigue, espionage, corruption, and blackmail. Althought it was my first read in the series, I didn’t feel like I was missing a lot of information, Ellis did a great job of filling in some gaps but I would recommend beginning at book number one – The Embassy Murders as I feel there is definitely more I could learn about Frank Merlin and his life.