A Patient Man is the third mystery featuring Inspector Given written by Charlie Garratt. Released 13th July 2020 by Sapere books, it's 271 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book and the others in the series are currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a very well written book, with characters who behave in accordance with their motivations. The narrative arc is well constructed and the clues are presented fairly. There are a plethora of suspects from which to choose and as the plot progresses, figuring out 'whodunnit' is an entertaining challenge. The book, though not highly dramatic or 'thriller'-like, moved along at a good pace and I never felt that it dragged. I was never yanked out of my suspension of disbelief and I felt immersed in the story and had a good rapport with the lead character. The dichotomies in his life, being pulled between trying to fit in with his family and trying to do his work as a policeman in an increasingly anti-Semitic England on the brink of war, were sensitively rendered and well done.

In some ways these books remind me of Barbara Nadel's Francis Hancock series which are set around the same time period. They're very carefully and intricately plotted with meticulously researched and realistic historical settings.

I would heartily recommend this one to lovers of classic British golden age police procedurals. Readers should however be aware of some potentially troubling content (all used in context): murder, PTSD, rape (in flashbacks), suicide, antisemitism, prostitution, and racism. The language is quite clean and there is no direct sexual content. The denouement is satisfying and leaves the potential for more volumes to follow. I'm looking forward to see what's next for Inspector Given and co.

Four stars. Really enjoyable read, an author to look out for. I've liked all of these books and will definitely continue with the series. This one works well enough as a standalone, though I heartily recommend them all.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

As I've read the two other books in this series, I was eager to read this one and it didn't disappoint. It has a solid mystery, fleshed out characters and it's well researched, considering all the issues Jews struggled with before and around the outbreak of World War II.

Police ,mystery which was slow to get going but gradually redeemed itself.Our main character struggles with his demons while trying to solve the murder of a clergyman.

An excellent historical mystery, gripping and entertaining.
I liked the vivid and well researched historical background, the fleshed out characters and the solid mystery.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Inspector James Given is struggling following several murders that he has been tasked with investigating, and has been kept busy filing in the office rather than being out solving cases as a result. But when a case comes up that looks like a straightforward suicide, his boss puts him on the case as a way of getting him back in the field. Unfortunately, though, new evidence comes forward that suggests it was actually murder, and James is stuck with the case like it or not. As he reluctantly investigates, another man is killed, and at the same time James is having to deal with (1) his father's demands that he find and rescue his uncle and family in France, as they flee from Hitler's atrocities against the Jews, (2) a kindertransport girl that his parents took in who has disappeared, and (3) a young woman who he'd like to get to know better. With all that on his plate, will the case ever get successfully solved, or will James leave the force altogether instead?

After reading the first book in this series, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to go further or not. Having now read the first three books, I'm hoping for a fourth. Why? Well, it's not so much about the mysteries as about James' story and the history of the time. So I guess it comes down to the characters and setting, rather than the murders he's investigating. If that sounds like your cup of tea, this is probably a series you'd enjoy. I particularly appreciate the way that the author gives the historical setting showing how it impacted the lives of some of those in Britain around the start of WW2 (particularly Jews, since the main characters are Jews, but others too), but without it ever feeling like a history lesson. Note that, though part of a series and possibly better read in order to really understand where the main character is coming from, I think it could be read alone without any problem. All in all, it's not the sort of thing I would want to read all the time, and it's not always particularly gripping, but I do enjoy the books once in a while and look forward to more by the author.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Charles Garrett did a fantastic job on telling this story about a Detective who has issues and ghosts haunting him. Not only that,World War II breaks out and now to worry about his Jewish family. Such a complicated case he has to solve and the characters are so real,they become alive to you. You can tell research went into writing this story and you can feel the emotions of the characters. Not long winded you follow right along with the story! It's a very much a read for you if you like that time in history,like a detective story and want to help solve the crime! Received this from Net Gallery to read to give u honest opinion of the story and I will hopefully read more of this authors works!