Absolutely love Ryan Wilkins! Highly observant, exceptionally clever, and thrust into the world of Oxford Colleges, socially out of his depth. The contrast of Ryan and Ray is brilliant and works so well.

already excited for another.

Excellent detective novel with well-created contrasting characters. Oxford's come a long way since Morse and Lewis

The brilliant, complex, riveting, and gripping start of a new procedural series. I was hooked since the first pages and love the two main characters, so different and so complementary.
This story has all the marks of a great police procedural and it's a page turner that never drags.
I found the setting and the characters fascinating, the mystery solid and full of twists.
Can't wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

At first thought, it may seem that the two lead characters are a something of a contrivance. Both are from very different ethnic groups, one poor, one privileged and they have widely differing views on life. However, it’s these differences that take A Killing in November into the premier league of crime thrillers. The writing is superb with excellent dialogue and the Oxford setting is so well described, it’s easy to visual use and adds real depth to the story.

It’s a murder mystery/ police procedural but the plotting is complex. Simon Mason has created two very memorable police characters, ( both named Wilkins) and this is a story which left me wanting more. It’s an outstanding start to an intended series and I’m eagerly awaiting the next outing. Brilliant storytelling.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

I really enjoyed this police procedural which introduced the totally opposite pair of detective partners each confusingly called R. Wilkins and the development of their relationship as they deal with serious crime and a suspicious death in Oxford.

Wonderful acquire descriptions of Oxford abound as well as the contracting backgrounds and approaches of our two heroes who struggle to work together.

An excellent start to what will certainly be a long and successful series.

I enjoy crime thrillers set in familiar locations so I can really picture them clearly- and living close to Oxford, this ticked all the boxes for me. Featuring two new police detectives with very similar names -Ryan Wilkins and Ray Wilkins, which did get confusing at times! - the two men couldnt be more different in their background and attutude, leading to a lot of conflict between the pair. They are brought together to investigate the death of a young woman in an Oxford college and forced to accommodate one another's views.
I really enjoyed the storytelling and tense nature of the book, I was gripped and keen to find out what happened next,
Well worth a read

A killing in November by Simon Mason.
book one in the Oxford crime series.
Ryan Wilkins grew up on a trailer park, a member of what many people would call the criminal classes. As a young Detective Inspector, he's lost none of his disgust with privileged elites - or his objectionable manners. But he notices things; they stick to his eyes. His professional partner, DI Ray Wilkins, of affluent Nigerian-London heritage, is an impeccably groomed, smooth-talking graduate of Balliol College, Oxford. You wouldn't think they would get on. They don't.
But when a young woman is found strangled at Barnabas Hall, they're forced to.
Rich Oxford is not Ryan's natural habitat. St Barnabas's irascible Provost does not appreciate his forceful line of questioning. But what was the dead woman doing in the Provost's study? Is it just a coincidence that on the night of her murder the college was entertaining Sheik al-Medina, a Gulf state ruler linked to human-rights abuses in his own country and acts of atrocity in others?
As tensions rise, things aren't going well. Ray is in despair. Ryan is in disciplinary measures. But their investigation gradually disentangles the links between a Syrian refugee lawyer now working in the college kitchens, a priceless copy of the Koran in the college collection and the identity of the dead woman.
A very good read with good characters. Great story. I hope there is more to come. 4*.

Set in Oxford, A Killing in November by Simon Mason is the first of a new English police procedural series. Having two fast tracked Detective Inspectors named R Wilkins is unusual but their partnering is inspired. Ryan Wilkins was raised in a trailer park, had a violent alcoholic father, his girlfriend died of a drug overdose and left him with a young son. In contrast, Ray Wilkins is the son of African immigrants, university educated with a wife and is a suave dresser. Their first murder investigation occurs at St Barnabas's College in the Provos’s office and the contrasting Wilkins’ style causes much grief and makes for a riveting read. The bickering protagonists, slow progress and Ryan’s troubled past causes even more consternation. If you like odd characters and ambiguous endings, then this amusing tale is a five-star rating. With thanks to Quercus Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given, without bias.

This is a very clever thriller, well written with lots of twists and turns. I couldn't put it down. Thoroughly unlikeable protagonist in the form of Ryan who I did warm to in the end... and loved his relationship with Ray. Would absolutely read this author again. Many thanks.

Simon Mason is a new writer to me but what a talent he is! This novel introduces us to two police inspectors based in Oxford, Ray Wilkins and Ryan Wilkins. They may share a surname but there the similarities end. Ray is an Oxford graduate, correct and dutiful, whereas Ryan was brought up on a caravan park and does not play by the book. When they are brought together to investigate the murder of a young woman in an Oxford college, their working relationship is far from easy. A very promising start!

I absolutely loved this quirky thriller set in Oxford. Honestly I engulfed it and stayed up till 2am to finish it.
This thriller introduces us to a new crime solving duo - The DI Wilkinses - Ray and Ryan. These two men simply couldn't be more different - one from Hinksey Point trailer park and the other from a very well-heeled area of London. Nevertheless as they are forced to confront the murders taking place at Barnabas College, they grow to appreciate one another. This book really does take you on a twisting roller-coaster ride from Oxford to seedy strip clubs, to country piles, Syria and swanky London pads. It gripped me entirely and I am left feeling a sense of loss that I've finished it.
Having been a student at Oxford myself about ten years ago (not at the fictional Barnabas college I must add), I must admit that I really enjoyed the references to the crazy traditions and eccentricities of the university system there. I actually laughed out loud at the idea of the dons being Spanish and sitting in their Spanish common room.
Anyway I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who liked Morse but thought it could have been grittier with worse language.

Really enjoyed this highly readable thriller, with its diverse cast of characters, intriguing Oxford setting, strands of politics, murder, and academe.

An unusual crime thriller set in Oxford featuring two policemen, both with the surname Wilkins, Ryan and Ray.
These two could not be more different and this is what makes “A Killing in November” such a great read.
Ryan does not look like a policeman, nor does he behave like one. He has an unorthodox way of investigating but his out of the box way of thinking definitely gets him results. He comes from the wrong side of the tracks and could just as easily have ended up on the wrong side of the law. Son of a violent alcoholic, brought up in a trailer he really rubs Ray the wrong way. Ray grew up in the leafy suburbs and after attending Oxford he is now a Detective in the city. He is a snazzy dresser and has an adoring wife at home unlike Ryan who is a single parent and spends his life in scruffy tracksuits.
However opposites attract and when a young woman is murdered in one of the Oxford colleges Ray and Ryan are forced to work together to solve the crime.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two policemen and the crime investigation was almost an enjoyable addition to the story. I loved reading about Ryan’s relationship with his young son and how he managed to keep his life on track despite all his difficulties.
The murder itself involved trafficking, exploitation and racism but it was not clear who the perpetrator was and what their motive was until the very last part of the book. I certainly did not guess which is the sign of a well plotted story.
I would fervently hope that there would be another outing for this detective duo even though the ending did not seem to point in this direction. In fact as I was reading the book I could see it making an excellent Tv series- a bit like “The Sweeney”if you are old enough to remember the programme.
Definitely a five star read and recommended to crime thriller fans.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.

The author has set this crime thriller in the beautiful city of Oxford. We have two detectives, both with the same surname, investigating a murder. Ray and Ryan are very different in personalities and in the way they work, an unlikely duo but it made for an interesting read. The book is well written with interesting characters and a fast paced storyline. A very unusual police procedural and I was sorry to get to the end of this thriller which covered topics of sexual abuse, illegal immigration and racism. I would recommend the read and I hope there will be a follow up. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

A Killing in November introduces DIs Ray and Ryan Wilkins, who are definitely opposites, in the first of what’s Will hopefully become a new series by Simon Mason.

Both main characters are well sketched and their interactions are highly amusing at times as this excellent police procedural keeps up a good pace with a great underlying crime investigation.

I look forward to more instalments from the Wilkins!!!

After about 20/30 pages of this book I was ready to give up. Simply because of what felt like a too far fetched protagonist in DI Ryan Wilkins. I was done as I really couldn’t take to him but something made me just carry On a little longer and In doing so I’m very glad I did as I’ve read one of my favourite books this year and Ryan became a character I loved.

With a bit of belief suspended , as this is fiction after all, Ryan and his counterpart DI Ray Wilkins - nope not an error they have the same name - quickly grew on me on this humour filled and whip smart thriller full of wise cracks.

2 protagonists so different, make for a cracking tale, a story big on the fact that appearances can be deceiving and that you should never go on your first judgements.

This is fine first crime effort from Simon Mason, with an ending to perhaps suggest it’s a standalone but maybe with the door just slightly ajar for more if this does well which I wholeheartedly believe it will as it’s very entertaining and enjoyable crime fiction

I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus Books for an advance copy of A Killing in November, a stand-alone police procedural set in Oxford featuring DI Ryan Wilkins and DI Raymond Wilkins.

On his first day at Oxford Ryan is called out to a murder at Barnabas College. A young woman has been found strangled in the Provost’s office. He denies knowing her and things get heated. Ray is sent in to smooth things over and the two end up working the case together.

I enjoyed A Killing in November, which takes a more unusual approach to the standard procedural format. Ryan, not to put too fine a point on it, comes from trailer park trash and has a chip on his shoulder and serious anger management issues. Ray is an Oxford graduate and a bit of a snob who has had an easy life. Chalk and cheese doesn’t come into it, but gradually they come to respect each other and work closely together until Ryan gets put on disciplinary review. There is too much stereotyping in the characters to make them authentic, but Ryan is fun if you don’t mind bad language.

The plot is better than the characterisation. It has a genuine mystery and encompasses such topics as refugees and Islam. The first issue is identifying the victim and establishing a motive. This proves to be more difficult than expected and involves some creative thinking. I was hooked on the who and why so I rattled through the novel.

The ending doesn’t leave much scope for a sequel, but the author has proved himself to be inventive in this novel, so who knows? I would read more of his work as I found the writing style easy and inviting.

A Killing in November is a good read that I can recommend.

Simon Mason sets his crime novel amidst the dreaming spires of Oxford, depicting the contrasting picture of the city, the sharp divides in social class with those that inhabit the entitled, privileged, wealthy academic circles at the fictional Barnabas College, and the more socially deprived parts with riots taking place amidst the notorious council estates of Blackbird Leys. This town and gown divide is echoed in the two lead detectives, the 30 year old DI Ray Wilkins, a well dressed Balliol College man, from a wealthy Nigerian background, a high flyer, and the more troubled 27 year old DI Ryan Wilkins, who despises the world of privilege, growing up in a Oxford trailer park, a single dad with an adorable young son, Ryan. I must admit at the beginning I found Ryan a character that stretched credulity as he dressed in trackies and a baseball cap worn backwards, arriving from Wiltshire under a dark cloud, rude and aggressive in his questioning of suspects and witnesses, with strong anger management issues, but he grew on me, and I found I was more than willing to suspend my sense of disbelief.

As you might have noted, both detectives have the same surname. which is how a mistake is made at the beginning when it is Ryan who is called to the scene of a murder at Barnabas College, the victim a woman who has been strangled in the Provost's study. There had been a dinner in the honour of the controversial billionaire Sheik al-Medina, with his history of human rights abuses at home and atrocities in other countries. The anxious Provost had been hoping to elicit funding for the new Institute for Peace Studies, only to be disappointed in what turned out to be a disastrous evening. As you might imagine, Ray and Ryan have little in common, chalk and cheese, and initially struggle to get on, but slowly they begin to form a bond, Ryan might well be a wild card, but he notices details and is able to make breaks in a complex and intriguing case, where it takes some time to identify the murdered woman, and which involves a valuable stolen Koran, and another death.

Mason creates a pair of detectives that managed to catch my interest, particularly Ryan, and he gives a great sense of location in Oxford, the starkly different sides, with the University and the poverty and unrest to be found at the other end of the social strata. The highlight for me was the developing relationship between Ray and Ryan as they worked the case that seemed impossible initially. Ray is reprimanded for not managing to control Ryan, which to be honest is not a realistic possibility, and Ryan finds himself in trouble as he locks horns with the powerful, but his troubles just seem to grow and grow. This is an entertaining and engaging crime read, with many threads, like asylum seekers, human trafficking, sexual harrassment, and abuse, a novel that I have no doubt will appeal to many crime and mystery readers. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I have enjoyed this detective story a lot. It is fast paced, the detectives are fun, the plot is believable and sufficiently convoluted, with a judicious amount of clues, plus the writing is intelligent and stylish. The classic setting of a (fictitious) Oxford college is well used, and the city, well conjured. There are riots in the Leys (a child has been killed by the police) whilst in Barnabas College, the Provost is trying to lure an Arab sheik to finance a project. Dinner is about to start, the evening is fraught with tensions of diverse nature, when the inevitable happens: a murder is discovered. DI Wilkins comes to the scene... and this is precisely what becomes the unusual, fun bit of the novel. Suffice it to say that I found the idea of the double detective excellent and entertaining, Stereotypical characters, certain lack of verisimilitude at times, but fleshed out with some individuality and a bit of complexity. It is early days, but I am definitely looking forward to the next foray... I wonder what will happen... The plot kept me interested (it involves not only murder, but also the theft of a rare, valuable book) and I laughed out loud a number of times. This is light reading which entertains and also touches, like most good detective stories, on real issues of some import (from class to race, to illegal immigration and sexual abuse).

With many thanks to Quercus Books via NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this very entertaining novel.

Ryan Wilkins grew up on a trailer park and is now a detective inspector his partner is D.I Ray Wilkins who is a well groomed smooth talker,you wouldn't think they would get on,and you'd be right.
When a young woman is found strangled they have to join forces to solve the crime.
An unlikely duo from different walks of life make for a different take on a police story which I really enjoyed.
Look forward to more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus books for the ARC