Thank you NetGalley and Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I loved the title of this book, and the idea of studying cold cases and finding a common link that solves several cases at once. This is police procedural work, which I absolutely love. Unfortunately I did not love this book as it was far too heavy on details and lacking in likable characters or interesting conversations. This left me feeling like I was in a very sterile environment. The ending had one heck of a twist, which saved the book from a one star review. I am in the minority with my feelings on this book, so if you are interested you should give it a read.

Great read! An uncomplicated style of writing not encumbered by some of the silly writing of others that I have read in this genre. OK - perhaps influenced by my own time as a detective in the 1970s in the area but a very enjoyable read with an unexpected finale. Only error - you don't dig for bait with a spade! - it's a fork.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange fr an honest review.

Well-written police procedural takes you back to the 70's. I'm now looking forward to the next book in the series.

The writing had a lighthearted quality that helped me to warm to the characters. I would say this ticked all the boxes for my cosy mystery craving, and it was light enough to read in one sitting too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

I love the title and liked this classic and well plotted police procedural that kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read another story featuring these characters
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

After an embarrassing court case, the government asks Harry, a disillusioned detective to set up a team to review cases where the victim's families raised objections after accidental deaths. Harry recruits Gillian and Jane to investigate three husbands whose wives died. They make good progress in gathering evidence to bring justice to the victims. But somebody else knows about this and is blackmailing the suspects.
The people in the team are good characters and they are all supportive of each other.
A good beach read.

1973. DCI Harry Rainham is persuaded to review cases of death where the relatives felt the police had let them down in their investigation. Soon he finds three cases of possible murder. He and his team investigate.
An entertaining and well-written modern mystery with its likeable and varied characters. Hopefully the start of a new series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Robin Vicary takes us back to 1974 in The Society of Intelligent Murderers. After a trial that makes the police look very bad for ignoring the family of a murdered woman, a small team of police detectives is assembled to review the deaths and disappearances of women who may have been killed by their husbands. A quick overview of the facts in each case makes it clear that it’s going to take someone very smart to catch a trio who might have been studying Agatha Christie their entire lives.

Rainham is a gifted detective troubled by his wife’s declining health. She suffers from Alzheimer’s or something like it and Harry often runs home during the day to check in on her. He’d really prefer to retire, but his friend and boss offers him desk duty reviewing three cases so that Harry can keep drawing a paycheck. What really tempts Harry (apart from being able to stick close to home) is the complexity of the cases under review. The deaths and disappearances (two bodies have not been found) are troubling but it’s hard at first to point to any clear signs of wrongdoing. They’re the kind of cases that would be hard to solve even if Harry and his small team (three women: two detectives and a secretary with uncanny access to information) had full access to modern forensics and Britain’s surveillance network.

Unusually for a mystery novel, there is no single perpetrator in The Society of Intelligent Murderers and nothing links the crimes. Harry and his team have to bounce back and forth between cases as they alternately make progress or hit dead ends. It’s a little dizzying to read but I enjoyed the cleverness of the (nearly) perfect murders Vicary created for his detectives. What I enjoyed less was how Vicary leaned into the casual sexism of the 1970s (I was occasionally reminded of the original version of Life on Mars); it creates a sense of the period, sure, but it’s overused—there should’ve been more slapped faces.

The end of The Society of Intelligent Murderers wraps up all the loose ends in a surprisingly brutal fashion that seems like it comes out of left field—I say seems because, on reflection, I was lulled into a false sense of security by the calmness and methodicalness of the murderers in this book. I should’ve realized what might happen if you back a killer into a corner. I’m not entirely satisfied with the end of this book but I will recommend it to fans of seemingly-impossible crimes (who can also handle all the open lechery).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A clever, classic police procedural, I will be watching for Volume II in this series.

Pick up a copy of this novel as the young pups (on the police force in 1970's London) learn new tricks from the seasoned veterans.