This is the 25th book in the brilliant DCI Bill Slider series. Reconnecting with DCI Slider and his Sergeant Jim Atherton is like a long awaited meet up with old friends you haven't seen for a while. Catching up on their lives outside of the force, laughing at the wonderful malapropisms of Mr Porson, Slider's boss, is a joy.

Slider and Atherton are called to investigate the murder of 18 year old Rhianne Morgan who was found by her step father in the kitchen of their home. Slider and Atherton soon hear from neighbours about arguments between Rhianne and her step father and from school friends about a boyfriend she had unceremoniously dumped quite recently. As always, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has written a great police procedural tale with a number of suspects, plentiful lies, misdirection and only circumstantial evidence for Slider and Atherton to base their theories on.

This is another excellent story in the series, which I highly recommend.

With many, many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of “Easeful Death.” All opinions and comments are my own.

The usual witty chapter headings are present, as is the laugh-out-loud dialog between participants in “Easeful Death,” the latest in the long-running series by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. It’s a quiet August so far, Slider’s working through paperwork, and our favorite sergeant Atherton is back from holiday and thinking about proposing. Surely the world is coming to an end. But not before they’re called to a crime scene, a young woman dead from apparent strangulation. And soon it will be up to our policemen extraordinaire to solve what becomes an intriguing case of back-and-forth alibis, of obvious and not so obvious suspects. Will our intrepid duo, of quick speech and dapper dressing, sort through the facts and bring a killer to justice? Gentle reader, you know they will.

Complete with the author’s firm grasp of description, people, and places (each one brought to life), quips, and of course, DCI Porson’s mangling of the English language, one mustn’t forget that “Easeful Death” includes a thorough police investigation with a successful case at the end. Now, on to the next one. Can’t wait.

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This book is the 25th book in the Detective Inspector Slider series. I started in the middle of this series but have been reading it for years. There are changes in the lives of the characters as the series progresses, but the cases stand alone from book to book. DI Bill Slider balances the job with his personal life, and I love the banter between him and his friend and colleague, Detective Jim Atherton. Slider is a good leader and he and his entire team work well together.

The case in this one is a sad one. I was interested to find out who killed a young woman who was found dead at her own home. There were a few different suspects to make things interesting, but there are some slow spots in the book. In spite of that, I enjoyed the book, especially seeing Slider and team solve the case. There are also a couple of developments that fans of the series will appreciate.

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of the ebook from NetGalley and Severn House for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

I enjoy this old-fashioned series featuring Bill Slider, the wisecracking Atherton, and assorted others. In this case, a girl is found dead just inside her middle-class parents' garden and it appears she was strangled. Could it be a random vagrant? Her stepfather, who seems often exasperated with the moody teen? The girl's boyfriend? Or what about this criminal recently released from prison? The clues are chased down, the avenues explored, and the interesting and ordinary lives of the characters and their families carry on without loads of angst or drama. It's in the Inspector Morse tradition and feels like a bit of a throw-back to a simpler time - maybe that's why I enjoyed it!

This latest in a long running series will be perfectly enjoyable as a standalone, especially for fans of well crafted procedurals. Bill Slider finds himself with a real puzzle on his hands when 18 year old Rhiannon is discovered by her stepfather. She's been strangled. There are several suspects, starting with her stepfather but Slider and his team will learn that there was more to the young woman than even her parents knew. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Nicely crafted with a bit of humor, this is one that will keep you guessing.

Easeful Death is the first DCI Slider book I’ve read and now I want to read them all! This is a story about 18 year old Rhianne Morgan who is found dead in her suburban home. This was an enjoyable mystery with lots of twists. I loved the characters and the detective’s banter.
Thank you NetGalley and Seven House! I’m happy this is the 25th book in the series—I’m looking forward to reading the other books!

Easeful Death, the 25 th book in the DCI Bill Slider series is a great example of a police procedural. It's always a treat to spend time with DCI Slider and his fellow officers. Ms Harrod-Eagles crafts her characters so well that I feel I’ve come to know them over the course of her many books. The dialogue between them is interspersed with humor and believably real life. It is not easy to maintain this high level of writing over so long a time but I am happy to report that it has happened yet again. This book can be read as a stand alone but treat yourself to some of the earlier works to really feel you know the characters.

DCI Bill Slider & his team investigate the suspicious death of 18-year old Rhianne Morgan. The teenager had typical rows with her mother & stepfather, and dabbled with both boys and drugs. So who wanted to end her life?

This was another solid entry in the long-running police procedural series.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Severn House. All opinions are my own.

This is number 25 in Cynthia Harrod-Eagles Bill Slider series. I had been wanting to read this series for awhile, and this was my first. The author did an excellent job of bringing me in as a new reader to the series, She gave enough detail that I understood the relationships between characters as well as a little of the history of Slider. It was slipped in so easily and didn’t interrupt the flow of the story or give too much detail.

This was a very well written police procedural with some humor and well drawn characters. The mystery kept me guessing throughout. It started off with the murder of a teenaged girl who had been giving her parents some grief and gone off the rails a bit. The story took us through the investigation and gave us insight into the police team and relationships. I’m anxious to read the rest of the series now, beginning with the first one.
If book 25 is this good, then I have high hopes for the whole series. I think if you enjoy the writing of Martha Grimes or Elizabeth George, you would enjoy Cynthia Harrod-Eagles as well.

#EasefulDeath #NetGalley #SevernHouse

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles delivers the goods in her latest entry in the Bill Slider series, This is probably in my top five mystery series of all time, and I wish it could find a wider audience. The characterization is strong, the crimes are complicated without being ridiculous, and the humor is top-notch. If you love British humor, you'll love the puns and clever wordplay.

This time the mystery focuses on the death of a teenage girl. The investigation points to the victim's handsome stepfather and her betrayed boyfriend, but not everything is as it seems, and they soon learn that the victim may have had some dirty habits of her own.

For anyone who has followed the series, you'll be pleased to know that all the side characters are here, from Joanna to Atherton, from Porson to Swilley. It was great to visit old friends, and I eager look forward to the next installment.

I was late coming to Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’ DCI Bill Slider books, but I’ve read all these outstanding police procedurals since I discovered them. The combination of witty dialogue and clever phrasing, along with the unconventional police team and the investigations are on display in the twenty-fifth book in the series, Easeful Death.

Rhianne Morgan was only eighteen when her stepfather, David Morgan, found her dead in their garden. It would have appeared to be a natural death, but Rhianne was strangled with a ligature of some sort. Slider and his team suspected Morgan because he was the stepfather and he discovered the body. But, it seemed that Rhianne had secrets. Of course, the police investigated a man recently released from prison for sex crimes. And, there was that graduate student she dated. Rhianne’s friends talked about “an older man”.

Slider’s team is under pressure to close the case of the death of a young woman. But, they face lies every time they question a witness, men and women. It appears that answers are slipping away.

I started this series because it was a well-reviewed police procedural, my favorite type of book. I continue to read the books because of the clever writing, the chapter headings, the wit, along with the strong characters who form a working team. There are just phrases that jump out at me; “the bare arms and legs as browned as a nicely roasted chicken but with much less meat on them”. And, there are such realistic relationships between characters, such as Slider and his wife, Joanne, or Slider and his sergeant, Jim Atherton.

Easeful Death shows the determination of a team of police detectives who won’t give up in investigating the death of a young woman. It’s another solid entry in the series.

This was another winner in the DCI Bill Slider Mystery series, it had that element that I wanted and worked with the rest of the series perfectly. It had that mysterious element that I was looking for and enjoyed the element that was going on. The characters had that feel that I was hoping for and worked with the previous entries. Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has a strong writing style and am excited to read more.

As a royal reader of the DCI Slider’s series of books, I felt unease as how this book was progressing in its’ plot and characters. For me, it leads me to believe that Slider’s future novels might be geared for a younger readership. I missed the large amount of humor and the clever endings of the previous books.

Thank you Netgalley and Severn House for the eARC to review.

DI Slider and the team are looking into the case where a young woman appears to have been strangled. Murder, or could there be any contributing factors? There are suspects, but except for circumstantial evidence it is difficult to prove that they are involved. There is a lot of lying and misdirection, which of course makes everything more challenging. Even though I was unfamiliar with this series, I had no trouble reading it as a stand-alone. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Absolute Perfection…
What a delight to return to the world of Bill Slider and company in this twenty fifth outing in this superlative series. When a very young woman is discovered murdered, feelings run high and secrets and lies abound. DCI Slider himself is especially affected by the death and determines to get to the truth. As is usual with this series, a cast of perfectly drawn and credible characters populate a well thought out and deeply threaded plot with a lively narrative laced with much humour, dry wit and clever wordplay. Absolute perfection.

The 25th in the excellent Bill Slider mysteries/police procedurals opens with a dead body. She’s Rhianne Morgan, an 18 year old student. She was lying in the sun reading magazines when she was brutally attacked. Her stepfather found her body and called the police. Naturally he’s a suspect but has a strong alibi. There are other suspects but they also have alibis. The police are stymied until they suddenly have a suspect and then two. As Slider continues to investigate this complicated case, his home life with his new wife and children becomes part of the story as does his relationship with fellow officer Atherton who has problems of his own.

The relationship between these two familiar characters and the other members of the Shepherd’s Bush station gives Easeful Death a depth not usually found in mysteries. The well planned plot leads to an unexpected conclusion and the humorous chapter titles (Je Ne Regrette Rhianne, L’apres Midi D’Un Phone) are delightful. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Severn House and Cynthia Harrod-Eagles for this ARC.

“Easefull Death: Bill Slider Mystery 25”, written by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles and published in hardcover by Severn House Publishers Ltd on 1st April 2025. 253 pages ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1448314638

This is the 25th book in this series and one that I’ve read for review although I have read many in the past privately as I find them extremely true to life and much more exciting than the usual police procedurals that one comes across.
Most homicides are young male on young male, and that’s bad enough. But as a father of two daughters, DCI Bill Slider can’t help but take it harder when the victim is a young woman.

Rhianne Morgan, just eighteen, waiting for her A-level results, lies dead in her comfortable middle-class home in a nice, respectable area. Neighbours remember rows with her stepfather. Schoolmates talk of a boyfriend humiliatingly dumped. Her bestie mentions an unnamed new boyfriend, who possibly provided her with drugs. But the back gate was open, and anyone could have walked in. Did she even know her assailant?

Secrets and lies flourished around this troubled teenager, a thicket of thorns Slider and his team must cut through to find the truth. Who killed Rhianne?.
All of this very gripping investigation and the strong bonds between the various detectives on Bill Slider’s team provide a very engaging back story particularly with all the details relating to Bill Sliders marriage to a violinist in an orchestra and the problems of childcare when she is away on concerts. Also will his assistant marry his girlfriend or not?
The mysteries are always extremely well plotted with highly atmospheric story with a rich cast of authentic layered characters and the usual odd red herring before the ultimate murderer is revealed in the final few paragraphs.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles is a very prolific author with several series ongoing including the very famous historical Morland Dynasty which was originally intended to be 12 books but was so popular it was extended to 36. She also wrote the Kirov Saga a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia for which she won the 1995 RNA Novel of the Year Award and of course she writes other romantic novels and the Bill Slider police procedural mystery series.
This book was absolutely a delight to read and I always look forward to reading her books. Very strongly recommended.
(I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review. )

253 pages

5 stars

I truly enjoy the play on words that Ms. Harrod-Eagles employs in her dialogues. It adds a bit of fun to the serious discussion of crime and dastardly deeds as portrayed in the fiction novels.

A young girl has been murdered. Recently, she has been having difficulties at home and running a little wild. She has gotten into some trouble - a lot of trouble.

This is the latest Bill Slider novel and it is a good one. As usual, the cast of characters are back and engaging. I especially like Mrs. Slider’s character.

I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for forwarding to me a copy of this vert good boob for me to read, enjoy and review.

This was a suspenseful and twisty read which had me glued to my kindle! I wish it was longer as I thoroughly enjoyed it!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟stars!