Another winner from this excellent author. I thoroughly enjoyed Simon Mason’s first two novels, set in Oxford and this new one featuring Detectives Ryan and Ray Wilkins ( no relation) is another great read. Still working together despite their differences, the two detectives are assigned to investigate a crashed Rolls Royce car and a missing socialite, Zara Fanshawe. Ray has been nominated for an award and sees his career going well, getting friendly with the Chief Commissioner, Chester Lynch who wants him to move upwards. Ryan just wants to get home for his son’s bedtime and work out how his new relationship with girlfriend, Carol, can continue and fit in with his lifestyle. As this novel progresses dead bodies start to appear and the two Wilkins need to work really hard to solve a mystery that has its roots many years earlier. I really liked both the main protagonists, although I think Ryan is my favourite, a maverick detective who sees things very differently, a skill which often leads him to the heart of the case. His relationship with his young son is delightful and the difficulties he faces as a single father are explored. Police work is not 9-5 so he rarely makes it home to see little Ryan and worries this is affecting his relationship with him. He is described in a humorous way which adds a light hearted touch to the book which contains some very serious themes. Ray is now the father of twin boys and the sleepless nights are taking a toll on him. He is up early but rarely takes Ryan's calls as he is annoyed that Barko has made Ryan the lead detective. Theirs is a finely balanced partnership but it does seem to work. I liked the Oxford’ setting- despite the academic background and rarefied architecture, there is a lot of darkness beneath the surface including a lot of homeless people who have been badly treated by the police. This book examines the two sides of the city and ultimately that is the key to solving the case. I raced through this book and of course when I got to the last page it left me wanting to read more about this entertaining and engaging duo. I hope I don’t have to wait too long. I definitely recommend “ Lost and Never Found”as a five star read and suggest the earlier books too. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

So good! Can’t wait for the next one.

This is a very good series, set in Oxford and featuring two police officers with the same surname of Wilkins. It's well written, with a twisty piece of plotting and plenty twists. I like the characterisation, especially young Ryan who steals the show with his humour! A fast paced, entertaining read which is very enjoyable. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

4 - 5 stars DI Ray Wilkins and DI Ryan Wilkins #3 Definitely no relation! Oxford is a truly wonderful city, a city of rich and poor, a city where the homeless camp out wherever they can. They are the lost, but who are the never found? There’s a surprise one day for workers at an illegal Oxford car wash when a Rolls-Royce Phantom glides in, a woman at the wheel. Later, the Roller is found buckled and wedged in the entrance to the station car park, it’s owner, wealthy celebrity Zara Fanshawe is nowhere to be seen. Later, she makes a cryptic call to the emergency services giving her name, then utters “Always lost and never found“. What does she mean? Meanwhile, at the Thames Valley police gala, Ray Wilkins is stylishly sartorial as ever, whilst Ryan looks like the trailer park kid he once was, uncomfortable in an ill fitting, rented tuxedo. Highly decorated Detective Chief Constable Chester Lynch is the guest speaker and she is an entertaining one. To Ryan’s shock, she is also there to present Ray with an award, this situation is only going to get awkward and messier! Later, in the early hours of the following morning, Ryan is sent to investigate Zara‘s car and is later placed in charge of the inquiry into her disappearance which has an impact on the homeless community. As if this isn’t enough, Carol, Ryan’s “friend“ is in a spot of bother financially. Is Carol, not quite what Ryan believes? Thus starts a very twisty, mystery thriller, a cracking addition to a really good series. First of all, those characters. Ray, whilst he is a good detective is much too perfect for my liking and I’d love to him to spill marmalade or coffee down his tie like a normal person (okay, I come from a family of spillers)! I do like Ryan but at times, he is so frustrating as he lets his feelings get the better of him. He really is his own worst enemy. He sure does cause havoc, so he needs to rein himself but oh boy is he ever entertaining to read about. I adore the bond between Ryan and his three year old son little Ryan, who is just the cutest and quite probably the smartest in the room with his “conversations“. The two Wilkins are best together although Ray finds Ryan absolutely exasperating but let’s face it, most people do. Here he does take a step back from the investigation much to Ryan’s frustration. I love the way this plays out as it’s very unexpected. This is a rollercoaster of the read with the investigation getting odder and odder and more mysterious by the day. The two Wilkins make some shocking and horrifying discoveries, some are courtesy of Ryan’s gut instinct which is a whole story in itself. Things do not add up, they don’t make sense and it sure tests the relationship between Ray and Ryan, almost to breaking point. Some links begin to appear some from digging into the past and it’s a big surprise when those things start to make sense and piece together. The ending is very good with things you don’t see coming. It’s peppered with tension and suspense but is also alleviated with some wry humour usually delivered deadpan style by Ryan. I thoroughly enjoy this latest instalment, which definitely takes the two main characters and the readers on a journey. I think the focus on the homeless community is a very good element to bring to the storytelling, adding much to think about.

I absolutely adore this series from Simon Mason. DI Wilkins and DI Wilkins, Ryan and Ray – no relation, are such polar opposites it’s hard to see how they could/should work as a pairing, but they just do. The best part of this pairing is the way that they embrace the entire spectrum of people, from the homeless to the celebrity, to the elite and from either side of the criminal line. This also means that the mystery at the heart of the novel has so many possible ways in which it could go, it is satisfyingly intriguing and as usual one that I couldn’t figure out!