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Inspector Sloan #11
Harm's Way
It was the task of the reconnaissance party of the Berebury Footpaths Society to see that the path was clear. And so it was until a passing crow dropped something exceedingly sinister before their very eyes. From this small beginning developed a murder hunt that cast its net over the trail of a missing financier, someone's ne'er-do-well son, and a man whose facial bruises certainly needed accounting for.
Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 1984
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About the author
Catherine Aird
68 books193 followers Kinn Hamilton McIntosh, known professionally as Catherine Aird, was an English novelist. She was the author of more than twenty crime fiction novels and several collections of short stories. Her witty, literate, and deftly plotted novels straddle the "cozy" and "police procedural" genres and are somewhat similar in flavour to those of Martha Grimes, Caroline Graham, M.C. Beaton, Margaret Yorke, and Pauline Bell. Aird was inducted into the prestigious Detection Club in 1981, and is a recipient of the 2015 Cartier Diamond Dagger award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 2, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable read and pleasant companion while I painted the outside of my house today. Narrator Derek Perkins has a voice that is very easy on the ears and I love how he reads the different characters and their interactions with each other. The mystery was imaginative and kept my attention. It's hard to keep from jumping into the next one in the series right away, however, I know I will appreciate each volume all the more if I intersperse them with books from other authors.
May 2, 2023
Aird once again draws the reader in with and intriguing start, then cleverly draws multiple entwined storylines to obscure the realization of the true villain. I was not sure where this one was going until it actually arrived.
April 23, 2025
Found it enjoyable. Did not guess the killer. Love how they tried to dispose of the body.
I don't understand this "walking" business though. Must be a British thing. You can't do that here. Here, it would be trespassing. There is no free right of way.
I don't understand this "walking" business though. Must be a British thing. You can't do that here. Here, it would be trespassing. There is no free right of way.
August 31, 2020
As usual, a closely knit community with sharply drawn characters. The setting is a pleasant group of farms. The unidentifiable body could be any of several missing persons, but it's rather chopped about. Who the victim is makes all the difference - as the clever murderer knows all too well. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
July 16, 2024
Interesting plot and twists with engaging characters add to the enjoyment of the story. Clean. Quotes: Biblical verses (not preachy), Bacon, Sherlock, and others. Excellent narration (use faster speech rate if desired). Recommended. 👍 4-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
FYI — Quoting like that indicates some of the author’s education. Read people who are intelligent. It transfers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👍❤️👍
FYI — Quoting like that indicates some of the author’s education. Read people who are intelligent. It transfers. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👍❤️👍
July 7, 2022
Review of the audiobook narrated by Derek Perkins.
I seem to have accidentally on purpose started a Catherine Aird glom, as this is my third in three weeks. Several of the Inspector Sloan books are free on Audible Plus, which is what got me started.
I enjoy Sloan and his rather dull sidekick; the snarky chief superintendent not so much. I like the setting in the fictional county called Calleshire. I'm entertained by Aird's generous use of literary allusions and quotations (many of which I have to google). The stories are not too long, not too gory, and plenty clever. Also, Derek Perkins is an excellent narrator.
I expect that I'll tackle the entire series.
I seem to have accidentally on purpose started a Catherine Aird glom, as this is my third in three weeks. Several of the Inspector Sloan books are free on Audible Plus, which is what got me started.
I enjoy Sloan and his rather dull sidekick; the snarky chief superintendent not so much. I like the setting in the fictional county called Calleshire. I'm entertained by Aird's generous use of literary allusions and quotations (many of which I have to google). The stories are not too long, not too gory, and plenty clever. Also, Derek Perkins is an excellent narrator.
I expect that I'll tackle the entire series.
May 16, 2022
Not grabbing me--a little dull. Maybe eleven Airds is my limit?
August 24, 2019
This story focuses on the most frustrating elements of detection, finding the body then upon finding it... not getting a whole lot of answers and then having to just keep at it day after day. However, I found the details of all this really fascinating more than frustrating. I also liked the fact that the local police officer was featured adding some more depth to the series, and showed you policing in a bit of a different light. It was nice to have someone who knew the people and the land well, and also someone who had to live with the people as well.
The story has various missing people, and various people in town who have relations with them. So there are a number of suspects and potential identities to the body found. Regardless, when they finally get some more breaks- things wrap up quickly.
Well done and thoughtful.
The story has various missing people, and various people in town who have relations with them. So there are a number of suspects and potential identities to the body found. Regardless, when they finally get some more breaks- things wrap up quickly.
Well done and thoughtful.
March 28, 2025
4.5 stars for this fast-paced entry in this entertaining police procedural series. Here, Inspector Sloan and his flippant sidekick, Constable Crosby, are called in on an unusual case. Two members of a local walking club are checking out a footpath in a rural part of the county; just as they pass through a farmyard, a crow flies overhead, dropping something in their path - a human finger…
What follows is a hunt for the body the finger came from - and there are several intriguing suspects and motives providing what turn out to be red herrings galore! No spoilers, but this entry in the long-running series was one of the most intriguing I’ve read.
I’ve read the series from the beginning with the Reading the Detectives group, and they’ve all been enjoyable, laced with dry humor and entertaining characters like the humble, likable, and dogged Sloan; his moody, temperamental boss Leeyes; the flippant, sometimes unprofessional young Crosby (but he’s getting better!), and the oddly upbeat, chatty pathologist Dr. Dabbe. If you enjoy quirky characters and humor in your traditional police procedurals, I definitely recommend this series.
What follows is a hunt for the body the finger came from - and there are several intriguing suspects and motives providing what turn out to be red herrings galore! No spoilers, but this entry in the long-running series was one of the most intriguing I’ve read.
I’ve read the series from the beginning with the Reading the Detectives group, and they’ve all been enjoyable, laced with dry humor and entertaining characters like the humble, likable, and dogged Sloan; his moody, temperamental boss Leeyes; the flippant, sometimes unprofessional young Crosby (but he’s getting better!), and the oddly upbeat, chatty pathologist Dr. Dabbe. If you enjoy quirky characters and humor in your traditional police procedurals, I definitely recommend this series.
June 8, 2015
A crow drops a human finger in front of some ramblers one weekend leading to a complicated case for Sloan and Crosby. First of all they need to find the rest of the body and once they've found it work out who it is. They have several possible victims and several possible suspects.
I've always thought this is was one of the most gruesome of this excellent series. Generally the reader does not get to hear much about the body but in this book there is quite a bit of information about it. Nevertheless the book is well written and well plotted and Sloan and Crosby have their usual disagreements. Crosby, in spite of the fact his colleagues call him the Defetcive Constable, still manages to see what others haven't noticed and thus give Sloan the spark of inspiration he needs to solve the case.
This is an entertaining and well written crime series where the emphasis is generally on solving the puzzle and not on graphic violence or the private lives of the detectives. The series can be read in any order.
I've always thought this is was one of the most gruesome of this excellent series. Generally the reader does not get to hear much about the body but in this book there is quite a bit of information about it. Nevertheless the book is well written and well plotted and Sloan and Crosby have their usual disagreements. Crosby, in spite of the fact his colleagues call him the Defetcive Constable, still manages to see what others haven't noticed and thus give Sloan the spark of inspiration he needs to solve the case.
This is an entertaining and well written crime series where the emphasis is generally on solving the puzzle and not on graphic violence or the private lives of the detectives. The series can be read in any order.
May 13, 2009
Another clever British mystery from Catherine Aird. "Harm's Way" is part of her continuing series starring CID Detective Inspector C.D. Sloan who plies his trade in the English countryside. This case begins with the discovery of a human finger--dropped by a crow. Now DI Sloan must ferret out the clues to discover: where's the body; who's the body; and how it came to be missing a finger. With his less-than-helpful aide, Detective Constable Crosby, CD weeds through a cast of missing persons and motives galore only to find the crime is for one of the oldest, and most common, reasons.
Aird writes tight and entertaining mysteries with all the droll humor expected from an English author. I do warn readers, though, that if they aren't familiar with the 'Queen's English', British mannerisms, and British culture...you may not enjoy "Harm's Way" and CD as much as I do.
Aird writes tight and entertaining mysteries with all the droll humor expected from an English author. I do warn readers, though, that if they aren't familiar with the 'Queen's English', British mannerisms, and British culture...you may not enjoy "Harm's Way" and CD as much as I do.
January 5, 2023
Aird has a special writing style, which won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoy it in small doses. The Inspector, C.D. Sloane, engages in frequent mental digressions, and the narrator tends to do something similar. The mystery in this one had some clever points, but is by no means a classic.
June 27, 2021
Too many literary and biblical references ruined a decent mystery. Started as a 4 star…midway turned to 3 and ended up a 2 star rating. I like this author, setting and characters and will try others.
March 22, 2025
MY RATING GUIDE: 4.5 Stars. HARM’S WAY, bk11 in Aird’s English Sloan & Crosby/Calleshire Chronicles series read quickly, contained a clever wit and a dry, tongue-in-cheek humor. I like the characterization of the MC CD Sloan (and Crosby) and although I had suspects, hadn’t entirely discovered the culprit before the end. I found the various facts about Crows as scavengers (and dead bodies) fascinating. For me, this was enjoyable read.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/fairly good; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved this; it was great! (I SELDOM give 5 Stars).
Calleshire County, England ~
An unattached finger is discovered by two members of The Berebury Country Footpath Society when they are in a rural area, walking and mapping their route for the upcoming day. Berebury’s lead Criminal Investigator Detective Inspector CD Sloan & Detective Constable Crosby are sent out to investigate and identify the person to whom it belongs.
Quotes ~
> “If this is anything to go by, Sloan, you’ve got someone here who took normal care of his appearance.” (the pathologist)
“The trouble”, said Sloan flatly, “is that we haven’t got anyone here.”
“Just the finger,” put in Constable Crosby helpfully.
“The rest of him will be around,” said the pathologist.
> “Eating people was wrong but pigs did not seem to know this. Cattle did.”
>”Don’t let go of the ladder,that’s all,” said Crosby.
“And how do you suppose I take photographs if I’m holding onto a ladder? With my teeth?”
“If you don’t hold on to the ladder,” promised Crosby flatly, “you’ll fall off.”
Comments ~
1) HARM’S WAY is bk11 in Catherine Aird’s Calleshire Chronicles/Sloan & Crosby Mystery series, published in 1984. The series has held up well over time with technology differences - barely noticeable in a remote, small English village life. HARM’S WAY can be read as a Standalone mystery but I prefer beginning with bk1, enjoying the character development and relationships that unfold over time. IMO, the earlier books in this series (not quite Cozy) are too much fun to miss.
2) I need to like the MCs in the books I read and I find Inspector Sloan quite likable. I find his interactions with Constable Crosby, his boss, Superintendent Leyes and his colleagues entertaining. (It’s a bonus that Sloan enjoys an amicable relationship with his wife, Margaret, and that she seems to understand the demands of his career with humor - rather rare irl or fiction - although she doesn’t appear in this book).
3) Derek Perkins performs this series wonderfully but I read this particular book instead. As with a number of series, I believe the audio performance actually enhances the enjoyment of the series. This is one of those. :)
I recommend checking out an audio version of any of these titles.
4) After running across this series a while ago, it has quickly become one of my favorites. I recommend it to readers who enjoy:
> British Mysteries.
> Classic Mysteries (Sayers, Allingham, Marsh, Christie).
> Certain Cozy Mysteries or “near” Cozy Mysteries.
> Clean fiction/Mysteries.
> Police Procedural series.
> Character Driven series.
> Series with an intelligent, Seasoned MC.
> Mysteries with a touch of dry humor.
> Fiction with literature references
READER CAUTIONS ~
PROFANITY - None.
VIOLENCE - PG. Murders occur off scene and are not described in a dark manner.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/fairly good; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved this; it was great! (I SELDOM give 5 Stars).
Calleshire County, England ~
An unattached finger is discovered by two members of The Berebury Country Footpath Society when they are in a rural area, walking and mapping their route for the upcoming day. Berebury’s lead Criminal Investigator Detective Inspector CD Sloan & Detective Constable Crosby are sent out to investigate and identify the person to whom it belongs.
Quotes ~
> “If this is anything to go by, Sloan, you’ve got someone here who took normal care of his appearance.” (the pathologist)
“The trouble”, said Sloan flatly, “is that we haven’t got anyone here.”
“Just the finger,” put in Constable Crosby helpfully.
“The rest of him will be around,” said the pathologist.
> “Eating people was wrong but pigs did not seem to know this. Cattle did.”
>”Don’t let go of the ladder,that’s all,” said Crosby.
“And how do you suppose I take photographs if I’m holding onto a ladder? With my teeth?”
“If you don’t hold on to the ladder,” promised Crosby flatly, “you’ll fall off.”
Comments ~
1) HARM’S WAY is bk11 in Catherine Aird’s Calleshire Chronicles/Sloan & Crosby Mystery series, published in 1984. The series has held up well over time with technology differences - barely noticeable in a remote, small English village life. HARM’S WAY can be read as a Standalone mystery but I prefer beginning with bk1, enjoying the character development and relationships that unfold over time. IMO, the earlier books in this series (not quite Cozy) are too much fun to miss.
2) I need to like the MCs in the books I read and I find Inspector Sloan quite likable. I find his interactions with Constable Crosby, his boss, Superintendent Leyes and his colleagues entertaining. (It’s a bonus that Sloan enjoys an amicable relationship with his wife, Margaret, and that she seems to understand the demands of his career with humor - rather rare irl or fiction - although she doesn’t appear in this book).
3) Derek Perkins performs this series wonderfully but I read this particular book instead. As with a number of series, I believe the audio performance actually enhances the enjoyment of the series. This is one of those. :)
I recommend checking out an audio version of any of these titles.
4) After running across this series a while ago, it has quickly become one of my favorites. I recommend it to readers who enjoy:
> British Mysteries.
> Classic Mysteries (Sayers, Allingham, Marsh, Christie).
> Certain Cozy Mysteries or “near” Cozy Mysteries.
> Clean fiction/Mysteries.
> Police Procedural series.
> Character Driven series.
> Series with an intelligent, Seasoned MC.
> Mysteries with a touch of dry humor.
> Fiction with literature references
READER CAUTIONS ~
PROFANITY - None.
VIOLENCE - PG. Murders occur off scene and are not described in a dark manner.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - None.
April 5, 2025
This is the eleventh in the Inspector Sloan (and not forgetting D C Crosby) series and it is a series that I fall more and more in love with as I read on. I know that I will re-read these and they will become companions.
In this novel the Berebury Footpaths Society 'Every walk a challenge!' have sent out ex-schoolteacher (and bore extraordinaire) Gordon Briggs and young Wendy Lamport to reconnoinaitre a possible walk. The footpath, an ancient right of way, goes across farmland and some farmers dare to try to stop walkers using the land, so the two head across George Mellot's land at Pencombe Farm. However, on their walk, a crow drops a human finger in the path, which is spotted by Wendy and leads to an investigation into a possible murder, with no body.
We have a great scenario - various farms, a wood, a local village, a number of suspects and a few missing people. Each of whom could be either the body or the murderer. Catherine Aird has created a great cast of characters and the rural setting is a nice change from more gritty crime novels. I look forward to reading on.
In this novel the Berebury Footpaths Society 'Every walk a challenge!' have sent out ex-schoolteacher (and bore extraordinaire) Gordon Briggs and young Wendy Lamport to reconnoinaitre a possible walk. The footpath, an ancient right of way, goes across farmland and some farmers dare to try to stop walkers using the land, so the two head across George Mellot's land at Pencombe Farm. However, on their walk, a crow drops a human finger in the path, which is spotted by Wendy and leads to an investigation into a possible murder, with no body.
We have a great scenario - various farms, a wood, a local village, a number of suspects and a few missing people. Each of whom could be either the body or the murderer. Catherine Aird has created a great cast of characters and the rural setting is a nice change from more gritty crime novels. I look forward to reading on.
January 21, 2019
This was my first exposure to Detective Inspector Sloan, and I found some of discourse between him and Constable Crosby a little hard to follow. After reading it, I learned that this is #11 in the series, so this, as well as the fact that I was reading it in bits on a plane trip, may account a bit for the vagueness. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the literary references made both by Sloan and the gooft Constable. Also enjoyable were the British colloquialisms and the descriptions of the British countryside. The adventure began when a couple of local hikers, scouting communal public paths that ran through private property for an upcoming group hike, discovered a finger beside the path. Obviously, where there's a finger, somewhere there's a body. As Sloan investigated, some of the locals seemed forthcoming and others were quite closed-mouthed, which made finding answeres quite difficult.
July 2, 2022
When a man and woman go out to scout a footpath for their groups trek the next day they think the hardest part might be clearing a path or dealing with a farmer who doesn't want them using the easement. However, today a crow drops a finger in their path. Since the local police normally keep things pretty clean, Sloan is called in to figure out what is going on and maybe try to find the rest of the body.
The farm the finger is found on belongs to a man named Mellot, the brother of the man who owns the famous furniture store. Tom, the brother who owns the furniture, has just beaten off a takeover bid from a man who disappeared soon afterward. Len, a local, had a fight with a stranger at the local pub. Another farmer appears to have run away with a woman named Beverly. Any of them could be the body. Especially since, when Sloan does find the body , it doesn't have a head.
The farm the finger is found on belongs to a man named Mellot, the brother of the man who owns the famous furniture store. Tom, the brother who owns the furniture, has just beaten off a takeover bid from a man who disappeared soon afterward. Len, a local, had a fight with a stranger at the local pub. Another farmer appears to have run away with a woman named Beverly. Any of them could be the body. Especially since, when Sloan does find the body , it doesn't have a head.
March 22, 2023
In their 11th outing, DI Sloan is treated to DC Crosby breaking the case! Crosby, as Sloan remarked, may turn into a detective yet! Ms. Aird returns to one of her best devices, something extraordinary happening during a routine event. Once again, we get an excellent 'mystery of absences' in which Sloan and Crosby start with one small clue and have to discover everything else, including the body.
Oddly, we don't get an update on the birth of Margaret Sloan's baby as Ms. Aird sticks to the crime. Her style is as crisp and sure as ever. The inimitable Dr. Dabbe is especially entertaining!
Recommended to all who enjoy a short, clever mystery.
Oddly, we don't get an update on the birth of Margaret Sloan's baby as Ms. Aird sticks to the crime. Her style is as crisp and sure as ever. The inimitable Dr. Dabbe is especially entertaining!
Recommended to all who enjoy a short, clever mystery.
April 19, 2025
When a crow drops a human finger at the feet of a hillwalker passing through a farm, you know there's going to be an interesting hunt, both for the rest of the body and then for the killer. Inspector C.D. Sloan, on his 11th outing with D.C. Crosby, has a big job ahead to find and identify the body and then figure out whodunnit. There is a suitable list of possible victims and suspects, a sympathetic portrayal of the local characters, and a satisfying wrap up in this short novel from the 1980's.
April 12, 2019
Good idea spoiled in the execution. Too many literary references obscured by Sloan's meandering thought process made the majority of his "witty" conversations with others so oblique as to be nearly incomprehensible. I kept having to read the actual spoken words, skipping over the parenthetical random thoughts, in an attempt to make sense of it. It got to be really hard work by the end.
January 9, 2022
This is mt favourite Aird so far. Except maybe book 2. This was very clever. We follow the search for the body and then the identity of the body and less evidence to prove the villain's motive.
I think I like books that play with the formula they know they are using. Also Crosby felt real in this book. More so than before.
I think I like books that play with the formula they know they are using. Also Crosby felt real in this book. More so than before.
October 31, 2023
Loved it! I prefer more of a cozy mystery than a blood guts and action crime book so this appealed to me. It was graphic for a few moments (to describe the body, ect) but overall appealed to my sensibility. I stumbled across this on BARD (books for the blind and visually impaired) and am happy so see many other books available in the Inspector Sloan series! highly recommend....
October 30, 2017
Good. A crow drops a finger in front of some hikers ... and the hunt is on to find the rest of the body. Where it is ingenious, and the solution comes at the last minute with a slip of the tongue ... clever.
September 14, 2018
In addition to a fun puzzle to solve, these mysteries are great for the interior monologue and observations of Detective Inspector C. D. Sloan. The set-up was a bit long in this one, but the rest was spot-on.
May 18, 2020
Engaging mystery!
This mystery was interesting, had believable characters and a good plot. I have become a Catherine Aird fan , and I highly recommend this book to other mystery readers.
This mystery was interesting, had believable characters and a good plot. I have become a Catherine Aird fan , and I highly recommend this book to other mystery readers.
September 23, 2023
Entertaining police procedural set in the UK, with Inspector Sloan struggling to figure out who put a body in the roof of a barn wi5 a fork lift. If a crow hadn’t interfered by snatching and dropping a finger, the body might never have been discovered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2017
A good read with an unusual plot.
April 3, 2018
I love this series --- never disappoints.
Read
October 11, 20191981
April 15, 2021
I enjoy this series. A very well read detective..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews