DI Caius Beauchamp Detective Series – Tags: Charlotte Vassell, contemporary, crime, detective, humour, quirky, social
A quirky, humorous, cleverly written detective series that doesn’t shy away from contemporary and social issues; all the more praise for Charlotte Vassell in these hectic and polarising times.
I was enticed and just couldn’t stop reading, and finished all three books one after another – rooting for the characters, despising others, and wishing some wouldn’t hurt people I’d grown to love…
- Category: Fiction
- Genre: Detective, Mystery
Books in the DI Caius Beauchamp series:
- THE OTHER HALF
- THE IN CROWD
- A DEADLY INHERITANCE
Yes, I was smitten and uber excited to have found this witty and addictive mystery series about an Irish-Jamaican DI, whose family history makes him not happy with his last name; he stubbornly pronounces it the French, phonetic way.
As it happens, Caius Beauchamp is drawn into the world of the upper class, a world he isn’t comfortable with and rather wouldn’t live in. But then the girlfriend of a namesake, this time pronounced as it “should be” (“Beecham”) is found murdered, and oh boy, those aristocrats and their privileges…
There are socialites galore in all three of the books, and it’s fun to see how close Caius and his team, DS Matthew (Matt) Cheung and DC Amy Noakes, are. How they watch each other’s backs, both personally and professionally. We get peeks into their personal lives, and watch relationships evolve.
I’m mindful of not giving away too much, because some characters on the side of the police, but also on that of the victims, suspects, and criminals, can be found throughout all three of the books. I highly appreciate the way the author weaves cultural history and contemporary consequences in her story. That awareness is laudable, and I feel authors do have a social responsibility. At Newcastle Noir some years ago, crime writer and poet Michael J. Malone stated this in a panel, and it was a lightbulb moment for me. Yes, crime writing is entertaining, yes, it’s enjoyable, but yes, authors can paint something that makes you think as well, makes you realise what is happening in our contemporary world.
My only feedback, call it my pet peeves, if you like, concerns firstly the sometimes unnecessary repetition of a character’s name in following sentences, making it a bit “wooden” – I’d prefer not to start every other sentence with the character’s first name. Then, and also something an editor could have flagged, there are scenes where we start with, or in the head of one character and suddenly, we perceive thoughts of another. In the same scene.
Having said that, it did not stop me from immensely enjoying the books or from wishing there were more instalments in the series. The mind games, the (not so) subtle manipulation are almost as important as the age-old “whodunit” question. I love that; it draws you in and raises awareness of how manipulation works, and how to stay true to your (moral) self. One fascinating character especially is very good at doing this – the Rt Honourable Lord Arthur Hampton, MP. Intriguing.
The DI Caius Beauchamp books are such fun, brilliantly plotted, clever, witty and engaging. No wonder the author won the Mystery Writers of America 2025 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel for The In Crowd.
I highly recommend the series and hope Charlotte Vassell will delight us with more. More Caius, more addressing social issues, more books! Love it.
THE DI CAIUS BEAUCHAMP books are available at (local) bookshops and on Amazon*.
Thanks for reading!
Jon & Caz Cole
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