PAULINE BELL
books featuring
DCI Thomas Browne, Sergeant Jerry Hunter and DC Benny Mitchell

The books are a set of six police procedurals featuring DCI Thomas Browne, Sergeant Jerry Hunter and DC Benny Mitchell. They are different from most other series in that the reader mainly follows the fortunes of the intransigent DC Mitchell rather than those of his DCI. There is a running battle between the brash DC and the disapproving, rather prudish sergeant. The geographical setting is Cloughton, a Yorkshire town which is Halifax without the building society!
The Dead do not Praise (1990) Set in a state comprehensive, attended in the past by DC Mitchell. The Headmistress is struck over her head while in her study, when she should be taking assembly. When the mystery is solved Mitchell decides to set his cap at Virginia, his DCI's daughter.
Feast into Mourning (1991) Set during an Anglican Church's patronal festival weekend. During the church cricket match a bored teenager wanders off and discovers a charred body in a local wood. Police have to follow up church politics and the personal affairs of its members. Mitchell and Virginia Brown become engaged.
No Pleasure in Death (1992) The local choral society is preparing for its Christmas Concert. A serial killer disposes of three sopranos. Whilst Virginia is away studying in Oxford, Mitchell becomes involved with a special constable who becomes the third choir victim. (In the first edition only a few copies have acknowledgements included. Also a large print edition).
The Way of a Serpent (1993) A 78 year old woman is murdered whilst staying temporarily in a residential home. A valuable she possessed has disappeared. Police investigate the second-hand book business and family relationships. Later the first victim's great grandson is drowned. Throughout the investigation Mitchell is in his DCI's bad books because Virginia is pregnant.
Downhill to Death (1994) The background is a charity walk and a school production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream". An investigation into a drugs raid on a local chemist links up with the discovery of the body of a drama teacher by a group of charity walkers. Mitchell and Virginia are safely married and Browne is a proud grandfather. (Large print edition due out March 1996).
Sleeping Partners (1995) A rich single mother is found in a bus shelter with her throat cut. Police investigate the students who were her friends ten years before and try to discover who was the father of her son.

Pauline Bell is a former Halifax teacher, turned crime writer. She has three grown-up children, one, usefully, a police constable married to a detective.