Despite the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed Frost At Christmas, I put off picking up the sequel for several months (nearly 8 to be exact). After finishing it, I feel like an idiot for waiting so long. I can easily state that I will not be making this mistake twice. The third book is ready to go and I’ll be diving in shortly.Frost hates doing any sort of formal report. In fact, he hates it so much that he’ll take on an unreasonable amount of additional work to avoid the inevitable paperwork that will follow the closing of any one case. At one point, Frost is involved, in some shape or form, with 5 separate cases. He’s investigating the death of a vagabond in a public washroom, a hit and run potentially perpetrated by the son of a Member of Parliament, the murder of a stripper, the robbery of a bookie and finally, the disappearance of a fifteen year old girl.Wingfield is simply incredible here, there’s no better way to explain it. As I’ve mentioned, he has Frost and his sidekick-of-the-week, Webster, running all over the streets of Denton involved in five separate crimes. What’s remarkable is that at no point did the plot seem convoluted nor did I feel lost. When Frost starts to make headway in one case, he’s reminded of, or provided with new evidence to, another.It takes talent to present such an ambitious story and not leave the reader feeling confused. It also takes impressive writing chops to craft a type of prose that entertains the reader and keeps the narrative moving smoothly. There were more than a few moments where anything from a smirk to genuinely laughing out loud occurred.It’s only the second book in the series but you can tell Wingfield has Frost nailed down. Not only that but a tremendous supporting cast that keep up the overall flow of the story. These reasons should be enough for a fan of the mystery genre to at least give it a shot. Judging by the first two books, there doesn’t seem to be any reason to read one before the other. Reading out of order shouldn’t prevent any problems so if you’re interested, give this one a shot first, you will not be disappointed!
As a long-time fan of A Touch Of Frost on the TV, I was delighted to find this in a charity shop. Of course, having seen David Jason's performance of one of the most loveable characters in the TV crime canon, it is impossible to divorce yourself from his mental picture when reading it in print.With that in mind, I proceed.The book itself was impossible to put down. The restless (practically superhuman) energy that Frost puts into his never-ending day is infectious, and there isn't even time to breathe. There seems to be no natural breaks, you just have to find out what happens next. And it doesn't stop. Case after case, interruption after interruption, and still he hasn't done his paperwork which Mullett is nagging him for, yet still he has time to crack tasteless, sexist jokes and ridicule his partner's beard.Four stars not five because everybody's constant smoking was starting to put me off, to the point where it turned into a caricature of what a nicotine habit is. Bear in mind, of course, that this was only 1987, in which people were still allowed to smoke in public buildings Never mind, we'll let that pass -- but it smacks to me of lazy plotting.In the books, Frost is far less likeable than in the TV, and even more scruffy and bumbling, and despite the fact that he does manage to solve the cases, he has little respect amongst his colleagues, who (almost to a man) think him incompetent. Frost, however, has so much self-belief that he just does not care -- and that endears him even more to the reader.
Do You like book A Touch Of Frost (2008)?
This was the second book in the Frost series and if you only know the character from the TV series you will be in for a bit of a shock when you tackle the book. The Frost of the books is a much more seedy character than the TV version and he takes far more chances. The book is structured very much like the first book as we follow Frost through a series of investigations which all tie together neatly at the end.I've read the first Two frost books back to back in a couple of weeks and I can't find fault with them - brilliant.
—Gary M.
This was in the library when I returned "Hard Frost" but by this time I had already started "Winter Frost" so it was a pity it was not there last time so I could have read the books in order they were published.However this was actually the first Frost book I ever read probably about twenty years ago but I did not remember much of the story though I did remember some of the things which happened. To be honest some of the characters and events did not quite ring true with me but the story rolls along with some nice twists and Frost comes across as a compassionate and likeable hero.
—Rog Harrison
DI Frost is having a bad day. While the rest of the station is enjoying a retirement party, which Frost is determined to attend, he has been called out to the death of a well known local addict in a flooded public toilet.His every attempt to slope off and attend the party are further frustrated by what can only be called a crimewave of epic porportions, which he and a few other officers, not in the favour of Mullet, are trying to hold the line against tide of crime afflicting Denton.Frost, in his attempts to get to the party is sloppier than normal and his and others inattention at a crime scene will come back to haunt him later.In this the 2nd of the Frost books, the tropes of the series (both novels and TV series) become concrete. Frost, the copper with the nose for crime and lies, but hopeless at playing the game, terrible at all of the things that modern policework entail like computer systems and paperwork. The supposed competance and organisation of those around him like Mullet and the ambitious DC or DS who scorn Frost for his faults but are blind to his qualities and the system which attempts to bury ihim in paperwork and starve him of resources, just when they are needed the most.In these books i think that Wingfield has given us the most complete picture of what actual policing in the 1990's is like, the clash of old and new, the fight for resources and the bureaucracy.I'm not actually sure that i like Frost. He is honest, at least to those that he thinks deserve honesty. And he is a good detective, while not being a good policeman. He is crude, rude and slovenly. But for all that he has heart and he is the true heart of these books. But probably his best quality is that he has no regard for the acclaim and spoils which go to those close cases, routinely giving the credit to others so he can avoid the paperwork, much to the frustration of his more ambitious team members. Simply knowing that the crime is solved is enough for him.
—Tyrone
