Alan Hunter (1922 – 2005) was born in Norfolk, England, where he lived most of his life. After working on his father’s farm and serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II, he became a bookstore manager before publishing his first novel Gently Does It (Constable, 1955), featuring Inspector George Gently. He wrote another 45 books with Gently, most of them set in and around East Anglia. Nearly all of the titles have some play on the double meaning of the word gently. The BBC adapted several of the books for television broadcast with a pilot in 2007 and eight series between 2008 and 2017. The television version moved the locale to Newcastle Upon Tyne and Northumberland.
Gently Between Tides (Constable, 1982) is the 29th book in the series. Gently has just moved into the village of Heathrings, when the strangled body of a local woman is discovered floating along the river in her abandoned dinghy. Anxious not to step on the toes of the local police, he is not happy when the county Chief Constable asks him to advise Inspector Leyston, who is leading the investigation. Leyston resents Gently’s presence but realizes he does not have the necessary experience. Further, as a number of local men who were interested in her had to be questioned, Leyston knows he will have to deal with the offended men long after Gently moves on. The ex-husband is in another more stable relationship but perhaps he has become tired of paying maintenance so some inquiries are made there. In no time at all, Gently rolls out a full-blown methodical investigation.
Gently is a characteristic British police inspector, using the best forensic resources that law enforcement has to offer along with down-to-earth common sense and years of practice to solve the crime at hand. My earlier attempt to read the series was disappointing. I am not sure if that particular title was not one of the better ones about Gently or if I was just not in the proper mood to appreciate it. This story is a competent example of the genre; consistent brisk pacing, good misdirection, and ample characterization provide a framework for a soundly plotted mystery with a credible solution. This is a great option for binge reading. Recommended for fans of British detective series and police procedurals.