‘No Accident’ by Robert Crouch

No Accident

Environmental health officer Kent Fisher gets more than he bargained for when called to investigate a worker’s death at an adventure park. Faced with a gory, but apparently innocent mishap, his particular way of doing things throws him into conflict with his colleagues, his father and a millionaire playboy. Threatened with suspension, Kent must find out what really happened before he lands himself on the dole queue. But is he just being over-cautious, or is there something very wrong here?

This is the second book I’ve read by Robert Crouch and I have to say, it’s a cracker. Crouch has created a brand new hero, whose day-to-day work pits him against dirty kitchens and lackadaisical attitudes to hygiene. However, while the environmental issues still play an essential role in this tale of mystery and intrigue, the emphasis is very much on the character’s ability to work out exactly what has happened and bring to justice whoever is to blame.

I really like the author’s descriptions of the South Downs landscape, its people and places, but it’s his ability to make readers laugh, while at the same time keeping them in suspense, that really cracks it. If you love mysteries and off-beat investigators, this’ll be right up your environmental street.