Another case for engineer turned secret agent Tim Frazer, definitely of its time but a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. Unabridged on 2 CDs and read by Anthony Head. ( )

Engineer and part time freelance secret agent Tim Frazer is asked to investigate the apparently accidental death of agent Leo Salinger. The assignment requires him to tail the young, attractive (and surely innocent?) Barbara Day – a task that Frazer approaches with some relish.

When simply tailing Barbara doesn’t bring any results, Frazer decides to try to get closer to her. He starts to fall for her charms, and she seems to like him too. But when he is invited to her flat, he discovers the flat empty except for the murdered body of a mutual acquaintance – and he himself set up as the likely perpetrator!

Over the next few weeks, Frazer avoids the attentions of the local Police Constabulary, gets beaten up by strangers, receives mysterious horse racing tips, and makes a selection from a bulb catalogue. Eventually (of course) he solves the case and brings the murderer to justice.

This short story has a well crafted plot with plenty of twists and turns, and it is all drawn to a satisfactory conclusion. However, I found the dialogue stilted and the condescending attitude of Frazer and his minders to the female characters slightly offensive.

Overall, I found the whole thing rather dated, and I didn’t like it as much as the Paul Temple series. ( )