Janet Neel
Author of Death's Bright Angel
About the Author
Janet Neel is an advisor to the Ministry of Defence.
Image credit: www.parliament.uk
Series
Works by Janet Neel
A FATAL END an absolutely gripping classic British whodunnit (Wilson and McLeish Mysteries Book 7) 2 copies
A FATAL POINT an absolutely gripping classic British whodunnit (Wilson and McLeish Mysteries Book 4) 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Cohen, Janet Neel
Baroness Cohen of Pimlico - Birthdate
- 1940-07-04
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Newnham College, Cambridge
- Occupations
- crime novelist
lawyer
BBC Governor
Life Peer - Organizations
- BBC
Labour Party (UK)
House of Lords - Awards and honors
- Life Peerage (2000)
- Short biography
- Janet Neel Cohen is a daughter of George Edric Neel, an architect, and his wife Mary Isabel Budge, a social worker. She was educated at South Hampstead High School, London, and graduated with honors from the University of Cambridge in 1962 with a B.A. in law.
She worked in the United States before returning to the UK to start practicing as a solicitor in 1965. In 1971, she married James Lionel Cohen. She served as a Governor of the BBC between 1994 and 1999. She was created Baroness Cohen of Pimlico in 2000 and sits in the House of Lords as a Labour peer.
As Janet Neel, she is the author of numerous crime novels, beginning with Death's Bright Angel in 1988. She has also written fiction under the name Janet Cohen. - Nationality
- UK
- Places of residence
- London, England, UK
- Associated Place (for map)
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
So this appears to be the last book in Janet Neel's McLeish/Wilson series of detective novels, and I think ends on a bit of a high. Neel has consistently been a sharp writer and a good plotter. She brings her readers into a diverse range of convincingly described worlds (in this case a private school catering for 'artistic' children) and delivers a psychologically driven detective story with satisfying outcomes. This book shunts her first lead, alpha woman Francesca McLeish, to the side - show more which I personally find a relief. It's less strenuous dealing with characters who are not relentlessly competent and beloved all the time... show less
I've jumped into this series in the wrong book (#2) but that's ok. I am guessing that this is a series where the real action is in the characters, John the detective and Francesca and her brothers, etc.
Neel makes up for the plot being . . . figure-out-able by having a lot of savvy about the government jobs, building trades, mountain-climbing, choral singing and etc. I have a cousin who climbed K-2 on an American-Russian venture wayyyyy back in the 70's. I'm looking forward to reading #1 and show more finding out how John and Francesca meet. Verging here and there on being oddly dated for a book written in 1989. ***1/2 show less
Neel makes up for the plot being . . . figure-out-able by having a lot of savvy about the government jobs, building trades, mountain-climbing, choral singing and etc. I have a cousin who climbed K-2 on an American-Russian venture wayyyyy back in the 70's. I'm looking forward to reading #1 and show more finding out how John and Francesca meet. Verging here and there on being oddly dated for a book written in 1989. ***1/2 show less
Janet Neel succeeds with this novel on a number of levels. At the most simple level, it is a tautly-plotted whodunnit, with all the clues available, although I remained in the dark until very nearly the end.
Of even greater appeal to me, however, it touched on two separate aspects of what I laughingly call my career, offering a fascinating insight into the rivalries between the Fellows of an aspiring college, and into the musings of senior officials within the Civil Service. I was show more disappointed to see the untrammelled disdain with which the Department for Education (or, rather, one of its many former incarnations) was dismissed by oficials from other government departments, though that was merely personal bias! Having now moved to another government department myself, I am also less inclined to challenge that portrayal myself.
Following the sudden death of the previous Warden of the College, and as a consequence of the crumbling ineptitude of its previous Bursar, the Department for Education insists upon the appointment of Dame Sarah Murchison (a noted academic administrator) and Francesca Wilson (a high-flier on secondment from what was the Department for Trade and Industry when the novel was written) respectively as Warden and Bursar of Gladstone College. Gladstone is an all-female establishment falling under the aegis of London University. Already aware that there were some serious irregularities within its finances, Francesca and Dame Sarah soon discover that the history of mismanagement stretches further than previously imagined, and that the looming financial crisis is even worse than feared.
As if that were not enough, students start being attacked within the grounds of the College, and then the police (principally in the person of Superintendent John Macleish, equally high-flying husband of Francesca) start to re-investigate the death of the previous Warden. The story moves briskly on to a well-managed denouement.
When I first read this book, as an official in the Department for Education, I found it particularly appealing simply for the frequent appearances by Sir Neville Allason, its Permanent Secretary. The strong plot and the rest of the story were very pleasant bonuses. On a second reading that view is reinforced. show less
Of even greater appeal to me, however, it touched on two separate aspects of what I laughingly call my career, offering a fascinating insight into the rivalries between the Fellows of an aspiring college, and into the musings of senior officials within the Civil Service. I was show more disappointed to see the untrammelled disdain with which the Department for Education (or, rather, one of its many former incarnations) was dismissed by oficials from other government departments, though that was merely personal bias! Having now moved to another government department myself, I am also less inclined to challenge that portrayal myself.
Following the sudden death of the previous Warden of the College, and as a consequence of the crumbling ineptitude of its previous Bursar, the Department for Education insists upon the appointment of Dame Sarah Murchison (a noted academic administrator) and Francesca Wilson (a high-flier on secondment from what was the Department for Trade and Industry when the novel was written) respectively as Warden and Bursar of Gladstone College. Gladstone is an all-female establishment falling under the aegis of London University. Already aware that there were some serious irregularities within its finances, Francesca and Dame Sarah soon discover that the history of mismanagement stretches further than previously imagined, and that the looming financial crisis is even worse than feared.
As if that were not enough, students start being attacked within the grounds of the College, and then the police (principally in the person of Superintendent John Macleish, equally high-flying husband of Francesca) start to re-investigate the death of the previous Warden. The story moves briskly on to a well-managed denouement.
When I first read this book, as an official in the Department for Education, I found it particularly appealing simply for the frequent appearances by Sir Neville Allason, its Permanent Secretary. The strong plot and the rest of the story were very pleasant bonuses. On a second reading that view is reinforced. show less
Janet Neel’s novels featuring the dynamic and accomplished civil servant, Francesca Wilson, and the competent and ambitious Detective Inspector John McLeish are a delight. Not only do they deliver highly polished and well-plotted crime mysteries, but they capture the atmosphere of Whitehall marvellously. Although they are now around thirty years old, and many aspects of working life in Whitehall has changed, their portrayal of the role and attitudes of the civil service remains valid.
This show more novel opens with the brutal murder in West London of Bill Fireman, a management accountant working for the Yorkshire textile manufacturer Britex. He had been down in London to attend a conference and to visit some suppliers, and was attacked on the way back to his hotel. The discovery of the body is reported to Edgware Road police station, and the investigation is assigned to Detective Inspector John McLeish. Initial indications suggested that Fireman may have been the victim of a random mugging, probably by someone desperate to fund a drug addiction. McLeish is not convinced, and huis copper’s intuition tells him that there is something further behind it. While returning from the scene of the murder, McLeish has a chance encounter with local resident, Francesca Wilson, with whom he is immediately smitten.
In the meantime, Britex has come to the attention of Francesca Wilson and her colleagues in the Department for Trade and Industry. Having traded successfully, if never spectacularly, for many years, Britex has recently found itself struggling to compete with cheap imports from Easter Europe and Asia. Orders are diminishing, and the company’s future looks bleak. The DTI has become aware of the difficulties and is considering whether it might intervene. Mcleish’s inventigation becomes increasingly entwined with the DTI review of britex, and before long there are further murders.
Francesca and McLeish are both appealing characters, being assertive and very capable in their respective fields, yet also sensitive and alert to the emotional currents swirling around them. Francesca also has a beguiling family – her considerable self-assurance (I know, I know, a dirty word) stems from having four younger brothers whom she helped bring up following her father’s tragically early death. All of her brothers, and indeed Francesca herself, are excellent singers, and the book is liberally strewn with enchanting references to different choral works, and several plugs for the various departmental and civil service- wide choirs.
All told, a very entertaining novel and the first volume in an appealing series. show less
This show more novel opens with the brutal murder in West London of Bill Fireman, a management accountant working for the Yorkshire textile manufacturer Britex. He had been down in London to attend a conference and to visit some suppliers, and was attacked on the way back to his hotel. The discovery of the body is reported to Edgware Road police station, and the investigation is assigned to Detective Inspector John McLeish. Initial indications suggested that Fireman may have been the victim of a random mugging, probably by someone desperate to fund a drug addiction. McLeish is not convinced, and huis copper’s intuition tells him that there is something further behind it. While returning from the scene of the murder, McLeish has a chance encounter with local resident, Francesca Wilson, with whom he is immediately smitten.
In the meantime, Britex has come to the attention of Francesca Wilson and her colleagues in the Department for Trade and Industry. Having traded successfully, if never spectacularly, for many years, Britex has recently found itself struggling to compete with cheap imports from Easter Europe and Asia. Orders are diminishing, and the company’s future looks bleak. The DTI has become aware of the difficulties and is considering whether it might intervene. Mcleish’s inventigation becomes increasingly entwined with the DTI review of britex, and before long there are further murders.
Francesca and McLeish are both appealing characters, being assertive and very capable in their respective fields, yet also sensitive and alert to the emotional currents swirling around them. Francesca also has a beguiling family – her considerable self-assurance (I know, I know, a dirty word) stems from having four younger brothers whom she helped bring up following her father’s tragically early death. All of her brothers, and indeed Francesca herself, are excellent singers, and the book is liberally strewn with enchanting references to different choral works, and several plugs for the various departmental and civil service- wide choirs.
All told, a very entertaining novel and the first volume in an appealing series. show less
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- 16
- Members
- 878
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- #29,160
- Rating
- 3.7
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- ISBNs
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