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Robert Crouch
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No Accident: A gripping murder mystery that will keep you guessing. (The Downland Murder Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Robert Crouch (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 95 ratings

When Kent Fisher uncovers a perfect murder, it's only the start of his troubles.

Thwarted at every turn, Kent casts aside the rulebook to unearth a conspiracy that reaches way back into the past.

Hampered by family secrets and corruption, Kent could lose everything he holds dear if he continues to investigate.

Can he hold his nerve and confront the past to solve the murder?

What readers are saying about No Accident:

There is a trail of cleverly disguised ‘crumbs’ of evidence mixed in with witty one liners together with an eclectic cast of characters making this book a riveting read and keeps you guessing who the villain is until the very end. 16th August 2016.

Thoroughly enjoyed this first novel with all its unexpected twists and turns. 19th August 2016.

A really good cosy mystery that fans of Agatha Christie and the like would thoroughly enjoy reading. 28th August 2017.

The tension excitement and pace are brilliantly maintained until the final pages with twists and turns along the way. 17th November 2016.

Shocks, surprises and a cupboard full of family skeletons make it all a compelling read. 6th April 2018

It's the author’s ability to make readers laugh, while at the same time keeping them in suspense, that really cracks it. 9th September 2017.

Hold onto your hats for a really page-turning ride. Loved it. 4th November 2019

If you’re a murder mystery fan, or looking to try out a new genre, then you should definitely check this series out. 31st May 2020.
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  1. Book 1 of 10
    The Downland Murder Mysteries
  2. Print length
    332 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 24, 2017
  5. File size
    1.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Expect sharp dialogue and irreverent humour in this whodunnitwhich manages to pay homage to the traditional murder mystery, while striking acontemporary and irreverent note." Crime Fiction Lover Book Review

"In the quirky tradition of the English whodunit,Robert Crouch has produced a murder mystery which will keep you reading throughthe night. Agatha Christie fans will love it! " -- Tamara McKinley, author of Matilda's Last Waltz andLegacy.

About the Author

Robert Crouch brings his own unique twist to the traditional murder mystery novel. He combined his extensive experience as an environmental health officer with inspiration from Sue Grafton and Agatha Christie to create a new kind of detective. Having investigated several fatal work accidents during his career, Robert knew they could be the perfect disguise for murder, leading to his first novel, No Accident. He lives on theSussex coast and loves to hear from readers. Visit his website at

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0747S2YMP
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 24, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 332 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 10 ‏ : ‎ The Downland Murder Mysteries
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 95 ratings

About the author

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Robert Crouch

Robert Crouch

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If you enjoy reading fresh and exciting murder mysteries with a distinctive sleuth, memorable characters and complex, twisting plots, the Downland Series may be just what you’re looking for?

With contemporary themes and characters, irreverent humour and a touch of romance, the Downland Murder Mysteries bring a fresh twist to the classic whodunit.

By combining my love of crime fiction with my experiences as an environmental health officer, my murder mysteries are for readers who like to curl up with a cosier, entertaining type of crime novel, filled with characters they can grow to love.

The series should appeal to readers who like authors such as Richard Osman, Elly Griffiths, Agatha Christie, Clare Chase or Sue Grafton.

You can find out more at my website, where you can also join my exclusive readers group.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
95 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Hotcha
    5.0 out of 5 stars it kept me running around it circles !!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I thought that I would need a score card as I had loads of suspects. I enjoyed tagging along with Kent as he tried to piece together an accident, or was as it a murder? NO ACCIDENT it kept me running around it circles !!
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  • Ian
    4.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing Crime Thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The only thing I love more than a good mystery is a comedic-mystery. It’s possible this one pulls up just short of that in tone, being say a comedy-drama/mystery with the emphasis still more on the drama than the humor. But the dark, cheeky humor is sprinkled liberally throughout, and has become one of my chief reasons for reading more British authors. Their sly wit is often priceless.

    The author, by his own admission, is a big fan of the Columbo TV series, and it shows in his central character, who has a nagging way of carping, “But something doesn’t fit,” every time someone tries to close his case for him and advise “there is no crime here.” But his observations are smart and he thinks of things that other people miss and no one but a very smart, motivated detective is going to catch. My other favorite feature of the lead character is he’s a staunch environmentalist. Granted, it’s part of his job description to be concerned about the rape of the environment and misappropriation of public lands, but it’s just refreshing to have this in a lead character. Our habitats are being destroyed around the world, so why aren’t more lead characters and storytellers finding ways to make their voices heard?

    Chapters are long and the author spends an inordinate amount of time in one location before moving on, two very un-American storytelling attributes, despite another reviewer commenting that this British author has written more for an American audience. That said, I found myself relaxing into his style of writing and letting him tell the story the way he wanted to. And to my surprise, it worked. Some British phrasing will throw you here and there, but for the most part, I found everything intelligible in context. Recommended for mystery enthusiasts.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars and “No Accident” certainly didn’t disappoint. What made it so different from the rest ...
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I’m a big lover of mysteries and detective stories, and “No Accident” certainly didn’t disappoint. What made it so different from the rest of the books in the same genre was that the protagonist was not your usual detective (what is normally expected in such cases), but an environmental investigator, and I found this very refreshing. His witty remarks and sometimes sarcastic voice made the main character even more vivid and easy to associate with.
    Kent Fisher arrived on the scene to find what looks like a regular working accident, but was it really just an accident or is someone trying to cover some old tracks, leading towards some bigger scheme? Following Kent from one scene to another and going over possible theories and motives with him made this book hard to put down. Multiple suspects and secrecy surrounding Kent’s birth, new clues and discoveries – all helped create a story that will stay with you for a long time. A great mystery! Highly recommended.
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  • Mr. William Hatchett
    3.0 out of 5 stars Recommended.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2016
    A whodunnit which is unusual in many respects. The setting is English - but this is not a Miss Marple style mystery set in an English vicarage - the locale is up-to-date England, in the London-tinged South-East of the south downs. The hero is an environmental health officer. Yes an EHO (as they are known). These obscure public officials - they work for councils - have legal powers to interview crime perpetrator and investigate their dark deeds - in this case, a health and safety ‘death at work’. Rob Crouch was one and he brings a shrewd knowingness to the central character Kent Fisher, an investigator protagoniist who combines poacher and gamekeeper roles effortlessly, tracking down an obscure crime with fewer resources but more knowledge than the local police. The novel is more American-flavoured than British in character treatment and plotting - shades of Columbo. The hero's flaws are interesting and the story keeps you guessing, taking you to places that you have probably never been to. Recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Ali - The Dragon Slayer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Robert Crouch has produced a highly enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more by him.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2017
    No Accident is a mystery/detective story set in and around the South Downs. Now I like a good mystery to get my teeth into and I was born and raised in the South Downs area so it was immediately appealing in that respect. The author is a self-confessed Columbo fan so people of a certain age will love or hate that connection .. personally I used to really enjoy Columbo so I couldn’t get his image out of mind for quite a while when I was reading this! Columbo does actually get a part but this time in the form of the dog!

    Kent Fisher is called to an ‘accident’ involving farm machinery (bit gruesome) in his role as an environmental health officer. The victim is a worker at the adventure park which just happens to be run and owned by Kent’s enemy Miles Birchill. Sadly for Kent Mile’s is alive and well, he would prefer it if he were the person the tractor minced!

    There is a whole can of worms to be opened when Kent begins investigating and I like his method of detective work. We get to know Kent fairly well, he is a decent guy, keen on saving the environment, rescuing animals and putting preservation plans into action. He is currently living in a small area that used to belong to his father’s estate .. there are plenty of secrets revolving around family members and clues pointing at Kent’s birth/childhood.

    The surrounding area is well described, the author’s apparent love of Sussex and ‘homely’ detectives shine through. It has a cosy, sedate feel to the story almost as though it is set in a previous generation. I enjoyed the humour scattered throughout and the possibility of secret passages in the big house gave it a real Scooby Doo atmosphere.

    So will Kent Fisher solve the mystery behind the ‘accident, who is the victim and what happened? Robert Crouch has produced a highly enjoyable book and I look forward to reading more by him.

    Many thanks to the author and Caroline (Bits about Books) for inviting me to take part on the tour.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • daja
    5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written whodunnit murder mystery which manages to be original while conforming to the genre.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Kent Fisher is everything you would expect the protagonist of a murder mystery to be. He has an antagonistic past relationship with the chief suspect, he has a colourful history and traumatic personal life, he fails to play by the rules (which gets him suspended, of course!), he has a glamorous (though not stupid) side-kick, he cracks not-very-good jokes, he picks up on inconsequential details and his obsession with the case leads to a situation where he could lose everything. But, uniquely in my experience, he is an Environmental Health Officer who normally checks the hygiene standards of restaurants (and this corner of East Sussex appears to specialise in filthy kitchens) but on this occasion is called to investigate what appears to be a fatal work accident.

    Which means, of course, no forensic team taking the guesswork out of the investigation and ruining the fun.

    It's an energetic and convoluted classic of the genre. It started sedately, with some original settings, convincingly described, and the careful development of some fascinating characters. Around the half-way mark, the pace picks up and the revelations and twists start to pour in. In the final quarter, the hunt for the killer becomes a thrilling chase with heavily built henchmen, secret passages and guns.

    I wasn't entirely convinced by the final solution to the crime and there were perhaps too many characters (next time I'll write a list). But who could fail to be entertained by a story that has everyone and everything including a cabinet minister, a sleazy casino owner, a Wild West theme park, a family that dates to before the Conquest, a stately home turned into a hotel, an animal rescue centre and a Westie named Columbo? It even included advice on how to clean a microwave oven: “Half fill a jug of water and add a few drops of lemon juice. Two to three minutes on full power and the steam will lift the grease." (Ch 54)

    This was a well-written page-turner that took me for a fun romp across the South Downs.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars An unlikely hero
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    No Accident – by – Robert Crouch

    I enjoyed this debut novel by Robert Crouch for so many reasons, but not least because it is a simple tale of an open and shut case of a gory accident that gets intriguingly complex as the novel proceeds.
    A man’s face is taken off by farm machinery and it is No Accident, although the police see it as such. And so enter Kent Fisher, Environmental Health Officer; an unlikely hero with more familial and emotional problems than you can shake a stick at, yet he is like a dog with a bone in finding the truth whilst at the same time, fighting to save his animal sanctuary and balancing his hormones with the desire to fight the man who set up a cowboy holiday theme park on his beloved countryside.
    It sounds an unlikely tale but it reads very well and as the story evolves, so it grips, the glue being the relationships of the characters, the hint of unfinished family business and a huge chip on Kent Fisher’s shoulder, well several chips, and they all make for tantalising ingredients for a wonderful melting pot boiler.
    It would be spoiling the pleasure for the reader if I revealed more of the plot, just read it and enjoy the ride, you will not be disappointed, a good starter for ten, and there are more to come...
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  • Kosh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Aaaaaand... hooked!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Picked up this first book in the series as a freebie promotion in a Free Kindle eBooks group on Facebook. Absolutely brilliant: the "hero" is a normal bloke with everyday issues who finds himself embroiled in a murder investigation spawned by his Environmental Health job.

    The characters are extremely realistic (I'm in West Sussex, so the nearness of things is sometimes freaky but adds to the realistic feel), events never get too extreme or action-filmesque and Kent makes so many wrong turns and bad deductions (which make sense at the time) that it's easy to feel a part of the whole thing and be completely gobsmacked when it all falls into place. Excellent storytelling, too: I'm not a fan of the pure "figure it out yourself" approach, so hearing Kent's internal thoughts and deductions makes everything much better for me. Gotta love the Columbo approach, as well (big fan).

    I held off writing a review as I wanted to get the second book and see if it was as good. Now I'm on book SIX in the series and it's STILL rocking along with the same energy, enjoyment and real-life background that's utterly engrossing, with no sign of becoming formulaic. Wonderful!
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  • John Demetriou MCIEH CEnvH
    4.0 out of 5 stars Rob Crouch's Maiden Novel is a Winner!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 21, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    The crime thriller whodunit genre is given a fresh twist by having an Environmental Health Officer as criminal investigator of a fatal accident at work, or so it seems!
    To give him added piquancy, Kent Fisher, the local government official, called in to investigate is also a radical environmentalist who runs an animal sanctuary as well as selling second hand catering equipment in his spare time. His maverick, bungling style, reminiscent of Columbo, penchant for pretty women and witty, dry humour makes him a welcome addition to the long gallery of investigators to grace our shelves or e-books.
    The tone is light hearted but the ingenious, well paced, climactic plot development, interesting characters, sharp and witty dialogue, set to a background of beautifully described Sussex countryside and the authentic world of a food and health and safety inspector show it has been carefully crafted. The reader is kept informed, interested and entertained as our investigator, who it transpires has a personal interest in the case, doggedly unravels the mystery to a surprising yet satisfying conclusion.
    I understand Mr Crouch intends to go on to write a series of crime fiction with Mr Fisher as the protagonist; I for one can't wait for the next installment!
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  • Fludie
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must buy crime novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 16, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    If you love a crime story and fancy yourself as an amateur sleuth look no further. No Accident by Robert Crouch is an outstanding first novel. An investigation set in the South Downs which flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter compelling the reader to turn the next page.
    The main character, Kent Fisher, is a troubled Environmental Health Officer piecing together a suspicious death at a Theme Park using rather unorthodox methods. There is a trail of cleverly disguised ‘crumbs’ of evidence mixed in with witty one liners together with an eclectic cast of characters making this book a riveting read and keeps you guessing who the villain is until the very end.
    Well written, thoroughly enjoyable and another one please!
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