Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headcase | 2005 | Peter Helton | Buy |
| 2 | Slim Chance | 2006 | Peter Helton | Buy |
| 3 | Rainstone Fall | 2008 | Peter Helton | Buy |
| 4 | An inch of time | 2012 | Peter Helton | Buy |
| 5 | Worthless Remains | 2013 | Peter Helton | Buy |
| 6 | Indelible | 2014 | Peter Helton | Buy |
| 7 | Lock 13 | 2018 | Peter Helton | Buy |
Chris Honeysett is a painter who takes on private investigation work when the commissions dry up, which seems to happen with suspicious regularity. His Aqua Investigations setup in Bath is deliberately informal — his team includes people with criminal histories who know things a conventional detective wouldn’t — and the books have a looseness that sets them apart from more procedural crime fiction.
Peter Helton’s own career as a painter gives the series genuine depth whenever art forgery or the gallery world comes into play. The seven books, from Headcase in 2005 to Lock 13 in 2018, are set in and around Bath, making use of the city’s architecture and social geography throughout. Readers who enjoy British crime with a bohemian streak will find a lot to like here.