William Warwick graduates from London University in 1982. He declines an offer to research for a higher degree as he’s keen to join the Metropolitan Police Force. He’d wanted to be a detective ever since, at the age of eight, he’d solved the mystery of the missing Mars bars.

He’s at Hendon Police College for 16 weeks. He revels in forensic and crime scene analysis; learns how to disarm, handcuff and restrain; and urged to use reasonable force and commonsense always.

After two years on the beat, Warwick sits and passes the detective examination. He joins the Art and Antiques Unit at Scotland Yard and is immediately involved in investigating the theft of a Rembrandt painting, the recovery of a phial of moon dust brought back from the Apollo 11 mission, and the likelihood that Winston S. Churchill’s signature is being forged on dozens of his first editions.

Archer has included characters we care for deeply or find highly amusing. Warwick’s first mentor when he joins the force is Constable Fred Yates with 28 years of service under his belt. Yates advises to accept nothing, believe no-one and challenge everything. He calls this his ABC of policing. Mavis, in charge of petty cash, demands to be called Mrs Walters by all ranks below Chief Inspector. She’s so parsimonious, she’d have HM The Queen travelling economy if Buckingham Palace finances ever came under her jurisdiction.

This is not a literary masterpiece. Nor is it just a detective story. It’s the first book in a series that Archer hopes will see Constable William Warwick rise to be Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Force. It’s an absorbing, humorous and, at times, emotional romp by an ace storyteller. I was seduced by the author’s agreeable style and cheerfully accepted the occasional lapse in credibility.

Reviewed by Clive Hodges