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The Dangerous Stranger

DI Wilkins, Book 5

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The Dangerous Stranger

By: Simon Mason
Narrated by: Matt Addis
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About this listen

 'This is absolutely first class' Stephen Fry
'Simon Mason has created crime fiction's most entertaining double act in decades' Mick Herron
'Move over Morse' Val McDermid
'My favourite UK series' M W Craven

On a warm and pleasant evening in Oxford, gentle city of poets and scholars, rioters outside a hotel full of asylum seekers set a young refugee on fire. The city - the country - convulses in shock. Is this who we are? It's international news of the very worst kind, and the Chief Constable demands immediate and exemplary action in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The detectives leading the investigation fill him with misgivings, however: DIs Ryan and Ray Wilkins (no relation), Thames Valley's detective pantomime horse, one Oxford-educated, the other Oxford-trailer park. He doesn't understand why they work together. 'Do they even get on?' 'Somehow that doesn't seem necessary,' their Superintendent replies.

Who burned the boy alive? Was it a far-right extremist? Was it an ordinary person who had simply gone along to watch and got caught up in the emotion? Could it even be one of the children who were there? Deploying a range of investigative skills, some standard, some unconventional and some frankly nuts, the Wilkinses do what they do: results with chaos. But when they discover that the victim was not an asylum seeker after all, or even a resident of the hotel, the whole investigation kicks into a completely different configuration.


READERS ARE LOVING RYAN AND RAY:

'Loved it, what a wonderful read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Really, really enjoyed and was sorry to finish it' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Have really enjoyed the whole series' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'If you like Slow Horses, either the books or the Apple series, this book is for you' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Set in present day Oxford, England, it is Morse times two' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Can't put these books down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A real un-putdownable page turner . . . A tremendous read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐©2026 Simon Mason Crime Thrillers Mystery Police Procedurals Thriller & Suspense

Critic reviews

A terrific writer (Peter May)
An electrifying read replete with feints and false leads.
Excellent . . . DI Ryan Wilkins, the unlikely Sherlock in a shell suit, is an enduringly brilliant creation
One of the highlights of the genre . . . impressive as well as highly entertaining, and has real depths of emotion
What makes The Dangerous Stranger so addictively readable is the vividly delineated characters, and despite it being the fifth in the series, the narrative unspools like a standalone thriller . . . there is a curious layer of black-humour that makes the narrative sparkle and pages turn with impatience - because little is what it seems
Startling . . . Mason is an exceptional storyteller, basing ingenious plots on events that mirror life
Mason is becoming a master of the modern British police procedural and his double act is one for the connoisseurs
Brilliantly complex characters and plot laden with twists and turns
Mason is a superb storyteller, accurately depicting the deprivation that coexists with Oxford's dreaming spires
One of the genre's outstanding new writers . . . his funny, thoughtful books are gems
All stars
Most relevant
Matt Addis is a wonderful narrator who breathes life into the characters who are quirky and very real. I have listened to all of the series and care for the characters more with each book.
The story is timely and well paced.

Brilliant narration

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The two mismatched detectives return to tackle a new case as race riots erupt in Oxford and a man is set ablaze. Once again, the author delivers a fast paced, gripping police procedural. The story is smart and gritty, yet filled with plenty of humour, and both DI Wilkins are interesting characters. As with the other books in the series, Ryan's relationship with his son is adorable, and in this book Ray is struggling with fatherhood. Excellently narrated by Matt Addis who brings the characters to life.

Fabulous

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I loved this as much as the previous books - gripping, hilarious and full of heart. Brilliant narration too.

Another brilliant Wilkins adventure!

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Absorbing story, such good description with interesting characters and settings - witty too.
Brilliant narration, really enjoyable.

All round great

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This series is absolutely wonderful. The author weaves several threads that keep up the page turning pace. The characters are expertly drawn, which adds tremendous colour to the story. DI Ryan Wilkins is the star of the true star of this series but thenother Wilkins, provides the perfect foil.
I hope it's not a long wait for the next book. A highly recommended series.

Another brilliant installment

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