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The Awkward Squad by Sophie Henaff

Suspended from her job as a promising police officer for firing “one bullet too many”, Anne Capestan is expecting the worst when she is summoned to H.Q. to learn her fate. Instead, she is surprised to be told that she is to head up a new police squad, working on solving old cold cases.

Though relived to still have a job, Capestan is not overjoyed by the prospect of her new role. Even less so when she meets her new team: a crowd of misfits, troublemakers and problem cases, none of whom are fit for purpose and yet none of whom can be fired.

But from this inauspicious start, investigating the cold cases throws up a number a number of strange mysteries for Capestan and her team: was the old lady murdered seven years ago really just the victim of a botched robbery? Who was behind the dead sailor discovered in the Seine with three gunshot wounds? And why does there seem to be a curious link with a ferry that was shipwrecked off the Florida coast many years previously?

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Author’s Bio

Sophie Henaff is a journalist, author and former Lyonnaise bar owner. She began her journalism career as a critic at Lyon Poche, before moving to Paris to write for Cosmopolitan, where she established her own humorous column, “La Cosmilite.” The Awkward Squad was first published as Poulets grilles in 2015, and is her first novel.

My Review

4 stars

Commissaire Anne Capestan is expecting to be fired when she is called in to headquarters. Instead she learns that she in now in charge of a group of misfits. This is a group that no one wants to work with and they can’t be fired. It’s now up to Anne to get the group together despite all of their perks and flaws. They are now responsible for cold cases. So, Anne divides up the few people that actually show up to work and have them investigating the murder of an old woman seven years prior and the death of a sailor.

This group of rejects has new been put into the Awkward Squad headed by Anne Capestan. They are stuck in a decrepit corner of the station where everyone thinks they can be swept into under the rug and forgotten with cold cases. But Anne is quick to realize that there is more to these rejects and quickly puts them to work. Of course the cold cases are more than they seem and they find they are related.

I really enjoyed this read. I love the fact that everyone on the Awkward Squad are rejects in one way or another yet have their own specialties. Of course they have their own specialties and are as valuable as the more acceptable officers. This is a wonderful mystery and kept me guessing as to how they could be connected. Of course I loved Pilote, you can always win me over with a fantastic animal companion and the sarcasm that joins the group together.

This is a good story. I loved how the losers are the ones that save the day. I know this was Sophie Henaff’s first story but I really enjoyed it and would to read more about The Awkward Squad.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Quercus for the opportunity to read and share this book.