Recent Titles by Graham Ison from Severn House
The Hardcastle Series
HARDCASTLES SPY
HARDCASTLES ARMISTICE
HARDCASTLES CONSPIRACY
HARDCASTLES AIRMEN
HARDCASTLES ACTRESS
HARDCASTLES BURGLAR
HARDCASTLES MANDARIN
HARDCASTLES SOLDIERS
HARDCASTLES OBSESSION
Contemporary Police Procedurals
ALL QUIET ON ARRIVAL
BREACH OF PRIVILEGE
DIVISION
DRUMFIRE
JACK IN THE BOX
KICKING THE AIR
LIGHT FANTASTIC
LOST OR FOUND
WHIPLASH
WHISPERING GRASS
WORKING GIRL
HARDCASTLESOBSESSIONGraham Ison
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This first world edition published 2011
in Great Britain and the USA by
SEVERN HOUSE PUBLISHERS LTD of
915 High Street, Sutton, Surrey, England, SM1 1DF.
Copyright 2011 by Graham Ison.
All rights reserved.
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Ison, Graham.
Hardcastles obsession.
1. Hardcastle, Ernest (Fictitious character)Fiction.
2. PoliceEnglandLondonFiction. 3. World War,
1914-1918CasualtiesEnglandLondonFiction.
4. Great BritainHistoryGeorge V, 1910-1936Fiction.
5. Detective and mystery stories.
I. Title
823.914-dc22
ISBN-13: 978-1-7801-0011-1 (ePub)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7278-8002-4 (cased)
ISBN-13: 978-1-84751-329-8 (trade paper)
Except where actual historical events and characters are being described for the storyline of this novel, all situations in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to living persons is purely coincidental.
GLOSSARY
ALBERT: a watch chain of the type worn by Albert, Prince Consort (181961).
APM: assistant provost marshal (a lieutenant colonel of the military police).
BAILEY, the: Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London.
BAILIWICK: area of responsibility.
BEAK: a magistrate.
BEETON, Mrs: famous writer of a widely read cookery book.
BEF: British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders.
BIRD, to give the: to dismiss.
BLACK ANNIE or BLACK MARIA: a police or prison van.
BLIGHTY ONE: a wound suffered in battle that necessitated repatriation to the United Kingdom.
BLOW, a: police slang for a relief.
BLUEJACKET: a seaman in the navy.
BOB: a shilling (now 5p).
BOCHE: derogatory term for Germans, particularly soldiers.
BOOTNECK: a member of the Royal Marines.
BOOZER: a public house.
BRADSHAW: a timetable giving routes and times of British railway services.
BRIEF, a: a warrant or a police warrant card or a lawyer.
CARPET: three months imprisonment. Three months was the time it took to weave a carpet in prison workshops.
DABS: fingerprints.
DARTMOOR: a remote prison on Dartmoor in Devon.
DDI: Divisional Detective Inspector.
DEKKO: a look (ex Hindi).
DRUM: a dwelling house, or room therein. Any place of abode.
DUFF, to put up the: to make pregnant.
DUMMY, to throw a: to set a false trail.
FOURPENNY CANNON, a: a steak and kidney pie.
FRONT, The: theatre of WW1 operations in France and Flanders.
GAMP: an umbrella (from Sarah Gamp in Charles Dickenss Martin Chuzzlewit).
GLIM: a look (a foreshortening of glimpse).
GLOSTERS: Alternative spelling for the Gloucestershire Regiment.
GUNNERS, The: a generic term to encompass the Royal Horse Artillery, the Royal Garrison Artillery and the Royal Field Artillery. In the singular, a member of such a regiment.
GUV or GUVNOR: informal alternative to sir.
HALF-COLONEL: a lieutenant colonel.
HAVE IT UP, to: to engage in sexual intercourse.
HAWKING THE MUTTON: leading a life of prostitution.
HOLLOWAY: womens prison in North London.
JIG-A-JIG: sexual intercourse.
KC: Kings Counsel: a senior barrister.
MADAM: a brothel keeper.
MATELOT: a sailor, usually of the Royal Navy.
NICK: a police station or prison or to arrest or to steal.
NICKED: arrested or stolen.
OLD BAILEY: Central Criminal Court, in Old Bailey, London.
ON THE GAME: leading a life of prostitution.
OX AND BUCKS: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
PICCADILLY WINDOW: a monocle.
PIMP: a prostitutes minder.
POLICE GAZETTE: official nationwide publication listing wanted persons, etc.
PROSS: a prostitute.
PROVOST, the: military police.
QUID: 1 sterling.
RAGTIME GIRL: a sweetheart; a girl with whom one has a joyous time; a harlot.
RECEIVER, The: senior Scotland Yard official responsible for the finances of the Metropolitan Police.
ROSIE: tea (rhyming slang: Rosie Lee).
ROYAL A: informal name for the A or Whitehall Division of the Metropolitan Police.
SALLY ANNE: the Salvation Army.
SAM BROWNE: a military officers belt with shoulder strap.
SAUSAGE AND MASH: cash (rhyming slang).
SCREWING: engaging in sexual intercourse.
SDI: sub-divisional inspector.
SHILLING: now 5p.
SILK, a: a Kings Counsel (a senior barrister) from the silk gowns they wear.
SKIP or SKIPPER: an informal police alternative to station-sergeant, clerk-sergeant and sergeant.
SMOKE, The: London.
SOMERSET HOUSE: formerly the records office of births, deaths and marriages for England & Wales.
SOV or SOVEREIGN: one pound sterling.
SPALPEEN: a rascal; a worthless fellow.
SWADDY: a soldier (ex Hindi).
TITFER: a hat (rhyming slang: tit for tat).
TOM: a prostitute.
TOMFOOLERY: jewellery (rhyming slang).
TOMMING: pursuing a life of prostitution.
TOMMY or TOMMY ATKINS: a British soldier. The name Tommy Atkins was used as an example on early army forms.
TOPPED: murdered or hanged.
TOPPING: a murder or hanging.
TOUCH OF THE VAPOURS, a: to be overcome with faintness.
TRICK, a: a prostitutes client.
TRICK, to turn a: to engage in sexual intercourse.
TUMBLE, a: sexual intercourse.
UNDERGROUND, The: London Underground railway system.
UP THE SPOUT: pregnant.
UP THE DUFF: pregnant.
WAR HOUSE: army officers slang for the War Office.
