📖 Overview
R. D. Wingfield was an English crime fiction author and radio dramatist who created the iconic Detective Inspector Jack Frost character. His Frost series gained widespread recognition when adapted for television as "A Touch of Frost" starring David Jason, though Wingfield was initially reluctant about the television adaptation.
Born in Hackney, London in 1928, Wingfield began his writing career crafting radio plays for the BBC in 1968. After his first play "Our West Ladyton Branch" was accepted, he left his job at the Petrofina oil company to pursue writing full-time.
His first Frost novel, "Frost at Christmas," was initially rejected by publishers and wasn't published until the 1980s in Canada. Wingfield went on to write six Frost novels in total, characterized by their gritty realism and dark humor, though he was known to be a private person who rarely gave interviews or participated in publicity events.
The success of the television adaptation of "A Touch of Frost," which ran from 1992 to 2010, brought Wingfield's work to a broader audience, though the author maintained that the TV version of Frost was significantly different from his original creation. Wingfield continued writing until his death in 2007, leaving a lasting legacy in British crime fiction.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Wingfield's Detective Inspector Jack Frost series for its dark humor, complex mysteries, and realistic portrayal of police work. Many note how the books differ from the TV adaptation, with the literary Frost being more crude, politically incorrect, and flawed. Fans highlight Wingfield's skill at juggling multiple cases in each novel while maintaining tension.
Common criticisms include Frost's sometimes offensive behavior and language, which some readers find dated or inappropriate. A few reviews mention that the multiple plotlines can become confusing.
Average ratings across platforms:
Goodreads: 4.2/5 (9,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.4/5 (2,000+ ratings)
Sample reader comment: "Frost is a mess - chain-smoking, disorganized, rebellious - but brilliant at solving cases. The books show the unglamorous reality of police work." (Goodreads)
Criticism example: "The casual sexism and racist remarks, even if meant to be authentic to the era, made it hard to connect with Frost as a protagonist." (Amazon)
📚 Books by R. D. Wingfield
Frost at Christmas
Detective Inspector Jack Frost juggles multiple cases during the holiday season, including a missing schoolgirl and a series of postal office robberies.
A Touch of Frost DI Frost investigates the disappearance of a young woman while dealing with a series of break-ins at local retirement homes.
Night Frost A complex investigation unfolds as Frost tackles multiple cases involving arson, missing teenagers, and the death of a police constable.
Hard Frost Frost faces pressure from his superiors while investigating several cases including a series of savage attacks on young women.
Winter Frost Two missing girls and the discovery of a corpse lead Frost through a challenging investigation during a bitter winter.
A Killing Frost In Frost's final case, he investigates a series of armed robberies while searching for a missing drug dealer.
A Touch of Frost DI Frost investigates the disappearance of a young woman while dealing with a series of break-ins at local retirement homes.
Night Frost A complex investigation unfolds as Frost tackles multiple cases involving arson, missing teenagers, and the death of a police constable.
Hard Frost Frost faces pressure from his superiors while investigating several cases including a series of savage attacks on young women.
Winter Frost Two missing girls and the discovery of a corpse lead Frost through a challenging investigation during a bitter winter.
A Killing Frost In Frost's final case, he investigates a series of armed robberies while searching for a missing drug dealer.
👥 Similar authors
Peter Robinson
His Inspector Banks series features a police detective solving complex cases in Yorkshire. The novels share similar elements with Wingfield's work, including detailed police procedures and the gritty northern England setting.
Colin Dexter The Inspector Morse series presents methodical detective work in British settings with intricate plots. Dexter's writing style focuses on complex criminal investigations and workplace dynamics within the police force.
Graham Hurley His DI Joe Faraday series set in Portsmouth depicts realistic police work and investigation methods. The books showcase similar themes to Wingfield's work, including dark elements and authentic procedural details.
John Harvey The Charlie Resnick series features a detective inspector working in Nottingham dealing with multiple cases simultaneously. Harvey's work shares Wingfield's focus on the daily grind of police work and complex character relationships.
Stuart MacBride His Logan McRae series set in Aberdeen presents police investigations in a cold climate with dark themes. MacBride's work contains similar elements to Wingfield's, including procedural accuracy and multiple concurrent investigations.
Colin Dexter The Inspector Morse series presents methodical detective work in British settings with intricate plots. Dexter's writing style focuses on complex criminal investigations and workplace dynamics within the police force.
Graham Hurley His DI Joe Faraday series set in Portsmouth depicts realistic police work and investigation methods. The books showcase similar themes to Wingfield's work, including dark elements and authentic procedural details.
John Harvey The Charlie Resnick series features a detective inspector working in Nottingham dealing with multiple cases simultaneously. Harvey's work shares Wingfield's focus on the daily grind of police work and complex character relationships.
Stuart MacBride His Logan McRae series set in Aberdeen presents police investigations in a cold climate with dark themes. MacBride's work contains similar elements to Wingfield's, including procedural accuracy and multiple concurrent investigations.