The Rap Sheet gets word from Mike Ripley that Rodney Wingfield, author of the Inspector Frost novels, has died at the age of 79 after a long battle with cancer. According to Ripley, "Shortly before his final illness, Rodney, who wrote as R.D. Wingfield, completed the sixth in the series, Killing Frost, which will be published posthumously in the UK in the spring of 2008."
Wingfield's books are far more underrated than they should be, and he will be sorely missed.
UPDATE: Stuart MacBride pens a moving tribute to one of his all-time favorite writers.
The radio-drama productions of the Frost stories which Wingfield wrote and (I believe) were really wonderful, as were the other stories of his which I have heard.
Incidently, Wikipedia states that they were adapted from the television productions of the stories, but I believe that is incorrect. There were definitely Frost radio-plays in the 1980's.
Posted by: Michael | August 01, 2007 at 11:28 AM
Hi Michael
Just to set the record straight on your post. I am R D Wingfield's literary agent.
He started out as a radio playwright and these were broadcast around the world.
Wikipedia, is as usual a bit off the mark about things.
The television series was based on the first three novels, after which they created their own storylines. FROST AT CHRISTMAS was published before the series.
DI Frost first appeared in 1972 in the original draft of `A Frost at Christmas' that was not sold straight away. The manuscript went on a shelf for a few years and Rodney took his character and put him in a BBC radio play called `Three Days of Frost' in 1977 and he reappeared in subsequent radio plays.
The novel `Frost at Christmas' was rewritten and first published in Canada in 1984 before being published in the UK, so quite a circuitous route.
Bantam publishes him in the States, with `Hard Frost' being a finalist for an Edgar in 1996.
I have been eagerly anticipating A KILLING FROST for a while, as have his fans, and I am desperately sorry that he will not be around to see it in print early next year.
God bless, Rodney. We will miss you sorely.
Yours
Philip Patterson
Posted by: philip patterson | August 01, 2007 at 11:40 AM
What very sad news! For me the Frost novels will always be the absolute best of the police procedurals. Nobody could touch Wingfield in that genre. How sad we only have so few novels. How sad that the public and his publishers did not give him the success he deserved.
Posted by: Ingrid (I.J.Parker) | August 01, 2007 at 01:28 PM
Very sad. I loved the Frost books and his radio work. Outbreak of Fear still remains one of my favorite radio plays.
Posted by: simon | August 01, 2007 at 05:23 PM
Phillip, thank you for the details.
I see I munged a sentence in my posting, it was supposed to read "... which he wrote and (I believe) directed were really wonderful."
Simon, I agree Outbreak of Fear was excellent. The other that I remember offhand was The Cleft Stick.
Posted by: Michael | August 02, 2007 at 10:41 AM
Hi Michael
I am not sure if he directed some of the plays.
I am hoping that BBC7, the BBC's digital radio channel might repeat some of his plays at some point. Their remit is to digitalise all of radio drama and radio comedy backlist, so there is a good chance that we might hear some of his plays again.
P
Posted by: philip patterson | August 02, 2007 at 10:57 AM
My wife heard Outbreak of fear when it was first broadcast and mentions the play frequently and how she would like a copy on audiobook (CD; she has been trying to find a copy for many years. BBC7 are currently broadcasting this but you cannot download it. Does anyone know if you can purchase this on CD.
Dave
Posted by: Dave | June 05, 2008 at 11:30 AM
with a raging snow and sleet storm outside what better comfort than to go to bed with Frost? I was so sorry to learn of his death and will treasure the 6 books I have. Thank you for everything Rodney.
Posted by: pamela griffin | June 21, 2008 at 10:49 AM
A very interest thread which I am gad to have found, having discovered WIngfield only just recently. Does anyone know if it possible to buy Wingfield's radio plays?
Thanks,
rupert
Posted by: rupert | July 20, 2008 at 07:05 AM
This is for Dave who posted June 5, 2008 regarding trying to find "Outbreak of Fear" for his wife. This can be found on mysteryshows.com which requires a donation. I actually sent the 5 episodes of that show to them. If you can't find it or have a problem-I can send it to you by computer!!
George
burkhardtgeorge@yahoo.com
Posted by: George Burkhardt | May 18, 2009 at 08:36 AM