Reviews
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Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie
Elinor Carlisle is awaiting trial for the murder of Mary Gerrard, who died from morphine poisoning. The evidence looks overwhelming to everyone, including Hercule Poirot, who accepts the case to uncover the truth about the murder. As he investigates, he finds little to dispel the charge of murder at first. But little by little, he uncovers lies and false testimony from some of the witnesses. Will these discoveries be enough to solve the murder? As usual, Agatha Christie weaves a complex web in another original story that reveals her mastery of the classic whodunit. Poirot is not convinced of Elinor’s innocence, which gives his investigation and behaviour a different slant,…
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The Ones Who Are Hidden by Kerry Wilkinson
The fourth novel of the series builds on the ones before with another original and intriguing mystery for Millie Westlake to solve, alongside her continuing personal challenges. It starts with a call from Oliver, who has a strange tattoo behind his ear. He’s found someone else in the neighbouring town with the same markings. Despite her reservations, Millie offers to help, calling on Guy, her Godfather and former journalist. As she digs deeper, uncovering a former commune and cult in nearby woodland, personal problems threaten to derail her enquiries. She’s a witness to a robbery that affects her more deeply than she expected. Her relationship with her former husband deteriorates…
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Mystery at Magpie Lodge by Clare Chase
19th September 2023. This is another enjoyable entry in one of my favourite series, featuring obituary writer and sleuth, Eve Mallow. She’s one of the most likeable and engaging sleuths in crime literature and a joy to follow, thanks to great writing, original plots and the wonderful characters in the backstory. Emory Fulton, a former TV presenter and occasional medium, makes quite an impression when he briefly enters Eve Mallow’s life. After a ghost walk through the Saxford St Peter, he’s found dead in a bath in a nearby cottage the following evening. Eve, who liked Emory, knows he had troubles with his family and his goddaughter. But were these…
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J is for Judgement by Sue Grafton
13th September 2023. In the tenth outing for PI Kinsey Millhone, she’s faced with two challenges. The first involves an insurance fraud involving Wendell Jaffe, who was declared dead after going missing from his boat out in the ocean. Five years ago, his wife received a substantial payout on his life insurance. When he’s spotted in Mexico, Kinsey’s despatched to confirm the sighting. This she does, but he escapes before she can confront the man. His son, Brian, has escaped from jail in Santa Teresa, and Wendell is believed to be heading there. Back on home soil, Kinsey continues her investigation. She interviews a couple who seem to shed light…
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Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
11th September 2023. The tense build up in this locked room murder provides the foundation for another classic Hercule Poirot investigation. It’s a couple of days before Christmas and the various members of the dysfunctional Lee family have gathered at the behest of patriarch Simeon. This is the first time they have been together under one roof for many years. Add in a wayward son, the son of Simeon’s former partner in a diamond mine in South Africa and a half Spanish granddaughter, and there are plenty of suspects when the old man is murdered and left to die in his room, which is locked from the inside. Enter Hercule…
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The Langstone Harbour Murders by Pauline Rowson
30th August 2023. The second DI Horton novel, set in Portsmouth, is another complex murder mystery that starts with the murder of the headmistress of a local school. Inquiries reveal a progressive, ambitious woman who was not universally liked or appreciated. Invariably, this means plenty of suspects and motives, touching upon other prominent locals. For Andy Horton it’s a race against time. The promotion he thought was his is heading elsewhere. If he can’t solve the murder by the end of the week, he’ll have to pass the investigation over. Then there’s his dissolving marriage and access to his daughter, to add to his challenges. When the deputy headmaster is…
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The Vicarage Murder by Faith Martin
27th August 2023. I enjoyed this traditional cosy mystery, set in a picturesque village in the Cotswolds. The old vicarage is being renovated into a number of flats. Monica Noble, the vicar’s wife, is throwing a garden party for the people who have moved in. But there are tensions already, which come to a head during the party. A shotgun blast is heard. Moments later, Monica finds a dead body in one of the flats being renovated. Some residents have alibis, some don’t, being absent from the party when the shot was heard. It falls to DCI Dury to investigate and uncover the killer. But it isn’t straightforward when so…
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Swansong by Damien Boyd
25th August 2023. The murder of boarding school girl, Isobel Owen, brings back unhappy memories for DI Dixon, who many years before attended a nearby school. The love of his life at the time disappeared without trace. Now he’s back, sent to work undercover when the Isobel Owen investigation stalls. Not only is he reminded of his schooldays, there are teachers and staff who were also at his old school. Will any of them recognise him and blow his cover? It’s not long before there’s a second murder, this time of a caretaker who worked at Dixon’s former school. It’s too much of a coincidence to be a random killing.…
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Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie
19th August 2023. Once more, Hercule Poirot is on hand to investigate a suspicious death. This time it’s a domineering matriarch who keeps such a tight control of her family, they are plotting to kill her. They’re on holiday, but it seems no one is enjoying themselves. On a trip to Petra Mrs Boynton dies. With a puncture mark on her wrist, a missing hypodermic syringe and digitoxin, it looks like the family’s wish has been fulfilled. But nothing is ever that simple in a Poirot murder mystery. With only 24 hours to get to the truth, and enough suspects to keep him occupied, he sets about in his usual…
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The Island Murders by Rachel MacLean
16th August 2023. The body of a National Trust worker washes up on the shores of Brownlea Island, a nature reserve in Poole Harbour. Suddenly, the closed community of workers and volunteers is faced with an awful truth – there could be a killer in their midst. For DCI Lesley Clarke, the problems are quite different – she and her team have to get to and from the island during their investigation. The victim is a well-liked member of the main team on the island. No one can understand why she was killed. But someone knows more and it’s up to the detectives to discover these secrets. Lesley also has…
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Don’t Turn Back by DS Butler
14th August 2023. In the third book of the DS Karen Hart series, she’s investigating the death of a man found beaten to death in woodland. Buried nearby is a notebook with some curious entries that suggest police officers may be involved in some unidentified activities. Of course, it could be no more than speculation by Karen, who’s struggling to come to terms with the death of her husband and daughter. Investigations lead the team into the world of people trafficking, which brings in officers from the adjoining Thames Valley force, leading to tension between officers as the investigation progresses. As more details are uncovered, Karen’s suspicions increase. Is she…
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The Ones Who Are Buried by Kerry Wilkinson
13th August 2023. This is third novel in the wonderful Whitecliff Bay series, featuring Millie Westlake and Guy Rushden. Having solved a couple of mysteries, they’re approached by a killer who’s still in prison. He wants to reveal where the bodies of the children he murdered are buried. Only, he’s wants something before he reveals the location. Millie and Guy talk to the families of the victims and try to work out where the killer may have hidden the bodies. It’s an emotional journey, heightened by her own struggles with her former husband, the affair that broke up their marriage, and the death of her own parents. The story swings…