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Deadly Errand by Christine Green.
This is the first time I’ve read a book by this author. It features Kate Kinsella, a former nurse who’s now a private detective. Her previous profession makes her the ideal person to investigate the murder of Jacky Byfield at a local hospital. Kate goes undercover, working the night shift to find out what happened and why. She soon unearths some secrets that could have led to Jacky’s murder. Finding the killer proves harder and three further deaths follow. It’s a well-written, gently paced story that puts as much effort into creating believable and engaging characters as it does with the plot. As Kate gets closer to catching the killer,…
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Murder on the Farm by Kate Wells.
For a while now, my reading’s been moving towards the cosy mystery end of the market, and I’m delighted I chose this one. The story intrigued me from the start, while giving me some great characters and quite a few chuckles along the way. Jude’s friend Sarah dies shortly after the wedding of their mutual friend Ben. It looks like Sarah’s taken her own life, but Jude knows her better than that. Sarah wasn’t the kind of person to take her own life. When the police pay scant attention to Jude’s viewpoint, she knows she has to investigate herself. But she also has a farm to run. When her sister…
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Do you know what your book’s about?
I thought I did. There I was, at the front of the church hall, being introduced by the chairperson, looking forward to my first public event as an author. My appearance in the local paper the week before seems to have drawn a good number of people. They look keen, friendly and welcoming, laughing as I recount some of the strange and amusing incidents from my time as an environmental health officer (EHO). I should tell them more about my work. Instead I launch into my talk. Holding up a copy of my first published book, No Accident, I tell my audience to feel free to ask questions at any…
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After the Funeral by Agatha Christie
If you read my book reviews, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of Agatha Christie. I’ve enjoyed the Poirot series and looked forward to reading After the Funeral. While it’s an interesting murder mystery, it didn’t quite hit the high notes of the ones before. The story started slowly as the main players and relationships were introduced. The cast was large, which made it difficult to remember who was who and how they were related. Most of the characters weren’t particularly likable either. Richard Abernethie died, leaving his estate to be equally divided among the family. But after the funeral, his niece Cora suggested he was murdered. There’s no evidence…
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Mrs McGinty’s Dead by Agatha Christie
James Bentley has been convicted of Mrs McGinty’s brutal murder and awaits sentencing. But Inspector Spence, who carried out the investigation that led to the successful prosecution has a niggling doubt about Bentley’s guilt. With no evidence and only a feeling the wrong man may be heading to the gallows, Spence asks Poirot to review the case. Poirot travels to the small village where the murder took place and can find nothing to cast doubt on the murder verdict until he discovers an old cutting from a newspaper that Mrs McGinty kept. The cutting relates to a Sunday paper article about four women involved in murders in the past. Determined…
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Why I Wrote No Accident
When you set out, you never quite know how things will turn out. I wanted to create something new, something different and exciting to entertain murder mystery readers. No Accident, the first book in the Downland Murder Mystery series, was actually the third book I wrote, featuring my sleuth Kent Fisher. The first novel wasn’t quite good enough. It led to a second, No Bodies, which was intended to be the first book in the series, but couldn’t be. Picture the scene. Kent Fisher is approached by an old family friend, whose wife has been missing for a year. When asked to investigate, he responds by saying, “Who you think…
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Where the Silent Screams are Loudest by John Pye
When a story grabs you from the first page and refuses to loosen its grip until the last, you know you’ve read something special. This is a police procedural with a difference. Written by a former detective, everything about it has an authentic ring. You feel you are there in the briefing room, or in pursuit of the killer. The level of detail makes all the difference. Nothing is skimped as DS Brennan is tasked with finding whether missing Poppy Hunt is still alive. The review of the case is prompted by eight year old Jason, who bears a striking resemblance to her. He was abandoned as a baby, only…
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Death Sentence by Damien Boyd
Another original and complex murder investigation begins when the body of a Falklands War veteran is found in a pillbox beside a local canal. DI Nick Dixon is soon on the case, but the lack of clues, evidence and motive stifles his inquiries. It’s a slow slog that eventually bears fruit as the death is linked to others, who share a common thread, linking back to the war. From here, Dixon and his team are in a race against time before the killer strikes again. It’s an intriguing mystery, based around events in the Falklands War in 1982. As with previous books in the series, the plot is intricate and…
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The Hollow by Agatha Christie
In another complex case, Hercule Poirot is faced with a murder where all the clues and evidence seem to lead nowhere. John Christow, a Harley St doctor, is found dead at the side of a swimming pool at the countryside home of the Angkatells. His wife, Gerda, stands a few feet away, a pistol in her hand. Yet Christow’s final word is ‘Henrietta’, referring to a lover of his, also at the house. It soon becomes clear that all the people at the house have a motive to either dislike or kill Christow. Even the next door neighbour is an actress, who was in a relationship with him fifteen years…
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On Cold Ground by DS Butler
Is there a serial killer on the loose in Lincoln? When a body is found by DS Karen Hart in the cathedral, there’s a cross carved into the forehead. Then DI Morgan receives a threatening note before another body is found, bearing the killer’s hallmark. Another note suggests the killer is taunting the police. But is it that straightforward? DS Hart is already convinced corrupt officers remain in the force, despite the suspension of one detective inspector. An internal investigation is making slow progress. Karen has suspicions about the new DI, drafted in take control of the murder inquiry. His attitude towards her is abrasive and derogatory. The running corruption…
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Mystery at Lovelace Manor by Clare Chase
In another enthralling and colourful mystery, obituary writer Eve Mallow is once again on the trail of a murderer. Adventurer and celebrity, Cammie Harington, takes off in a hot air balloon as a climax to the open day at Lovelace Manor. But a fire in the basket of the balloon leads to an explosion and her death. It all looks like a tragic accident until evidence reveals foul play. Determined to uncover the truth, Eve starts to piece together a number of minor and seemingly unconnected events that reveal secrets, affairs and arguments among the well-heeled of Lovelace Manor and those connected with the estate. Narrowing down the list of…
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An Accidental Detective
How do you create something familiar, but different and less formulaic? Do you go for something original and distinctive – unique even? Perhaps, but you run the risk of alienating the readers you want to attract. They read certain books because they know what they want and what to expect. They might not take to kindly to you messing around with this. Murder mystery readers are pretty savvy when it comes to the classic whodunit. But they still want you to give them something they’ll enjoy and remember. For me, the desire to create a murder mystery readers would love held me in a vice-like grip. I had to start…