Published by Severn House,
1 July 2017.
ISBN: 978-0-7278-8703-0
1 July 2017.
ISBN: 978-0-7278-8703-0
The
year is 1928 and old prejudices against young women making their own way in the
world are still prevalent. This means that when lovely young actress Cissie
Rowe is discovered dead in her seaside bungalow in Shoreham-on-Sea, the
opinionated doctor who is summoned to examine her body assumes that she has
committed suicide. Although he concedes, if the authorities wish to be
charitable, it might be possible to argue that her death was an accident.
Fortunately, the young police constable who is also attending the death, is
more observant and less prejudiced and the questions he raises cause Cissie’s
death to be investigated as a murder. Detective Chief Inspector Henry Johnstone
and Detective Sergeant Mickey Hitchens are Scotland Yard detectives who are
experts in murder and they are sent to Shoreham-on-Sea to investigate Cissie’s
death.
In the film industry, Cissie was a rising star
and, as she was one of the few actresses that had a beautiful speaking voice,
she should have been able to transfer to the new Talking Pictures that are
beginning to emerge and threaten the careers of many Silent Movie stars. The
detectives’ investigations take them to the film studio where Cissie worked
and, at first it seems that nobody has a bad word to say about her. However,
when Johnstone and Hitchens probe deeper they discover that not all is as it
seems in Cissie’s life. Soon the detectives realise that the truth behind Cissie’s
death may lie in her workplace, but it could also have originated in her
foreign childhood, or it may be found in far wealthier and more influential
circles than she moved in at the film studio. Fortunately, Henry’s sister,
Cynthia, is married to a wealthy industrialist and has a town house in nearby
Worthing. Cynthia and her husband welcome Henry and Mickey into their home and
Cynthia provides them with useful information about the people they need to
investigate.
Another brutal murder occurs and it becomes
clear the killer is searching for something and will not end the violence until
Henry and Mickey identify and capture the ruthless murderer.
Death Scene is the second in the series of 1920s novels
featuring Henry Johnstone and I was delighted that the author supplied a lot
more personal information about Henry’s background, which made him a more engaging and sympathetic
character. This was skilfully inserted so that it added to the power of the
novel without slowing the pace and offered a heart-warming view of Henry as a
beloved and loving brother and uncle. I would recommend Death Scene without reservation, the central characters are very
engaging, the plot and pace good and the period detail authentic and
fascinating. It is a page-turner.
------
Reviewer: Carol Westron
Jane
A Adams was born in Leicestershire,
where she still lives. She has a degree in Sociology, and has held a variety of
jobs including lead vocalist in a folk rock band. She enjoys pen and ink
drawing, martial arts and her ambition is to travel the length of the Silk Road
by motorbike. Her first book, The
Greenway, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Award in 1995 and for
the Author's Club Best First Novel Award. Jane writes several series. Her first series featured Mike Croft. Several
books featuring DS Ray Flowers. Seven titles featuring blind Naoimi Blake, and
six titles featuring Rina Martin. Her most ret series is set between the two
World Wars and featuring Detective Inspector Henry Johnstone and his sergeant,
Micky Hitchens. Jane has also written several standalone novels. She is married
with two children.
Carol Westron is a successful short
story writer and a Creative Writing teacher.
She is the moderator for the cosy/historical crime panel, The Deadly
Dames. Her crime novels are set both in
contemporary and Victorian times. The
Terminal Velocity of Cats is the first in her Scene of Crimes novels, was
published July 2013. Her latest book The Fragility
of Poppies was published 10 June 2016.
Read a review of Carol’s latest
book
The Fragility of Poppies
The Fragility of Poppies
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