‘A Holiday To Die For’ by Marion Leigh

Published by Matador,
28 July 2018. 
ISBN 978-1789014-198

The protagonist here is an interesting and attractive figure whose gradual realisation of the peculiarities of the tours of parts of Africa offered to vulnerable young blonde women is well shown.  She is Petra Minx an RCMP sergeant who is on holiday in South Africa with her Italian friend, Carlo, who works for Interpol.  They are at the wedding of Carlo’s cousin.  The bride, Julia, is reluctant and the wedding is organised like a military operation by Julia’s stepmother, Sandrine.    Florian, the son of the planner is a charismatic, sexy and beautiful man who unsettles Petra and the priest who performs the ceremony is his friend and a rather dodgy character.

Petra’s boss is concerned about Vicky, a young masseuse at a hotel who has gone into an African village as a volunteer helping women.  Her putative employer, a wealthy woman called Mrs Pinderally is also concerned and supplies aid to Petra.  As Petra and Carlo travel around the country in a camper van both find activities to investigate.  Gradually Petra gets so involved that she puts her own life and future in danger. 

The story is one that draws the reader on to find out what it all means.

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Reviewer: Jennifer S. Palmer

This is the third story about Petra.

Marion Leigh was born and educated in the United Kingdom, and has lived in Europe, Canada, the USA and the Bahamas. She has also spent time in Australia and the Far East, India, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. This eagerness to explore new places enables her to take her readers into worlds they may not have had the opportunity to experience.

Jennifer Palmer Throughout my reading life crime fiction has been a constant interest; I really enjoyed my 15 years as an expatriate in the Far East, the Netherlands & the USA but occasionally the solace of closing my door to the outside world and sitting reading was highly therapeutic. I now lecture to adults on historical topics including Famous Historical Mysteries.