3 January 2023.
ISBN: 978-1-4483-0983-2 (HB)
Undue Influence introduces us to Nurse
Florence Shaw who lives
and works in the market town of Stone where she had grown up, and thus has
known many of her patients most of her life.
Walking up the high street on her day off Florence is surprised to see one of
her patients standing looking completely lost and confused in the middle of the
many people going about their daily lives.
When Florence approaches her and quietly said ‘Nora?’ it is clear that
Nora doesn’t recognise her. As Florence studies her it is apparent that she had
lost a lot of weight. When she finally registered Florence, she becomes hostile
and says aggressively that she is alright. Having seen Nora for her check up
only a few months ago she was now unrecognisable from the bright, intelligent chatty
person Florence had known for many years.
When Nora failed to show up for an appointment to have her bloods checked, Florence decides to mention her concerns to Nora’s registered doctor. Dr Gubb, who although a very good doctor, and in spite of the of the many years he has spent in in general practice always sees the best in people, a view that borders on naivety. When Florence expresses her unease about Nora, and that she is thinking of paying her a home visit, he merely says ‘Excellent, I know I can rely on you,’ and off he goes.
When Florence parks outside Nora’s house the first thing she notices is that the garden, usually neat and well-kept, Nora being a keen gardener, is now unkempt and the lawn long and uncut. When there is no reply to her knock, she discovers the door unlocked door and entering smells cigarettes. She finds Nora sitting in a chair. Asking why she hadn’t kept her appointment at the surgery, Nora says ‘He told me not to go’. Enquiring who ‘he’ is, she says Ben, who looks after me. Further enquiry of Nora about Ben, brings forth no results, but then there he is. A big unshaven guy, who is clearly not pleased to see Florence. But Nora is pleased to see him!
Florence
tries several avenues to try to establish who Ben is, and where he comes from.
She tracks down Jack, Nora’s son, who is pleased that someone is helping his
mother. She attempts to raise awareness
of Nora’s situation and deterioration within the practice, but one seems to
share her concerns.
Then Nora disappears.
As I read the book, I couldn’t fault Florence for the effort she put in to bring attention to the Nora’s situation. Everyone in the practice is busy juggling heavy caseloads, if someone is looking after a vulnerable old person that is good, isn’t it? But where is Nora Selleck?
This is a compelling read, and is highly recommended.
----
Reviewer:
Lizzie Sirett.
Priscilla Masters was born in Halifax, and brought
up in South Wales, one of seven multi-racial children adopted by an orthopaedic
surgeon and his Classics graduate wife. Priscilla trained as a registered nurse
in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. She moved to Staffordshire in the
1970s, had an antiques business for a while and two sons. She started writing
in the 1980s in response to an aunt asking her what she was going to do with her
life! Winding up the Serpent was her
first Joanna Piercy story, published in 1995.
Although that series is still continuing the latest Crooked Street published 2016, she has also written several medical
standalones and a new series featuring coroner Martha Gunn, set in Shrewsbury. Her
latest book is Deceiver a psychological thriller featuring Dr Claire Roget
who is a forensic psychiatrist who has some very unpredictable patients. It is
set in Stoke on Trent.
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