‘The Wrong Woman’ by Helen H. Durrant

Published by Joffe Books,
2 March 2023.
ISBN: 978-180405747-6 (PB)

This is a classic piece of Crime and Detective fiction involving Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde detectives in the Ryebridge area of the Midlands.  The story involves the discovery of a young woman's body which has been badly disfigured and dressed in Victorian costume.  Frankly if the author had wanted to keep us in suspense concerning the identity of the murdered woman, then perhaps it would have been wiser to not give the book the title of 'The Wrong Woman'! 

However the story unwinds with various clues and twists and maintains a momentum until the end.  There are various traditional crime mystery issues involved in the story line - kidnap, a wealthy husband and jealous wife, illegal organ removal, violent gang involvement and some love interest too. 

Durrant mines several current issues such as the importance of DNA, redevelopment of the local environment and the issue of homelessness and poverty and this aspect of the novel is sensitively handled. 

There are various twists concerning suspects and victims and I never lost interest in the plot and the characters remained realistic and believable.  I understand that this book is the third in a series concerning Detectives Harry Lennox and Jess Wilde.  I look forward to catching up with them again.
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Reviewer: Toni Russell  

Helen H. Durrant writes gritty police procedurals and is published by Joffe Books. Until six years ago she hadn’t written a word, now she has twenty six titles out there and counting. Her novels are set in the Pennine villages outside Manchester. Writing was a dormant ambition. It was retirement that gave her the opportunity to have a go. The success of her books came as a huge surprise, now she can’t stop!

www.helenhdurrant.co.uk

Toni Russell is a retired teacher who has lived in London all her life and loves the city.  She says, ‘I enjoy museums, galleries and the theatre but probably my favourite pastime is reading.  I found myself reading detective fiction almost for the first time during lockdown and have particularly enjoyed old fashioned detective fiction rather than the nordic noir variety.  I am a member of a book club at the local library and have previously attended literature classes at our local Adult Education Centre.  I am married with three children and five grandchildren.