‘A Memory of Murder’ by Helen Hollick

Published by Taw River Press,
15 May 2024.
ISBN: 978-1-73927202-9 (PB)

Jan Christopher loves her job as a library assistant in Chingford Library, North London, but in April 1973 she is finding her work very stressful. The library is very busy because people want to stock up with books before the Easter holiday and the library is chaotic because it is a day for school visits. Because she is busy and, in a hurry, Jan makes a thoughtless remark about her size to a small girl who is queuing to check out her book. The girl looks indignant, and Jan is dismayed to realise that the girl is a dwarf. Although she regrets her insensitivity, Jan is too busy to brood about it because the library is about to be painted and the builders have turned up early. The older builders are reasonably polite and get on with the work, but Jan is not sure if she likes one of the younger men, Adrian Blessit. He is about thirty years old, which makes him ten years older than Jan. He is very handsome and tries to be charming, however he sneers at books and learning, and Jan feels uncomfortable when he tries to flirt with her.

Jan’s fiancé, Detective Sergeant Laurie Walker turns up at the library to ask if any of the assistants know anything about Sally Armitage, an eleven-year-old school child who has disappeared on her way back from school. Jan realises that Sally is the young dwarf that she had spoken to when she came to the library with her school and hopes that her foolish words to the girl had not upset her so much that she has run away. Laurie makes it clear that he suspects the only male member of the library staff, Sy Henbury-Clive, of involvement in Sally’s disappearance, which upsets Jan who gets on well with her colleague and she thinks that Laurie is being unreasonable.

Jan lives with her aunt and uncle, Maud and Toby Christopher, because she was orphaned when she was five years old. Jan’s father was murdered, shot several times when he answered his front door, and her mother committed suicide a few months later. Jan’s Uncle Toby is a senior detective and her father had also been a police officer. Jan had been in the house when her father died but she cannot remember anything about what happened.

The week continues to be extremely difficult. The decorators get on with the job, but they are very much in the way and don’t always mix well with the members of the public who are determined to continue selecting books, usually the books that are concealed under dust covers. Also, the smell of paint makes Jan feel ill. Everybody is worried about the missing girl and Uncle Toby and Laurie are working long hours on the case. Jan understands that police officers have to concentrate on their duty, but she feels hurt when Laurie forgets his promise to book some time off to spend with her and is even more cross when he also forgets that he’d agreed to take her to the travelling circus that has set up nearby. Laurie’s preoccupation is a strong contrast to Adrian Blessit who is determined to force his attentions upon Jan whether she wishes him to or not.

Those who love Jan have always tried to protect her by keeping her in ignorance of anything that might worry or frighten her. This is not always a wise policy and now it means that she does not realise the sinister significance of certain everyday items that are sent to her family. Because of this she is unprepared when violence suddenly erupts in a way that endangers all her hopes and plans for the future and brings back into the forefront of her mind a memory of murder that has been suppressed for fifteen years.

A Memory of Murder is the fifth book in the series that features Jan Christopher and Laurie Walker. It is a charming evocation of the early 1970s, the plot is cleverly constructed and well paced and Jan, Laurie and her family are engaging characters. This is a very enjoyable book that I recommend.
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Reviewer: Carol Westron

Helen Hollick is a British author of historical fiction. She is the author of the Arthurian trilogy, The Pendragon's Banner (3 books) and more recently two murder mysteries featuring library assistant Jan Christopher and her detective boyfriend, Laurie Walker.

https://www.helenhollick.net/

Carol Westron is a successful author and a Creative Writing teacher.  Her crime novels are set both in contemporary and Victorian times.  Her first book The Terminal Velocity of Cats was published in 2013. Since then, she has since written 5 further mysteries. Carol recently gave an interview to Mystery People. To read the interview click on the link below. 

https://promotingcrime.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/carol-westron.html www.carolwestron.com
To read a review of Carol latest book click on the title
Death and the Dancing Snowman