16 March 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-99055064-5
Renowned The four women of the WISE Investigation Agency have been reduced to two active agents: Mavis is on sick leave, having injured her hand; and Christine has just had a baby, and is on maternity leave. This means that Carol and Annie have to work together to tackle the agency’s latest case. This proves to be one of the most difficult and emotionally draining cases that any of the women have ever had to undertake, but fortunately Carol and Annie trust each other implicitly, and make an excellent team.
Their client is retired head teacher, Iris Lewis, who is a good friend of all the WISE women. Now Iris wishes to employ them on a professional basis, to solve a cold case involving a crime that was committed in 1984. Iris has always been an active member of the Anwen Social Committee, but now she plans to step down, and, to honour her years of service, the Duchess of Chellingworth has invited her to select the person who will officially rename the old school when it reopens as an artisans’ hub. Iris has found the perfect person to open the hub, but she needs the services of the WISE women to persuade this magnificent artist to participate. Penelope Llewellyn, now Penelope Pennington, had been a pupil at Iris’ school, and had later become a world-renowned potter under the pseudonym ‘Anwen’, although very few people know the potter’s true identity. Iris has managed to track down Penny, and she has agreed to abandon her anonymity, but only if Iris can help her to find some peace before she dies, by discovering the truth about the death of Penny’s young sister, Linda. The time available to solve this tragedy is short, not just because of the imminent opening of the artisans’ hub, but because Penny is dying from liver cancer.
The death of twelve-year-old Linda Llewellyn took place at the village of Pontyrhydyfen, the birthplace of Richard Burton. In August 1984 the village was packed with mourning fans, who wished to attend Burton’s memorial service. Linda had been foisted on her seventeen-year-old sister, Penny, and two of her friends, who were attending the memorial with two of their boyfriends. Linda had been whining, and Penny had bought her an ice cream and left her, planning to pick her up again later. However, when the teenagers looked for Linda, they could not find her. There was a delay in contacting the police, but when they found Linda, three days later, she was dead, having apparently fallen from the local aqueduct. The coroner brought in an open verdict, which meant there was insufficient evidence to show whether Linda died by accident, suicide or murder.
Carol and Annie are deeply moved when they meet Penny, and she explains that, over the years, many people have accused her of murdering Linda, including her own irrational mother. Penny is desperate for the truth to be discovered before she dies, so that her children know what really happened, rather than having to live with the false accusations that have been levelled against her.
In the meantime, Christine feels rather bored. She adores her baby daughter, but as her partner, Alexander, is doing over half the childcare, she has not got enough to engage her. Fortunately, Alexander discovers a historical mystery for Christine to research, when he discovers an interesting and potentially valuable artefact at Chellingworth Hall, the property of Henry Twyst, the eighteenth Duke of Chellingworth. Alexander is devoted to Christine and is pleased that she is interested in her research. He is glad to immerse himself in the care of their baby daughter, which helps to distract him from his fear that a business contretemps in London may have placed his life in danger. On a lighter note, Annie’s busybody neighbour, Marjorie, amazes Annie when she asks her to undertake a very unusual investigation into an online crush. Annie and Carol are so busy that this has to be put on the backburner while they concentrate on Linda’s death, which means that Annie has to keep avoiding Marjorie, who expects immediate service even when the investigators are doing her a favour.
Annie and Carol manage to track down Penny’s two old friends and the surviving boyfriend, but nobody can offer any insights into Linda’s death. It is only when they get permission to widen the investigation and confide in a few trusted people, including some who were in Pontyrhydyfen on the day of the memorial, that the tragic truth is revealed.
The
Case of the Petrified Potter is the thirteenth book in the series
featuring the WISE women. It is a fascinating addition to a delightful series,
with a strong, emotionally powerful storyline. The characters are warm and likeable,
and the protagonists and their community grow and develop with each book in the
series. It is especially pleasant to see Annie and Carol taking such masterly
control of an investigation and working so well together. This is a thoroughly
enjoyable page-turner, which I thoroughly recommend.
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Reviewer:
Carol Westron
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