18 June 2026.
ISBN: 978-0-34900088-6 (PB)
Pearl Nolan runs a successful seafood restaurant in Whitstable, called The Whitstable Pearl. Her original idea when she was young was to become a police detective, but the arrival of her son Charlie scuppered that idea. But now that Charlie has left for university, Pearl has set up Nolan’s Detective Agency.
In her role of Private Detective, she has come into contact with former Met Police Officer, Mike McGuire, which after a tricky start has developed into a loving relationship. And they are now about to marry. But currently Mike has been in London for a trial at the Old Bailey on an important corruption case. Everything is now set for the wedding except for the bridegroom.
Pearl lives at Sea Spray cottage, and while pondering her impending marriage she is contacted by Reverend Prudence Lawson known locally as Rev Pru. Who says she needs to talk with Pearl as soon as possible. Her problem is a young man in his twenties who has been sleeping in the church as he is homeless. He name is Ryan Stacey, and he has helped a lot in the church and seems a nice young man. With the church Sacristan recuperating after a knee replacement in the Happy Valley Nursing Home, his duties have been split between several church members. And now a silver chalice has disappeared.
Pearl visits Reggie Runcorn, a loveable Rogue, with a grey beard, shoulder length hair, sporting a plum-coloured smoking jacket, and a paisley cravat that has seen better days, and asks him to look at the photograph of the silver chalice to see if he can identify it. All he says is that it looks ecclesiastical.
The story is rich in characters; there is the artist Judith Beckett who is putting Ryan up in her spare room. Judith according to Pearl’s mother Dolly is an old Cougar! Ruby, the waitress who Pearl looks upon as a daughter, and seems to have something on her mind, and Pearl’s son Charlie who is acting secretive, almost as though he is avoiding her. Charlie has tried several times to fly the nest, but it isn’t easy for this generation. Whitstable has become a popular location for ex-Londoners, known as DFL’s (short for Down from Londoners, as they are called by the locals). And they have money to buy holiday property, not too far from London.
As plans for her coming wedding Pearl arranges to meet with Jade Jackson, St. A’s Musical director to finalise her choices on the church organ. She was fascinated by the two mirrors above the keyboards on the organ, that enable Jade to keep an eye on the choir. But looking in the small square mirror Pearl can see a body lying with a gaping wound, eyes wide open. Dead. The church is now a crime scene.
This is the 11th book in the series and with their wedding imminent they both individually look back into their past. Mike to the loss of Donna whom he was to marry, but who was killed in a hit-and-run car accident and Pearl who had never spoke of her relationship with Carl, Charlie’s father.
This is a very layered story. Whilst Pearl has gone her own way, in bringing up Charlie, the past, as she discovers, has a way of turning up.
Intriguing, and ingeniously plotted
this episode in Pearls life is a compelling read and kept me guessing to the
end. Whose body is it in the church? Will there be a wedding? Highly Recommended.
-------
Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett
No comments:
Post a Comment