A Grave in the Cotswolds by Rebecca Tope

Published by Allison & Busby
2 August 2010,
ISBN: 978-0-74900916-8

This is, I think, the fifth book in the series featuring Thea Osborne and her spaniel Hepzie, so I was a might thrown when the book opens with a first person narrative from an undertaker on his way to the Cotswolds to carry out the last wishes of his client Greta Simmonds, to bury her in a field close to her home. The undertaker, Drew Slocombe arranges alternative funerals for those wanting a green experience, ie the coffin is cardboard - willow if you can afford it. The funeral although sparsely attended goes off without a hitch and Drew drives back to his home in Somerset.

But the following day the police contact Drew as a complaint has been lodged by the council regarding the validity of a funeral in a field which they say was not owned by Greta Simmonds. They insist that Drew returns to Broad Camden to sort the matter out. Of course it's not as simple as that, and Drew's problems begin to multiply, not least the costs associated with driving back and forth between the Cotswolds and Somerset. Drew's finances are precariously balanced and a need for new tyres plus journeys at his own cost could upset that delicate balance.

When a body turns up, not that of Greta Simmonds I hasten to add, poor Drew is firmly in the frame. Luckily the person currently house sitting in Greta Simmonds house is Thea Osborne and she befriends Drew, goodness knows he needs a friend, as his life starts to spiral out of control.

The village of Broad Camden is rife with busybodies, family intrigue and mystery. Yes, I loved it. The best mysteries are those that have the reader on the edge of the chair eager to uncover the secrets that families hide.

Since reading this book I have discovered that an earlier series written by Rebecca Tope featured Drew Slocombe and that she has brought her two protagonists together. One thing is clear and that is that I must now read the earlier books as Drew's wife Karen has problems that clearly result from traumatic injury that isn't your everyday, oops, I fell and hurt myself.

This is the classic village mystery, packed with suspects, secrets and intrigue, and also pain and sadness, but that's all part of life and that's what we have here - all life, real and fascinating. Highly recommended.
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Reviewewr: Lizzie Hayes

  

Rebecca Tope is the author of four popular murder mystery series, featuring Den Cooper, Devon police detective, Drew Slocombe, Undertaker, Thea Osborne, house sitter in the Cotswolds, and more recently Persimmon (Simmy) Brown, a florist. Rebecca grew up on farms, first in Cheshire then in Devon, and now lives in rural Herefordshire on a smallholding situated close to the beautiful Black Mountains.
Besides "ghost writer" of the novels based on the ITV series Rosemary and Thyme. Rebecca is also the proprietor of a small press - Praxis Books. This was established in 1992

 www.rebeccatope.com

Secrets to the Grave by Tami Hoag

Published by Orion,
13^th January 2011.
ISBN: 978-0-7528-9895-7

When reclusive artist Marissa Fordham is found brutally murdered, the only witness Haley her four-year-old daughter, the police call in Anne Leone, a child advocate to protect her, for Haley hasn’t spoken since she was found kneeling by her mother’s bloody body.

Anne is currently about to become the star witness in the trial of the man in the See-No-Evil murders. Anne is also the much loved wife of Vince Leone, a forty-nine-year-old, former Special Agent with the FBI’s, Chicago homicide detective.

The police are keen to interview Haley, she is their only lead, but Anne staunchly protects the fragile child, which provokes a custody situation with other interested parties. Whilst trying to gain access to Haley, investigation into the life of Marissa Fordham hits a blank wall. Just who was Marissa Fordham?  Another death kills a promising lead, but points to someone who needs to keep Marissa past life a secret.

Full of twists, Secrets to the Grave is a real page turner.  

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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett

 

Tami Hoag's novels have appeared on international bestseller lists regularly since the publication of her first book in 1988. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages worldwide and over twenty-million copies of her books are in print. Tami is a dedicated equestrian in the discipline of dressage and shares her home with two English cocker spaniels. She lives in Palm Beach County, Florida. 

Mark of the Lion by Suzanne Arruda

Published by Piatkus December 2010. ISBN: 978-0-7499-5331-7 

Jade Del Cameron is the heroin we all long to be.  In the 1914-18 war she drove an ambulance on the front in France. Although surviving physically untouched herself, she lost her friend David. His last request to her was for her to find his estranged half-brother and avenge his father’s death.  This quest takes Jade to Nairobi where she becomes involved in intrigue and murder.

This is a true adventure, fraught with the threat of death from wild animals, from poachers of ivory, and from men lusting after money.  Straight from ‘Girl’s Own Adventure’ - I can remember reading such stories when I was very young, but even now when I am forty years on I was totally captivated and held enthralled by Jade’s adventures.  Proving that they are for more adult readership there is lust and romance. I lapped up this story and was excited to see that on my bookshelf was the next instalment ‘Stalking Ivory’. I can’t wait.  Highly recommended.
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Lizzie Hayes

The Lily Bard Mysteries Omnibus by Charlaine Harris

Published by Gollancz November 2010. ISBN: 978-0-575-09643-1

Charlaine Harris has for me always been linked with vampires mysteries which are not for me, but just before Christmas I received to review a beautiful book, which was by Charlaine Harris but announced itself as the The Lily Bard Mysteries.  I just loved it.

Lily Bard lives in the town of Shakespeare. When looking for somewhere to live she fixed on this town purely because of its name. Lily Bard is a survivor, a survivor of a horrific event. Although from a loving family she just could not handle the knowledge that everyone where she had been brought up knew what had happened to her, and so she moves to somewhere, new and when people found out about her she moves again – but for now she is in Shakespeare.  She works as a cleaning lady and that again gives her the freedom to work the hours she wants, where she wants, and on her own. 

There are five books in this omnibus and I am glad that I read them one after the other for it has been an amazing journey with Lily.  Her journey has been a painful one. She has taken steps to never again be as vulnerable as she was. True, whatever we do we cannot always be totally safe but she has tried to stack the odds in her favour.

Whilst the mysteries are complex, intriguing and engaging, the strength of this volume of stories is in the journey of Lily Bard. Read it for yourself. Very highly recommended.

 

 

Frozen Charlotte by Priscilla Masters

Published by Severn House, January 2011.

ISBN: 978-0-7278-8006-2

‘There was nothing to mark her out. She sat quietly in the corner of the Accident and Emergency department, in the seat farthest away from the registration hatch.’ The opening two lines of Frozen Charlotte have the reader griped from that moment.  For the woman is clutching a bundle in a pink blanket that contains a new born that has been dead for several years.

Initial questioning of this quiet well-dressed woman brings forth no answers – only questions. PC Constable Gethin Roberts is relieved to hand over to Sergeant Paul Talith but he doesn’t get much further.  Eventually Detective Inspector Alex Randall takes over but even the basic question of ‘why did you bring a dead baby to the hospital, why not call the police?’ produces no explanation.

Coroner Martha Gunn also has questions, and together with Alex Randall they attempt to uncover the mystery behind the death of this child.

I have mentioned PC Gethin Roberts, Sergeant Paul Talith and Alex Randall, and there are many other characters in this mystery that will remained unmentioned in this review, but this story is rich in characterisation. All of their lives and many more are touched-on, and all of their lives equally fascinating. In Martha’s life are her twins now fifteen - Sam is pursing a career in football, while Sukey has different ideas and nothing that Martha could have even envisaged.

In book discussions the question is often asked of the readers what is the most powerful element in this book, plot, writing, or character?  I love an easy question, in this book equally all three.  If I should be asked what is your favourite type of mystery? I can say it is Frozen Charlotte.  A ‘mystery’ that grips the reader from the first to the last page. In short one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is compelling, fascinating, intriguing - a real mystery.  It moves at an incredible pace, every chapter taking the reader to a new place, more questions, and more interesting characters. I wanted to follow all their lives, so intriguing were they masterly proffered.

Although, the conclusion was eminently satisfying, there are a couple of tantalising personal situations left open, making me hot to read the next book.

To say ‘highly recommended’ sounds in adequate I think ‘must read’ is nearer the mark.
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Lizzie Hayes

Cradle to Grave by Aline Templeton

Published by Hodder,
31 March 2011.
ISBN: 978-0-340-97699-9 (PB)

DI Marjorie Fleming known to her colleagues as 'Big Marge' is pleased to be back at work following her months of suspension. But although re-instated by the tribunal, she still has bridges to build particularly with her sergeant, Tam MacNee, whose malcontent is finding an outlet with the new DC Kim Kershaw who has her own problems.

Since being accused of murdering a baby in her care Lisa Stewart has been vilified where ever she goes; despite moving and changing her name it seems they' always find her. She lives in fear of being recognised, so when see meets a young man who seems to care for her, and who accepts her innocence she allows herself to hope. But the relaxing holiday at Rosscarron Cottages turns into a nightmare when a landslide forces her to take refuge at a nearby farm with Maidie Buchan, but she is not welcomed by Maidie's husband, surly Alick Buchan. 

Living nearby is wealthy Gillis Crozier who is not sure of the wisdom of returning to his roots, as long suppressed memories surface. He has inadvisably agreed to a pop festival in the grounds of his house, but with the inclement weather it seems to be a doomed venture.

When a body is found, Big Marge is on the case, but her investigation is complicated by the appalling weather conditions and an unwelcome intrusion from her past.

This is a story rich in story-lines and characters - the perpetrator, the hunted and the hunters. The relationships between the police, and the suspects makes for a fascinating compelling mystery, for gradually as the story unfolds, unrelated people prove to be part of a sad and emotional story.
Cradle to Grave is one of the most gripping books I have read in a long time, with well drawn characters, this entry in this acclaimed series is highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes

Aline Templeton grew up in the fishing village of Anstruther, on the east coast of Scotland not far from St Andrews.  The memories of beautiful scenery and a close community inspired her to set the Marjory Fleming series in a place very like that – rural Galloway, in the south-west of Scotland. After attending Cambridge University to read English she taught for a few years.  She now writes full-time and lives in Edinburgh in a house with a balcony built by an astronomer to observe the stars, with a splendid view of the castle and the beautiful city skyline. Her most recent series features DCI Kelso Strang, officer in charge of Police Scotland’s Serious Rural Crime Squad. Devil’s Garden is the third book in the series.  

http://www.alinetempleton.co.uk