‘A Double Life’ by Flynn Berry

Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson,
31 July 2018.
ISBN: 978-147460703-2 (HB)

For years Claire has been obsessed with uncovering the mystery at the heart of her life; did her father try to kill her mother but murdered the nanny instead?

Inspired by the case of the disappearance of Lord Lucan in 1974, Flynn Berry explores what it is like for the family left behind when someone disappears, when the primary murder suspect is your father, and how upper class society sticks together to protect one of their own.

Did her father murder the nanny or was it an intruder as was suggested? Why did her father disappear? Is he still alive? These are some of the questions Clare needs answered so that she can have closure.

Clare was eight when the nanny was killed, and she saw the body. Not only did she have to deal with the trauma of someone she loved being bludgeoned to death, but she then had a whole change of life including a move to Scotland and a new identity. Her father was a wealthy, expensively educated, privileged man with a tight group of friends who Clare thinks hold the key to discovering exactly what happened. Clare has moved back to London and, even though she knows it could be dangerous, she finds a way of getting close to her father’s inner circle so that she can start probing for information.

Clare’s story is told in the first person with chapters retelling her parent’s backstory in the third person. Written in the first person, the conversational style of narration draws the reader in. The gentle pacing as you are drip-fed the details make the book a good choice for those who like lighter psychological suspense and the conclusion was unexpected and satisfying. 

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Reviewer: Christine Hammercott

Flynn Berry is a graduate of the Michener Center and has been awarded a Yaddo residency. She graduated from Brown University. Under the Harrow was her first novel.

http://www.flynnberry.com/

Christine Hammacott lives near Southampton and runs her own design consultancy. She started her career working in publishing as a book designer and now creates covers for indie-authors. She writes page-turning fiction that deals with the psychological effects of crime. Her debut novel The Taste of Ash was published in 2015.

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A Taste of Ash

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‘Trashed’ by Norman Townsend

Published by Matador,
28 November 2018.
ISBN: 978-1-789015 09-6 (PB)

If you’ve been harbouring a secret passion for recycling and waste transfer tips then Trashed is a must read for you. Written with authority by somebody who definitely knows what he is talking about Trashed roars along at a great rate, certainly a good deal faster than most waste disposal lorries you ever come across lumbering along narrow streets or patiently waiting for more loot to be thrown into their gaping jaws.

Loot, in the form of precious metals that are extracted and recycled from redundant electronic devices provides Ayman Runihura - ex-Egyptian Commando’s - and his bunch of thugs with a legitimate excuse to drive lorries in and out of the rubbish tips. Runihura uses his lorries as cover to bring in and then redistribute all sorts of proscribed cargoes such as illegal immigrants, drugs and guns. With the help of backhanders to suits in authority, and strategically placed strong men in the waste yards, Runihura was happily raking in the profits from his various nefarious activities, that is until Paul Stafford appeared on the scene.

Major Paul Stafford has recently retired from the military and has taken over five recycling tips – one way or another there is good money in rubbish! Paul’s arrival disrupts the gang’s illegal activities so Runihura arranges a little warning to encourage Paul to fall into line. A bomb is exploded on one of Paul’s tips.  It kills two people and injures others.  More reprisals follow, but in true heroic style Paul seems without fear and he is having none of it.

Helped by Constables Lee Gibson and Nicole Martin from the local police, ex-army mates Captain Ryan Peters and Sergeant Garfield Lewis, and Special Forces, Paul investigates and discovers what is going on at his tips. He pushes back against the venomous international criminal gang who will stop at nothing to keep their supply chains open.

Trashed is packed with both action and tragedy.  Whilst descriptions of the gang’s activities would render it a no-go area for the faint-hearted, those who can cope with gratuitous violence and the physical abuse of women will enjoy the evergreen battle between the forces of good and evil. There is a hint of potential romance for Paul that will doubtless be expanded if, as I suspect, the charismatic Major Stafford lives to tell another tale.

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Reviewer: Angela Crowther

Norman Townsend was born and raised in Oxford. He has previously worked as a photographer, salesman, labourer, warehouse manager and milkman. He moved to Andover thirty years ago, starting his career in the waste industry, before retiring in 2009. Trashed is his debut novel.

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.

‘Me? I Kill People’ by Alan Jacobs

Published by Matador,
28 January 2019.
ISBN: 978-1-78901684-0 (PB)

As the title suggests the book is about a contract killer, his name is Giles Penshurst. We meet him as he carries out his latest assignment, a Pole living in Balham who runs a prostitute from his flat and has similar plans for her young four-year-old child too.  After the successful killing he reminisces about all his previous hits and these form the bulk of the book.

He teams up with a mate Dave, who carries out all the arrangements and supplies him with whichever weapon he requires.  They are very careful in their choice of assignments, ranging from drug dealers, Nazis, a priest with an unhealthy interest in children and just about every nasty character in between!

It's not long before the efficiency of Dave and Giles gets really well known and they find themselves travelling all over the world to fulfil their contracts.  The police are baffled as to his identity, he wears many disguises, never uses the same weapon, sometimes guns, sometimes knives and poisons, even once blowing up a targets car. Then thanks to a nosey neighbour, they get an identification.

Detective Constable Hazel Frazer and Detective Inspector Eric Williams now know what Giles looks like but not his real name. Hazel poses as a prostitute and picks him up one night but although she manages to get a look at his passport it turns out to be a false name. They are just about back to square one.  Williams and Hazel get even more frustrated when they are “warned off” by top brass, surely the killer cannot be carrying out jobs for the government' can he?

When Dave and Giles take stock and count up the number of killings, they are responsible for it amounts to well over twenty. They then realise they have been very lucky not to have been arrested, though this they are sure is down to the fact that they have always been very careful. They consider the likely hood that they are going to call it a day soon, they have certainly made enough money. But, will they retire soon enough before they get caught, or will that “just one more job then” be one too many?

I really enjoyed this book, it was good to hear of so many unsavoury characters getting their just desserts. Although obviously it is a serious subject, it is very amusing at times. There are even a couple of laugh aloud moments, especially when Giles deals with one outstandingly nasty individual.

A thoroughly good read, this will really appeal to those who like justice done quickly and efficiently. I found it very satisfying!

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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Alan Jacobs was born just before WW11. He left school and joined the Royal Navy, serving in the Suez campaign and flying in helicopters as a rescue crewman. After taking early retirement from a career with BT, he spends his time writing novels. This is his debut. Alan is based in Bedfordshire.

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.