‘The Lost Shrine’ by Nicola Ford

Published by Allison & Busby,
20 February 2020.
ISBN: 978-0-174902490-1 (PB)

In this, the second in this series featuring archaeologists Clare Hills and Dr David Barbrook, both directors of the Hart Archaeological Research Institute (the Hart Unit) has been saved from having to close for lack of funding by an intervention from the unit’s supporter Dame (Professor) Margaret Bockford who has found a project for the unit for fieldwork on a site called Bailsgrove in the Cotswolds. The fieldwork is to evaluate the site ahead of development for housing. Neither David nor Clare are particularly keen to take up the project when they discover that the site is Bailsgrove because the previous dig director had been Beth Kinsella, notorious for her obsession with the Iron Age, had recently killed herself. But Clare feels she has no choice because if the Hart Unit is forced to close through lack of funding she will be out of a job and will not be able to buy the house she has set her heart on. David who is a lecturer at the university to which the Hart Unit is attached is financially in a better position but nonetheless agrees to accompany Clare.

However, once on the dig, Clare is very much in her element. Assisted by her friend, Californian human bone specialist Jo Granski, she is trying to sort out the chaotic excavation records (such a vital part of any dig) while assorted pagan devotees led by the eccentric Wayne Crabbs (Crabby) carry out their ceremonies on the site. Meanwhile the property developer Paul Marshall visits the site and forcibly expresses his anger at the delays and expense caused to his plans for development. One of Beth’s fellow-archaeologists, Neil Fuller, tells Clare that Beth had been convinced the site contained an Iron Age shrine but his view was that there was no evidence and Beth’s obsession with the Celts had led her astray.

Things grow ever more complicated with the emergence of ‘nighthawk’ activity at Bailsgrove. (‘Nighthawks’ are illegal metal detectorists who dig up prehistoric sites in the hope of finding valuable objects which they can sell on the black market; their activities all too often result in trashing the site). And then there is the discovery of three infant burials and the resulting ghoulish reporting by the press. Followed by other deaths, this time distinctly recent.

This is a fascinating tale with strong and interesting characters, securely grounded in the author’s undoubted archaeological knowledge. It is clear that there will be more to come.  Very much recommended.

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Reviewer: Radmila May

Nicola Ford is the pen-name for archaeologist Dr Nick Snashall, National Trust Archaeologist for the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site. Through her day-job and now her writing, she’s spent more time than most people thinking about the dead.

Twitter: @nic_ford 

https://nicolaford.com

 Radmila May was born in the U.S. but has lived in the U.K. since she was seven apart from seven years in The Hague. She read law at university but did not go into practice. Instead she worked for many years for a firm of law publishers and still does occasional work for them including taking part in a substantial revision and updating of her late husband’s legal practitioners’ work on Criminal Evidence published late 2015. She has also contributed short stories with a distinctly criminal flavour to two of the Oxford Stories anthologies published by Oxpens Press – a third story is to be published shortly in another Oxford Stories anthology – and is now concentrating on her own writing.

Bloody Scotland - Update

Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival
18-20 September 2020
 

BLOODY SCOTLAND INTERNATIONAL CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL 2020 CANCELLED BUT EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR GOING AHEAD ON SAME DATES ONLINE
 

We are very sad to announce that Bloody Scotland will not be taking place in Stirling this year due to the global Coronavirus pandemic. The safety of our team, participants and audiences is paramount and even if social distancing restrictions are lifted by September we feel we cannot proceed as normal without knowing safety can be absolutely assured.

Though we will miss celebrating the finest local and international crime writing at the festival, we hope to bring you a taste of that classic Bloody Scotland atmosphere in the form of online events which we are currently in the process of costing and plotting.

Festival Director, Bob McDevitt said:
  ‘I'm absolutely gutted that we won't be gathering in Stirling this year for our annual shindig but I am looking forward to finding some new and innovative ways to bring some fantastic crime writers into your living rooms. See you all in 2021 for our 10th anniversary!’

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
PLEASE CONTACT FIONA BROWNLEE
fiona@brownleedonald.com

‘Rivals’ Sam Michaels

Published by Head of Zeus,
9 January 2020.
ISBN: 978-1-8389 3062-2 (PB) 

Georgina Garrett was born in Battersea 1914, her mother Sissy died giving birth to her. She was brought up by her father Jack and gran Dulcie. The family are very poor, to make ‘ends meet’ Jack steals and Dulcie is a prostitute.

Rivals begins in 1934, Georgina is sitting with four women, Fanny Mipple, Dulcie, Jane Wilcox and Molly, who is Janes’ daughter in law and Georgina’s best friend.   

Georgina needs to get away from her rough beginnings, she wants to become the new boss of the Willcox gang. Billy Wilcox, husband of Molly has been killed, he was a “madman, an evil bully who’d left pain and destruction in his wake.” Georgina intends to be ruthless, but of course not everyone is pleased with a female taking over, even some of those closest to her. 

Rival gangs try to muscle in, there are devious men around her and her dad is lost to alcohol. Her friends and family are in constant danger. Georgina will begin to change the face of Battersea forever. Finally, her man, Lash, comes back into her life, he may make her heart melt, but Georgina won’t be softening up.

‘Rivals’ is well written, the plot, characters and storylines are good.  Recommended.

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Reviewer: Sue Lord

Sam Michaels writes gritty historical crime sagas set in Battersea, South London, which is where she was born and bred, the council estates being her playground.  After leaving school at sixteen with no qualifications, Sam married soon after and had a son. The marriage ended quickly, and as a single mother, she worked in various retail positions until undertaking an Open University degree. This led to Sam becoming an analytical scientist and then into technical sales where she met her husband.  A few years later, they moved from Hampshire to Spain. It was then that her mother, the Sunday Times best-selling author, Kitty Neale, inspired Sam to put pen to paper. She now writes her novels in sunnier climates with the company of her husband, four dogs and six cats.

 

Sue Lord originally studied Fine Art and Art History. Her MA is in Creative Writing. She now, revues, teaches, mentors and script doctors. She lives in central London and Cornwall. Her favourite pastime is gardening.

‘These Little Lies’ by Gretta Mulrooney

Published by Joffe Books,
6 November 2019.
ISBN 978-1-78931-241-6 (PB)

When Matis Rimas sets off for a spot of illegal fishing little does he imagine he will discover the body of a young woman whose face has been savagely cut with scissors, or that he will soon suffer a similar fate and never get to eat the large carp he has just caught. The dead woman was Lauren Visser, and although she worked in a children’s nursery school nobody could identify the photo of the young child that had been left with her body.

Detective Inspector Siv Drummond is asked to solve the double murder, but the murders are not her only problems.  After months off work following the tragic death of her husband in a motorcycle accident Siv is starting a new job in Berminster, the town where she spent her teenage years. Still struggling with post-traumatic stress, it is Siv’s first day back at work. This means she has to manage a new team–a likable Northern Irishman, Sergeant Ali Carlin who never stops talking, a promising young constable Patrick Hill who lives on social media and is permanently tired because he is looking after his severely disabled brother, and a CSM Steve Wooton who thinks a lot of himself. She also has to cope with a new boss, DCI Will Mortimer, who is grumpy because he had groomed somebody else for her job. 

As the investigation gets underway, we hear a lot about Lauren.  She was twenty-five, her mother was dead, and she had never known who her father was.  She was married to Ade Visser, a dominant, controlling man with a bad temper.

Fortunately, he worked away a lot, so the seemingly compliant Lauren did as she liked for much of the time. Ade seemed distraught by her death but had lied about his whereabouts on the night of her murder. 

To begin with all the friends, co-workers and fellow volunteers who knew Lauren described her as being quiet, kind, in love with her husband, and brilliant with young children. Gradually less flattering descriptions – selfish, determined to have her way, limited vision, bludgeoned people with facts, cheated on her husband etc. crept in.  But despite extensive investigations into various suspects such as her husband; the leader of the environmental charity she volunteered with; and the husband of her boss at the nursery, they had no idea who had murdered Lauren.

Investigations into the death of the second victim, Matis Rimas, suggest he was probably killed because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  As was a third victim, the elderly Alan Vine.  He had discovered the two bodies and was killed because he worked out some important connections. Questions asked at the Polish club patronised by Matis eventually provide a lead in this devious and twisted plot – and a possible nod towards a future romance for Siv?

I found These Little Lies an intriguing and enjoyable read.  It is stuffed full of a variety of characters some of whom are bound to appear in future Siv Drummond mysteries.  Good luck with working out “the who, or the why, done it”.  This book will keep you guessing to the end. 

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Reviewer: Angela Crowther

Gretta Mulrooney was born in London, of Irish parents. She studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Ulster and subsequently worked in education and social care.  Gretta has written seven books in her series featuring Private investigator Tyrone Swift. Her most recent boom is These Little Lies, the first in a new police-based crime series, featuring DI Siv Drummond.

https://grettamulrooney.com/

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.