The long awaited sequel to River of Darkness is set in 1932. John Madden, a former Inspector of Scotland Yard is now a farmer, married with a daughter. Returning home after a day out, their enjoyment is shattered when they learn that a young girl has gone missing.
While the evidence points to a tramp, John Madden is not so sure and feels that there is a darker influence involved. To him the method of crime suggests more careful planning than that of a tramp happening on a young girl alone in the woods. To him it suggests a psychopath, who has killed before.
We meet again Constable Will Stackpole, I loved the comment that the police were recruiting constables from the West Country rather than London, so as to get more maluable recruits - the London lads being rather more streetwise or savvy - I forget the actual wording but the meaning was clear.
This is a good story, and the complexity of the methods of detection quite fascinating; for me it didn’t have the quality of River of Darkness, but then that was an exceptional book, so maybe I shouldn’t use it as a yard stick. This is a good read.
Ray Lonnan did a really good job, he produced some marvellous accents for the
locals and a really good interpretation of Chief inspector Sinclaire’s Aberdeen
accent. He didn’t attempt the female accents - but it worked well.
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Lizzie Hayes