Snapped in Cornwall' by Janie Bolitho
Published by Soundings Audio Books. (8 Cassettes)
Read by Patricia Gallimore

 

Rose Trevelyan, artist and photographer, is asked by Gabrielle Milton, relative newcomer to the area,  to take some photographs of her house for Christmas cards.  Rose meets and likes Gabrielle, so happily accepts her invitations to a party Gabrielle is holding the following week.

 

At the party Rose meets Gabrielle’s husband Dennis, who works in London and only returns to Cornwall at weekends. She also meets Gabrielle’s son Paul and his fiance Anna.  The party is well attended with some 40 guests, and the wine and conversation flows with ease. Rose has asked her old friend Barry Rowe to escort her to the party.   However, when Rose finds Gabrielle’s lifeless body underneath her bedroom balcony the party comes to an abrupt end.

 

There are many suspects. Eileen is an extremely jealous woman, convinced that her handsome husband is having affairs with every pretty woman he meets, and he has been doing some work for Gabrielle; and of course the husband of the victim is always the first to come under suspicion. And who is Maggie?  Then there is the fact that Gabrielle is wealthy and her family are to an extent reliant on her for money - so who inherits?  This has all those elements of mystery  that keep a reader turning a page, or in this case inserting a cassette.

 

I have read several books in the Rose Trevelyan series but surmise that this is an early episode in the series, as it is in this book that Rose meets DI Jack Pierce who is in charge of the investigation into Gabrielle’s death.  Still grieving over the loss of her husband David some four years earlier, Rose is taken by surprise by her attraction to Jack Pierce. The possible chance of a relationship with someone other than her dearly beloved departed husband is handled credibly and with great sensitivity as Rose realises that she cannot replace her husband,  but maybe, just maybe could have an entirely different but rewarding relationship with someone else,

 

Patricia Gallimore is a marvellous Rose, and she brings Rose’s friend Laura to life for me. Very enjoyable narration..

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Lizzie Hayes