Judith Cutler has always written interesting stories and Life Sentence is no exception. This is a novel with two separate themes which work in tandem together. Detective Chief Superintendent Frances Harman is a senior officer in the Kent Constabulary. More concerned now with strategy and administration, it has been some time since she did any routine detection. Her home life is also becoming a burden, with her aging parents taking up even more of her time and a home life that has left her on the verge of a breakdown Harman reluctantly makes the decision to resign and to end her highflying career.
Unwilling to let her go, the ACC Mark Turner (also her lover) gives her a cold case to concentrate on instead. The case involves a woman still in hospital two years after being found battered and raped, the only clue that they have is the name Elise. Her only visitor is the man that found her. Is he a suspect? With the addition of a child abduction case making matters worse it is only with the support and encouragement of her lover that Harman is able resolve this complex case.
Part of this story is about how Harman deals with her own personal dilemma and Judith Cutler has dealt with this in an insightful and sensitive way. The fact that both the issue of persistent vegetative state and the increasing number of geriatric patients is a topical subject goes to show how consistent crime writers are in general about dealing with everyday issues.
Life Sentence is ably read by Diana Bishop and readers will be drawn to this compassionate and multifaceted mystery.
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Ayo Onatade