'Dead Centre’ by Claire Lorrimer
Published by Soundings Audio Books.
ISBN: 1-84559-470-3  (5 Cassettes)
Read by Christopher Scott

Talented, beautiful, young, and super- rich twins, Poppy and Rose reside in an apartment of a hotel next to the golf course in Sussex. They are officially students at the local university, but, as keen golfers, who spend most of their free time practicing their handicap, it beats student accommodation. Their affluent parents, who spend their lives mostly abroad, have indulged their twin daughters with a luxury apartment and a generous allowance, so they can enjoy university life to the full.

Is idyllic lifestyle, however, is brought to a sharp halt late one evening, after a golf dance, when Poppy leaves early intending to walk the short distance home, alone. She is followed, and attacked on the dark path from the club to her home.

Her sister Rose, as a true twin would, suspects something is wrong and leaves shortly after Poppy. She finds her fighting off the attacker. Rose quickly goes to her sister’s aid, and accidentally kills the man. The twins leave him there, as they are too afraid of the consequences to own up to the truth.

The club secretary, who is infatuated with the club owner, and knows that a death on his property could bring ruin to his business, finds the body, and suggests they cover up the death by moving the corpse to the main road, thus making it look like a hit and run accident.

Then Betty, a wife of a golf club member, overhears the girls discussing how the dead man was discovered somewhere else. Betty tells her husband, Barry, suggesting she should go to the police and inform them of the overheard conversation. But Barry has other ideas, he is in debt, and aware the twins come from rich parents, he sees an opportunity for blackmail. Then Betty is killed; and then Barry.

Rose’s love life is now going very wrong as she has changed from her natural carefree self to someone carrying a guilty secret.

Two further murders follow before all is finally resolved.  This is an entertaining and light crime story. I enjoyed it very much. The characters were richly drawn and fun. Even if the odd forensic mistake was dotted in the book, it made not the slightest difference to the entertainment value. The book is pure escapism and if that’s what you enjoy, then this story comes highly recommended.
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Linda Regan