Long Farndon has a new vicar, the Rev. Brian Rollinson. All the village are keen to meet him, and see what changes he will make. The first one is the appointment of Sandy Mackerras, as the new choir master. Sandy is Rev Rollinson’s god-son and rather attractive to the girls. Lois Meade, owner and proprietor of New Brooms, is one of the first to meet Brian Rollinson when she meets to arrange for the cleaning of the Vicarage.
Lois lives with husband Derek, her mother (Gran) and her son Jamie, currently the only child still living at home. Being interested in detection, Lois used to pass on information to Chief inspector Hunter Cowgill, but has not been in touch with him for several years. So she is surprised when her contacts her and asks her to keep and eye and ear out for any information relating to some unpleasant events that have been taking place in and around Lon Farndon, and the nearby town of Thresham.
Local girl Sharon Miller, who works in the village shop is very smitten with Sandy MacKerras, but he is rather taken with Rebecca, the teacher partner of Bill one of Lois cleaning operatives. And ‘up at the Hall’ we have Mrs Tollervey-Jones, choir member - always keen to get her own way. Indeed all the elements that make village life so interesting.
As Lois picks up a bit of information here and there she is disturbed to hear the name Annabelle crop up, not only because Annabelle is the granddaughter of Mrs Tollervey-Jones but because her son Jamie has being seeing Annabelle.
Then there is an unexpected death, and more unsettling incidents, and Lois begins to suspect that there is something serious going on in the normally quiet uneventful village of Long Farndon.
A superb reading by the talented Anne Cater, who portrayed the brisk, businesslike,
and kind Lois Mead wonderfully. Her Sharon Miller was incredibly good, I could
really see the girl. And she also managed believable voices for the male characters,
not always easy -I liked her old Cyril. Really enjoyable listening.
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Lizzie Hayes
Ann Purser has written three previous crime stories featuring Lois Meade; Murder
on Monday, Terror on Tuesday, and Weeping on Wednesday.