Sir Digby Kirtling is a self-made millionaire with grand ideas. After installing himself in his newly renovated manor he commissions an artist to make a copy of a impressionist painting replacing the figures with himself and his employees. At a party to celebrate the unveiling of the painting, the body of Una May, his estate manager is found dead in the grounds. Sukey Reynolds is called in as the Crime Scene Investigator.
Detective Inspector Jim Castle is the investigating officer and suspicion falls very quickly on Sir Digby, when it transpires that Sir Digby was having an affair with Una May, who is found at the post-mortem to be pregnant. But it looks as though Una May is not Sir Digby’s only dalliance, when Sir Digby’s housekeeper begs Sukey to help prove her lovers innocence.
Sukey finds herself reluctantly drawn into matters she would prefer to remain out of, not least because Jim Castle takes a dim view when Sukey pokes her nose into his investigations. And Sukey is feeling rather insecure in their clandestine relationship at the present time owing to Jim’s constant praising of his new DS, who is rather gorgeous.
When a second murder occurs suspicion again falls on Sir Digby, but Sukey has doubts and does a little investigating of her own, which puts her in grave danger.
A good mystery with a good twist, but I did spot the killer, reasonably early on, but not with any real evidence, so it was probably more luck than judgement.
Julia Franklin is one of my favourite readers, and she did full justice to Sukey and all the characters in this book.
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Lizzie Hayes