Chef Superintendent Frances Harman postpones her retirement to cover for a sick colleague investigating a series of sexual assaults in the Kent area. While pursuing her enquiries, she herself becomes the victim of a ‘happy-slapping’ crime.
Following her assault, Fran agrees to give an interview to highlight the escalating problem of ‘happy slappings’. Her interviewer is local journalist Dilly Pound, who after the interview asks Fran if she fancies a drink. It immediately becomes apparent that Dilly has an ulterior motive – she is being stalked. Digging back into Dilly’s life produces some suspect previous lovers.
DCI Jill Tanner, who has the day-to-day handling of the assault cases, seems to have personal problems but becomes prickly when asked, and will not confide even in Fran who is a friend as well as a colleague.
Fran is still in the early stages of a new relationship with her lover Assistant Chief Constable Mark Turner. There is much in the book about new love and no longer being in the first flush. Interestingly, it appears that one is just as insecure about a relationship even when one is older, and supposedly wiser.
Very much a novel of today dealing with the frightening new style crimes that seem currently to be always in the news, and the stresses that are placed on family life.
Good mystery, and character development. A very enjoyable book..
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Lizzie Hayes
Judith writes several series - she has ten books about amateur detective Sophie Rivers, all with Dying as the first word of the title; the last to be published was Dying to Deceive in 2003. Her second series concerns Detective Sergeant Kate Power and there are six books all with Power in the title - the last to be published was Power Shift, also in 2003. The first novel in a series featuring Caffy Tyler was published in 2004. Most recent is the series featuring pub/restaurant owner Josie Wells.