Canadian journalist Kate Murray met Andrew Deacon only once, on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral while waiting for the jury at the Old Bailey to bring in a verdict in the trial of a Winnipeg dentist
accused of serial murder. Kate didn’t normally cover crime, being a business reporter, but she had been conveniently in the near vicinity having finished her assignment in Paris. Engrossed in her report, she was only vaguely aware of Andrew Deacon saying that he could tell her a story about an old murder, one that still deserved justice. Gaining no attention from her he handed her a card, and as a parting
remark asked her to say hello to her grandmother for him. Then before she can challenge him he is gone, and as she watches he is knocked down and killed by a speeding car.
The following Friday, Kate travels down to Kent to stay at the home of Patrick Damien-Pryce, a rising young star in the criminal courts, who Kate is using to meet the politician Venetia Radburn, his aunt. Venetia does not give interviews to journalists. On the way back, being in relatively close proximity, she detours and visits the village of Elderwel, where the funeral of Andrew Deacon is being held. Here she encounters his nephew, James Cavender, who says “my uncle gave you everything; I’ve nothing left to add,” and walks away from her. Later, however, James seeks Kate out.
When Kate rings home she mentions Andrew Deacon to Grandma Murray and is intrigued by her reaction. So much so that she determines to find out more about Andrew if she can. But soon another death closes her line of information and the arrival of Sergeant Robert Metcalf spouting the Official Secrets Act does nothing to stifle her interest.
Returning home to Canada, Kate talks to her usually reticent grandmother about the deaths and Grandma really opens up about her time during the war, when she worked for Sir William Stephenson.
The sense of atmosphere in the flashbacks was handled well. The characterisation and style of language transported me to a another era. Written in the first person, this is a wonderful debut thriller - I say a thriller but it is also a love story, and a very touching, sort of ‘Brief Encounter’ type story, that has one in tears. Really highly recommended..
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Lizzie Hayes
Emma Cole is the thriller-writer alias of Canadian novelist Susanna Kearsley, whose previous novels are The Shadowy Horses, The Splendour Falls and Mariana.