The discovery of the body of a woman in the flooded waters of what was normally a trickle known as the river Kyne, poses a problem for Detective Superintendent Gil Mayo, as no one has been reported missing.
George Atkins recently retired from the police has opened his own PI business, but his daughter Cleo just returned from University is restless and reticent. Keen on establishing her independence Cleo moves into her late Aunt Phoebe's home, but something is not quite right. To tide her over whilst she decides what she wants to do and to pay her rent she takes a job cleaning for Maid to Order. Unwittingly this places her in possession of a piece of information.
After three years working as a geophysicist in a research unit on the Polar Ice Cap, Sam has returned to 16 Kelsey Rd, home of his Aunt Dorrie to find that she is being pressured by the bursar of Lavenstock College to sell her home to make way for a new entrance for the school.
When the bursar of the school is found murdered, Gil Mayo and his assistant Inspector Abigail Moon find themselves rich with suspects. John Riach, assistant bursar who expected to become bursar last time the job came vacant, will he this time?. Aunt Dorrie, is she as mildly eccentric as appears? Hannah Wetherby, is she an abused wife?.
This is Majories Eccles best book to date. Her characterisation is marvellous, and I wanted to follow all the lives of her characters. Eileen Totterbridge, who cleans for Aunt Dorrie, and poor intimidated Vera Bysouth of Covert Farm. Sweet old Mrs Osbourne who used to own the farm and now lives in a cottage nearby. And Tone, who Cleo meets whilst working for Maid to Order.
Although I did identify the corpse early on, I was perplexed to the end as
to who and why. A complex and fascinating mystery whose strength lies in the
study of human nature which is something at which Ms Eccles is a past master.
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Lizzie Hayes
Marjorie Eccles is the author of thirteen books featuring Chief Inspector Gil
Mayo.