DCI John Handford is investigating the disappearance of Bronwyn Price. Her stepfather David Younger is the prime suspect, but to date the police have not found a body, and have no concrete evidence against David Younger.
DCI John Handford is investigating the disappearance of Bronwyn Price. Her stepfather David Younger is the prime suspect, but to date the police have not found a body, and have no concrete evidence against David Younger.
John Handford is not a happy man, his investigation isn’t making progress, his wife Gill is still in the USA teaching, and his mother has kindly stepped in to take care of the house and children whilst Gill is away – A mixed blessing. The only upside is the excellent meals he is getting – nothing like a mother’s cooking. But to add to his misery is the re-investigation of the alleged rape of Josie Renshaw. Advances in forensic technology had resulted in the re-opening of past cases one of these being the alleged rape of Josie Renshaw, who committed suicide 30 years ago. DCI John Handford was 17 at the time and his brother Douglas asked him to give him an alibi, which John did. Now that action comes back to haunt him, as the rape of Josie Renshaw is re-opened.
When Christine Blakely reports to the police that her husband Tom is missing, the matter is not taken too seriously for her husband ex-policeman Tom is a known womaniser and has frequently gone AWOL when pursuing a new love. But Christine tells John Handford this time it’s different, but she doesn’t mention that someone is watching the house.
There are many threads in this story, each one fascinating and portraying the fallibility of human nature – how the best of people can be drawn into doing the wrong thing.
The story is told from multiple points of view that of DCI John Handford, Douglas Handford, Christine Blakely and David Younger. A story that communicates the complexity of our lives, the deeper mess we can get into when we try to extricate ourselves from a mess. And above all the fallibility of the human being.
Very highly recommended. I couldn’t put it down.
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Lizzie Hayes