Cruel Justice

DI Lorne Simpkins and DS Pete Childs have been called out to some woods where the headless corpse of a woman has been found.  The pathologist is sure the woman has been dead for a month.  Due to the viciousness of the murder, Simpkins is sure that they haven't heard the last of this killer.

A few days later a young woman goes missing in the same woods that the body was found.  Within a day after that the twin sister of the murder victim is brutally murdered while Simpkins is on the phone with her.  It appears that this time there might be trace evidence pointing to the killer.  Shortly after that, the young woman's body turns up, in gruesome circumstances.

The following morning a package arrives addressed to Simpkins.  She is shocked to find that it contains the head of the first victim.   Is the killer taunting her?   A few hours later the killer calls.  He has another victim.   Will Simpkins and her team be able to catch him before he kills again?

Author M. A. Comley has provided the reader with an intense murder mystery in the first of the "Cruel Justice" series.  I look forward to the sequels.

The Crown in the Heather

In the early 14th century Scotland is without a king.  Robert Bruce wants to be that king, yet King Edward of England doesn't want that to happen.  He wants Scotland to be a vassal state of England.  Because of Edward, Bruce does not become king, rather that honour goes to a Balliol.

The Scottish nobles are in disagreement about who should be their king.  William Stewart and Bruce agree to provide their children as hostages to Edward in order to prevent the English from attacking Scotland.  Meantime, William Wallace does battle with the English.  When Wallace loses a major battle, many Scottish nobles turn their backs on him.  Bruce, in turn, turns his back on the Scottish nobility.  He plans on protecting his own land.

However, it is for the love of a woman that The Bruce is prepared to kneel before Edward.  By swearing fealty to Edward, he hopes to both gain the crown of Scotland and the hand of the woman he loves.  However, it is a traitor that truly hands the crown of Scotland to Robert Bruce.

For all that, King Edward would not stand idly by.  He sends an army north.  English treachery would almost destroy Bruce and his army, and Scottish families turning one one upon another would almost be the end of his dream, but he would persevere.  I look forward to reading the next two books in this Bruce trilogy by author N. Gemini Sasson.

The Arnifour Affair

Colin Pendragon has been requested by Lady Arnifour to investigate the bludgeoning of her husband and niece, which has left him dead and her in a coma.  Attending the Arnifour home, and the scene of the crime, Pendragon finds that he really isn't getting much in the way of cooperation.

Ethan Pruitt, Pendragon's partner, takes on the case of a young, poor lad whose sister has gone missing.  However, Pruitt is unsure if the lad is just what he appears to be.  Pendragon agrees.  He sees some form of deception in both cases, but is unsure just what they are.

Things change when the niece dies and one of the best suspects disappears.  The pair also finds out that young girls are being smuggled out of the country.  Two families who are fated to twist themselves into terrible knots in this Victorian murder mystery by Gregory Harris.  A fair, quick read.

The Amber Treasure

This is the first in a swerve of historical novels by author Richard Dunning, and is set in the fourth century.  The Angles have only been in Britannia for a short time, and must fight to maintain their foothold.

When Cerdic begins to narrate the story, he is a young lad.  He has just become old enough to learn the trade of a warrior.  Along with his friends Eduard and Cuthbert he becomes skilled at weaponry.  And against the rules, he trains a slave his age, Aedann, in the same skills.  It is while training with members of the community that Cerdic learns that he has a half brother, who hates his guts.

Cerdic's youth comes to an end when he is forced to fight to protect his family and land.  Enemies from the west have raided, and Cerdic's brother was killed in the action and his sister taken away. Also taken was his mother's prized amber jewelry. Cerdic vows vengeance.

Despite setbacks, the Angles prepare to fight a mighty army that could thrust them into the sea.   A great battle ensues northwest of modern day York, which would establish the future of the English.

An excellent historical novel set in an area my own ancestors came from.  As I read it, I was imagining the modern day settings of the places named in the novel.  Travel now is much faster by car than it was 1 500 years ago when warriors had to walk.   A thoroughly enjoyable read that went by too quickly.  I am looking forward to reading the next in the series: Child of Loki.

Blood Brothers

DS Harry Barnard and DCI Keith Jackson have been called to a building site in London where a body has been found.  It was left there in anticipation of it being buried under tons of concrete.

Barnard's friend, Kate O'Donnell, is having difficulties getting much opportunity in a man's world, so she is happy when a crime reporter with The Globe offers her the opportunity to take photos on a job he is investigating.  Meanwhile, Barnhard has DS Copeland forced on him because the powers that be believe there is corruption amongst the police in Soho.  Copeland's task is also to find dirt on Barnhard.

As things progress, Kate gathers some photos which could put Barnhard's career on the line.  Witnesses, who are supposed to help Barnhard in another case seem to be disappearing.  How is he going to protect himself and keep himself from going down?

Author Patricia Hall has written a fast paced murder mystery of the underworld of London in the sixties.  It is a very good, quick read that is hard to put down.

A Grave in the Cotswolds

Drew Slocombe has just buried a woman in a field according to her wishes.  The following day he is accosted by a member of the local council saying that he had no right to do the burial there.  When later in the day, the councillor is found dead, Slocombe becomes a prime suspect.

Slocombe is shocked to learn that the aforementioned woman had left him her house, on the condition that he live in it and turn the property she was buried in, into a natural graveyard.  It is enough for the police to charge him with the murder of the councillor.  On top of that, the wife of the victim is talking about him back in the community where the murder occurred.

Thea Osbourne, who was house sitting for woman, becomes entangled in the story and through her connections with the police helps to untangle this murder mystery.  Author Rebecca Tope has provided the reader with a quick read, and a surprising murderer that isn't revealed until almost the last page.

Death's Door

DI Peter Shaw and DS George Valentine are investigating an apparent suicide.  The husband has been notified, but the daughter is missing.  However, they also have an 18 year old cold case also just placed on their plate.  They are surprised to find that the suicide victim has a connection to the cold case.

The pathologist finds the remains of a cyanide capsule in the victim's mouth.  Was it really suicide or had she been forced to take it?  Further details suggest that she was forced to bite down on the cyanide capsule.

Could DNA evidence point out the culprit in the cold case?  Yet, none of the samples match.  Shaw is left wondering what his next step is going to be.  His thoughts change when the victim of an apparent gas explosion in his house is found to have cyanide in his system.

Author Jim Kelly establishes links for his detectives to follow, but shortly afterwards breaks those links, creating a great puzzle.  In doing so, he has created a true puzzle for the reader, leaving the truth to the last pages of this murder mystery.  A very good read, difficult to put down.