Ten Lords A-Leaping

Father Tom Christmas has unfortunately sprained his ankle after jumping out of an airplane as part of a fundraiser for his church's new roof.  Lady Fairhaven has offered to host him and his daughter for the weekend while he recovers.  He questions his decision to stay once he sees the animosity between various members of the family.

The following morning while exploring the labyrinth for a bit of peace and reflection, Tom come across the body of Lord Morborne.  He has been strangled.  Awaiting the police, Tom notices marks on the bodies of various guests at the house, which point to their possible transit through the branches of the labyrinth.  However, when the police question everyone, they all seem to have plausible excuses and a potential witness to their whereabouts.

A day later, one of the possible suspects is found murdered in his workshop.  Why would this person be killed when the police had him in their sights?  Author C. C. Benison then offers up more potential suspects, and provides a surprising conclusion.  A good, quick read.

Dying in the Dark

A woman has been brutally murdered along the towpath in Whitebridge on an autumn evening.  Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend and his team of DS Monica Paniatowski and DI Bob Rutter have commenced the investigation .  The following morning the woman is identified when she doesn't show up for work.

Rutter and his wife, Maria, have been having marriage difficulties recently, and that evening Maria has asked Charlie to come and chat.  Unfortunately when he arrives, the house explodes.  Maria is killed and Bob has been taken in for questioning.  As much as Charlie wants to prove Bob innocent, he is not going to be allowed to.  But, when was the last time Charlie did as he was told?

Monika discovers a diary in the flat of the first victim.  A clue jumps out at her, which put together with something that Charlie discovers points to a connection between the two victims.  How will they gather enough evidence to prove Bob innocent?  Then their theory seems to have been tossed out the window.  Author Sally Spencer has a huge surprise in store for the reader.  This was a book I couldn't put down, reading it from cover to cover non stop.

Eve of Destruction

Harry Devlin's latest case is intriguing him more and more.  A client has come to him requesting information about a divorce.  He had tapped his home phone and discovered that his wife is having an affair.  Harry is sure that he recognises the man's voice, but who is it?  Also, who is calling, but not talking?

Later Harry realises that the voice is that of a man who had spoken to him about headhunting.  He returns the call and speaks to the partner of the firm who turns out to be the wife of the headhunter.

As the tapes progress, the wife of Harry's client suggests murdering her husband to her lover.  Harry wonders if this could possibly be related to his client's recent food poisoning.  Later, the client's wife, her lover and his nanny are found murdered in his home.  Harry spends some time with his client, gathering material just in case he is charged with the murders.

Author Martin Edwards offers up four possible suspects for the killings.  First and foremost, the cuckolded husband. Secondly, the wife of the lover.  Third, the brother of  Harry's client, and lastly the former husband of the client's wife.  I was quite surprised at the ending of this murder mystery.  A very intriguing conclusion and a good read.

The Poisoned Crown

Clemence of Hungary is finally on her way from Naples to France to marry Louis X.  The trip is a treacherous one as her ship is battered by a storm and it constantly rains while she is on the road.  Meantime Louis prepares to attack his subjects to the north of Paris in Flanders, who refuse to submit to his rule.  Unfortunately rains prevent any battles.

The marriage of Louis and Clemence is a rushed affair so that he can have her as his Queen when he is coronated in Rheims shortly afterwards.  Now, due to the scheming of Robert of Artois, France is on the verge of civil war.  Louis must arbitrate.

At this time, Clemence learns of how Louis's first wife died.  She wants him to go on a pilgrimage with her to beg forgiveness.  After the pilgrimage to Amiens, the hope is that the queen will become pregnant.  Will the comet seen in the night sky augur well for the pair?  Or does it have other serious portents?

Once again author Maurice Druon has made historical fiction real.  His novel brings to life the royal family of France.  The trials and tribulations of Louis X are presented in a fascinating manner.   Well researched and documented.  A very good read.

Shadows of Sounds

DCI Lorimer has been called out to the Glasgow Symohony Orchestra where the body of the orchestra leader has been found in his changing room with his head bashed in, just prior to what was supposed to be a performance of the symphony.

The victim had plenty of homosexual connections within the orchestra.  Could one of them be the killer?  And why had the victim's bow been wiped clean?  The shocker comes when a newspaper article reveals that the victim was a cocaine user and seller of stolen instruments.

It isn't long after this that another musician's body is found in the basement of the music hall.  Then the case goes quiet.  But not Lorimer's life.  His superintendent collapses at work, and Lorimer is appointed acting superintendent.   The case drags on, so Lorimer is forced to ask for DNA samples from all members of the orchestra.

Author Alex Gray has a few surprises up her sleeve leading to the final conclusion of this murder mystery.  A good quick read.

The Seventh Trumpet

Tola has found the body of a young nobleman on his property.  He immediately goes to Cashel to get a Brehon.  Fidelma takes Eadulf to help her investigate.  If this nobleman is a member of a royal family, it could spell trouble.  Part of an envoy's wand is found with the body, ensuring a royal connection.  They take the body to a nearby church for burial.  However, the priest is not there, but at a nearby tavern.  He is falling down drunk when Fidelma's group arrives.  He passes out moments later, and is put to bed.

While discussing the case, a cousin of the priest arrives.  He asks to see him and is directed to the cottage where the priest was put to sleep it off.  A short time later the cousin returns to the tavern proclaiming that his cousin is dead.  Eadulf determines that the priest has been murdered.  The cousin is regarded as a potential suspect, but he escapes custody.  The chase is on.

On the trip following the escapee, Fidelma is kidnapped.  Eadulf and Gorman, one of the king's bodyguards go in pursuit.  Fortunately they do find, Fidelma, but she is near death.  Can Eadulf save her?  The team continue their search eastward and come upon a newly built fortress.  How did it come to be built without the knowledge and permission of Fidelma's brother?  Have they come upon a rebellion in the offing?

Author Peter Tremayne picks up the pace of this mystery at this point.  Can Fidelma solve this case before more trouble brews for her brother, the king?  Or will he have to fight his way through a mess?  Another excellent medieval thriller in this series by Tremayne.  A very good read.

The Nine Giants

Nicholas Bracewell has just learned that his theatrical company, Westfield's Men might lose the place their theatrical performances are put on.  The owner of The Queen's Head has been made a generous offer for the place.  While returning home, Bracewell and his ferryman encounter a body in the Thames.  As usual, the group's leading actor, Firethorn, has become enamoured of a female member of the audience.  What do all these things portend for Westfield's Men?

The house Bracewell is living in is torched.  Fortunately all inside are saved, as is the house due to the fast action of Bracewell and neighbours to put the fire out.  Bracewell is sure that the attack was meant for his landlady's apprentice, Hans.  He had been beaten earlier.  But why? Another attempt is made on Bracewell's life, but he manages to escape amidst the market turmoil.

Surprises are in store for the theatrical group.  Author Edward Marston quickens the pace in the last third of this novel.  A quick, amusing read.