Witness Before the Fact

Police Chief Raposo #2

by E.X. Ferrars

"You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs." It was the fact that Alec Methven had apparently done so that first makes the police suspicious on the island of Madeira. Despite all indications to the contrary, he had not eaten his last meal in solitude, and someone is desperate to conceal that fact. Friends, neighbors with motives and an inexplicable second killing only complicate matters for Peter Corey as he keeps asking awkward questions.

Genres: Mystery

184 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Aka Elizabeth Ferrars

Elizabeth Ferrars is a pseudonym of Morna Doris MacTaggart Brown. She was born in Rangoon, Burma.

Reviews

[Bob]

The end unfortunately doesn't quite mirror the cleanly told engaging lead-up, but there's enough here to recommend this story of a children's book author who visits Portugal at the behest of his illustrator/ex-lover to check up on her ex-husband (aka the guy whose marriage our protagonist probably helped ruin 15 years ago). There are plenty of Ferrars hallmarks here and no shortage of potential murderers and/or blackmailers, and the adventures of Edward the Otter (the children's book protagonist) are kind of fun.

[Dianne]

Thinly written mystery in the “puzzle with modest romance” genre. We do not become very involved with the characters, and the plot is not particularly engaging. Better than emphasis on blood and gore, but the sort of works one forgets as soon as the book is set down.

[Les Wilson]

Very enjoyable. A read in one session if you have the time