Half Light

by Frances Hegarty

The finest medical gauze, sharp instruments for delicate probing, linseed oil...these were a few of the tools of Elisabeth Young's trade. A restorer of paintings, she delighted in her to clean, patch, fill in, and revarnish until the work gave up its secrets and glowed in its original glory. Alone in her London flat, Elisabeth savored the tranquility demanded by both her craft and her soul...a gently guarded peace shared solely with her latest lover, Francis Thurloe. Amiable, patrician, unconscious of his assumption that adoration was his birthright, the handsome barrister felt thwarted by Elisabeth's baffling mix of sensual generosity and emotional reserve. She did not confront, demand, or whine...nor did she confide her mounting anxiety over the suspicion that she was being followed wherever she went. And when she accepted an offer to restore a wealthy collector's paintings, stored in his cavernous mansion flat, no one knew that Elisabeth Young was about to disappear...
When the police find her car abandoned, and her flat tidy, with trash put out, their interest woman picked up and left, as single women do....no family, no close friends, not to worry, she'll turn up. But Francis, worried, begins a search that leads him to Annie Macalpine, an antiques dealer whose spiked-hair, lowbrow stance hides the bravest and hungriest of hearts...Enid Daley, Elisabeth's self-appointed concierge, whose jealousy of her winsome, serene neighbor curdles with venom...Thomas Milton, a patron of the arts whose private demons have forged a brutal sense of entitlement...Maria Milton, his sister, grotesque in form and speech, but solaced by severe religious rituals...Butler, Thomas's companion, ferociously loyal and trained to attack without mercy.
As a madman's vise tightens around the trapped Elisabeth, Francis and Annie hunt frantically for his elegant prison, where beautiful works of art are coaxed to life...only to be savagely destroyed....

Genres: Mystery, Crime

278 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Frances Hegarty is the real name of Frances Fyfield; a criminal lawyer, an occupation on which she bases many of her novels. She divides her time between London and Deal, and has won several awards, notably the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger.

Reviews

[P.R. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately I simply haven't been able to cope with this, despite having enjoyed many Frances Fyfield books in the past. This is laboured, gloomy and verbose. Life is too short.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book that made me actually contribute to Goodreads. Fantastically written is the main reason for reading this book , though the story and character of Elizabeth is complex yet believable.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This so perfectly fitted the bill to match the mood of a short story I'm attempting to write. Not for the first time do I learn from Frances Fyfield's ability to beautifully craft a tale of tension and interesting, eccentric characters, while being simultaneously well-entertained.

[Maya Morikawa · Rating 2 out of 5]

No

Not for me,a very disturbing book,so I guess well done.
But I never want to read another like it.Managed to finish it but never enjoyed it.

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well I finished it so that's something. I found it difficult to read though and didn't enjoy it at all. I found the writing stilted - there were whole sentences I didn't understand - not the words but the meaning behind the words, the intent if you like. Maybe it was because I wasn't engaged. Thinking about the plot, it certainly held promise but failed to deliver.

[Cat. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book with a totally surprising denouement. This is Frances Fyfield under another name but not a series character. About an art restorer who "disappears," only she knows where she is and who she's with. It's all very sinister & creepy, but wonderfully deep and thoughtful, about people's needs and wants, surfaces & depths....

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had trouble getting into this book at the beginning, due to the author's writing style; some of the phrasing felt very cumbersome. I persevered, however, and was eventually able to get past it and start diving into the story. Overall it was an interesting mystery, although I'm not sure that I actually liked any of the characters, and I found the ending to be slightly confusing and unsatisfying.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been years I' ve read this book. In fact I only remember I liked it very much. Should reread it!!