A Pretty Place for a Murder

Douglas Roper #5

by Roy Hart

A Lovely Corpse

Vera Jackman was a lively young woman -- daring enough to pose nude for a local artist, ambitious enough to have big plans for leaving the quaint village of Cort Abbas. Then her plans -- and her life -- came to a violent end.

But Vera carried a secret to her grave: she was pregnant. She also had a lot of cash stashed away, much more than a barmaid could possibly earn.

The convenient suicide of a local lad and his note confessing to the crime all but closes the case. Yet Superintendent Roper believes something dark and dirty lurks beneath the tidy surface -- and Cort Abbas is too small to hide a murderer for long.

Genres: Mystery

253 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pretty Place for A Murder is a book I picked up because my local used book shop was culling mysteries, so I found it in the culled books. I have never heard of Roy Hart or his sleuth, Superintendent Roper, but I am really impressed. Set in the “pretty” village of Cort Abbas, which the local heirs to the manse are turning into an attraction for artistic types, there is a lovely, engrossing sense of place and village life in the late 70s, This is not a thriller, it is a solid police procedural with attention to the details. The driving strength is definitely in the characterizations, From Jollyboy, the local copper to Roper the Superintendent brought in on the murder investigation, the main characters are all very well drawn. These are not cardboard cutout characters, there is depth and interest built into each one. I’d highly recommend for fans of P.D. James or if you like police procedurals. I’ve already put the first in this series on hold at my library.

[Kitty Tomlinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

While investigating the murder of a young barmaid, Vera Jackman, in the village of Cort Abas, Roper becomes entangled in a web of gossip, facts, and lies until an apparent suicide accompanied by a written confession arouses his suspicion. Good read.

[Elizabeth Butler]

boring

[Keith Rhoden Jr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another satisfying Roper mystery with plenty of clues, lies, twists and red herrings. A fun, very British series 💜

[Linda Underwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspector Roper series. Two murders involving an artist's commune. Like this series.