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Lydmouth #4
The Suffocating Night
When squatters move into a disused military camp near Lydmouth, public opinion is divided: do they have a genuine and desperate need of shelter or are they merely unpatriotic scroungers and Communist sympathisers? The controversy attracts the attention of Cameron Rowse, a right-wing London journalist.
There are other strangers in Lydmouth too, and each has his secret agenda. When a man is found murdered in the Bathurst Arms, Detective Inspector Richard Thornhill has no shortage of suspects. One of them is Philip Wemyss-Brown, editor of the Lydmouth Gazette—the friend and employer of Jill Francis.
Once again, Jill and Richard Thornhill pursue the same answers for conflicting reasons. This time, however, there is a difference. Thornhill and Jill have a second problem to solve. And this one is even harder, and far more personal.
There are other strangers in Lydmouth too, and each has his secret agenda. When a man is found murdered in the Bathurst Arms, Detective Inspector Richard Thornhill has no shortage of suspects. One of them is Philip Wemyss-Brown, editor of the Lydmouth Gazette—the friend and employer of Jill Francis.
Once again, Jill and Richard Thornhill pursue the same answers for conflicting reasons. This time, however, there is a difference. Thornhill and Jill have a second problem to solve. And this one is even harder, and far more personal.
372 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
88 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Taylor
61 books734 followersAndrew Taylor (b. 1951) is a British author of mysteries. Born in East Anglia, he attended university at Cambridge before getting an MA in library sciences from University College London. His first novel, Caroline Miniscule (1982), a modern-day treasure hunt starring history student William Dougal, began an eight-book series and won Taylor wide critical acclaim. He has written several other thriller series, most notably the eight Lydmouthbooks, which begin with An Air That Kills (1994).
His other novels include The Office of the Dead (2000) and The American Boy (2003), both of which won the Crime Writers’ Association of Britain’s Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award, making Taylor the only author to receive the prize twice. His Roth trilogy, which has been published in omnibus form as Requiem for an Angel (2002), was adapted by the UK’s ITV for its television show Fallen Angel. Taylor’s most recent novel is the historical thriller The Scent of Death (2013).
His other novels include The Office of the Dead (2000) and The American Boy (2003), both of which won the Crime Writers’ Association of Britain’s Ellis Peters Historical Dagger award, making Taylor the only author to receive the prize twice. His Roth trilogy, which has been published in omnibus form as Requiem for an Angel (2002), was adapted by the UK’s ITV for its television show Fallen Angel. Taylor’s most recent novel is the historical thriller The Scent of Death (2013).
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 5, 2017
I expected not to like this, the fourth book of the Lydmouth series, that much, as some reviewers on Amazon said this mystery was one of his weakest, but not so. A journalist goes out to Lydmouth to do a piece on a group of squatters who have taken over some area of the town (not sure exactly which area it was, to be honest)and after getting into trouble on various fronts, is killed by one of a long list of suspects, among them Jill Francis' friend and boss, Philip Wemyss-Brown.
A little aside: one of the things I love about Taylor is his martini dry sense of humor. The first paragraph reads thus: "Timing is all, Cameron Rowse used to say. Get the timing right, and who needs luck? On his trip to Lydmouth, his timing was apparently perfect. But Rowse was murdered a few hours after he arrived so perhaps luck has its uses after all." Then, at the beginning of chapter 5: "Cameron Rowse's evening continued on its steady course towards oblivion."
Okay, back to the matter at hand. Not only is there the Cameron Rowse murder to be solved, but also the years-back disappearance of a young girl, whose brokenhearted and influential parents are begging for closure. Eventually both mysteries are solved -- very satisfyingly, in my opinion. There is even a nice little twist at the end.
What I like about this particular book is that it is multi-faceted. There are recurring characters that I have the sense of knowing personally, and they all have that dimensionality (even the most unsympathetic ones) that Taylor does so well. There is the historical aspect; this was in the middle of the Korean war and the communist hysteria (easy to call it that in retrospect) and Taylor paints an even handed, accurate portrait of the differing points of view on the issue. (Are the squatters communists or decent people down on their luck? Predictably, POVs are shaded by prejudices on both sides). There is the "Brief Encounter" longing between Richard Thornhill and Jill Francis which is about to cross the divide between thought and action. It's just a very full, well rounded portrait of a town and its people.
And I really give kudos to Taylor for being unafraid to put himself in the head of "bad people". No black and white caricatures for him. Nor is he afraid to show "good people" being selfish or weak despite their best intentions.
Finally, as I said before, for me the mystery worked. So, quite satisfying.
A little aside: one of the things I love about Taylor is his martini dry sense of humor. The first paragraph reads thus: "Timing is all, Cameron Rowse used to say. Get the timing right, and who needs luck? On his trip to Lydmouth, his timing was apparently perfect. But Rowse was murdered a few hours after he arrived so perhaps luck has its uses after all." Then, at the beginning of chapter 5: "Cameron Rowse's evening continued on its steady course towards oblivion."
Okay, back to the matter at hand. Not only is there the Cameron Rowse murder to be solved, but also the years-back disappearance of a young girl, whose brokenhearted and influential parents are begging for closure. Eventually both mysteries are solved -- very satisfyingly, in my opinion. There is even a nice little twist at the end.
What I like about this particular book is that it is multi-faceted. There are recurring characters that I have the sense of knowing personally, and they all have that dimensionality (even the most unsympathetic ones) that Taylor does so well. There is the historical aspect; this was in the middle of the Korean war and the communist hysteria (easy to call it that in retrospect) and Taylor paints an even handed, accurate portrait of the differing points of view on the issue. (Are the squatters communists or decent people down on their luck? Predictably, POVs are shaded by prejudices on both sides). There is the "Brief Encounter" longing between Richard Thornhill and Jill Francis which is about to cross the divide between thought and action. It's just a very full, well rounded portrait of a town and its people.
And I really give kudos to Taylor for being unafraid to put himself in the head of "bad people". No black and white caricatures for him. Nor is he afraid to show "good people" being selfish or weak despite their best intentions.
Finally, as I said before, for me the mystery worked. So, quite satisfying.
January 16, 2024
A very different 'murder mystery' in its construct. There is a murder at its core, but the book is as much human drama as it is a whodunit. And most times, the former outweighs the latter, though not in a bad way. I quite liked the post WW2 set up, and the books give us a peek into small town Britain that is uneasy with the rise of Communism. Taylor is a good writer and the book has some sharp writing. Overall a book I would recommend, but with a caveat -- don't expect a pacy crime thriller, else you will be disappointed.
September 9, 2011
In the fourth installment in Andrew Taylor's Lydmouth series, the Korean War is raging, and the town is shadowed by the threats of Communism and nuclear war. Freelance journalist Cameron Rouse travels to town to write a story about homeless squatters who have taken over an abandoned military camp. Lydmouth's MP, Oliver Yately, visits in hope of stamping out the sparks of a sexual scandal. The police superintendent reopens a three year old cold case, the disappearance of a local teen. The local pub owner is dying of cancer, while his younger wife comes on to his customers. And the stage is set for murder.
DI Richard Thornhill undertakes the case in his usual painstaking way, and his investigation leads him to believe that the murder and the disappearance are somehow connected. The Suffocating Night is a fine police procedural, but on a deeper level, it's a novel about betrayals. In addition to work, the married-with-children Thornhill must grapple with a betrayal of his own, his growing attraction to local news woman Jill Francis. Both people of integrity, for them it's a painful struggle.
Taylor takes his readers into the minds and hearts of all the characters, and the events that transpire are beautifully plotted. The suffocating social mores of 1950's England inform the decisions and actions that each of them make. The outcome of the case comes as an unequivocal surprise, not only for the reader but for characters themselves. First rate fiction; can't wait to start the next in the series.
DI Richard Thornhill undertakes the case in his usual painstaking way, and his investigation leads him to believe that the murder and the disappearance are somehow connected. The Suffocating Night is a fine police procedural, but on a deeper level, it's a novel about betrayals. In addition to work, the married-with-children Thornhill must grapple with a betrayal of his own, his growing attraction to local news woman Jill Francis. Both people of integrity, for them it's a painful struggle.
Taylor takes his readers into the minds and hearts of all the characters, and the events that transpire are beautifully plotted. The suffocating social mores of 1950's England inform the decisions and actions that each of them make. The outcome of the case comes as an unequivocal surprise, not only for the reader but for characters themselves. First rate fiction; can't wait to start the next in the series.
September 20, 2024
The Lydmouth series just gets better and better, with The Suffocating Night being an absolute gem of a story. The characters have now, really came into their own, and I've warmed to them so much, it’s to the point of feeling like I'm now part of the Lydmouth community myself!
The recurring characters really have built up their own personalities over the course of the series, and I now look forward to seeing what they do and wait with excited anticipation to find out what their reactions are to the events that unfold in any of the given trials and tribulations that come their way and I genuinely care what happens to them, in both the short and long terms.
You know it's great writing, when it engenders such strong emotions and there would be plenty more throughout. I was only able to read one book this time, in between visits to the English town near the border with Wales, I really just couldn't stay away!
The book seems to have taken a pleasing leaf out of the wonderful 'Bernie Gunther' series, by Philip Kerr, in that it has real events buzzing away in the background, with some clever writing. Here we have the Korean War being utilised and strong hints of the Lydmouth Gazette's chief reporter and now officially, deputy editor, Jill Frances's old flame, Oliver Yateley, MP, being one of The Cambridge Five, or at least a Cambridge University alumni and communist spy of some capacity.
Jill Frances's boss at the Lydmouth Gazette and friend, Philip Wemyss-Brown, also, due to his involvement in the Spanish Civil War, is accused of having communist sympathies. This is all relevant, due to the army about to reoccupy a disused WWII army barracks close to Lydmouth, which is currently being squatted by local families, whom the council had evicted due to housing renovations and to which, Philip Wemyss-Brown and the Lydmouth Gazette, had justifiably given a sympathetic ear, much to the chagrin of the right wing national press and local bigots.
This is where our first victim enters the fray, highly repulsive and extremely unctuous, right wing journalist, Cameron Rowse. If ever I've wanted a character to get his comeuppance, it's this guy! He really was an arrogant, self righteous gammon and it was somewhat of a mystery how he had managed to remain unmurdered up until this point. He was so egregious and had pissed off so many people, there was a myriad of likely suspects, stretching round the block, but due to an excellent story and very clever writing, I hadn't guessed the actual culprit, almost till the reveal! Outstanding.
The end of the book also saw the thankful retirement of the extremely odious Superintendent, Raymond Williamson. This is the type of police officer who puts the c*nt in constable. Every bit as much a mindless bigot and right wing nut job as Cameron Rowse, but given the amount of power he wields, is much, much worse and many times more frightening. The perverse enjoyment he soaked up, while watching his officers beat up women and children during their eviction from the army base and his attitude and opinions generally, on the squatters and liberal POV's, made my toes curl and made me wish that he could somehow meet the same fate as Rowse! (Reading the synopsis of a later book in the series, I may just get my wish, **rubs hands together** muuhahaha!)
PC Porter has also really came into his own and is turning into a fantastic charchter. The subplots involving him were hilarious and when it was revealed that the ‘egg thief’ had 'peed in his thermos', like his fellow officers, I ended myself! Thankfully there was no one else in the room when I read that line, as my laughter would have rendered me looking somewhat insane, brilliant writing.
I'm ever so glad I decided to continue on in this series, after the disappointment of the first novel, because it really has blossomed into an outstanding read and I can't wait for the next one!
Mrs Nipper, Mrs Yipper, Mrs Slapper, Mrs Crapper!
The recurring characters really have built up their own personalities over the course of the series, and I now look forward to seeing what they do and wait with excited anticipation to find out what their reactions are to the events that unfold in any of the given trials and tribulations that come their way and I genuinely care what happens to them, in both the short and long terms.
You know it's great writing, when it engenders such strong emotions and there would be plenty more throughout. I was only able to read one book this time, in between visits to the English town near the border with Wales, I really just couldn't stay away!
The book seems to have taken a pleasing leaf out of the wonderful 'Bernie Gunther' series, by Philip Kerr, in that it has real events buzzing away in the background, with some clever writing. Here we have the Korean War being utilised and strong hints of the Lydmouth Gazette's chief reporter and now officially, deputy editor, Jill Frances's old flame, Oliver Yateley, MP, being one of The Cambridge Five, or at least a Cambridge University alumni and communist spy of some capacity.
Jill Frances's boss at the Lydmouth Gazette and friend, Philip Wemyss-Brown, also, due to his involvement in the Spanish Civil War, is accused of having communist sympathies. This is all relevant, due to the army about to reoccupy a disused WWII army barracks close to Lydmouth, which is currently being squatted by local families, whom the council had evicted due to housing renovations and to which, Philip Wemyss-Brown and the Lydmouth Gazette, had justifiably given a sympathetic ear, much to the chagrin of the right wing national press and local bigots.
This is where our first victim enters the fray, highly repulsive and extremely unctuous, right wing journalist, Cameron Rowse. If ever I've wanted a character to get his comeuppance, it's this guy! He really was an arrogant, self righteous gammon and it was somewhat of a mystery how he had managed to remain unmurdered up until this point. He was so egregious and had pissed off so many people, there was a myriad of likely suspects, stretching round the block, but due to an excellent story and very clever writing, I hadn't guessed the actual culprit, almost till the reveal! Outstanding.
The end of the book also saw the thankful retirement of the extremely odious Superintendent, Raymond Williamson. This is the type of police officer who puts the c*nt in constable. Every bit as much a mindless bigot and right wing nut job as Cameron Rowse, but given the amount of power he wields, is much, much worse and many times more frightening. The perverse enjoyment he soaked up, while watching his officers beat up women and children during their eviction from the army base and his attitude and opinions generally, on the squatters and liberal POV's, made my toes curl and made me wish that he could somehow meet the same fate as Rowse! (Reading the synopsis of a later book in the series, I may just get my wish, **rubs hands together** muuhahaha!)
PC Porter has also really came into his own and is turning into a fantastic charchter. The subplots involving him were hilarious and when it was revealed that the ‘egg thief’ had 'peed in his thermos', like his fellow officers, I ended myself! Thankfully there was no one else in the room when I read that line, as my laughter would have rendered me looking somewhat insane, brilliant writing.
I'm ever so glad I decided to continue on in this series, after the disappointment of the first novel, because it really has blossomed into an outstanding read and I can't wait for the next one!
Mrs Nipper, Mrs Yipper, Mrs Slapper, Mrs Crapper!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2023
A London reporter comes to Lydmouth, hoping to sell an article to one of the London papers about the families squatting in a disused army camp after they were evicted from their homes in the local slums. To their faces he is friendly and sympathetic but in reality he intends to slant his piece very firmly towards those who want to evict the families.
Against the backdrop of the war in Korea and the era of McCarthy, there is a fear/hatred of communism running through even small towns like Lydmouth.
When the reporter is found dead in his room at the Bathurst Arms there is a plethora of suspects. Could it be Jill Francis' boss and friend Philip Wemyss-Brown who 'fought' very briefly against Franco in the Spanish Civil War? Could it be one of the evictees, angry at the way they were portrayed and betrayed? Could it be the landlady of the Bathurst Arms who was seen getting very cosy with him in the bar after hours by her step-daughter?
Together and separately, Jill and DI Richard Thornhill investigate the murder, while Richard's wife's Uncle Bernie lobbies for the police to re-open the cold-case of a young teenager who went missing three years ago.
Against the backdrop of the war in Korea and the era of McCarthy, there is a fear/hatred of communism running through even small towns like Lydmouth.
When the reporter is found dead in his room at the Bathurst Arms there is a plethora of suspects. Could it be Jill Francis' boss and friend Philip Wemyss-Brown who 'fought' very briefly against Franco in the Spanish Civil War? Could it be one of the evictees, angry at the way they were portrayed and betrayed? Could it be the landlady of the Bathurst Arms who was seen getting very cosy with him in the bar after hours by her step-daughter?
Together and separately, Jill and DI Richard Thornhill investigate the murder, while Richard's wife's Uncle Bernie lobbies for the police to re-open the cold-case of a young teenager who went missing three years ago.
January 19, 2020
For me this was the best yet of what is an excellent series of novels. Taylor evokes the 1950s effortlessly and in Lydmouth has created a believable period setting. Some of the peripheral players like Quayle at the hotel have genuine depth and character. Charlotte is probably my favourite of the central characters: she is drawn very skilfully and consistently. There is a very real feeling that times were hard and attitudes different but ultimately human nature is human nature! The crime plot is, of course, to some extent ,incidental but it is well thought through and in Thornhill we have a detective with human flaws but a knack of coming up with the answers. His relationship with Jill Francis is being carefully developed over the series. Thankfully the crimes and motivations are grounded in reality and this together with very good pacing helps create a very satisfying read.
March 10, 2022
Definitely my favourite so far in this series - there are more humorous insights than previous books. Displaced villagers are squatting in an unused military facility near Lydmouth and a parasitic freelance journalist is causing trouble. The backdrop of the Korean War and the feelings of mistrust and suspicion about communists is set to inflame the situation. Meanwhile, the police are trying to close the cold case of a missing girl. This had the feel of a Hamish Macbeth novel - there was a clearly repellant victim with a long line of suspects who hated him. Andrew Taylor has a way of capturing the desperate pettiness of village life in 1950s UK and his motives for murder are often equally banal: surprisingly, the stakes are often not high at all. Audio narrator Philip Franks really outdoes himself on this performance, especially his rendering of the psychopathic mind of a killer.
November 13, 2022
This very atmospheric edition of the Lydmouth crime mysteries occurs while the Korean War builds up and Britain feels threatened by communists. DI Richard Thornhill has to investigate a murder at the Bathurst Arms so could do without his boss asking him to open up a cold case from 10 years earlier.
Journalist Jill Francis thought she had left her unfortunate past behind in London but when her ex-lover, Oliver, turns up, he wants Jill to help him deal with a blackmailer threatening both his marriage and his career. Lurking in the background is a very unpleasant man who is a danger to them all.
Jill may have expected Richard to think less of her once he knows the truth of her past, but it actually seems to bring them closer. A tense, seat of the pants story this time, which really gripped me.
Journalist Jill Francis thought she had left her unfortunate past behind in London but when her ex-lover, Oliver, turns up, he wants Jill to help him deal with a blackmailer threatening both his marriage and his career. Lurking in the background is a very unpleasant man who is a danger to them all.
Jill may have expected Richard to think less of her once he knows the truth of her past, but it actually seems to bring them closer. A tense, seat of the pants story this time, which really gripped me.
June 15, 2023
My first book by this author, superbly enjoyable. The writing induces envy. The ease with which all the subplots are woven together and the leisurely reveal of each incident keep one wanting more. It is much more than a murder mystery, for there is social commentary, small town life, postwar emotions, and so much more. The characters are all interesting, though not altogether likeable. I'll definitely pick up more of this series to meet these folks again.
December 24, 2023
The Suffocating Night
Another terrific detective story set in 1950's Lydmouth; Andrew Taylor is as reliable as ever in bringing the past to life and threading a murder mystery and a romance dancing alongside it.
I hate reaching the end of his books, but I can't resist reading them as fast as I can.
Another terrific detective story set in 1950's Lydmouth; Andrew Taylor is as reliable as ever in bringing the past to life and threading a murder mystery and a romance dancing alongside it.
I hate reaching the end of his books, but I can't resist reading them as fast as I can.
July 22, 2017
Det er interessant at følge livet i den engelske landsby Lydmouth og vi kommer tættere ind på livet af hovedpersonerne. Intriger, mord og kærlighed er naturligvis på dagsordenen. Jo, de englændere kan noget når det drejer sig om st skrive spændende tidstypiske krimier og romaner.
July 16, 2018
I really enjoyed this 4th episode in this crime series set in the 1950s. It's been a while since I read the previous one, will be cracking on with the rest of the series more quickly!
June 2, 2020
Another excellent book
This series of books are so enjoyable I can't stop reading them. So well written just as you would expect
This series of books are so enjoyable I can't stop reading them. So well written just as you would expect
April 12, 2021
Another excellent instalment in Andrew Taylor's Lynmouth series.
December 8, 2021
Well crafted
Best yet of the series. Good plot and story. Lots of different strands and developing characters. Captures the personalities and attitudes of the era very well.
Best yet of the series. Good plot and story. Lots of different strands and developing characters. Captures the personalities and attitudes of the era very well.
May 23, 2024
A great read as always. Will definitely continue to read each book in the series.
November 24, 2024
Detective in glory
Well written and what a twist, Thornhill at his best, well worth reading. Now to book number 5. I recommend these books if you like cosy murders.
Well written and what a twist, Thornhill at his best, well worth reading. Now to book number 5. I recommend these books if you like cosy murders.
March 23, 2023
Good, but...
I wish there was less emphasis on the lead character having a one track mind.
I wish there was less emphasis on the lead character having a one track mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2023
For me, this is the best of the series so far. As is usual for these books, the period detail is interesting and consistent. The stigma of association with communism in the immediate post war period is something of which I was only dimly aware. There is more humour than is usual for this writer and there are some genuinely crowd-pleasing plot points. The characters continue to develop in interesting ways. The audiobook, read by Philip Franks, is superb. I'll be reading the rest of the series.
February 23, 2010
First Sentence: Announcements – Parry, Heather Margaret: With all our love on the anniversary of the day you went away, Mother, Dad, Keith and Granny. The Lydmouth Gazette, 18 April
It’s a busy time in Lydmouth. An abandoned military camp has been taken over by squatters, but the military wants them out. Journalist Jill Francis receives an unwelcome visit from her former lover, a married Labour MP. DI Richard Thornhill has been asked to look into a 10-year-old disappearance. Right-wing journalist Cameron Rouse has been found murdered in his hotel room. And who is the man with the fish?
With British soldiers fighting in Korea, the fear of Communism, expectation of World War III and fear of a Russian invasion, Taylor’s book paints a vivid, and not altogether flattering, picture of life and attitudes in a small English town in the early 1950s.
The sense of time and place are just two of the elements of his writing I enjoy. Another element is his characters. His characters are realistic. He is not a sentimental author. The disdain of a London journalist for the town’s residents is only one example of attitudes that are portrayed. His protagonists are by no means perfect. There are past and future issues impacting their lives which give a thread to run through the series. All this makes the characters very real and makes me want to both learn more about them and see how their lives progress.
Taylor’s plotting is so well done that I forgive him the use of a portent. The first chapter is an excellent set up for a murder. There are several threads and lots of good twists which culminate in a rather surprising resolution.
This is not a fast-paced, high suspense thriller. It is a very well done traditional mystery that kept me thoroughly engrossed.
THE SUFFOCATING NIGHT (Pol Proc-Richard Thornhill/Jill Francis-England-1950s) – VG
Taylor, Andrew – 4th in series
Hodder & Stoughton, ©1998, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 0340695978
It’s a busy time in Lydmouth. An abandoned military camp has been taken over by squatters, but the military wants them out. Journalist Jill Francis receives an unwelcome visit from her former lover, a married Labour MP. DI Richard Thornhill has been asked to look into a 10-year-old disappearance. Right-wing journalist Cameron Rouse has been found murdered in his hotel room. And who is the man with the fish?
With British soldiers fighting in Korea, the fear of Communism, expectation of World War III and fear of a Russian invasion, Taylor’s book paints a vivid, and not altogether flattering, picture of life and attitudes in a small English town in the early 1950s.
The sense of time and place are just two of the elements of his writing I enjoy. Another element is his characters. His characters are realistic. He is not a sentimental author. The disdain of a London journalist for the town’s residents is only one example of attitudes that are portrayed. His protagonists are by no means perfect. There are past and future issues impacting their lives which give a thread to run through the series. All this makes the characters very real and makes me want to both learn more about them and see how their lives progress.
Taylor’s plotting is so well done that I forgive him the use of a portent. The first chapter is an excellent set up for a murder. There are several threads and lots of good twists which culminate in a rather surprising resolution.
This is not a fast-paced, high suspense thriller. It is a very well done traditional mystery that kept me thoroughly engrossed.
THE SUFFOCATING NIGHT (Pol Proc-Richard Thornhill/Jill Francis-England-1950s) – VG
Taylor, Andrew – 4th in series
Hodder & Stoughton, ©1998, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 0340695978
April 18, 2016
The Suffocating Night by Andrew Taylor - Good
Number 4 in the Lydmouth series and once again Detective Inspector Richard Thornhill and report Jill Francis are drawn into a murder.
Set in the 1950s, this time there are squatters in an old Army Camp on the outskirts of Lydmouth and a freelance reporter is nosing around. There's also the matter of a local girl missing for some years and an MP visiting, privately, from London. When a body is discovered at the local hotel, various different people
are implicated and it draws both Inspector Thornhill and Jill Francis in. Running alongside the mystery is the 'will they won't they' relationship between them and, of course, the Inspector's wife and children.
Really starting to like this series, which is a good job as I have two more on Mount TBR yet.
Number 4 in the Lydmouth series and once again Detective Inspector Richard Thornhill and report Jill Francis are drawn into a murder.
Set in the 1950s, this time there are squatters in an old Army Camp on the outskirts of Lydmouth and a freelance reporter is nosing around. There's also the matter of a local girl missing for some years and an MP visiting, privately, from London. When a body is discovered at the local hotel, various different people
are implicated and it draws both Inspector Thornhill and Jill Francis in. Running alongside the mystery is the 'will they won't they' relationship between them and, of course, the Inspector's wife and children.
Really starting to like this series, which is a good job as I have two more on Mount TBR yet.
Read
December 7, 2010Taylor's definitely moving up and up my list of favourite authors. Every book in the series adds to and enlarges on the ones that came before it. The attraction between the two main investigators in this series originally felt like something that might get a bit cheesey or even boring after a book or three, but after four it's still got plenty of life left in it as hurdles that were set up in earlier books come to light.
Oh yeah, there's a good mystery with a great twist in it's tail here too. I think we're taking the solidity of Taylor's plots for granted from now on.
September 21, 2015
The fourth in the series, this one did not capture me as effectively as installments two and three, but it is still really good. This time, a three-year old case of a missing person is reopened due to connections with a mysterious murder.
Read
September 4, 2011Still good stories now set in familiar surroundings - Lydmouth feels like a real town. Main interest is the developing romance between the leading characters. The plot is of secondary importance.
October 2, 2013
A relatively gentle murder mystery but a series I am enjoying.
January 5, 2015
Another in the Lydmouth series - not great but certainly a tolerable read. Kept me going through an icy afternoon.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews