Every Second Thursday

Kelsey & Lambert #2

by Emma Page

Chief Inspector Kelsey investigates the presumed suicide of Vera Foster in an attempt to prove murder, making startling discoveries about her grieving husband and nurse-companion

Genres: Mystery

186 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

A pen name used by Honoria O’Mahony Tirbutt.

She was born in the north-east of England and now lives in Worcestershire. She is the creator of ‘Detective Chief Inspector Kelsey and Detective Sergeant Lambert’ of the Milbourn CID.

Reviews

[rndgmoat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very British procedural set in a small village, this was a pleasant enough diversion during some time off for the holidays. Well-written in an engaging and economical style, the book is more of a "how'd he do it" than a whodunit. Worth the $2.95 price I paid in a used bookstore but probably not more than that.

[Rosie Genova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, old school English village mystery.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vera Foster is the spoiled only child of the late Duncan Murdoch. After her father's unexpected death, she married his sole employee, Gerald Foster. Now, nine years later, she's still mourning the loss of her father and temporarily bedridden due to sciatica. She also has a live-in companion named Edith Jordan, who is staying with her until she's mobile again.

Her housekeeper Alma Driscoll leaves every second Thursday to help a neighboring elderly couple, and doesn't return until Friday morning. Her Uncle Matt also visits Lynwood, the Foster's home, whenever he can to get a free meal and perhaps snatch a small item or two; but he only comes when Alma is home to feed him.

This particular Thursday, Gerald has business away, and he promises to be home early the next day; so her sole housemate is Miss Jordan. But when Alma returns the next morning, she sees that lights are on where they shouldn't be, and Vera's bedroom is locked without answer. So Alma rouses Miss Jordan, but eventually Vera's door needs to be broken by the gardener's son and they find her slumped over in bed apparently dead by her own hand.

While it is eventually ruled suicide in court, Chief Inspector Kelsey sees something right after leaving that has him suspicious - a small action, but he questions it nonetheless. He insists that Mrs. Foster was murdered by her husband and he's going to prove it, even if it has to be on his own time. So he enlists the help of Sergeant Lambert to discover how Gerald Foster murdered his wife when he wasn't even in the same town...

While this could have been a very good mystery - a woman is murdered and the detective is sure that the husband committed the crime even though he was far away - it was rather dull in nature. It's hard to put my finger on exactly what it was, but the book dragged on when there should have been something, anything, to pull the reader in. Most of it, as would be expected, is rehashing events as they occurred, but there was no spark in the words. It was basically 'she went to the store, she bought carrots' type of dialogue. But the big thing is that there was no spark among the characters. Kelsey appears to be tired of his job; he sends Lambert out to do most of the legwork; it as if he has no energy left in life and is waiting only to retire.

But the ending! When it comes, you are more or less left hanging. Yes, there is a conclusion; this is no 'you need to read the next book to find the outcome' type; however, it is unsatisfying - while we do see justice for one, there is still the question of another - you're never given a complete answer as to what is or has happened. (If you read the book, you will understand what I am trying to say; if not, I will not elaborate further). I felt that there was another chapter to be written but that the author decided not to do so for whatever reason. Because of this, I am not sure if I will even attempt another book by this author.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the neurotic Vera Foster is found dead from a drug overdose with a picture of her beloved father (now deceased) under one hand and the last postcard he ever sent her under the other, it is assumed she has committed suicide while in a depressed state after a bout of sciatica. She had attempted suicide once before--immediately after her father's death--and it doesn't seem strange that she's tried again and succeeded.

The police investigation reveals no reason to suspect foul play. Vera's husband Gerald is polite and industrious--he worked his way up from the working class and turned his father-in-law's business into a very successful enterprise. There are no whispers of infidelity or strained relations. The doctor's evidence supports a verdict of suicide and the inquest finds that perfectly acceptable. Everybody, including Chief Inspector Kelsey, agrees that it's a very sad thing, but understandable from a woman such as Vera. Kelsey leaves the inquest ready to put the case behind him...until he observes a brief glance between Gerald Foster and the temporary companion-nurse Edith Jordan. An exchanged half-smile, a tiny nod from her, and a small gesture of success from him--it's all over in a flash and then they're back to calm and dignified composure. But once he sees it, Kelsey tells his Sergeant

....it wasn't suicide. I'll take my dying oath on that. they pulled it off between them. Foster and Edith Jordan. It was murder.

And he sets off to prove it. He'll have a devil of a time with it. The case is closed. He has no official sanction to ask anyone questions. But he and Sergeant Lambert squeeze in the time around their other cases to investigate. Kelsey soon realizes that there were a lot of questions that weren't asked simply because it looked so obviously like suicide. Kesley and Lambert slowly build a case only to find it falling apart in their hands...until a chance encounter breaks things wide open.

An entertaining read. Not a classic whodunnit--we know who the culprits are from the beginning, but the real suspense lies in watching Kelsey and Lambert try to prove what the Inspector knows to be true. It looks for all the world like the Foster and Jordan have put together the perfect little murder and the officers have their work cut out for them to find any connections (previous to the nurse/companion being hired). There's no love interest, no breath of scandal to connect the two. Emma Page (pen name for British author Honoria O’Mahony Tirbutt) has put together an interesting character study of not only the villains, but the investigating officers and the supporting characters.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vera Foster was found dead of a drug overdoes and given that she had tried to commit suicide via an overdose before, and there is no evidence to indicate that there was foul play, the result of the inquest is that Vera died by her own hands. At the time of her death, her husband Gerald was many miles away conversing with a business associate over dinner. Gerald took over the business of Vera’s father when he died, and all indications were that the business was thriving under his leadership.
However, there was a fleeting moment of a smile passing between Gerald Foster and Edith Jordan, a woman that was attending Vera Foster at the time of her death. This action was observed by Detective Chief Inspector Kelsey, and it raised his suspicions. With so little to go on, he was discouraged from pursuing the case further, so he had to dodge his overseers as he tracked down the few leads in the case.
The case moves very slowly and there is very little in the way of tension or drama. The last scene where all is resolved is quickly wrapped up with Inspector Kelsey being vindicated in his suspicion of murder. This is not a story for people who read mystery stories for drama and excitement.

[Neer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engrossing. More here: https://ahotcupofpleasureagain.wordpr...

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1...

[M Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author. Excellent find. Characters are well developed and the plot moves along well with twists and turns. Will look out for more by this author.