The Detective's Secret by Lesley Thomson
| The Detective's Secret by Lesley Thomson | |
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| Category: Crime | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: Third in this unusual series and another cracker. Recommended. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 368 | Date: April 2015 |
| Publisher: Head of Zeus | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-1781857700 | |
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Two 'hurricanes' link this story. There was the one in October 1987 which wasn't going to happen, but did and as it happened a man lay dying, locked inside an old water tower in west London. He had no identification, no one of his description was registered as missing and the body was never claimed. When the body was discovered there was a single, black glove on his back. In October 2103 there was the St Jude's storm. Late one night on the Piccadilly line a man seemed to jump beneath an oncoming train. Jack Harmon saw what happened and was sure that it was suicide, but the man's brother was convinced that it was murder.
Stella Darnell's father was the Detective Chief Inspector at Hammersmith Police Station and after his sudden death she investigated a case which had defeated her father and - with Jack Harmon's help - solved it. Her second case came in a similar manner - almost accidentally - but now she's being approached to investigate because of her reputation. She still has her cleaning business - in many ways there's a link as Stella likes everything sorted, clean and in order, which isn't so far off what detection is all about. She has other things now too: a dog and a brother and to begin with she isn't that enthusiastic about either.
I first encountered Lesley Thomson when I read The Detective's Daughter. Looking back there were one or two elements which wouldn't have been my usual cup of tea, such as the more mystical elements of Jack's character, but the book was a brilliant read and Jack's searches for his 'true hosts' emerged as an essential part of his character rather than a contrived add on. Jack plays an essential part in this story too, but this time he's got a secret of his own to hide. Oh, and he's got a new home: that water tower has been converted into apartments and Jack is the first tenant.
When you look back on the story the plot is essentially quite simple, but it certainly doesn't feel like that when you're in the middle of it - and when you're in the middle of the storm it's decidedly atmospheric. At one point I had to look out of the window to convince myself that it wasn't really happening now.
Each time I read I warm more and more to the characters. Stella is a brilliant creation: a reserved, careful woman who has her life in order and takes change very carefully. I can't quite work out whether she and Jack are just good friends, or whether there's chemistry there. The suspense is quite delicious and I'm looking forward to the next book.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
If you like the sound of this book we think that you might also enjoy Humber Boy B by Ruth Dugdall simply because of the sheer quality of the writing.
Lesley Thomson's The Detective's Daughter Novels in Chronological Order
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You can read more book reviews or buy The Detective's Secret by Lesley Thomson at Amazon.com.
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