From Library Journal
Inspector Luke Thanet (Once Too Often) puzzles over another classic case of murder: a local barrister's wife disappears in the middle of a party at her own house and is found dead. Thanet must figure out which of the many who hated her succeeded in killing her. A sure bet.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Kirkus Reviews
Another of the authors literate explorations of life and death in the town of Sturrenden and environs, where Inspector Luke Thanet and his faithful Sergeant Lineham bear the brunt of infrequent murder investigations (Once Too Often, 1998, etc.). The victim now is Virginia Mintaurwife of lawyer Ralph, mother of Caroline and Rachelwhose body has been found at the bottom of the decorative well adorning her prized garden. Virginia had disappeared the previous evening while entertaining neighbors Howard and Marilyn Squires; Rachel and tennis coach Matthew Agon, who have just announced their engagement; and Virginias sister Jane and her boyfriend Arnold Prime. When the postmortem indicates murder, Thanet probes for means and motives. The latter abound as Virginias many extramarital beaux come to light, among them Squires and Agon, with Prime clearly next in line. Theres no love lost, either, between Virginia and Ralphs mother, an acerbic globetrotter who lives in an annex of the Mintaur house. Is there some connection to Carolines elopement four years ago with the gardeners son Dick Swain, whose witchlike mother still lives nearbythe couple unheard from all this time? Malice and mischief, past and present, provide a wealth of motives until Thanet, besieged by family worries of his own, manages to solve more puzzles than one. Straightforward and absorbing, deftly written and adroitly plotted: another quiet winner for Simpson. --
Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
