Harriet Klausner's Review Archive
Detective Superintendent Gil Mayo and his assistant Inspector Abigail Moon are ready to cold case the inquiry without even identifying Jane Bull when someone murders Charles Wetherby, the bursar at Lavenstock College. Though the murders have no apparent link, a former student, Cleo Atkins working for Maid to Order cleaning the mess caused by the flooding finds the connection by accident, which places her in jeopardy if the wrong person learns what she knows.
The latest Gil Mayo British police procedural is an exciting tale because of the frustration the cops feel when their initial investigation goes nowhere. The twists and turns of the two cases that finally merge through the amateur "joining" their team is fun to follow as Gil and Abigail find neither murder investigation progressing until Cleo discovers the missing link. Though the motive for the first homicide seems weak and the "cover-up' by the second victim appears illogical, sub-genre fans will take delight in Marjorie Eccles clever who done it to whomever she is.