Published by Severn House,
31 May 2017.
ISBN: 978-0-72788720-7
31 May 2017.
ISBN: 978-0-72788720-7
In
the 1930s a female teacher who married was not allowed to retain her job in a
state school, and so Ellen Reardon is delighted when she is offered the
position of French Mistress at the newly-founded Maxstead Court School, a
private school that is owned and run by Miss Edith Hillyard, a somewhat
unconventional headmistress. Mademoiselle Blanchard, the former French teacher,
had left unexpectedly and Miss Hillyard is eager for Ellen to start work at
once.
The school building was, until recently, an old
manor house, and parts of it still need renovation. To Ellen’s horror, on her
first day at the school, she is one of the people to discover the dead body of
a young woman amongst the rubble of the unrestored part of the house. It is
possible that the victim had fallen accidentally to her death but the
concealment of her body indicates a more sinister solution. Ellen’s husband,
Detective Inspector Herbert Reardon, is called in to investigate. This places
Ellen in an awkward position of divided loyalties. Should she share with her
husband information and observations gained during her employment in the school
or is it better to maintain a discreet silence? However difficult Ellen finds
it, she knows that justice must prevail, especially when it becomes clear that
Maxstead Court School contains many secrets and is the centre of great
unhappiness. Other violent incidents follow and a child goes missing. It
becomes a race against time for Inspector Reardon to discover the truth before
the murderer kills again.
A Property of Lies is an
intriguing mystery with an interesting 1930s background and some fascinating
characters. The central characters of Ellen and Herbert Reardon are very
likeable and it is an enjoyable read.
------
Reviewer: Carol Westron
Marjorie
Eccles was born in
Yorkshire and spent much of her childhood there and on the Northumbrian coast.
The author of more than twenty books and short stories, she is the recipient of
the Agatha Christie Short Story Styles Award. Her books featuring police
detective Gil Mayo were adapted for the BBC. She lives in Hertfordshire.
Carol Westron is a successful short
story writer and a Creative Writing teacher.
She is the moderator for the cosy/historical crime panel, The Deadly
Dames. Her crime novels are set both in contemporary
and Victorian times. The Terminal
Velocity of Cats is the first in her Scene of Crimes novels, was published
July 2013. Her latest book The Fragility
of Poppies was published 10 June 2016.
Read a review of Carol’s latest
book
The Fragility of Poppies
The Fragility of Poppies
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