Carol Smith (1) (1938–2023)

The brutal murder of golden girl, Jinx McLennan, early one Sunday in her exclusive Kensington house, shocks the neighbours and triggers a police inquiry that delves deeply into her colourful past. Summary BPL

Somewhat outdated (published in 2000) but gripping yarn of murder, love, jealousy and hatred. Many subplots with intriguing quirky characters and a few well-placed and plotted surprises along the way. Typically I don't bother trying to figure out "who dunnit" but Carol Smith has a basket full of red herrings to merrily mislead the reader.

7.5 out of 10 Recommended to mystery lovers and fans of 30-something Brits' social lives (albeit in 2000).… (more)

There's a very good reason to be afraid of the dark ...Alone on Dartmoor without a car, Erin O'Leary has gone to ground, hiding from Russian assassins. Her new neighbours are a disparate bunch: Gerald and Sylvia, whose social pretensions exceed their altered means; Ned and Lisa, newlyweds who only know each other from work and embittered Auriol, abandoned along with the dog. Crazy Betty, who lives in the woods, guards the land she considers her own. And a ghost is seen in the windswept churchyard tending her own grave. Winter approaches; the nights draw in. Each has a secret they want to hide. And when the killing starts, each has a motive.

I was given this book to read by my friend at work, who said she couldn’t get into it will I try reading it. So I tried and felt at first it wasn’t too bad but then I slowly was getting rather fed up with it as nothing happens. Yes there was a murder but nealy half way through. The first part of the book was character based but nothing much happens with them either. The characters all live in a complex and nobody really knows anybody very well and they all harbors secrets which aren’t very shocking. The first part of the book seems to be filled with garden parties and dog walking. I did what I don’t like doing and gave up after about 200 pages as it didn’t seem to be moving on. This is my second attempt at a book by this author and I feel that her books are really not for me.… (more)