Death at Devil's Bridge

Charles and Kate Sheridan are back investigating murder, this time at a motorcar show and balloon race that Charles has been strong-armed into hosting. I found the journey in this book to be more entertaining than the solution. The look at the early years of the auto industry is entertaining-- maximum speed is a rollicking twelve miles per hour. Speed demons abound! This series also features cameos by historical figures: in this one we get a version of the first meeting between Charlie Rolls and Henry Royce. I've never managed to figure out why Charles puts up with his friend's car mania and irresponsibility, but that gives us the plot of the book, and it is entertaining enough.

Reread of a book that I delivered an academic paper on years ago. I saw the treatment of the new science of fingerprinting--rejected by the police, misunderstood by country jury--as a commentary on the use of DNA evidence in the OJ Simpson murder trial. New and difficult science, ill-informed jury, leading to miscarriage of justice. In this volume Kate and Charles are involved in hosting a motor race which leads to the death of driver when another driver greases his brake pad. Several side plots confuse the issue, and, as mentioned above, Sir Charles solution of the crime does not lead to a prosecution.

Synopsis: Lady Kate and Sir Charles have decided to host not only the village fete, but a balloon and car chase. Several of the villagers are opposed not only to the cars, but to ballooning since both tend to wreck property and scare livestock. The men driving the cars are bad-tempered and competitive; at least one of them may be a murderer. The balloonist is simply young and brash, a good match for Patsy who longs for freedom from her family strictures. Fingerprints and scientific evidence, along with local gossip and photographs help solve the mysteries.
Review: Nicely woven into this story is the history of the motorcar and the men who developed them. It also provides good information about the development of forensic science. The show more story is nicely complicated. show less

Enjoyable little historical fiction mystery series.