|
It’s always a thrill to read a good crime novel and discover that it’s
part of a series. The Serpent Pool, advertised as a ‘Lake
District Mystery’ follows The Coffin Trail, The Cipher
Garden and The Arsenic Labyrinth. Books to seek out.
Two crimes are plaited together here, a cold case investigated by DCI
Hannah Scarlett and a viciously cruel killing followed by others,
equally barbaric, investigated by Hannah’s friend and colleague, Fern
Larter. Edwards’ plotting is assured and his characters, especially
that of Hannah Scarlett, well-rounded, but what really makes his book
attractive is the use of background. He is so familiar with the lakes
and fells of his chosen region that one feels that the crimes could not
have been committed anywhere else. The extreme and swiftly changing
weather, the narrow, twisting roads, the small almost incestuous
population are all elements which harbour danger, secrets and
grudges.
In most traditional police procedurals the author milks the private
lives of the investigating team to provide an ongoing drama and Edwards
is no exception. Hannah and her partner , bookseller, Marc Amos are
beginning to know one another too well and are not sure that they will
stay together. Their doubts, regrets and tentative flirtations give an
edge to the plot. Their recently purchased house is quite near the
scene of the cold case Hannah has vowed to solve, a shallow lake where a
bound and gagged girl was found drowned a few years before. Unease
increases when she finds that Marc knew this but said nothing. Another
link appears when first one and then another of Marc’s best customers is
found murdered.
The book selling and book collecting community is well drawn as is the
literary influence of Thomas de Quincey. Edwards has done his research
carefully but has resisted the temptation to show off useless knowledge.
A good story with a tense and exciting end. |
