This
is the first outing for twenty-one year old twins Kitty and Nora Markham, who
fancy themselves as amateur sleuths. Just like the ones they read about in
Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers.
It
is 1930 in Wellesmead, a suburb of Torquay. The Markham twins get their chance to
investigate when Miss Agnes Watcombe is found “brutally slain” in her home, Rockcliffe House. A fire has
partially destroyed the house, her body is found by local men who had helped
extinguish the blaze. Apparently an expensive pearl necklace has been stolen.
Kitty
and Nora begin their investigation with help from sixteen year old Arthur
Westcott who lives next door. His stepfather is Sir Charles Westcott, the local
Chief Constable. Also useful is the twin’s friend Jimmy, James Keyse, who they
have known since their school days. He is a newly appointed police constable.
William
Neck, the handy man, is immediately arrested for murder. But despite all the
evidence, the twins cannot believe that he could be guilty. What about Frank
Fogwell the landlord of the local inn or Edward Keane a local fishermen? Both
men were at the scene of the fire.
This novel has all the
ingredients of the cosy crime: amateur detectives; eccentric characters; a close knit community plus the sex and violence occurs behind the scenes.
A snug and restful
story that leaves the reader satisfied, the crime solved and the world returns
to its ordinary routine.
If you like a cosy
crime, you will love this one.
