Pippa was introduced to crime fiction by a Francis Durbridge-loving grandmother and a Christie-loving primary schoolteacher. Pippa has looked after the admin for a crime fiction book group for the last 20 years or so and is the author of Cambridge – Myriads of Misdeeds.
The third book from Karen-Millie James featuring Cydney Granger can be read as a standalone story that merges personal relationships and past crimes.
After introducing various characters and relationships, the story becomes serious when successful businessman Rufus Tomlinson pays a visit to a London courtroom. He is there to observe a judge of his acquaintance when his memory is triggered by the face of James Carrington QC. It is the face of someone he thought long since dead and who could possibly see him imprisoned for murder.
Neither Rufus Tomlinson, nor the man he thinks he recognises, is who they seem. Tomlinson is a ruthless IRA killer, believed dead. Carrington was a child when he saw his parents blown up and nearly died himself but the face of the watching bomber is imprinted in his memory. Tomlinson arranges a meeting to see if the recognition is mutual, and sees an unspoken reaction proving that it is – one with serious implications.
From this meeting the reader is taken through many twists and turns as it becomes apparent just how many people have been compromised and blackmailed by Tomlinson and how nothing will stop him from protecting his identity.
Cydney Granger is a corporate forensics investigator and spirit medium. As a medium, her paranormal mentor is Ray - a spirit who prompts other ways of thinking and introduces her to other helpful spirits. Reading the third book in the series, I was taken aback slightly by this but it seemed to work.
Cydney becomes involved after a dinner party with psychologist Dr Flis Carrington, who is married to the QC about to come face-to-face with the man in his nightmares. As a friend, Cydney sees that Flis is struggling to keep her own life on track; blaming James for the death of their daughter, and at the same time counselling a vulnerable young girl who is slowly beginning to trust her. Worrying about her friend, Cydney decides to put some of her professional resources to use.
There are many strands to the plot which gradually converge to a climax. Identity is a strong theme (loss of identity, either deliberately or through witness protection, lack of self-worth, finding identity following trauma et. al.) all played out against the cat and mouse game of Tomlinson, whose use of blackmail and threats knows no bounds to the dénouement.
