by Denzil Meyrick
SYNOPSIS
A case shrouded in secrets.
It’s just before Christmas, 1953. Frank and Juggers are investigating a puzzling murder in the remote village of Uthley’s Bay. A fisherman has been found dead on the beach, with a stocking wound tight round his throat.
A festive mystery for one and all.
Hundreds of pairs of stockings, in neat cellophane bags, soon wash up on the shore. A blizzard cuts off Frank and Juggers from help, and the local innkeeper is murdered. Any remaining Christmas cheer goes up in smoke as the villagers refuse to talk, leaving the two detectives chasing false leads in the snow.
A winter wonderland with no escape.
To make matters worse, Frank can’t stop thinking about stockings. Why does everyone seem to be enjoying strangely high standards of hosiery, even beneath their oilskins? Who is the sinister man snooping around their hotel? And how can they solve the murder when everyone in the village is a suspect?
REVIEW
I was such a huge fan of the first Frank Grasby Mystery - Murder at Holly House. To be honest, I am that person who really only reads crime and mystery novels, so when winter comes around I am always on the lookout for books to add to my Christmas Crime TBR. Having read a decent selection by now, I can honestly say that for me this series is one of the best!
I love the style and the setting of the story - the fact that this is a historical crime novel gives it a kind of escapist feel (the same feeling I get when reading Agatha Christie), because you can suspend belief in a way and this allows the mysteries to be a little more extravagant! The murder investigation takes place in the 1950's and a different style of narration is used. The mystery is explained to the reader in the form of Frank Grasby's memoirs of his time as a Police Detective - this also feels like a little nod to Sherlock Holmes which is a nice touch for crime fiction fans.
There is a really strong police investigation running throughout the book (with an inventive Christmas twist!), but what I loved the most was the unique group of characters and, in this story in particular, the relationship between Grasby and Juggers. The banter is just brilliant, it's such a dry, funny rapport between the pair and I was laughing during almost every scene they were in together. Similarly, the relationship between Grasby and his father was so relatable, and felt very authentic. Cyril and his sarcasm reminded me a bit of my Grandfather, and the bickering between the father and son was perfectly written - yet more scenes which really made me smile. Personally I think that a bit of humour in a 'Christmas Crime' novel is really important and this is one of the biggest strengths in these Frank Grasby mysteries!
I was SO thrilled to see that a third novel is on the cards, something for me to look forward to in the run-up to next Christmas, but for now, if any crime fans are looking for something to read over the next few weeks, this is the book for you!
Thanks to Anne Cater - @RandomTTours, Denzil Meyrick - @Lochlomonden and Bantam Books - @bantambooksuk for the opportunity to read and review.
Publisher: Bantam Books Genre: Cosy Crime / Mystery / Christmas Crime / Historical Crime Fiction
ISBN: 978-0857506399
Pages: 368pp
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