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Thank you to faber and faber and netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an open and honest review.
Old school murder mystery in the classic style of Cluedo and Agatha Christie. A catholic priest is found dead at the bottom of the stairs in a grand house. Was it an accident? Well no, because someone bludgeoned him and cut of his beef bayonet and matching twin set! 🤢
The characters are straight of whodunnit for beginners. The author is clever in that he acknowledges this several times, so if a clichè recognises itself is it still as a clichè? For my part I thought the country manor setting, and usual cast of suspects added greatly to the ambience of the book but then I enjoy a good Agatha Christie. I think as with regards to the setting and cast, readers will either settle into the comfortable sofa of familiarity or think of it as being the worn out sofa of overuse. I am definately the former.
The background was interesting in that it wasnt the home counties but the Irish countryside of the 50s with the maelstrom of religeous and political divison whirling away in the background. The plot was twisty with a few red herrings. As the tale develops a thread of sexual deviancy among the upper classes and the catholic church (who would of thought eh! 🤔) and corruption emerges.
Our detective is a cold and lonely man from the same strata of society as the suspects and is under pressure from his boss to solve the case but not embarras the Catholic church under any circumstances.
None of the main characters were happy, or ended up totally happy which for me is another plus. I think it adds 3d reality to a character. I really enjoyed this book. It is a cracking example of the genre.
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