Everything about this book was so "English". St Crispin's school set in Lindenshaw sounds idyllic. From the setting to its teachers it sounds ideal but of course nothing is ideal. Cracks are there and the breakdown happens when during an interview for headteacher one of the applicants gets brutally murdered in the school premises itself.
The governing body of the school has faced great odds in getting together applicants for this post. Their first attempt failed miserably and now on their second, they are all faced with an unpalatable fact that one of their body is a murderer.
Local boy Inspector Robin Bright is not really happy to be assigned the case. His school years at St Crispins are marked by nightmares still by the treatment meted out by his class mates. He was marked out as being gay very early on in life and they made sure his years at school was a misery. Meeting Adam one of the teachers puts all Robin's resolve aside. You cannot fraternize with a witness or rather a suspect in a murder but Robin is irresistibly drawn towards the handsome Adam who makes no doubt that the feelings are mutual.
When the second murder victim turns up, Robin has to put all personal feelings aside to start dealing with the nitty gritty of a desperate murderer who is also very clever.
A very pleasant read. Apart from the murder the gay romance added such a different touch. Sensitively handled as well.
The book came to me from Netgalley courtesy of Riptide Publishing.
I like the sound of this one. You had me when you said the novel was so "English". :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like this is your kind of book. Glad you are enjoying it.
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