Sleuthing in the country!

Hardcastle's Collector: A police procedural set during World War One (A Hardcastle and Marriott Historical Mystery) by Graham Ison.

I enjoyed watching Detective Inspector Hardcastle make his way through this murder case, with the long suffering Detective Sergeant Charles Marriott.

Hardcastle's prejudices still abound, his intuitive understandings are still a puzzle given the man's inability to empathize.

This time Hardcastle and his sidekick are off to the country to investigate the murder of a young woman, Daisy Salter. The list of suspects could be long--or not! There is an army camp not too far away and Daisy has caused a ruckus already with soldiers from there. 

It's 1917, London is being bombed, death is falling from the skies.

Surprising insights, cameo parts really, into Hardcastle's relationship with his wife and daughter emerge. The war is changing woman's roles and Hardcastle seems to be accepting this with regard to his daughter. The discussion in the family parlour (with a touch of alcohol involved) is rather heartwarming.

Another gem was the treatise on the role of the PC's wife in this era. It is they that Hardcastle turns to for the background and village opinions about various persons of interest.

There are some unlikely twists. Once you know the suspect the clues were there. Very subtle.

A NetGalley ARC

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