Firing Line
Firing Line
by Mike Hollow
Lion Hudson Ltd
Lion Fiction
General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 23 Mar 2018
Review
Firing Line is a superb historical mystery set against the backdrop of WWII. I can easily imagine the story being made into a BBC miniseries. The characters are well developed and believable and the surroundings are clearly portrayed, bringing the blitz to life for the reader.
When a young woman is discovered strangled in her flat by an air warden and a fireman, Detective Inspector Jago and his constable first believe it might be the work of the Soho Strangler. It is easy to assume that Joan was on the game, but Jago isn’t one to accept the easy solution. The only clues are a pair of nylons and a sailor’s hat. As Jago digs into Joan’s life and family, he finds things are much more complicated than he expected. Family conflicts, a domineering mother in law, greed, and long hidden secrets all play a role.
I liked Firing Line a great deal and look forward to reading more of the Blitz Detective series.
5 / 5
I received a copy of Firing Line from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
— Crittermom
Description
Flames leap skyward from a blitzed factory in West Ham as an air raid destroys all in its path.
When the blaze threatens neighbouring houses a volunteer fireman breaks in to rescue a trapped resident – but instead finds only the body of a young woman, strangled in her bedroom.
For Detective Inspector John Jago the scene brings back memories of the Soho Strangler. He suspects this woman had a secret – that she is not what she seems – and that this may be the root of her untimely end.
Investigation reveals a drunken sailor may hold the key to what happened in Joan Watson’s flat. But his information points Jago towards family jealousies, violence, robbery, and the underworld of political terrorism. Was Joan as innocent as her friends claim, or was she mixed up in crime? Jago must unpick multifarious motives if he hopes to reach the truth.
