The Manton Rempville Murders
The Manton Rempville Murders by Julian Worker BooksGoSocial General Fiction (Adult) , Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 23 Oct 2014
Review
Ok I admit it the tagline of “how many bodies can one dog find” drew my immediate attention to this light British police procedural. The Manton Rempville Murders will readily appeal to fans of Midsomer Murders. It is a puzzling whodunnit full of quirky characters and humorous touches. As in the popular Midsomer Murders series, DI Colin Knowles is competent and easy going with a wry sense of humor. Knowles and his DS Barnes exchange ideas and easy banter throughout. While the beginning chapters are a touch awkward, by the end of the first quarter The Manton Rempville Murders has found its sweet spot.
Bingo the retriever has found another body - this time the former under gardener of Manton Rempville Hall, skewered by a ceremonial sword. Despite the lord and lady of the manor’s insistence that no one of their standing could be involved in murder, they and their guests and staff are the most likely suspects, particularly since everyone present knew the under gardener and had a motive for wanting him out of the way. DI Knowles and DS Barnes are tasked with case, made more difficult by the lies and omissions of the suspects/witnesses. Needless to say, the first death is not the last.
The Manton Rempville Murders is a charming novel. The limited violence, the gentle humor and the assurance that justice will be done makes the novel a perfect escape from everyday stressors. While cozies with amateur detectives abound, it is sometimes very nice to read a light police procedural instead, and those can be harder to find.
4 / 5
I received a copy of The Manton Rempville Murders from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
— Crittermom
Description
How many bodies can one dog find? Another day in the life of Detective Inspector Colin Knowles and another murder. Bingo the retriever has been finding bodies again. This time someone left a sword in the back of Edward Pritchard in the grounds of a 700-year old monastery. Pritchard used to work at the nearby stately home, Manton Rempville Hall, as a gardener, although all he seemed to cultivate was reasons for people not to like him. As luck would have it, there's a house party at the hall so there are plenty of suspects. People are unwilling to give up their secrets easily and Knowles has to dig to find answers. Knowles inspects the libraries, the studies, and the not-so-secret passage of this old hall in an attempt to find out who murdered Pritchard. He's in a race against fate, because he suspects the killer will strike again. Bells, owls, and ironic topiary all play a part in his investigation as Knowles slowly weeds out the suspects. But will he be in time to stop further deaths happening...?
