SYNOPSIS
She was dressed in a long white gown, embroidered with tiny flowers. Her body was wrapped in colourful ribbons that floated in the breeze. But underneath the swathe of golden hair, a string of darkly smudged bruises ringed her neck.
As May Day dawns in the peaceful village of Middle Fenton, a young woman is found brutally strangled, her body tied up with ribbons in the middle of the green. A week later, her boyfriend is found hanged in a local barn, and the police assume guilt over murdering his beloved has driven him to suicide - but not everyone is convinced.
WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder are sent to investigate, and quickly realise that there’s a double murderer on the loose.
But the killer has already shown willingness to remove anyone who threatens to discover their identity....
As Trudy and Clement circle in on the culprit, can they crack the case before they too come to a nasty end?
Title: A fatal affair
Author: Faith Martin
Series: Ryder & Loveday Mysteries #6
Publisher: HQ
Publication date: March 4, 2021
REVIEW
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 1st, 1962. The village of Middle Fenton is getting ready to celebrate May Day when the body of its May Queen, Iris Carmody, is found strangled and tied to the village's maypole. A week later his boyfriend dies in an apparent suicide but the boy's father is not convinced, so Dr. Ryder and WPC Loveday are brought into the investigation to discover the truth behind both deaths.
This is the 6th installment in the Ryder and Loveday series, and that's clear when you look at the dynamics between the characters. It's always a pleasure to be reacquainted with these two. Their initial mentoring relationship has evolved into a friendship and, imo, it's one of the successes of the series. Unlike all the other men around her, Dr. Ryder has always respected Trudy and treated her like an equal. It's the 60s and all the other men in her life can't see beyond her gender when in truth they are quite the cowards and feel threatened by her and her capabilities. Show 'em, Trudy!
This time there was not much insight into their private lives and, after six books, I would like to see some progress in that department. Dr. Ryder's illness plotline needs some development soon or it's gonna be pointless even to mention it.
I love how there's no technology around so they have to rely on good old fashion detective work, interrogating suspects and putting their deductive skills to work to try and catch the villain.
I listened to the audiobook version and Stephanie Racine did such an amazing work (once again) with these beloved characters. Now I cannot imagine them with a different voice. Well done!
Quick and cozy mystery that makes another great addition to the series.
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