A FATAL END

SYNOPSIS

Oxford, 1963

In a backstreet club, people dance the night away to their favourite band. But behind the scenes there is trouble afoot. An argument is brewing between bandmembers, two possessive girlfriends have plans for their partners, the club manager is creaming off profits – and a tragic accident leaves the lead singer dead.

But was it an accident at all? Coroner Clement Ryder is suspicious, and WPC Trudy Loveday knows there’s only one thing for it. She’s going undercover, deep into the seedy underbelly of Oxford nightlife.

Meanwhile Clement’s own secret is becoming increasingly difficult to keep hidden, and discovering the singer’s murderer might not be the only shock in store for Trudy.

Title: A fatal end
Author: Faith Martin

Series: Ryder & Loveday #8

Publisher: HQ

Publication date: July 7, 2022

REVIEW

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Oxford, 1963: pop music is all the craze amongst young people. The success of The Beatles made hundred of young guys to try to become the next big thing. The Rainbirds is one of this up-and-coming bands until one of his leads meets an untimely death at a staircase. Although it looks like an accidental fall, the evidences says the contrary to Dr. Clement Ryder so, along WPC Trudy Loveday, will set upon finding the truth.

It’s book 8 in the series and the great thing about it is it keeps evolving. It could have stalled, following the same pattern book after book, but the circumstances in Dr. Ryder’s life have made necessary to introduce some new elements in their team (his son Vincent, whom we already met in book 7) and that fit perfectly in Dr. Ryder and Trudy dynamics. 

Dr. Ryder’s illness is progressing and I’m so curious to see how that will affect Trudy at the police station, now that it looks like she might lose her main supporter. I love how she has evolved throughout the series, being now much more self-assured, and how she’s slowly gaining some sympathies amongst her colleagues. 

The murder mystery was an interesting one, full of shady and slimy characters willing to do anything to achieve their goals, and with a seedy nightclub that worked perfectly as the main scenario.

I also loved all the medical comments about the victim’s injuries and how those led to a murder charge and, as a medical examiner myself, I thought they were right on point.

Although the ending had a sense of finality, I really hope the series continues, as it has lovely characters and the setting around the 60s allows for some really good old detective work stories. 

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.