Nostalgic Crime Busting At It’s Best

A Fatal Flaw by Faith Martin is a gripping historical crime novel set in Oxford in 1960. Once again the reader gets caught up in the crime solving exploits of unlikely duo of an aging experienced coroner and a probationary WPC. The book is a thrilling read as I tried to piece together the clues to solve the crime.

This Ryder and Loveday series is a fabulous one. The books are very reminiscent of ITV’s Endeavour and Morse. Definitely a thinking man’s novel as the clues are cleverly laid out.

1960 is the dawn of a new era for women as they try to break out of their traditional roles. WPC’s are new to the force and often seen as only good for making tea and comforting women. WPC Loveday proves she has brains and ambition, much to the astonishment of her superiors.

The action is set around a beauty pageant – very sexist and frowned on in today’s world but in 1960 many young women aspired to be the next Miss World and didn’t mind what they had to do to get there.

The reader ‘meets’ the murderer as the novel opens and again at periodic times throughout the novel. We wonder who owns the menacing voice.

I really love the pairing of Ryder and Loveday. They are the perfect mix of age verses enthusiasm. As the coroner imparts wisdom, it is soaked up like a sponge. A pure delight to witness the interactions.

Faith Martin’s Ryder and Loveday novels are an escape to a bygone age. They would translate perfectly into ITV’s Sunday night viewing. I can picture Joanne Frogatt as Loveday and Martin Shaw as Ryder. Any producers out there please take note.

Fabulously entertaining.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON