When the body of Laura Jarman is discovered crammed inside a steamer trunk and dumped on a Brighton railway station platform, her wealthy industrialist family is shouting for answers, but their reluctance to co-operate with the investigation arouses suspicion. Shortly after, a second body – Laura’s flatmate Kitty – is discovered in similar circumstances. What links Laura and Kitty to the private gentlemen’s parties held in a country house on the edge of sleepy Wyncombe village, and what is Laura’s family so desperate to conceal? Bunch Courtney and DCI William Wright find themselves racing along a convoluted trail through munitions factories and London clubs to a final shocking end.
In Cases of Murder (A Bunch Courtney Investigation Book 4)
by Jan Edwards
In Cases of Murder is an excellent addition to the Bunch Courtney series. Honestly, if you haven’t read these books yet, you don’t realise what you’re missing out on!
Rose (Bunch) Courtney is a brilliant character. She does make me smile. However, this book is tinged with sadness given how poorly her mother is. This aspect of the story showed a softer side to Bunch as she’s a ‘tough old bird’, given the pressures of being a single woman, working with the police, in what was still very much a man’s world during the war.
This book finds Bunch and Wright investigating the brutal murders of two women. There are no particularly gory details though which makes these books suitable for all murder mystery lovers, in my opinion. It’s full of suspense with brilliant characters and ticks all the boxes for me.
I find the fact that it’s set during the war fascinating. I know this author does a LOT of research and I love reading books set in this era. I love the language especially. I was instantly transported to that time and place, despite not being old enough to remember those times of course.
I love the obvious, and often subtle, differences in police investigations between now and then. So much has advanced in such a short time. I do love reading how things were done in ‘the olden days.’
I was completely absorbed in this story. It kept me up way past my bedtime on more than one occasion. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
All the stars for me!
**Many thanks to Jan Edwards for my review copy**
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