Martin Hume has repeatedly asked his wife, Vera, for a divorce. She has refused each and every time. It's not because she loves him. It's not because she would like to save her marriage. No ... she refuses because it would give him pleasure and she can't have that!
Vera Hume is a harridan. She's mean, cruel and has no redeeming qualities. And her poor husband is not the only person who gets the sharp edge of her tongue. Her sister, Sue, has grown up with Vera .. you'd never think they had the same parents.
Martin is thinking / dreaming of ways to kill his wife. And he's not the only one!
Vera is also having an affair .. and she's decided that this man should commit totally to her. He doesn't exactly see eye to eye on that matter! She has cheated a former business partner out of her share of their successful business. Her own father and step-mother would not miss her should she 'disappear'.
Coming back from a business trip he finds Vera dead ... she's been strangled.
DI Dennis Peach doesn't think Martin did it. And his partner Lucy Blake is in agreement. It's clear that Martin is innocent, his alibi watertight, and so it's up to Peach and Blake to uncover the real murderer.
Although somewhat dated (first published in 1999), this is a solid mystery. It's not what I would call suspenseful, but it's an engaging read. It's a race to the finish to see who-dun-it.
I can't say I actually liked the characters. Martin is weak ... Vera is a witch ... Sue is too sugary sweet... Peach is rather boring... But ... I did like the story premise.
Many thanks to Endeavour Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Vera Hume is a harridan. She's mean, cruel and has no redeeming qualities. And her poor husband is not the only person who gets the sharp edge of her tongue. Her sister, Sue, has grown up with Vera .. you'd never think they had the same parents.
Martin is thinking / dreaming of ways to kill his wife. And he's not the only one!
Vera is also having an affair .. and she's decided that this man should commit totally to her. He doesn't exactly see eye to eye on that matter! She has cheated a former business partner out of her share of their successful business. Her own father and step-mother would not miss her should she 'disappear'.
Coming back from a business trip he finds Vera dead ... she's been strangled.
DI Dennis Peach doesn't think Martin did it. And his partner Lucy Blake is in agreement. It's clear that Martin is innocent, his alibi watertight, and so it's up to Peach and Blake to uncover the real murderer.
Although somewhat dated (first published in 1999), this is a solid mystery. It's not what I would call suspenseful, but it's an engaging read. It's a race to the finish to see who-dun-it.
I can't say I actually liked the characters. Martin is weak ... Vera is a witch ... Sue is too sugary sweet... Peach is rather boring... But ... I did like the story premise.
Many thanks to Endeavour Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
