Detective Murdoch Book 8
Maureen Jennings
McClelland & Stewart
An imprint of Penguin Random House Canada
ISBN 9780771050589
eISBN 9780771050596
ASIN B06WLK118G
This was the first novel by Maureen Jennings that I have read, I have been a fan of the Murdoch series for years and have recently been able to get caught up to date with the series. My older two children love watching the show. So I approached this novel with both eager anticipation and a little cautious trepidation. I need not have had any concerns. Now some might ask why I would begin with the most recent, book in a series both in publication order and chronologically. Something about the cover and the title just grabbed my attention, and even though I had planned to get around to reading a Murdoch book for years, this is the one that starts it. And I can emphatically state it will not be the last.
This most recent Murdoch novel was published 10 years after the previous, and after a very successful Tv series based upon the character. In the Authors preamble Maureen informs us that this novel begins 20 years after the previous one. In this story Murdoch is 56 years old, a senior detective, and his son Jack is just returning from the trenches of the Great War, the year is 1917.
This book was very hard to put down once I started. I read it in 4 sittings one day, my morning commute to work, my lunch break, my afternoon commute, then staying up way to late to finish it. This is one of those books that as I was reading it, I kept saying ‘just one more chapter’ and the next thing I knew it was the middle of the night and the book was finished. Not having read any of the other stories, it was like encountering an older friend after along absence. So much was familiar but there were subtle differences. In fact, it greatly enhanced my opinion of Murdoch.
The story is intriguing in many ways. An older Murdoch, who seems to have lost some of his faith or his practice of it. His son returning from way, with both physical injuries and emotional wounds. Jack has returned with a chum from the war and is very loyal to his mate Percy. But Percy is struggling with his return home even more so. And bodies start piling up right away. And there are some strange indications, a while feather, and yellow crosses being chalked on the victims. Jack is distance and keeping strange hours. Murdoch is investigating the murders, and when you throw in a young woman who grew up with jack that is very much anti war. And you have an explosive story.
This story was a great read, and I have already picked up two others by Jennings to put in my ‘to be read’ pile. Great characters, great pace, and delving into some serious issues. If you are a fan of the series and have not checked out the books, do so, you will not be disappointed. And if you love historical fiction or mysteries then you will be in for a real treat with this story. A very solid 5/5 Stars!
Books by Maureen Jennings:
Detective Murdoch Series:
0.5 Shipwreck
1.0 Except the Dying
2.0 Under the Dragon's Tail
3.0 Poor Tom Is Cold
4.0 Let Loose the Dogs
5.0 Night's Child
6.0 Vices of My Blood
7.0 A Journeyman to Grief
8.0 Let Darkness Bury the Dead
...
Detective Inspector Tom Tyler Series:
1.0 Season of Darkness
2.0 Beware This Boy
3.0 No Known Grave
4.0 Dead Ground in Between
...
Christine Morris Series:
1.0 Does Your Mother Know?
2.0 The K Handshape
...
Paradise Café Series:
1.0 Heat Wave
2.0 November Rain
3.0 Cold Snap
...
Other books:
The Map of Your Mind: Journeys into Creative Expression
Investigating Murdoch Mysteries: The Official Companion to the Series – with Michelle Ricci and Mir Bahmanyar
...
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