Cause for Concern

by Yorke Margaret

When Martin Trent calls home to announce his return from an assignment as a tour guide in Venice, his mother, Susan, is filled with fear-a fear based on what has happened before, and her dread of further violence.

She meets Martin, as instructed, at Rotherston station, but on the way to their house in Bishop St. Leon, Martin demands to be dropped at the local pub. Leaving after closing time, he is furious to discover that Susan is not outside, waiting for him in the car, and when he gets home he makes his anger clear.

Why does Susan put up with this treatment? She never mentions it, though neighbors suspect what is going on. Susan covers her bruises with make-up and pretends that nothing is wrong for, despite everything, she loves Martin.

Then Adam Wilson rents a room in the village. He is vague about his background, describing himself as a researcher. He knows where the Trents live, and as he becomes acquainted with various local residents, he is able to acquire information about them without revealing his interest. He meets Amy, who works in the same office as Susan. Roger, one of Adam's housemates, is a police officer, and he becomes anxious about Susan's safety. Before anyone moves to protect her, the horrific truth about the relationship between Susan and Martin is exposed...

Genres: Mystery, Crime

Paperback

First published January 23, 2014

Reviews

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently, my commute changed to include less sitting down time, so I’ve been listening to more audiobooks on the way to work. The narrator can enhance (Eleanor Oliphant) or detract from (The Last Tudor) the story. Here, the narrator sounded like a female Colonel Mustard, which immediately made me imagine the characters in tweed shooting outfits…
Yorke’s talent is writing about her characters’ actions, thoughts etc in minute detail and while she does this in a very engaging way, there were a lot of characters and I kept getting them confused. They seemed merely to be well-developed stereotypes of pathetic wives, brutish men and taciturn coppers.
The nannies, Jo and Linda – I learnt that one had lived locally all her life and the other shared a flat in the town – but could I really tell them apart? And there were many couples living in the village , all with very common English names like Dan and Mary. So when a major character emerged in the final quarter of the book , I had no recollection of ever hearing of him before. Being an audiobook, I couldn’t flick back to check!
Not Margaret Yorke’s best book and not the greatest narration either.

[Stven · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 1990s I read every Margaret Yorke book I could lay my hands on, and nowadays I occasionally reread one. She is a little-known treasure of an author. Modern domestic English family dramas that turn gradually into mysteries and tragedies. Cause for Concern is a fine one from late in her career.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent novel by Margaret Yorke. Her characters are everyday ordinary people and she weaves her story through their lives seamlessly. The characters are so real, with their strengths and weaknesses, that they could be members of your family or your neighbours. And yet she holds the reader's interest and it is difficult to put the book down. I have enjoyed every one of the many Margaret Yorke novels I've read and this was no exception.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Equivalent of easy listening music - easy read crime

[Bookwormthings · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read/listen. Yes, the culprits are never really in doubt, or the why, but it is good.

[Lisa Jeffers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read.
I really liked the main character but wanted to scream at her a few times! The ending wasn’t my favourite but I found the story interesting and it kept me captivated throughout.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read! Thanks to John for introducing me to the author. Will try more of her books.

[Juliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not happy about the ending and I really hate weak female characters that stay in victim status right through a story, learning nothing.

[Kathleen Hagen]

Cause for Concern, by Margaret Yorke, A-minus. Narrated by Sheila Mitchell, produced by Isis, and downloaded from audible.com.
Everyone in the village felt there was cause for concern regarding the safety of Susan Trent. She appeared at work with bruises always saying she had fallen down. Everyone suspected that her son, Martin, was abusing his mother, just as his father had. But if she wouldn’t name him as her abuser, and since no one witnessed the abuse, nothing could be done. In most of the book we have neighbors talking to each other warning each other that someday Martin will kill Susan. So why does Susan put up with Martin? Why does he stay with his mother when it’s clear he hates her? What happened to Martin’s father? Did he disappear to New Zealand, as susan says? And who is the stranger in town, Adam, and why is he here? It’s a very good book as well as a commentary on domestic abuse and the reasons why people don’t intervene.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read but very frustrating. I just wanted to scream at many of the characters (all female) to get a bleedin' backbone and take charge! Yet, that is her point and being a Yorke novel, you know that some violent end will happen due to these twisted personalities.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, a great mystery type of book my Yorke. I find that all of her stories are so gripping, maybe because they're about real blue-collar people. Often, you want to give a few of the female characters a shake or two, but that's the sign of a great author.