Night Visit

by Priscilla Masters

“It is always a joy to discover a new crime writer with a sure touch and the capacity to shock.”—Peter Lovesey “Priscilla Masters is fast establishing herself as a highly regarded novelist in the detective story genre.”— Staffordshire Evening Sentinel During a New Year’s Eve party, Dr. Harriet Lamont is called to the house of an old man. As he is taken to the hospital, he begs Harriet to discover what happened to his six-year-old granddaughter, who vanished a decade earlier. Soon Harriet suspects her threatening patient is the killer, and she may be the next victim.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Priscilla Masters' writing career started in 1987 when she published Mr. Bateman's Garden, a children's book set in Biddulph Grange Gardens belonging to the National Trust. After that she created Inspector Joanna Piercy and has now also written a number of Medical Mysteries.

Priscilla Masters lives in Shropshire, England. She works part-time in Staffordshire as a practice nurse.

Reviews

[Damaskcat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed with this book. Having devoured the same author's Martha Gunn series back to back I was looking forward to something equally absorbing. Unfortunately this wasn't it.

Harriet is a GP even though she doesn't really like people and regards her work as just a job. Her marriage has broken up because of husband Robin's philandering and she is left to bring up her daughter alone. She becomes absorbed by the case of a missing girl from ten years ago when the girl's grandfather asks her to find out what happened to 'Melanie Toadstool' as he is dying.

Harriet is an intelligent woman and yet she makes so many mistakes. She lets her prejudices override her common sense and her analytical skills and chases off after red herrings when the reader can see clearly she ought to be concentrating on what is under her nose.

I did think the characters were well drawn though I could not quite believe in Harriet herself and did not particularly like her. Not a book for me I'm afraid though it may well appeal to others especially those who like crime stories with a medical background.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not get past the main character's lack of judgement and insight, as well as her inability to see what was right in front of her face. Thick as a plank is the best desciption for the nice doctor.