Craven Scar

Yorkshire Dales Mystery #4

by Susan Parry

When Georgina O’Neill disappears without trace, a postcard arrives convincing everyone that she is fine…everyone except her husband, Tim. When he meets Mills Sanderson at a wedding in Burnsall three years later, he begs her to help him find Georgina. But is it too late to unravel the clues she left behind?

The best man, Phil Freedman, hasn’t seen Claudia Bishop since university days. She now runs her own forensic science service. But when there is a serious crime committed in Richmond – and the forensic analysis is provided by Bishop laboratories – he wishes they hadn’t renewed their acquaintance.

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2010

About the author

I am the author of a series of crime novels set in the Yorkshire Dales, featuring Mills Sanderson a young woman trained as a forensic archaeologist. I fell in love with the Dales thirty years ago and enjoy researching the villages and fells for the books. Sense of place is an important aspect of my work. I am a university professor with experience of forensic analysis that informs my writing and I take my research for the books very seriously. There are currently eleven books in the series .

Reviews

[Helen Birkbeck]

I enjoyed the intertwining of three plot lines in this book as Mills/Millie (still irritating to have two names!) investigated an old murder while trying to set up an archaeological project. I enjoy the Nige/Nina/Jake storyline and really liked the introduction of Brenda, who is realistic and relatable (unlike Claudia!). It was nice to see a better side to Fiona and to meet Helen again. As I fell in love with the Dales while walking Mastiles Lane, I loved the setting too.

The incorrect placing of apostrophes ('parent's house' instead of 'parents'...') and the inconsistent use of the vocative case (and yes, it does matter, because 'I know John' is not the same as 'I know, John'!) was a little less frequent than before, though why the book wasn't checked for misspellings such as 'Ilkeley' and 'Newby Whiske' I don't know. It would have added to the enjoyability of a very good series without, I'm sure, costing the publisher too much.

[Anji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read from Susan Parry. Good plot. Good, believable characters. Good outcome (not one of those with an inconclusive ending). Personally love that these stories are about places local to me.

[Mrs Lianne Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

Another intriguing adventure for Mills and her friends as she investigates the disappearance of a teacher. Meanwhile Brenda is looking into the identity of a woman's body found unexpectedly. Along the way Mills has to deal with the 're-marriage of her father and problems with her boyfriend Phil. Well-written and interesting, I look forward to reading the next in the series.