Looking Down

Sarah Fortune #4

by Frances Fyfield

Richard Beaumont hoped to see the elusive chough on the Dover cliffs. Instead he sees a young woman falling to her death. No-one recognises her, no-one has reported her missing, and Richard returns, shaken, to his new young wife, but instead of finding solace in Lilian's company, he locks himself away and obsessively paints the scene of the woman's broken body on the rocks. His cool behaviour towards her takes Lilian to the flat below and the wordly-wise company of Sarah Fortune. But Sarah, once Richard's lover, is awkward with her and is also preoccupied with her brother's unbreakable habit of cat-burglary, and the suspicious traffic to the penthouse at the top of the mansion block. Unable to forget what he witnessed, Richard returns to the coast and is befriended by the local police surgeon. Recently widowed, John is depressed, not so much by his wife's death but by the realisation that his marriage had been a loveless void. Recognising the symptoms, Richard introduces him to Sarah, so that she can no longer ignore the Beaumonts' troubles and is drawn into helping to trace where the dead girl came from and in so doing reveals a trade which is both breath-takingly lucrative and chillingly cruel.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Aka Frances Hegarty.

Frances Fyfield is a criminal lawyer, who lives in London and in Deal, by the sea which is her passion. She has won several awards, including the CWA Silver Dagger.

She grew up in rural Derbyshire, but spent most of her adult life in London, with long intervals in Norfolk and Deal, all inspiring places. She was educated mostly in convent schools; then studied English at Newcastle University and went on to qualify as a solicitor, working for what is now the Crown Prosecution Service, thus learning a bit about murder at second hand. She also worked for the Metropolitan Police.

Years later, writing became her real vocation. She also writes short stories for magazines and radio and is occasionally a contributor to Radio 4, (Front Row, Quote Unquote, Night Waves,) and presenter of Tales from the Stave.

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with the story. The characters were not that likable. Sarah a semi prostitute with a kind heart. Her brother with his zing obsession. The wealthy Richard Beaumont suffering early stage dementia and his obsession with painting and birds. Gillian his young attractive wife worried about him and then the Chinese living in the Penthouse.

I liked the coastal descriptions and the information about Chough’s and ravens. Edwin the reclusive over protective of birds eccentric. A murder of a girl which Richard sees and blocks out. The art aspect was interesting and her brother liberating art.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The story has way too many coincidences and it makes no sense. Mindy the Chinese slave escapes and follows Richard to the coast where she arrived hoping to get a boat back to her home. Makes no sense. Unless she is mad. Edwin throws her off the cliff to protect the ravens and Richard sees it but blocks the memory. Mindy’s sister escapes too with the aid of her amateur burglar brother. It all felt a bit contrived.

[Arwen Fowler-jonsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the plot of the book and there were some other small redeeming qualities but the characters were hard to keep ---ahhh I can not think of the word I want to use. It just seemed I had to flip back and forth between pages to make sure I was reading about the right person.

[Lesley Barr · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to read but I persevered to the end. The plot was weak and the style of writing made this book a challenge to read. It felt like the author overcompensated with elaborate imagery which did nothing but confuse the reader. The ending was a disappointment too....

[Kirsten Oetting · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn't really like it

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. Gentle, dated almost in its style, which is perhaps Englishness rather than just the contrast to the noir of much of the Scottish crime I read and more thoroughly get excited by. Perhaps this lost out a bit for the slightly overdone coincidence of the plotting, the eccentricity of the characters, yet it has its place and the ruminating can be thought-provoking.

[Tim Armstrong · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was bleak, a bit like the location of the book, but that isn't meant as a criticism. This was my first Sarah Fortune, so not sure how to view her. But Fyfield is a fabulous writer.
I've read some of the Helen West books - years ago, but Sarah Fortune is very different.
A concise, literary writer. Always solid.

[Malcolm Tang · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked up this book for free from a book-exchange fair, and after a night's struggle I finally understood the reason the book was given away for free.

[Alex Goulder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-done contemporary London murder mystery a la Peter Lovesey. Sarah Fortune, the tart with a heart , is intelligent and intriguing. If a man wrote her, I would say she was purely male fantasy. The fact that a woman did makes her more believeable.

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not every character has to be loveable. Sadly the characters in Looking Down are not even likable. Still, I read the book to the end hoping. Nope!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting characters but somewhat overworked. Definitely not a page turner, the resolution a little predictable.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a 3.5

Not bad. Definitely different, unique take on a standard not complex mystery plot. I enjoyed it but didn't love it.