Murder Plot

Dr. Lance Elliot #1

by Keith McCarthy

It is South London, UK, in the middle of the 1970s. The summer is long and hot and in Thornton Heath - a quite little suburb - little of note happens. When Charlie Daniels is found dead on his gardening allotment, it appears to be natural causes, but local doctor Lance Elliot isn't so sure. He has questions, such as just how did his patient Wilhelmina Wylie know about the death so quickly when she is housebound and her house is far from the site of the death? And then he discovers that the Thornton Heath Horticultural Society is not as tranquil is at it at first appears, for there are secrets and hidden jealousies. The scathing Inspector Masson doesn't welcome Lance's intervention, but the deaths keep happening around him, and he is inevitably drawn in. He little realises, though, that he is placing those close to him in danger.

Genres: Mystery

300 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2008

About the author

Keith McCarthy is a pathologist and writer of crime fiction, known for his Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries. He also writes under the name Lance Elliot.

Series:
* Dr. Lance Elliot
* Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries

Reviews

[Mitch Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Plot (2008) by Lance Elliot (the pseudonym of Dr Keith McCarthy) is an interesting little find which is set in 1975.

It follows the story of the murder of Charlie Daniels who is a retired hard-man who is found murdered on his allotment. But everyone seems to think the man died of natural causes. Enter Dr Lance Elliot (who is also the name of the detective in the novels, this being the first book in the series) who thinks otherwise.

The case draws Dr Elliot into a web of lies surrounding the Thornton Health Horticulture and Allotment Association. This is a very cozy mystery and keeps your attention throughout. It reminded me of Midsomer Murders. The plot was weaved together in a similar type of way. It’s also a very English story and the dialogue is very natural and fits beautifully into the plot. The writing in general is very natural in this book. Lance Elliot is also a detective you take to very easily and you find yourself willing him on to succeed. His relationship with his father is also lovely to read. There was much humour in this book too. And the ending was very well thought out and not expected.

A very entertaining read. It’s very hard to put down once you start reading it.

[Robert Crouch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this entertaining cosy mystery buried among the books on my Kindle. The story’s set in 1975. GP, Lance Elliott, becomes involved in a murder investigation when members of the nearby allotment start dying in suspicious circumstances. Being a local GP, most of the victims and suspects are known to him, though this doesn’t seem to help him much as he grapples with the investigation.

The story is told from Lance’s viewpoint in a gentle, humorous way as if he constantly doubts what’s happening to him. While he’s an almost reluctant investigator, his father, a retired GP, has no self-doubts, throwing himself into the fray with gusto. The scenes between the two of them are among the most amusing and memorable in the story.

With the help of the local police and the usual red herrings and secrets, the story almost strolls along until the final stages when the momentum builds to an exciting climax and reveal.

If you enjoy a gentle cosy mystery with a good puzzle at its heart, and no bad language or unnecessary violence, then this story is worth a look.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit uncertain while reading this book but, having finished it, I really enjoyed it and have added the other two books in the series to my wishlist. I was not entirely sympathetic to the narrator, but he improved during the course of the book and the relationship with his father was very well written. I look forward to seeing how it develops in the later books - and also his relationship with the policeman. I think the only unanswered question I have is: why did the narrator choose to write this story down 30 years later? (and how come his memory of specific conversations was so good after that time?) but that is relatively minor.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Charlie Daniels dies on his allotment the verdict is natural causes. But Dr Lance Elliot is undecided especially when another member of the allotment dies. By then Inspector Masson takes charge.
Set in 1975 this cozy mystery is an enjoyable well-written story. With the added plus of likeable main characters.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

With only a few euros in my pocket in the Dublin airport, I was able to purchase this keen little mystery. Quite unlike our techno sitting on the edge of your seat mysteries here in the States.