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Fatal Solution
1896, a body is found in the burnt out remnants of a workshop, in a village still shaken from a terrible industrial tragedy two years previously. Inspector Chard’s attempts to solve the mystery of the dead body are interrupted by the discovery of two men, mysteriously struck down whilst sat on a bench close to the river.
When the cause of death is discovered to be a deadly poison, the suspects (including the inspector’s lover) need to be tracked down relentlessly. The savage murder of a prostitute adds to the complexity of the case. Industrial espionage, revenge and a vicious sexual predator are all obstacles for the good inspector as he seeks the Fatal Solution.
When the cause of death is discovered to be a deadly poison, the suspects (including the inspector’s lover) need to be tracked down relentlessly. The savage murder of a prostitute adds to the complexity of the case. Industrial espionage, revenge and a vicious sexual predator are all obstacles for the good inspector as he seeks the Fatal Solution.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 20, 2021
This is the second in the Inspector Chard novels. Chard is an Englishman from Shropshire who ends up as an Inspector in the Welsh Valleys boom town of Pontypridd in the 1890s. Set against the backdrop of the recent massive Albion colliery disaster and the fight for control of the hugely lucrative Welsh rail industry. Chard isn't quite a fish out of water but he is definitely in the wrong river. Three murders happen in quick succession. Are they linked? Can he stop his bumbling superior from interfering? Can he stop internal jealousies in the ranks. The Welsh Wyatt Earp has his hands full.
I absolutely loved this book and if I could give more than 5 stars I would. It succeeds on all fronts.
Historically it is excellently researched and presented. You are living the period from such nuggets as cocaine being legal, to workhouse ettiquette to the day to day life of a miner.
The whodunnit aspect of the book is also excellent. The author sets numerous traps for you to fall into. Just when you think you know who the villain is, they are exonerated and the spotlight falls on someone else. I have been known to spot the killer early on in a crime fiction novel, however on this occasion the author had me flummoxed until the reveal. Then of course with hindsight the path to the killer is all too clear.
Thirdly and most impressively he gets the culture of the Valleys right. I am from the valleys and in all the years that I have been reading, I always looked for two things. First to expand my view of the world that I am not familiar with. Secondly I have always looked to find books that reflect my heritage, and my sense of belonging, to show me, my own hinterland. The valleys are quite a large part of south wales with a large population but are hardly noticeable in literature. The only notable exceptions that I found as a young man being How green was my valley by Richard Llewellyn and Rape of the Fair Country by Alexander Cordell. While both have their merits I always felt they didn't quite nail it. Llewellyn was actually an Englishman and I think sub-consciously was describing the valleys from the outside looking in (although the character of Dai Bando was superb, and I saw many men of that type.) While Cordell's world was about ironmaking not coal. The culture of the valleys is very different from any other part of Wales. I have heard said about the valleys that Cardiff was only a few miles and different world away. I feel the author gets the feel of the valleys.
This book ticks all the boxes and more for me. After reading this book, I immediately went and bought the first in the series. I think I may have a new favourite author and his name is Leslie Scase.
I absolutely loved this book and if I could give more than 5 stars I would. It succeeds on all fronts.
Historically it is excellently researched and presented. You are living the period from such nuggets as cocaine being legal, to workhouse ettiquette to the day to day life of a miner.
The whodunnit aspect of the book is also excellent. The author sets numerous traps for you to fall into. Just when you think you know who the villain is, they are exonerated and the spotlight falls on someone else. I have been known to spot the killer early on in a crime fiction novel, however on this occasion the author had me flummoxed until the reveal. Then of course with hindsight the path to the killer is all too clear.
Thirdly and most impressively he gets the culture of the Valleys right. I am from the valleys and in all the years that I have been reading, I always looked for two things. First to expand my view of the world that I am not familiar with. Secondly I have always looked to find books that reflect my heritage, and my sense of belonging, to show me, my own hinterland. The valleys are quite a large part of south wales with a large population but are hardly noticeable in literature. The only notable exceptions that I found as a young man being How green was my valley by Richard Llewellyn and Rape of the Fair Country by Alexander Cordell. While both have their merits I always felt they didn't quite nail it. Llewellyn was actually an Englishman and I think sub-consciously was describing the valleys from the outside looking in (although the character of Dai Bando was superb, and I saw many men of that type.) While Cordell's world was about ironmaking not coal. The culture of the valleys is very different from any other part of Wales. I have heard said about the valleys that Cardiff was only a few miles and different world away. I feel the author gets the feel of the valleys.
This book ticks all the boxes and more for me. After reading this book, I immediately went and bought the first in the series. I think I may have a new favourite author and his name is Leslie Scase.
February 6, 2024
Inspector Chard’s workload is about to go through the roof, a body found in a burnet building, two businessmen struck down with a mystery illness in and then a vicious sexual predator. Chard faces many challenges, but his biggest one might be the one that hurts him the most.
Book two of the Inspector Chard series and it’s an absolute cracker. Wonderful storytelling from Leslie Scase. Chard’s character continues to develop and it’ll be interesting to see what the impact of this story has on him in the future. As well as a wonderful historic crime story, the author also provides the real history behind the events of the book. A great read.
Book two of the Inspector Chard series and it’s an absolute cracker. Wonderful storytelling from Leslie Scase. Chard’s character continues to develop and it’ll be interesting to see what the impact of this story has on him in the future. As well as a wonderful historic crime story, the author also provides the real history behind the events of the book. A great read.
April 23, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this - certainly helped initially by my own link to the area the book is set in, the novel is also a great mystery novel in its own right. Whilst not entirely historically accurate, it's clear the author has done a lot of detailed research on the time period and most importantly the Welsh Valleys in general, making for an engrossing and enjoyable read. I certainly hadn't guessed whodunit, always a good hallmark of a mystery novel!
January 5, 2025
While not as thrilling or quite so easy to follow the plot as in the 1st of the Insp. Chard series, the story was still an enjoyable read. A person is consumed by fire and others are poisoned. With rivalries between Train Companies and resulting violence the Inspector has a large case load to get through. A little romance has also been introduced into this novel, new friendships are made and some lost. Set in Pontypridd during 1894
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews