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A Death in the Afternoon
Summer 1948
London swelters amid post-war reconstruction, while continued rationing and the black-market fuel the rising crime wave. The empires of gangland bosses grow and thrive, protected by corruption and bribery.
During a party in Clapham a student nurse from the South London Hospital for Women and Children dies in a fall from a balcony. Is it an unfortunate accident as the local police believe? Or something more sinister?
The nurse’s friends ask a newly qualified female detective constable to investigate, a woman who is facing difficulties of her own. Before long all are drawn into the criminals’ deadly games, as gangsters jostle for territory and power. With the solution almost within grasp, their lives are threatened and one of them faces a dreadful fate.
Can the others find her before it’s too late?
And what is the truth about...
A Death in the Afternoon?
London swelters amid post-war reconstruction, while continued rationing and the black-market fuel the rising crime wave. The empires of gangland bosses grow and thrive, protected by corruption and bribery.
During a party in Clapham a student nurse from the South London Hospital for Women and Children dies in a fall from a balcony. Is it an unfortunate accident as the local police believe? Or something more sinister?
The nurse’s friends ask a newly qualified female detective constable to investigate, a woman who is facing difficulties of her own. Before long all are drawn into the criminals’ deadly games, as gangsters jostle for territory and power. With the solution almost within grasp, their lives are threatened and one of them faces a dreadful fate.
Can the others find her before it’s too late?
And what is the truth about...
A Death in the Afternoon?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2025
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Julie J. Anderson
16 books41 followersJulie Anderson is the CWA Dagger listed author of three Whitehall thrillers and a short series of historical adventure stories for young adults. Before becoming a crime fiction writer, she was a senior civil servant, working across a variety of departments and agencies, including the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Unlike her protagonists, however, she doesn’t know where (all) the bodies are buried.
She writes crime fiction reviews for Time and Leisure Magazine and is a co-founder and Trustee of the Clapham Book Festival. She lives in south London where her latest crime fiction series is set, returning to her first love of writing historical fiction with The Midnight Man, for Hobeck Books. The first in the Clapham Trilogy, the second, A Death in the Afternoon will be published in April 2025.
Her books are available in bookshops, at Bookshop.org and on Amazon and Waterstones.
She blogs occasionally about things which interest her at www.julieandersonwriter.com and tweets occasionally at Twitter.com/jjulieanderson
She writes crime fiction reviews for Time and Leisure Magazine and is a co-founder and Trustee of the Clapham Book Festival. She lives in south London where her latest crime fiction series is set, returning to her first love of writing historical fiction with The Midnight Man, for Hobeck Books. The first in the Clapham Trilogy, the second, A Death in the Afternoon will be published in April 2025.
Her books are available in bookshops, at Bookshop.org and on Amazon and Waterstones.
She blogs occasionally about things which interest her at www.julieandersonwriter.com and tweets occasionally at Twitter.com/jjulieanderson
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 1, 2025
London, 1948.
Faye Smith has recently qualified as a female police officer, and she’s to join the Criminal Investigation Department as a Detective Constable. She will have a lot to prove, as she’s met with hostility, jealousy and misogyny.
Faye used to work at South London Hospital with Ellie, her flatmate. Beryl, one of the nurses working there had a student, Violet, who fell from a great height. Violet was at a party and because she smelled of drink, the police presumed that she was drunk. Beryl is adamant that Violet was teetotal, and that it wasn’t an accident.
Faye’s first task is to familiarise herself with the current London gangs, but in her spare time, she’s working on Violet’s case.
Soon, Faye discovers a potential link between the gang and Violet’s “fall”. However, she doesn’t realise that her life is in danger…
This is the second book in the Clapham Trilogy. Although you can read it as a standalone novel, I recommend to read the first book, The Midnight Man, as it’s such a fabulous read. Plus, you get to meet the characters and find out more about them.
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It’s a slow burner, but it does pick up the pace halfway through.
This book paints a picture of what life was like after the war: rations were still in place, people were placed in pre-fab houses to cope with the housing crisis, and the NHS was born. Furthermore, misogyny in the police force and racism towards the Windrush generation was also prevalent.
I definitely recommend it.
Faye Smith has recently qualified as a female police officer, and she’s to join the Criminal Investigation Department as a Detective Constable. She will have a lot to prove, as she’s met with hostility, jealousy and misogyny.
Faye used to work at South London Hospital with Ellie, her flatmate. Beryl, one of the nurses working there had a student, Violet, who fell from a great height. Violet was at a party and because she smelled of drink, the police presumed that she was drunk. Beryl is adamant that Violet was teetotal, and that it wasn’t an accident.
Faye’s first task is to familiarise herself with the current London gangs, but in her spare time, she’s working on Violet’s case.
Soon, Faye discovers a potential link between the gang and Violet’s “fall”. However, she doesn’t realise that her life is in danger…
This is the second book in the Clapham Trilogy. Although you can read it as a standalone novel, I recommend to read the first book, The Midnight Man, as it’s such a fabulous read. Plus, you get to meet the characters and find out more about them.
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It’s a slow burner, but it does pick up the pace halfway through.
This book paints a picture of what life was like after the war: rations were still in place, people were placed in pre-fab houses to cope with the housing crisis, and the NHS was born. Furthermore, misogyny in the police force and racism towards the Windrush generation was also prevalent.
I definitely recommend it.
September 16, 2025
This is a fantastic murder mystery set in post-war London. Written from 2 female POV, we have the FMC, Faye who has recently joined the police force, and Ellie, an administrator at the local hospital for women and children.
When a student nurse from the hospital is found dead, the police put it down to an accident. But Beryl, her mentor and best friend to Faye and Ellie is convinced there is more to it. She asks Faye to investigate, and even though she is trying to settle in to her new role in a male orientated world, she obliges. But with her day job and this suspected murder, she is suddenly thrown into the world of gangsters and snitches...and suddenly life becomes much more dangerous.
I adored Faye and Ellie from reading the first book, and I loved being back with them seeing how they were getting on. I absolutely love these books by Anderson, because the historical accuracy in them is phenomenal. The way she write completely transports you back to post-war Britain and you genuinely feel like your there. Her descriptions are fantastic. Every time I read one of her novels, I learn loads of new and interesting facts, and for a history geek, I couldn't ask for me!
This story really shows how post-war Britain was coping with the rebuild, as well as the arrival of immigrants. And with Faye taking up a job in a male-dominated job, we see plenty of discrimation and misogyny, which would have been the case.
The plot is fantastic and kept me turning the pages. There were plenty of heart-racing moments to keep me on my seat and I 100% didn't see the story unravelling as it did. So if you're looking for a fantastic historical fiction murder mystery, with loveable FMCs and a brilliant story, then this is for you!
When a student nurse from the hospital is found dead, the police put it down to an accident. But Beryl, her mentor and best friend to Faye and Ellie is convinced there is more to it. She asks Faye to investigate, and even though she is trying to settle in to her new role in a male orientated world, she obliges. But with her day job and this suspected murder, she is suddenly thrown into the world of gangsters and snitches...and suddenly life becomes much more dangerous.
I adored Faye and Ellie from reading the first book, and I loved being back with them seeing how they were getting on. I absolutely love these books by Anderson, because the historical accuracy in them is phenomenal. The way she write completely transports you back to post-war Britain and you genuinely feel like your there. Her descriptions are fantastic. Every time I read one of her novels, I learn loads of new and interesting facts, and for a history geek, I couldn't ask for me!
This story really shows how post-war Britain was coping with the rebuild, as well as the arrival of immigrants. And with Faye taking up a job in a male-dominated job, we see plenty of discrimation and misogyny, which would have been the case.
The plot is fantastic and kept me turning the pages. There were plenty of heart-racing moments to keep me on my seat and I 100% didn't see the story unravelling as it did. So if you're looking for a fantastic historical fiction murder mystery, with loveable FMCs and a brilliant story, then this is for you!
August 24, 2025
Julie Anderson's writing gets better and better. She has created believable heroines, likeable but not perfect, and engaged the reader in their struggles to lead fulfilling lives in a rapidly changing society. The friends' determination to solve a murder exposes and examines many of the upheavals going on in post war London society. This book is the second in the Clapham Trilogy and I can't wait for the third.
June 3, 2025
It’s now 1948 and Clapham is experiencing change, though rationing is still in force to the delight of the black marketeers. Organised crime has flourished, growing largely unchecked during a war where resources were directed to defeating the enemy. Now they are set to reap rich rewards from the construction boom to rebuild the city, thanks to bribery and corruption.
The populous of Clapham is changing too, with the first influx of Wind Rush Caribbeans arriving, in search of a better life. Naturally, many will look to the hospital and transport system for employment.
Horizons are opening too for Faye Smith, who having left her position as canteen manager at the South London Hospital for Women and Children and gone through her police training. Chief Superintendent Phillip Morgan, godfather of her best friend Ellie Peveril, has offered her a place as a detective constable in a new specialist unit. A great opportunity, a privilege but failure would be not only devastating for her chosen career, but also that of any women following with dreams of becoming a detective. Quite a lot of pressure for Faye to deal with then.
When at a party a young nurse from the Women’s hospital falls from a balcony to her death, the incident is written off as a drunken accident by the police. Her friends cannot accept this, she was not a drinker, they believe somebody is trying to cover up her murder. Friends do what they always have, rely on each other, so they ask Faye to investigate the incident for them. She has enough to deal with but agrees to help, thereby putting her own life in danger.
Another fabulous immediate post-war noir infused with plenty of brio. The author aims for the vibe of the British noir and B movies of the period and finds bullseye, capturing the essence without becoming a pastiche. One could imagine it being screened, but some of the themes tackled are not tackled in a way that contemporary movies would. It’s a great approach; it captures the time and the place but doesn’t offend the modern readers sensibilities.
The South London setting is a backdrop made perfect by the introduction of the annual Hospital fete, with a funfair at its centre point. Funfairs seem a bit old hat to many of us now but in a period of postwar austerity, where entertainment was the pub or the movies, they were really something special and some of this excitement spills into the story. The reader knows they are promised a good time from the carousel horse on the arresting cover of the book. They were also prevalent in the movies on the period, and the story provides a perfect little homage to one (the clue is in the name of the police dog.)
The friendship of the two women, from very different backgrounds but with similar character traits of strength and determination, is what make the stories work. The interactions between the two are great, but it is the way that they engage others and rally round in a way that men never seem to manage with their friendships, that stands out.
The plot begins with the death of the nurse, but leads into the gangland underworld of fraud, bribery and corruption, with a sprinkling of authentic violence. As Faye quickly discovers, she in now digging in a dangerous world of seemingly untouchable bosses and underlings who will kill at the drop of a hat. Faye faces concerning but low-level incidents, that ratchet up into greater danger before an ‘edge of your seats’ dramatic denouement that feels just right.
Faye’s story arc is a classic one of the woman in a man’s world in need of redemption. She may be inquisitive and a natural detective, but she is also impulsive and a little naïve. She cannot fail, so after an impetuous start, she is constantly trying to find the answer and prove her suspicions right, at the risk to her own personal safety.
This was a period of great change in a country recovering from war, epitomised by two of the themes of race and sexism, which are sensitively covered.
A Death in the Afternoon is a wonderfully entertaining and atmospheric period noir that doesn’t shy away from the social issues of the day.
The populous of Clapham is changing too, with the first influx of Wind Rush Caribbeans arriving, in search of a better life. Naturally, many will look to the hospital and transport system for employment.
Horizons are opening too for Faye Smith, who having left her position as canteen manager at the South London Hospital for Women and Children and gone through her police training. Chief Superintendent Phillip Morgan, godfather of her best friend Ellie Peveril, has offered her a place as a detective constable in a new specialist unit. A great opportunity, a privilege but failure would be not only devastating for her chosen career, but also that of any women following with dreams of becoming a detective. Quite a lot of pressure for Faye to deal with then.
When at a party a young nurse from the Women’s hospital falls from a balcony to her death, the incident is written off as a drunken accident by the police. Her friends cannot accept this, she was not a drinker, they believe somebody is trying to cover up her murder. Friends do what they always have, rely on each other, so they ask Faye to investigate the incident for them. She has enough to deal with but agrees to help, thereby putting her own life in danger.
Another fabulous immediate post-war noir infused with plenty of brio. The author aims for the vibe of the British noir and B movies of the period and finds bullseye, capturing the essence without becoming a pastiche. One could imagine it being screened, but some of the themes tackled are not tackled in a way that contemporary movies would. It’s a great approach; it captures the time and the place but doesn’t offend the modern readers sensibilities.
The South London setting is a backdrop made perfect by the introduction of the annual Hospital fete, with a funfair at its centre point. Funfairs seem a bit old hat to many of us now but in a period of postwar austerity, where entertainment was the pub or the movies, they were really something special and some of this excitement spills into the story. The reader knows they are promised a good time from the carousel horse on the arresting cover of the book. They were also prevalent in the movies on the period, and the story provides a perfect little homage to one (the clue is in the name of the police dog.)
The friendship of the two women, from very different backgrounds but with similar character traits of strength and determination, is what make the stories work. The interactions between the two are great, but it is the way that they engage others and rally round in a way that men never seem to manage with their friendships, that stands out.
The plot begins with the death of the nurse, but leads into the gangland underworld of fraud, bribery and corruption, with a sprinkling of authentic violence. As Faye quickly discovers, she in now digging in a dangerous world of seemingly untouchable bosses and underlings who will kill at the drop of a hat. Faye faces concerning but low-level incidents, that ratchet up into greater danger before an ‘edge of your seats’ dramatic denouement that feels just right.
Faye’s story arc is a classic one of the woman in a man’s world in need of redemption. She may be inquisitive and a natural detective, but she is also impulsive and a little naïve. She cannot fail, so after an impetuous start, she is constantly trying to find the answer and prove her suspicions right, at the risk to her own personal safety.
This was a period of great change in a country recovering from war, epitomised by two of the themes of race and sexism, which are sensitively covered.
A Death in the Afternoon is a wonderfully entertaining and atmospheric period noir that doesn’t shy away from the social issues of the day.
April 28, 2025
A Death in the Afternoon by Julie Anderson publishes April 29th 2025 with Hobeck Books and is book 2 in The Clapham Trilogy, following on from The Midnight Man which was released in April 2024.
Set in the 1948, The South London Hospital (The SLH) for Women and Children continues to be a central location in A Death in the Afternoon. In The Midnight Man readers were introduced to a super bunch of brave and strong women, in particular Faye Smith and Ellie Peverill. A friendship was formed during some very difficult times but, since then, Faye has left her job in the canteen of the hospital. After her investigative abilities were noticed by certain people she was encouraged to join the ranks of the local police force.
Faye is feisty and with her highly tuned skills and inquisitive mind, she relishes this new role as a detective constable. Faye knows she has to prove herself to the team for various reasons and is determined not to slip up. When she hears of a student nurse's tragic death, Faye, like everyone is both shocked and saddened but it soon becomes clear that all is not as it seems. Faye trusts the opinions of her ex-colleagues at the SLH that something more sinister has occurred but, without evidence, she is challenged. Stepping on the toes of other officers is not how Faye wishes to launch her career but her inability to remain neutral when she has a whiff of something remiss does not sit well with her.
Faye asks around and gets a few unexpected answers while also unwittingly rattling the nests of a few shadowy individuals. As snippets of information reveal themselves to Faye, she realises that something fishy is going on. With very visual descriptions of a post-war society, Julie Anderson has created a very authentic setting. Rations, grief, devastation and loss sit alongside hope and dreams for a brighter future. But amidst the post-war destruction a criminal element is climbing up out of the gutter and claiming parts of London as its own. In parallel with the arrival of the Windrush Generation, society is changing and many struggle with this new world. Faye has to battle daily with a very misogynistic environment where many are of the opinion that she, and all women, should not be in positions commonly allocated to men. But Faye was never one to back down and her determination for justice ruffles a few wrong features along the way. Has Faye pushed too far this time? Will her fearlessness put her life in danger?
A Death in the Afternoon is a terrific addition to this series. Atmospheric to the core, Julie Anderson has created a very authentic world with a convincing cast of characters and a story that engages the reader. While this novel could be read as a standalone I do recommend you start with book 1, The Midnight Man, to really immerse yourself properly in Julie Anderson's reimagined 1940's London.
At its core A Death in the Afternoon is a murder mystery, a whodunit, packed with nasty criminals, an intriguing plot and a gutsy protagonist but it also incorporates romance, family dynamics and the role of women in a fast-moving and changing society. A thoroughly enjoyable read, A Death in the Afternoon also sufficiently tantalising the reader in preparation for the final book in the trilogy.
Set in the 1948, The South London Hospital (The SLH) for Women and Children continues to be a central location in A Death in the Afternoon. In The Midnight Man readers were introduced to a super bunch of brave and strong women, in particular Faye Smith and Ellie Peverill. A friendship was formed during some very difficult times but, since then, Faye has left her job in the canteen of the hospital. After her investigative abilities were noticed by certain people she was encouraged to join the ranks of the local police force.
Faye is feisty and with her highly tuned skills and inquisitive mind, she relishes this new role as a detective constable. Faye knows she has to prove herself to the team for various reasons and is determined not to slip up. When she hears of a student nurse's tragic death, Faye, like everyone is both shocked and saddened but it soon becomes clear that all is not as it seems. Faye trusts the opinions of her ex-colleagues at the SLH that something more sinister has occurred but, without evidence, she is challenged. Stepping on the toes of other officers is not how Faye wishes to launch her career but her inability to remain neutral when she has a whiff of something remiss does not sit well with her.
Faye asks around and gets a few unexpected answers while also unwittingly rattling the nests of a few shadowy individuals. As snippets of information reveal themselves to Faye, she realises that something fishy is going on. With very visual descriptions of a post-war society, Julie Anderson has created a very authentic setting. Rations, grief, devastation and loss sit alongside hope and dreams for a brighter future. But amidst the post-war destruction a criminal element is climbing up out of the gutter and claiming parts of London as its own. In parallel with the arrival of the Windrush Generation, society is changing and many struggle with this new world. Faye has to battle daily with a very misogynistic environment where many are of the opinion that she, and all women, should not be in positions commonly allocated to men. But Faye was never one to back down and her determination for justice ruffles a few wrong features along the way. Has Faye pushed too far this time? Will her fearlessness put her life in danger?
A Death in the Afternoon is a terrific addition to this series. Atmospheric to the core, Julie Anderson has created a very authentic world with a convincing cast of characters and a story that engages the reader. While this novel could be read as a standalone I do recommend you start with book 1, The Midnight Man, to really immerse yourself properly in Julie Anderson's reimagined 1940's London.
At its core A Death in the Afternoon is a murder mystery, a whodunit, packed with nasty criminals, an intriguing plot and a gutsy protagonist but it also incorporates romance, family dynamics and the role of women in a fast-moving and changing society. A thoroughly enjoyable read, A Death in the Afternoon also sufficiently tantalising the reader in preparation for the final book in the trilogy.
April 29, 2025
Here is my review for A Death In The Afternoon by Julie Anderson
I loved reading this crime thriller which I got into straight away right from the start. The author’s writing style is so easy to read and get into. I enjoyed the plot and I believe the author has done some research before writing this story which enhances the story making it more believable. I really like Faye who changed her mind and joined the police force. It appears that she has done really well at everything that she has tried and she is now joining a unit as a female detective constable. She gets involved in trying to solve the death of a young student nurse who fell from a balcony during a party at a block of flats in Clapham. She fell from the fourth floor. It’s a brilliant story which I just couldn’t put down as I wanted to know what happened next. The characters were interesting and had been thought about. I liked the synopsis and it drew me to read the book. The book was extremely well written and it’s very descriptive with lots of descriptive text describing everything really well. This is a terrific series which I really like reading.
Blurb :
Summer 1948
London swelters amid post-war reconstruction, while continued rationing and the black-market fuel the rising crime wave. The empires of gangland bosses grow and thrive, protected by corruption and bribery.
During a party in Clapham a student nurse from the South London Hospital for Women and Children dies in a fall from a balcony. Is it an unfortunate accident as the local police believe? Or something more sinister?
The nurse’s friends ask a newly qualified female detective constable to investigate, a woman who is facing difficulties of her own. Before long all are drawn into the criminals’ deadly games, as gangsters jostle for territory and power. With the solution almost within grasp, their lives are threatened and one of them faces a dreadful fate.
Can the others find her before it’s too late?
And what is the truth about...
A Death in the Afternoon?
I loved reading this crime thriller which I got into straight away right from the start. The author’s writing style is so easy to read and get into. I enjoyed the plot and I believe the author has done some research before writing this story which enhances the story making it more believable. I really like Faye who changed her mind and joined the police force. It appears that she has done really well at everything that she has tried and she is now joining a unit as a female detective constable. She gets involved in trying to solve the death of a young student nurse who fell from a balcony during a party at a block of flats in Clapham. She fell from the fourth floor. It’s a brilliant story which I just couldn’t put down as I wanted to know what happened next. The characters were interesting and had been thought about. I liked the synopsis and it drew me to read the book. The book was extremely well written and it’s very descriptive with lots of descriptive text describing everything really well. This is a terrific series which I really like reading.
Blurb :
Summer 1948
London swelters amid post-war reconstruction, while continued rationing and the black-market fuel the rising crime wave. The empires of gangland bosses grow and thrive, protected by corruption and bribery.
During a party in Clapham a student nurse from the South London Hospital for Women and Children dies in a fall from a balcony. Is it an unfortunate accident as the local police believe? Or something more sinister?
The nurse’s friends ask a newly qualified female detective constable to investigate, a woman who is facing difficulties of her own. Before long all are drawn into the criminals’ deadly games, as gangsters jostle for territory and power. With the solution almost within grasp, their lives are threatened and one of them faces a dreadful fate.
Can the others find her before it’s too late?
And what is the truth about...
A Death in the Afternoon?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2025
Last spring I read and enjoyed Julie Anderson’s The Midnight Man so I was very excited to receive an advance copy of A Death in the Afternoon, the second book in her Clapham Trilogy. I have not been disappointed.
As with the first book, A Death in the Afternoon is set in the late 1940’s around Clapham Common and the South London Hospital which is now part of the recently formed National Health Service. Again the action is described in the third person through the eyes of friends Faye and Eleanor with the chapter headings telling us whose thoughts we are following.
As before, Julie Anderson has done well to capture the atmosphere of the time; featuring post-war austerity, immigration from the Caribbean Islands, changes in society, policing methods and attitudes. She also has a love of language from that era managing to include several expressions that I haven’t heard for many years including; “daft ’apeth”!
There is an interesting mix of characters including the blend of the three friends, Ellie, Beryl and Faye who have such different backgrounds. Whilst the first two are still at the hospital, Faye is now in the police force; suffice to say that she is not typical of the policewomen of the era. Julie’s writing style is easy to follow. The action moves quickly, getting very lively in the latter stages and the solving of the crimes is intriguing. Most threads are tied up nicely, leaving a few questions unanswered, presumably for the third book.
A Death in the Afternoon can read as a stand-alone novel but it frequently refers back to the previous book and would spoil the enjoyment of subsequently reading The Midnight Man. My advice is to read the books in order. I have awarded five stars.
As with the first book, A Death in the Afternoon is set in the late 1940’s around Clapham Common and the South London Hospital which is now part of the recently formed National Health Service. Again the action is described in the third person through the eyes of friends Faye and Eleanor with the chapter headings telling us whose thoughts we are following.
As before, Julie Anderson has done well to capture the atmosphere of the time; featuring post-war austerity, immigration from the Caribbean Islands, changes in society, policing methods and attitudes. She also has a love of language from that era managing to include several expressions that I haven’t heard for many years including; “daft ’apeth”!
There is an interesting mix of characters including the blend of the three friends, Ellie, Beryl and Faye who have such different backgrounds. Whilst the first two are still at the hospital, Faye is now in the police force; suffice to say that she is not typical of the policewomen of the era. Julie’s writing style is easy to follow. The action moves quickly, getting very lively in the latter stages and the solving of the crimes is intriguing. Most threads are tied up nicely, leaving a few questions unanswered, presumably for the third book.
A Death in the Afternoon can read as a stand-alone novel but it frequently refers back to the previous book and would spoil the enjoyment of subsequently reading The Midnight Man. My advice is to read the books in order. I have awarded five stars.
March 7, 2025
Julie Anderson is back with the second installment of her post war murder mystery. Returning are most of the main characters from her first books set at the women’s hospital in London. Faye, once a hospital admin is now a detective constable, much to the chagrin of her male counterparts and they are not going to make it easy for her. A death, ruled accidental, sets Faye down a tortuous path, risking her job and her life, in order to prove it was murder.
The immediate post-war period in England is not one I am too familiar with. It’s gritty, not glamorous. People are just getting by, rations still in effect. The recovery from years of bombs is slow and steady. The empire is crumbling and waves of immigrants are arriving to fill the workforce, much to the displeasure of many. Racism is on the rise. Women, used to working during the war, are fighting to stay in their jobs as well as take on new roles. I found this time period very interesting and well portrayed in the book.
Then there is the murder mystery. A nurse from the South London Hospital for Women falls from the balcony of a high-rise. She’s been at a party, was drinking. Her death is dismissed but her friends press Faye to investigate. The dead woman was not a drinker. Slowly, Faye uncovers the truth, but not without great risk to herself. It’s a great mystery that take the reader into the criminal underworld of London.
All in all, an interesting read from both a historical perspective as well a well-plotted murder.
The immediate post-war period in England is not one I am too familiar with. It’s gritty, not glamorous. People are just getting by, rations still in effect. The recovery from years of bombs is slow and steady. The empire is crumbling and waves of immigrants are arriving to fill the workforce, much to the displeasure of many. Racism is on the rise. Women, used to working during the war, are fighting to stay in their jobs as well as take on new roles. I found this time period very interesting and well portrayed in the book.
Then there is the murder mystery. A nurse from the South London Hospital for Women falls from the balcony of a high-rise. She’s been at a party, was drinking. Her death is dismissed but her friends press Faye to investigate. The dead woman was not a drinker. Slowly, Faye uncovers the truth, but not without great risk to herself. It’s a great mystery that take the reader into the criminal underworld of London.
All in all, an interesting read from both a historical perspective as well a well-plotted murder.
April 12, 2025
Book 2 of The Clapham Trilogy and although I hadn’t read Book 1 this was easy to read as a stand alone. It is August 1948, South London and Constable Faye Smith has just been told she is being promoted to DC in the newly created CID department. She is one of very few females in such a position and is assumed to be the Chief Superintendent’s ‘bit on the side’ by most of her male colleagues. He is in fact her godfather. Written in the third person from Faye’s POV and that of her friend Eleanor ‘Ellie’ this is a good historical police procedural.
Briefly, Faye is immediately thrown into an investigation following the death of a young female nurse who has fallen from a balcony of a block of flats. The local police have called it as an accident but Faye and her former hospital colleagues and friends are suspicious so she follows her instincts which naturally land her in hot water. When the victims boyfriend is also subsequently found dead matters speed up quickly or as quickly as they can in 1948.
The author does a good job of painting a picture of life in the UK post WWII. Immigration (the Windrush generation), many women losing their jobs to men returning from the war, rationing still in place and misogyny and racism all raising their ugly heads. The story is a good one with great twists and turns and a few loose ends that I assume lead into book 3. An enjoyable and entertaining read. 4.5⭐️
Briefly, Faye is immediately thrown into an investigation following the death of a young female nurse who has fallen from a balcony of a block of flats. The local police have called it as an accident but Faye and her former hospital colleagues and friends are suspicious so she follows her instincts which naturally land her in hot water. When the victims boyfriend is also subsequently found dead matters speed up quickly or as quickly as they can in 1948.
The author does a good job of painting a picture of life in the UK post WWII. Immigration (the Windrush generation), many women losing their jobs to men returning from the war, rationing still in place and misogyny and racism all raising their ugly heads. The story is a good one with great twists and turns and a few loose ends that I assume lead into book 3. An enjoyable and entertaining read. 4.5⭐️
April 29, 2025
Book one in this series was one of my top reads last year. Therefore I went into this with high expectations and a little trepidation as to whether that standard could be maintained.
I need not have worried.
Its all change from book 1, but it had to be. The action moves away from the women's hospital, and instead follows Faye as she embarks on a career in the police as one of the first female detectives. Her appointment isn't welcomed in most quarters.
When a woman falls from a balcony and is killed, Beryl, prominent in book one, is sure it wasn't an accident.
Faye eventually gathers enough evidence and manages to uncover quite the business model by the local gangs.
One of the things that really stood out for me in book one was the historical accuracy, and that's even more evident here. Set in post World War 2 Britain, there is still rationing in place, women's jobs are being taken back by the returning men, and the new Atlee government is making changes.
I think the mention of the fear and open racism felt by the Windrush community, and equally their fear of the police was brilliantly written and balanced perfectly.
The misogyny and corruption in the police were always portrayed brilliantly. Although Faye was given a hard time, I suspect in real life it would have been much worse.
This was a really fun read, I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened, and the action really ramps up in the final third. Another triumph from a wonderful author.
I need not have worried.
Its all change from book 1, but it had to be. The action moves away from the women's hospital, and instead follows Faye as she embarks on a career in the police as one of the first female detectives. Her appointment isn't welcomed in most quarters.
When a woman falls from a balcony and is killed, Beryl, prominent in book one, is sure it wasn't an accident.
Faye eventually gathers enough evidence and manages to uncover quite the business model by the local gangs.
One of the things that really stood out for me in book one was the historical accuracy, and that's even more evident here. Set in post World War 2 Britain, there is still rationing in place, women's jobs are being taken back by the returning men, and the new Atlee government is making changes.
I think the mention of the fear and open racism felt by the Windrush community, and equally their fear of the police was brilliantly written and balanced perfectly.
The misogyny and corruption in the police were always portrayed brilliantly. Although Faye was given a hard time, I suspect in real life it would have been much worse.
This was a really fun read, I couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened, and the action really ramps up in the final third. Another triumph from a wonderful author.
May 22, 2025
Crime mystery set in CLAPHAM (London)
The novel is set in 1948 and The South London Hospital for Women & Children continues to be at the heart of the story. This is Book 2 in The Clapham Trilogy and can be read as a stand alone.
In Book 1 “The Midnight Man”, the author sets the scene for her readers. Faye Smith (formerly a canteen worker at the Hospital) has now moved on to become a police officer in the Met and is being fast-tracked into the CID. Given she is a woman, she, of course, has to go the extra mile to prove herself. Misogyny and distrust continue to be rife and women – despite their amazing recent contribution to the WW2 effort – still continue to battle for their rights and their recognition.
The death of a student nurse, tumbling from a balcony, is put down to an accident but Faye listens to the concerns of her former colleagues at the hospital and feels compelled to act, despite stiff opposition. And as she investigates, she is drawn into a world of dastardly criminal activity, and it’s a race against time when further lives are on the line.
This is an exceptionally good series that evokes time and place. The aftermath of war, food rationing (spam is the go-to food item!) and well-formed feisty, female characters all make for an immersive read.
The novel is set in 1948 and The South London Hospital for Women & Children continues to be at the heart of the story. This is Book 2 in The Clapham Trilogy and can be read as a stand alone.
In Book 1 “The Midnight Man”, the author sets the scene for her readers. Faye Smith (formerly a canteen worker at the Hospital) has now moved on to become a police officer in the Met and is being fast-tracked into the CID. Given she is a woman, she, of course, has to go the extra mile to prove herself. Misogyny and distrust continue to be rife and women – despite their amazing recent contribution to the WW2 effort – still continue to battle for their rights and their recognition.
The death of a student nurse, tumbling from a balcony, is put down to an accident but Faye listens to the concerns of her former colleagues at the hospital and feels compelled to act, despite stiff opposition. And as she investigates, she is drawn into a world of dastardly criminal activity, and it’s a race against time when further lives are on the line.
This is an exceptionally good series that evokes time and place. The aftermath of war, food rationing (spam is the go-to food item!) and well-formed feisty, female characters all make for an immersive read.
April 22, 2025
Faye Smith has completed her training as a woman police constable and, to her surprise, she’s been posted to a specialist squad as a detective. Unfortunately, some of her colleagues, both old and new, aren’t happy about this so Faye is really aware that she needs to work very hard to prove herself.
An old colleague, Beryl, from the hospital where Faye previously worked, asks her to investigate a death. A nurse fell to her death from a balcony, the police investigation has concluded it was a drunken accident, but Beryl is convinced it’s murder as the nurse was tee-total. Faye agrees to look into it and as she does, she begins to find links between the nurse’s death and the criminal gangs that the specialist squad is investigating. Unfortunately, as a consequence, Faye’s friend Ellie gets caught up in the fallout.
This is a really absorbing, fast paced story. Set in 1948, against a backdrop of women trying to advance into male dominated workplaces, immigration, and fascism, this is a fascinating view of post war Britain. If you haven’t read ‘The Midnight Man’, the first book in this trilogy, then I recommend you do so first as you will learn much more about Faye & Ellie.
An old colleague, Beryl, from the hospital where Faye previously worked, asks her to investigate a death. A nurse fell to her death from a balcony, the police investigation has concluded it was a drunken accident, but Beryl is convinced it’s murder as the nurse was tee-total. Faye agrees to look into it and as she does, she begins to find links between the nurse’s death and the criminal gangs that the specialist squad is investigating. Unfortunately, as a consequence, Faye’s friend Ellie gets caught up in the fallout.
This is a really absorbing, fast paced story. Set in 1948, against a backdrop of women trying to advance into male dominated workplaces, immigration, and fascism, this is a fascinating view of post war Britain. If you haven’t read ‘The Midnight Man’, the first book in this trilogy, then I recommend you do so first as you will learn much more about Faye & Ellie.
October 6, 2025
The first book in this series, The Midnight Man, was an excellent historical fiction mystery (my new favorite genre!). And this was just as good! While this is the second in the trilogy, I thought it was enjoyable as a standalone.
Faye has just recently joined the male-heavy local police department. She has a really hard time having all of them warm up to her. Plus, she’s one of the few people that believes the nurse’s death is more than just an accident. Along with her point of view, we also read about Ellie, her roommate and friend, who is doing her part to make sure the crime doesn’t go unsolved.
Julie does such a fantastic job of capturing that post-World War II era and all of its complications. From the racism that was happening during that era to the trouble men were having with women being in the working world, it’s filled with the kind of details that prove this author did her research when developing the novel.
If you love historical fiction and love a good mystery, I highly recommend A Death in the Afternoon.
Faye has just recently joined the male-heavy local police department. She has a really hard time having all of them warm up to her. Plus, she’s one of the few people that believes the nurse’s death is more than just an accident. Along with her point of view, we also read about Ellie, her roommate and friend, who is doing her part to make sure the crime doesn’t go unsolved.
Julie does such a fantastic job of capturing that post-World War II era and all of its complications. From the racism that was happening during that era to the trouble men were having with women being in the working world, it’s filled with the kind of details that prove this author did her research when developing the novel.
If you love historical fiction and love a good mystery, I highly recommend A Death in the Afternoon.
February 23, 2025
I was absolutely delighted to be offered this book as an ARC as part of the series by Julie set in the war and post war days. This series is a delightful read and transports the reader back in times that were somehow more innocent than today. I know that things were very different both during the war and post war with food shortages, lack of men to do the work and women not being fully accepted as part of society, even though they kept everything going whilst the men were away.
It did make me laugh, how misogynistic they were, women couldn’t even have a bank account! However, in this story it’s the women who solve the crimes.
The story starts off with a friend falling from a balcony, the police at first dismiss it as a drunken accident, but to Faye it doesn’t ring true.
Then other things happen with local gangsters, more and more misdemeanours which are also brushed aside.
I have to hand it to Faye, the newly appointed DC she was fastidious and absolutely spot on with her investigations where the men had failed! She was brilliant. I do like her character. She fought her corner well.
It was also interesting to see London before all the sky scrapers, and modernisation, which I suppose because it was flattened during the war, it was expected. Julie has done her research very well and taken us back in time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one. I’m hoping she doesnt limit it to three as they are such good stories.
My thanks to Hobeck Books and Julie for the ARC.
It did make me laugh, how misogynistic they were, women couldn’t even have a bank account! However, in this story it’s the women who solve the crimes.
The story starts off with a friend falling from a balcony, the police at first dismiss it as a drunken accident, but to Faye it doesn’t ring true.
Then other things happen with local gangsters, more and more misdemeanours which are also brushed aside.
I have to hand it to Faye, the newly appointed DC she was fastidious and absolutely spot on with her investigations where the men had failed! She was brilliant. I do like her character. She fought her corner well.
It was also interesting to see London before all the sky scrapers, and modernisation, which I suppose because it was flattened during the war, it was expected. Julie has done her research very well and taken us back in time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one. I’m hoping she doesnt limit it to three as they are such good stories.
My thanks to Hobeck Books and Julie for the ARC.
May 13, 2025
As London sweats under the oppressive heat of summer in 1948, crime and corruption run rampant through the streets, hiding in plain sight. The line between right and wrong is blurred, and those brave enough to uncover the truth are often met with lethal consequences. When a student nurse falls to her death from a balcony at a Clapham party, what seems like a tragic accident soon reveals itself as something far darker.
A newly qualified female detective constable, battling her own personal demons, steps into the murky waters of mystery and betrayal. As the investigation unfolds, danger lurks at every corner, and the stakes rise higher than ever. In a city teetering on the edge, can the truth be salvaged before it's buried forever?
A suspenseful journey through danger, deception, and resilience.
A newly qualified female detective constable, battling her own personal demons, steps into the murky waters of mystery and betrayal. As the investigation unfolds, danger lurks at every corner, and the stakes rise higher than ever. In a city teetering on the edge, can the truth be salvaged before it's buried forever?
A suspenseful journey through danger, deception, and resilience.
March 19, 2025
The second in a series, I enjoyed this outing as much as I did The Midnight Man. Im a bit obsessed with WWII era book and the aftermath of said events lately, possibly because we’ve watched Blitz (2024 movie) 8x … so far.
The characters were wonderfully presented and it was a good cracking yarn to spend some time with…it’s the first book I’ve read through from stem to stern since my eye surgery and it was worth the wait to finally get to it and through it. No skimming or skipping through this beauty…savour and enjoy every word and wait patiently for a third, all is good and worth it.
The characters were wonderfully presented and it was a good cracking yarn to spend some time with…it’s the first book I’ve read through from stem to stern since my eye surgery and it was worth the wait to finally get to it and through it. No skimming or skipping through this beauty…savour and enjoy every word and wait patiently for a third, all is good and worth it.
April 17, 2025
From the first few pages I got totally absorbed into this world. Its fantastic to see a woman at the front of a police role in these times, and the attitudes and conversations surrounding this felt apt. I love how this brings feminism to the forefront in such a sharp and compelling way without shying away from some sensitive subject matters. Beryl, Ellie and Faye are forces in their own unstoppable way.
The plot was an intriguing one, and the tangled web as it gets more complex made for interesting reading.
I am already itching for book 3 to see what happens next to these amazing women. This is a real advocate for feminist crime as a genre!
The plot was an intriguing one, and the tangled web as it gets more complex made for interesting reading.
I am already itching for book 3 to see what happens next to these amazing women. This is a real advocate for feminist crime as a genre!
April 29, 2025
This was a thorough delight to read, from the historical concept of Clapham Common as a working class area to Brixton a middle class sleepy suburb. There is plenty of detail regarding post war rationing and the difficulties people faced and the stoicism with which they faced it. All the characters are strongly written with a moral purpose be it for the character of the victim, the desire to fight crime and stamp out corruption or the need to ensure the South London Hospital remains a haven for women.
This is the second book in the trilogy but can be read as a stand alone and there are some hooks at the end to tempt me into the third book, which I Am thoroughly looking forward to
This is the second book in the trilogy but can be read as a stand alone and there are some hooks at the end to tempt me into the third book, which I Am thoroughly looking forward to
May 6, 2025
We begin in Summer, 1948, and learn that Fay Smith has joined the police and is still Ellie Peverill's flatmate in Clapham. I love their friendship dynamic along with their other close friend, Beryl MacBride. One afternoon, a student nurse falls from a balcony. Fay is a new Detective Constable when she is asked by her nursing friend to help investigate as they don't believe it was an accident? Although, Fay is still new to her detective role, she soon gets stuck in with looking into rival gangs. How is this fall connected to the local gangs? This story was well written, full of twist and turns with an explosive ending that I never saw coming.
June 20, 2025
Julie Anderson has nailed it yet again with this, the second book in her Clapham Trilogy featuring Faye Smith and Ellie Peveril. The writing is exemplary, the plot nicely conceived and our two main protagonists likeable and gutsy. Anderson clearly knows Clapham like the back of her hand and she’s undertaken a lot of research into post-war life in the area (and beyond) without allowing too much fact-ticking to overpower the story, which rattles along at pace. A Death in the Afternoon can comfortably be read as a standalone story but if you haven’t read the first book in the trilogy, The Midnight Man, then I strongly recommend you buy them both together.
August 28, 2025
A Death in the Afternoon is the second book in Julie Anderson's The Clapham Trilogy and although the self-contained mystery here means it can be read as a standalone, I'd recommend reading The Midnight Man first to fully appreciate the overarching storyline.
The narrative is told again from the perspective of the two young women introduced in the first book – Faye and Eleanor – and it's interesting to see how their lives have changed since, especially Faye. She has now moved on from the South London Hospital for Women & Children which as readers of The Midnight Man will know is a big step, given this was the place where she felt she finally fitted in following a succession of jobs after leaving school at fifteen. Even more impressively, she has gone on to train as a WPC, although it's immediately obvious that she hasn't had it easy, particularly when she is informed that she has been requested to join a new unit in the Criminal Investigation Department. Faye is already under pressure to prove herself as a woman in the Metropolitan Police but her unexpected posting brings high expectations and bitter resentment from many of her colleagues. However, before Detective Constable Faye Smith even embarks on her new role, a tragedy linked to her previous job rocks her impromptu celebration with Eleanor.
The brief prologue sees the death of a young woman from a watching neighbour's viewpoint but it's a little later before her identity and what she meant to their friend, Beryl is revealed. She is convinced that despite the official line that this was a tragic, alcohol-fuelled accident, the truth is much darker and poor Violet Taylor died under suspicious circumstances. Faye reluctantly agrees to informally look into the case, which leads to her struggling to balance her determination to demonstrate her capabilities in her day job investigating organised crime while she grows increasingly convinced that Vi Taylor was murdered. Faye is a resourceful, intelligent young woman but not without her flaws and in her eagerness to impress others, her rashness results in her putting herself in unnecessary danger. There is always a tendency for some people to view the past with rose-tinted glasses but Julie Anderson does a fine job of reminding us that communities suffered from crime waves and issues with societal cohesion back then too and A Death in the Afternoon often smoulders with tension. Meanwhile, as Ellie embraces her new responsibilities at the hospital, she has emotional choices to make about her love life following the return of a familiar face. Her importance to Faye as a friend and confidante also can't be overstated, especially as their closeness also comes to the attention of others.
1948 was a time of enormous change and as always, Julie Anderson's melding of a puzzling mystery with her observant depiction of the social history and her rich sense of place is impressive. The misogynistic attitudes experienced by Faye are a stark record of the challenges women still faced to be taken seriously in the post-war workplace. Likewise, the ready dismissal of Vi Taylor as an unfortunate drunk not deserving of a proper investigation is a realistic reflection of how women who were perceived as not being up to standards were often treated. Further upheavals were being seen in the country and most notably in London following the arrival of the Empire Windrush. Julie Anderson sympathetically portrays the hostilities and racial discrimination faced by the new arrivals from the Caribbean, and while their reluctance to engage with the police frustrates Faye, she gradually understands where their lack of trust comes from. She also has to contend with a growing empire of gangland bosses who, as history tells us, were protected by institutionalised corruption – even at the highest levels.
With so much going on, this multi-layered, intricately plotted read flows effortlessly throughout. The rising sense of danger eventually culminates in a denouement which makes sense of the eye-catching cover, while the conclusion sets the scene perfectly for a suspense-filled dramatic third act in the final book in this excellent trilogy. A Death in the Afternoon is a first-rate read; this compelling historical mystery is full of excitement and insight. Highly recommended.
The narrative is told again from the perspective of the two young women introduced in the first book – Faye and Eleanor – and it's interesting to see how their lives have changed since, especially Faye. She has now moved on from the South London Hospital for Women & Children which as readers of The Midnight Man will know is a big step, given this was the place where she felt she finally fitted in following a succession of jobs after leaving school at fifteen. Even more impressively, she has gone on to train as a WPC, although it's immediately obvious that she hasn't had it easy, particularly when she is informed that she has been requested to join a new unit in the Criminal Investigation Department. Faye is already under pressure to prove herself as a woman in the Metropolitan Police but her unexpected posting brings high expectations and bitter resentment from many of her colleagues. However, before Detective Constable Faye Smith even embarks on her new role, a tragedy linked to her previous job rocks her impromptu celebration with Eleanor.
The brief prologue sees the death of a young woman from a watching neighbour's viewpoint but it's a little later before her identity and what she meant to their friend, Beryl is revealed. She is convinced that despite the official line that this was a tragic, alcohol-fuelled accident, the truth is much darker and poor Violet Taylor died under suspicious circumstances. Faye reluctantly agrees to informally look into the case, which leads to her struggling to balance her determination to demonstrate her capabilities in her day job investigating organised crime while she grows increasingly convinced that Vi Taylor was murdered. Faye is a resourceful, intelligent young woman but not without her flaws and in her eagerness to impress others, her rashness results in her putting herself in unnecessary danger. There is always a tendency for some people to view the past with rose-tinted glasses but Julie Anderson does a fine job of reminding us that communities suffered from crime waves and issues with societal cohesion back then too and A Death in the Afternoon often smoulders with tension. Meanwhile, as Ellie embraces her new responsibilities at the hospital, she has emotional choices to make about her love life following the return of a familiar face. Her importance to Faye as a friend and confidante also can't be overstated, especially as their closeness also comes to the attention of others.
1948 was a time of enormous change and as always, Julie Anderson's melding of a puzzling mystery with her observant depiction of the social history and her rich sense of place is impressive. The misogynistic attitudes experienced by Faye are a stark record of the challenges women still faced to be taken seriously in the post-war workplace. Likewise, the ready dismissal of Vi Taylor as an unfortunate drunk not deserving of a proper investigation is a realistic reflection of how women who were perceived as not being up to standards were often treated. Further upheavals were being seen in the country and most notably in London following the arrival of the Empire Windrush. Julie Anderson sympathetically portrays the hostilities and racial discrimination faced by the new arrivals from the Caribbean, and while their reluctance to engage with the police frustrates Faye, she gradually understands where their lack of trust comes from. She also has to contend with a growing empire of gangland bosses who, as history tells us, were protected by institutionalised corruption – even at the highest levels.
With so much going on, this multi-layered, intricately plotted read flows effortlessly throughout. The rising sense of danger eventually culminates in a denouement which makes sense of the eye-catching cover, while the conclusion sets the scene perfectly for a suspense-filled dramatic third act in the final book in this excellent trilogy. A Death in the Afternoon is a first-rate read; this compelling historical mystery is full of excitement and insight. Highly recommended.
May 18, 2025
“A Death in the Afternoon” is the second book by Julie Anderson following on from her successful series debut “The Midnight Man”. I love this author’s writing style, so easy to follow with well executed plots and fabulous character development ensures her books are a sheer pleasure to read.
Featuring returning characters - Elle, Beryl and Faye, we learn that Faye has left her hospital admin job and followed her dream of being a woman police officer. However, just as her training is ending, she is asked to join the ‘Special Duties Squad’ (commonly known as the ‘Ghost Squad’) - based with aspects on the real-life undercover unit within Scotland Yard, that investigated organised crime and police corruption in the post-World War II era. They were tasked with breaking down criminal networks by gathering intelligence and working outside traditional police methods. The squad's existence and methods were shrouded in secrecy, leading to the nickname "Ghost Squad". So it’s inevitable that before long, Faye is naively mixed up in the London criminal underworld, putting herself in fatal danger.
I adore Faye, such an obsessive and determined character who is ideally suited as candidate for a detective. Since the introduction of women police officers was still in its very early days, Faye was a prime example of why women were needed to be included, as their different outlooks in situations and their methods at problem solving, allowed for an alternative form of detecting. Her bravery was commendable and the scene in the fairground was tense and edge of the seat.
I was very interested on the information of ‘pre-fabs’ - pre constructed houses to help with the homeless who’d had their houses bombed during the war. Having still pre fabs in my home city this caught my attention instantly.
Set in post-war SE London, we start to see the huge changes that occurred, from the introduction of the national health service and the welfare state including infrastructure, education and national assistance for those out of work. The ‘Empire Windrush’, which landed in June 1948 two months before the setting of the book, made people very wary of the incomers and their appearance, thus causing demonising racial attitudes from the police and the general population, which in turn caused silence from the immigrants, when help was needed from the police. And it is this silence that threatens to derail the investigation into the suspicious death of a local nurse.
Move over Jane Tennison, the original female detective has landed!
#ADeathInTheAfternoon - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Featuring returning characters - Elle, Beryl and Faye, we learn that Faye has left her hospital admin job and followed her dream of being a woman police officer. However, just as her training is ending, she is asked to join the ‘Special Duties Squad’ (commonly known as the ‘Ghost Squad’) - based with aspects on the real-life undercover unit within Scotland Yard, that investigated organised crime and police corruption in the post-World War II era. They were tasked with breaking down criminal networks by gathering intelligence and working outside traditional police methods. The squad's existence and methods were shrouded in secrecy, leading to the nickname "Ghost Squad". So it’s inevitable that before long, Faye is naively mixed up in the London criminal underworld, putting herself in fatal danger.
I adore Faye, such an obsessive and determined character who is ideally suited as candidate for a detective. Since the introduction of women police officers was still in its very early days, Faye was a prime example of why women were needed to be included, as their different outlooks in situations and their methods at problem solving, allowed for an alternative form of detecting. Her bravery was commendable and the scene in the fairground was tense and edge of the seat.
I was very interested on the information of ‘pre-fabs’ - pre constructed houses to help with the homeless who’d had their houses bombed during the war. Having still pre fabs in my home city this caught my attention instantly.
Set in post-war SE London, we start to see the huge changes that occurred, from the introduction of the national health service and the welfare state including infrastructure, education and national assistance for those out of work. The ‘Empire Windrush’, which landed in June 1948 two months before the setting of the book, made people very wary of the incomers and their appearance, thus causing demonising racial attitudes from the police and the general population, which in turn caused silence from the immigrants, when help was needed from the police. And it is this silence that threatens to derail the investigation into the suspicious death of a local nurse.
Move over Jane Tennison, the original female detective has landed!
#ADeathInTheAfternoon - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 1, 2025
This is book 2 in The Clapham Trilogy. I hadn't read the first book The Midnight Man, but this can easily be read as a stand alone.
A page turning post war murder mystery with a female Detective Constable, a new concept in 1948. Great, well written characters with intertwining plots. I thoroughly enjoyed A Death in the Afternoon by Julie Anderson.
A page turning post war murder mystery with a female Detective Constable, a new concept in 1948. Great, well written characters with intertwining plots. I thoroughly enjoyed A Death in the Afternoon by Julie Anderson.
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