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South Downs Mystery #2
Model Murder
The body of a famous model is found lying on the road near her home. Was it an accident? If not then who killed her and why? The more time passes the longer the list of suspects.
She was a wealthy woman married to an accountant and, as with newsworthy people, there are plenty of rumours.
Friends Sarah and Zelda try to help Detective Inspector
Sinclair to solve the crime. Amaryllis Styles’ hair dresser lives in the same block of flats as Zelda and, along with DC Chris James, they also meet him at a dance. The police have a busy time tracking down people who can help them from solicitors to agents to friends and acquaintances (mostly other models).
The action moves rapidly between Merian, Great Camden, Brighton, Surrey and London as the police hurry to solve the crime.
The most obvious suspect is her husband and, as is discovered, he had a good reason or two or three. But, did he do it?
She was a wealthy woman married to an accountant and, as with newsworthy people, there are plenty of rumours.
Friends Sarah and Zelda try to help Detective Inspector
Sinclair to solve the crime. Amaryllis Styles’ hair dresser lives in the same block of flats as Zelda and, along with DC Chris James, they also meet him at a dance. The police have a busy time tracking down people who can help them from solicitors to agents to friends and acquaintances (mostly other models).
The action moves rapidly between Merian, Great Camden, Brighton, Surrey and London as the police hurry to solve the crime.
The most obvious suspect is her husband and, as is discovered, he had a good reason or two or three. But, did he do it?
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2014
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Bothwell
16 books3 followersWelcome to my profile, lovely to see you.
Have you always been a writer? Is a question writers are frequently asked. Yes, among other things is often the reply. In my case I think I should be in the Guinness Book of Records for the variety of work I have done.
Advertising, PR, theatre, cabaret, Travel Courier, Gift Shop Manager (cruise ships), Legal Secretary. This last fulfilling my parents' dream that I get a safe, secure job. Hmmm. Until I developed RSI and got laid off without compensation.
But I have always written and became an internationally published travel writer. Now I am a published novelist. I love writing cosy crime and, as I have lived in other countries I sometimes set my books there. 'Death of a Copycat' and 'Irresistible You' (Jemma Linley) are both set in Florida and the Cleo Marjoribanks book 'Ghosts in the Guest House' is set in Spain. I actually had the idea when in Portugal but as Cleo speaks Spanish.....
I have now also written a novella 'A Favourite Aunt by Christina' which is fiction based on fact about a woman who, in the 1960s, had the courage to leave her no-very-nice husband. He got everything including the children - but she survived.
Also now published is the first of an American period Saga series about a Spanish gentleman who leaves the circus to become a theatrical agent and entrepreneur. 'A Young Man's Dream'.
Now I would love it if you would buy and read all of my books and recommend them to your friends.
Thank you.
Have you always been a writer? Is a question writers are frequently asked. Yes, among other things is often the reply. In my case I think I should be in the Guinness Book of Records for the variety of work I have done.
Advertising, PR, theatre, cabaret, Travel Courier, Gift Shop Manager (cruise ships), Legal Secretary. This last fulfilling my parents' dream that I get a safe, secure job. Hmmm. Until I developed RSI and got laid off without compensation.
But I have always written and became an internationally published travel writer. Now I am a published novelist. I love writing cosy crime and, as I have lived in other countries I sometimes set my books there. 'Death of a Copycat' and 'Irresistible You' (Jemma Linley) are both set in Florida and the Cleo Marjoribanks book 'Ghosts in the Guest House' is set in Spain. I actually had the idea when in Portugal but as Cleo speaks Spanish.....
I have now also written a novella 'A Favourite Aunt by Christina' which is fiction based on fact about a woman who, in the 1960s, had the courage to leave her no-very-nice husband. He got everything including the children - but she survived.
Also now published is the first of an American period Saga series about a Spanish gentleman who leaves the circus to become a theatrical agent and entrepreneur. 'A Young Man's Dream'.
Now I would love it if you would buy and read all of my books and recommend them to your friends.
Thank you.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 29, 2014
This is the first mystery book I have read for years and I really enjoyed it. I loved the introduction, -I was right there with the boy on his bike when the body was found-, and I liked the extensive use of dialogue, giving us an insight into the characters, moving the action on or revealing past events or situations. Flashbacks are smoothly integrated into the plot and a few carefully chosen details, such as cars or dancing, add an extra dimension to characters and scenes.
There are several plausible motives and suspects and you wait in anticipation to see how the threads will be unravelled. The emotional states of the different characters are clearly put across and for me, this is a brilliant psychological thriller where, I'm glad to say,gore and over dramatisation have no place. All in all, it's a book about what makes people tick and how detectives finally find their answers through understanding human emotions and the pressures of society, especially if you happen to be famous. Both the choice of language and the complex web of emotions ground the book firmly into the modern world.
'Model Murder' made me realise how much I have missed by leaving 'mysteries' out of my reading list for so long. Time to catch up...
There are several plausible motives and suspects and you wait in anticipation to see how the threads will be unravelled. The emotional states of the different characters are clearly put across and for me, this is a brilliant psychological thriller where, I'm glad to say,gore and over dramatisation have no place. All in all, it's a book about what makes people tick and how detectives finally find their answers through understanding human emotions and the pressures of society, especially if you happen to be famous. Both the choice of language and the complex web of emotions ground the book firmly into the modern world.
'Model Murder' made me realise how much I have missed by leaving 'mysteries' out of my reading list for so long. Time to catch up...
May 11, 2020
I don't do book reviews
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way.
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews