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David Webb #3
Pretty Maids All in a Row
When newly wedded actress Jessica Randal accompanies her biographer husband to the country for a month's research, she fully expects to be bored, especially with her leg in plaster following an accident on their honeymoon.
The couple are the talk of the town - but not for the reasons you might expect.
They soon learn they are renting the house of a murder victim, and that a rapist is at large who has singled Jessica out.
Jessica, caught in the melodrama of the not so sleepy town of Steeple Bayliss, is determined to keep her independence.
But at what cost?
Chief Inspector Webb and Sergeant Jackson pit their wits against a cunning adversary as everyone in the village — including Jessica's husband — is under suspicion...
The couple are the talk of the town - but not for the reasons you might expect.
They soon learn they are renting the house of a murder victim, and that a rapist is at large who has singled Jessica out.
Jessica, caught in the melodrama of the not so sleepy town of Steeple Bayliss, is determined to keep her independence.
But at what cost?
Chief Inspector Webb and Sergeant Jackson pit their wits against a cunning adversary as everyone in the village — including Jessica's husband — is under suspicion...
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 1986
135 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 14, 2015
Westridge seems like a sleepy little village when Jessica Randal - a well known actress and her biographer husband Matthew rent a house there for a month so that he can carry out some research in the area. But they soon realise they are renting a house belonging to a woman who has a bit of a reputation locally and who seems to have left at rather short notice.
Then a rapist strikes in the area and the owner of the rented house - Freda Cowley is found dead in a ditch and Jessica starts to feel as though someone is watching her and not because they are a fan of hers.
This is a particularly creepy crime novel and it will keep most readers guessing until almost the end. DCI Webb hates rape almost more than he hates murder and this a particularly trying case for him and one in which almost every man in the village is a potential suspect.
I was glad I was reading this during the day in bright sunlight as it would have been a particularly scary book to read alone at night. It certainly kept me turning the pages. The characters are interesting, the plot is well constructed and David Webb is a quiet and thoughtful detective. I can thoroughly recommend this book and this series to anyone who enjoys crime novels with plenty of suspense, interesting and well constructed plots and well drawn characters.
Then a rapist strikes in the area and the owner of the rented house - Freda Cowley is found dead in a ditch and Jessica starts to feel as though someone is watching her and not because they are a fan of hers.
This is a particularly creepy crime novel and it will keep most readers guessing until almost the end. DCI Webb hates rape almost more than he hates murder and this a particularly trying case for him and one in which almost every man in the village is a potential suspect.
I was glad I was reading this during the day in bright sunlight as it would have been a particularly scary book to read alone at night. It certainly kept me turning the pages. The characters are interesting, the plot is well constructed and David Webb is a quiet and thoughtful detective. I can thoroughly recommend this book and this series to anyone who enjoys crime novels with plenty of suspense, interesting and well constructed plots and well drawn characters.
February 16, 2009
Honeymooning actress Jessica Selby has a broken leg. She must stay at home in a rented cottage while her husband, biographer Matthew, researches his latest book. But when a woman who works nearby is raped, and the cottage's owner is found dead, Jessica starts getting nervous, and Chief Inspector David Webb begins to wonder if Matthew may be the mysterious rapist-murderer. Unfortunately, Webb's unsatisfied ex-wife reappears on the scene, distracting Webb from the business at hand, but ultimately providing him with a crucial clue. Fraser takes the device of "least likely suspect" to a new height.
November 2, 2022
Matthew and Jessica Selby, recently married, arrive in the village of Westridge, where they have rented a house for a month. Matthew is doing research for a book about a local aristocratic family. Jessica, an actress on the London stage, is recuperating after suffering a broken leg on their honeymoon.
Matthew had felt fortunate when the house suddenly became available, but it soon comes to light that Freda Cowley, the house's owner, was recently murdered, and her killer had forged a letter to her estate agent directing him to rent out the house, since she was going on holiday. The unknown killer, who seems to have some kind of nursery rhyme fetish, has also begun raping local women.
DCI David Webb, who is in charge of investigating the rapes and murder, finds the case baffling. In a surprising ending which had us on the edge of our seats, he is given the key that solves the puzzle just in time.
Matthew had felt fortunate when the house suddenly became available, but it soon comes to light that Freda Cowley, the house's owner, was recently murdered, and her killer had forged a letter to her estate agent directing him to rent out the house, since she was going on holiday. The unknown killer, who seems to have some kind of nursery rhyme fetish, has also begun raping local women.
DCI David Webb, who is in charge of investigating the rapes and murder, finds the case baffling. In a surprising ending which had us on the edge of our seats, he is given the key that solves the puzzle just in time.
November 19, 2018
This is a bit of a suspense in the end. There is a rapist loose in the village and no one can figure out who it is. Actress Jessica Selby is struggling with a cast on her leg. Her husband Matthew rents a cottage in a quaint village to give her space and time to heal, but there is a maniac loose and Jessica becomes terrified she will become a victim in her invalid state. The tension mounts. A good tale.
August 28, 2021
Newly wed Jessica and Matthew Selby are leasing a house so that he can work on his manuscript while his wife recovers from a broken leg. But all is not peaceful in the village as they hoped, as soon a murder is discovered. DCI Dave Webb, with the aid of DS Jackson and the team investigate.
An entertaining crime story
Originally published in 1986
An entertaining crime story
Originally published in 1986
August 28, 2022
Not a interesting book to me but did give it 2 stars because of the ending of it. Was it not for that - it was totally unexpected. A woman gets murdered.. Then young girls get raped. A woman and her husband had just rented a place there for a few weeks . Then when all these things started happening , he was one of the suspects. But there were other suspects too.
April 2, 2019
Another superb mystery!
DCI David Webb and his team investigate and solve another exciting murder, which also involves the rape of several women in the area. The conclusion was awesome--- never saw it coming!! These are well written and developed and extremely interesting
DCI David Webb and his team investigate and solve another exciting murder, which also involves the rape of several women in the area. The conclusion was awesome--- never saw it coming!! These are well written and developed and extremely interesting
July 31, 2023
Fascinating story well told
I ALWAYS get the murderer. But not this time. Well done Anthea.
So many things happening, running through each other. I always look for a twist but missed this one. Although I was working that way, it didn't click.
I ALWAYS get the murderer. But not this time. Well done Anthea.
So many things happening, running through each other. I always look for a twist but missed this one. Although I was working that way, it didn't click.
August 14, 2023
The twist at the end l did not guess at. Other wise a simple but interesting read.
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October 5, 2024Book 4 of DCI Webb
February 11, 2014
The book was a disappointment and assures me that I probably will not enjoy other English crime stories, which is not a genre I tend to read, but I was curious about this one because of the review. The characters were not fully developed so that empathy was not established. The solution of the crimes was well done, though.
May 30, 2010
Nice to be back reading Anthea Fraser. Find she is a great summer read, easy, lovely English background, and good plots. This one involves rape and murder in small village, with nursery rhymes being a link to both.
December 27, 2018
An actress and her new husband come to stay in a small town while he is writing a book about a local family. Soon after, women start being attacked. DCI Webb and his team investigate, but can't find the culprit. A big twist at the end.
Well-written.
Well-written.
November 15, 2018
Twist at the end.
Well written with plenty of possible suspects. I did not see the twist at The end. Could have done without the DCI,'s ex coming back.
Well written with plenty of possible suspects. I did not see the twist at The end. Could have done without the DCI,'s ex coming back.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews