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Point Of No Return: A rural detective mystery
A stand-alone mystery featuring DCI Peter Hatherall. Malicious pranks or a deadly obsession? Everyone knew the significance of the noose left hanging in the tree outside James Palmer's home. A young man hung himself from the tree two years earlier. Someone is determined this time the guilty ones will pay. DCI Hatherall must unmask a master of disguise before everyone connected to the suicide is slaughtered.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 14, 2019
Love is a two-edged sword in this, the third “Rural Detective Mystery” by Diana Febry. Once again, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Hatherall struggles with his personal demons. His teetering marriage is — for the moment — salvaged, but the future is never assured. We all change, and with change, we all change our minds. Exacerbating his uncertainty is the fact that his wife Sally has elected to remain in Cornwell with their two boys, while he has returned to the daily, mind-boggling banalities of his job. First, there is Superintendent Rogers, always mindful of keeping upper crust constituents happy. Rogers dispatches Hatherall to calm the nerves of an acquaintance from his local golf club. In addition to this hand-holding assignment, there are the important cases of the missing daffodil bulbs and the heinous laundry heist. His colleague Detective Inspector Fiona Williams points out that their out of the way trip will not be wasted. They can investigate the laundry complaint on the way. Hatherall replies: “'I guess it is better than a chat with the smack heads and alcoholics of Sapperton, and that's just the children. Another generation with horizons limited to social housing and benefits.'” (Location 208)
That cynicism is Hatherall's way of distancing himself from a latent attraction to D.I. Williams and the guilt he still feels for nearly succumbing to that attraction. It is also a reflection of the social problems that fester in a rural landscape of isolated villages and insular parochial attitudes confronted with changing disparities in wealth.
The case appears deceptively simple. James Palmer, an unpopular and to the reader unlikeable land owner is concerned about a spate of disturbing acts of vandalism. The latest is the appearance of a noose hung from a tree outside his house. It's a reminder of a tragic accident which ended in the suicide of the young son of a neighbor some years ago. Hatherall and Williams give Palmer some advice about security measures and depart. However, the vandalism will very soon escalate into a series of horrifyingly violent acts.
Hatherall's position is made even more awkward and unsettling when he visits one of the victims at the hospital and discovers she is a childhood friend whom he once had a crush on, Linda née Barry. The meeting resurrects painful memories in Hatherall, as if time had ceased to move forward. He confides his current relationship problems to Linda who to his surprise voices a candid observation: “'You've changed a lot over the years. And it hasn't been for the better.'” (Location 1905) We will later learn that the same applies to Linda. The reunion with Linda distracts Hatherall down several blind alleys in disobedience to Superintendent Rogers' explicit orders, much to the consternation of Williams.
Several elements prevent this series from being a true “cozy mystery.” There is an on-going tension between Hatherall and Williams which is expressed by the awkward subtexts each reads into the other's conversations. The difference in their ranks imposes further communication barriers. However, the narrative avoids any deeper introspection. The supporting characters have a one-dimensional quality exploited largely for humorous purposes.
I enjoyed the previous book in the series and wanted to like this one. However, there were just too many coincidences and unbelievable incidents. Because of this I was unable to fully immerse myself in the plot. It is significant that I could not label any of the actions “out of character” since the characters were so thinly delineated. The story concluded with a number of loose ends. Nevertheless, I still have faith in this series with its unusual rural setting and its backdrop of idiosyncratic villagers and obsessive equestrians.
That cynicism is Hatherall's way of distancing himself from a latent attraction to D.I. Williams and the guilt he still feels for nearly succumbing to that attraction. It is also a reflection of the social problems that fester in a rural landscape of isolated villages and insular parochial attitudes confronted with changing disparities in wealth.
The case appears deceptively simple. James Palmer, an unpopular and to the reader unlikeable land owner is concerned about a spate of disturbing acts of vandalism. The latest is the appearance of a noose hung from a tree outside his house. It's a reminder of a tragic accident which ended in the suicide of the young son of a neighbor some years ago. Hatherall and Williams give Palmer some advice about security measures and depart. However, the vandalism will very soon escalate into a series of horrifyingly violent acts.
Hatherall's position is made even more awkward and unsettling when he visits one of the victims at the hospital and discovers she is a childhood friend whom he once had a crush on, Linda née Barry. The meeting resurrects painful memories in Hatherall, as if time had ceased to move forward. He confides his current relationship problems to Linda who to his surprise voices a candid observation: “'You've changed a lot over the years. And it hasn't been for the better.'” (Location 1905) We will later learn that the same applies to Linda. The reunion with Linda distracts Hatherall down several blind alleys in disobedience to Superintendent Rogers' explicit orders, much to the consternation of Williams.
Several elements prevent this series from being a true “cozy mystery.” There is an on-going tension between Hatherall and Williams which is expressed by the awkward subtexts each reads into the other's conversations. The difference in their ranks imposes further communication barriers. However, the narrative avoids any deeper introspection. The supporting characters have a one-dimensional quality exploited largely for humorous purposes.
I enjoyed the previous book in the series and wanted to like this one. However, there were just too many coincidences and unbelievable incidents. Because of this I was unable to fully immerse myself in the plot. It is significant that I could not label any of the actions “out of character” since the characters were so thinly delineated. The story concluded with a number of loose ends. Nevertheless, I still have faith in this series with its unusual rural setting and its backdrop of idiosyncratic villagers and obsessive equestrians.
April 30, 2020
An excellent tension filled read.
An unexplained suicide, and then two years later, a series of crimes are committed, with several suspects. Is there a connection, and if so, what is it?
DCI Peter Hatherall along with his team are running around in circles with this very complicated case.
Diana J Febry writes an excellent murder mystery, and I cannot recommend her books highly enough.
An unexplained suicide, and then two years later, a series of crimes are committed, with several suspects. Is there a connection, and if so, what is it?
DCI Peter Hatherall along with his team are running around in circles with this very complicated case.
Diana J Febry writes an excellent murder mystery, and I cannot recommend her books highly enough.
May 22, 2020
The story was interesting if convoluted but the author needs to learn how to use commas properly and to decide if Rachel is Rachel, Rachael, or some other spelling as it is very inconsistent so far in THREE books. The consistent misuse of commas can be remedied by a grammar textbook, but the continual lack of consistency with the name is just sloppiness. I'm not sure if there is any secondary proofreader for these books, but if so either they need to step up their game or give the job to someone who knows how to do it. Another thing that drives me crazy is inconsistent use of quotation marks when transitioning from one speaker to another so it is not always clear who is speaking.
I think too much of the action is inferred and not properly described so I got confused on occasion about who was doing what to whom. I'm not sure I really like Peter due to his moodiness and lack of civility with Fiona and with suspects, and his relationship with his wife is idiotic. Maybe the author is trying to make him more dimensional but I don't think it comes off very well.He is not a sympathetic character.
I think too much of the action is inferred and not properly described so I got confused on occasion about who was doing what to whom. I'm not sure I really like Peter due to his moodiness and lack of civility with Fiona and with suspects, and his relationship with his wife is idiotic. Maybe the author is trying to make him more dimensional but I don't think it comes off very well.He is not a sympathetic character.
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November 7, 2019Good mystery and better story
A case with mysterious events happening to the Palmer family . A seriously demented person is killing and maiming people . It seems related to the Palmers , but how .
Serious typos , however the plot was written much better than previous books . I will plod through another as I like to see if authors evolve.
A case with mysterious events happening to the Palmer family . A seriously demented person is killing and maiming people . It seems related to the Palmers , but how .
Serious typos , however the plot was written much better than previous books . I will plod through another as I like to see if authors evolve.
April 11, 2022
Hope is dimming
I had high hopes for this series but 3 books in ,I am losing hope. The first book held promise, but the next two did not live up to it. The characters have not fleshed out, the plots really haven't improved, although book 3 did have about half the characters which was a relief, didn't require a notepad to write everyone down to remember who they were. Will try one more, cross my fingers and hope.
I had high hopes for this series but 3 books in ,I am losing hope. The first book held promise, but the next two did not live up to it. The characters have not fleshed out, the plots really haven't improved, although book 3 did have about half the characters which was a relief, didn't require a notepad to write everyone down to remember who they were. Will try one more, cross my fingers and hope.
June 20, 2020
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
While the killer was obvious almost from the start there were enough interesting steps to the capture to keep my interest. My only real complaint was occasionally I felt some things were not clear...especially the death of one of the police officers.
While the killer was obvious almost from the start there were enough interesting steps to the capture to keep my interest. My only real complaint was occasionally I felt some things were not clear...especially the death of one of the police officers.
October 11, 2019
Excellent!
Another winner! This is very different from its predecessors. Story is a bit more low key and the actual mystery is clouded by surrounding events. It is very absorbing, well plotted, and enthralling!
Another winner! This is very different from its predecessors. Story is a bit more low key and the actual mystery is clouded by surrounding events. It is very absorbing, well plotted, and enthralling!
November 17, 2019
I really love Diana Febry's murder mystery. This one had me guessing throughout. I couldn't figure out how the one man's suicide would tie in to the rest of the novel. I was surprised at the end, I never suspected the identity of the killer.
June 21, 2021
Rural twister
Criminal mind set to avenge foiled by well-characterized members of the crew of detectives involved in the investigation. Persistence is well paid when the criminal is finally caught.
Criminal mind set to avenge foiled by well-characterized members of the crew of detectives involved in the investigation. Persistence is well paid when the criminal is finally caught.
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November 16, 2024Enjoyable to read. Reluctant to put book down until conclusion.
April 9, 2025
a who done it where you knew who that was... some confusion. Not clear if police officer dies or??
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews