Fatal Solution

by Leslie Scase

In this new mystery Inspector Chard is confronted with another murder in bustling Victorian Pontypridd. On the face of it the case appears unremarkable, even if it isn’t obviously solvable, but following new leads takes Chard into unexpected places. A second murder, a sexual predator, industrial espionage and a mining disaster crowd into the investigation, baffling the Inspector and his colleagues and putting his own life at risk as the murderer attempts to avoid capture. Once again Leslie Scase takes the reader back to a time and place where, despite the pretensions of Victorian society, life is cheap and passions strong. His research brings Pontypridd vividly to life, and historical events drive along the plot of this page-turning story of detection, as Chard navigates a way through the clues and red herrings, and a lengthening list of suspects, towards the poisoner. Atmospheric, authentic, Chard and the reader are left guessing until the final page.

260 pages, Paperback

Published July 14, 2021

Reviews

[Grumpy Old Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the Inspector Chard novels. Chard is an Englishman from Shropshire who ends up as an Inspector in the Welsh Valleys boom town of Pontypridd in the 1890s. Set against the backdrop of the recent massive Albion colliery disaster and the fight for control of the hugely lucrative Welsh rail industry. Chard isn't quite a fish out of water but he is definitely in the wrong river. Three murders happen in quick succession. Are they linked? Can he stop his bumbling superior from interfering? Can he stop internal jealousies in the ranks. The Welsh Wyatt Earp has his hands full.


I absolutely loved this book and if I could give more than 5 stars I would. It succeeds on all fronts.


Historically it is excellently researched and presented. You are living the period from such nuggets as cocaine being legal, to workhouse ettiquette to the day to day life of a miner.


The whodunnit aspect of the book is also excellent. The author sets numerous traps for you to fall into. Just when you think you know who the villain is, they are exonerated and the spotlight falls on someone else. I have been known to spot the killer early on in a crime fiction novel, however on this occasion the author had me flummoxed until the reveal. Then of course with hindsight the path to the killer is all too clear.


Thirdly and most impressively he gets the culture of the Valleys right. I am from the valleys and  in all the years that I have been reading, I always looked for two things. First to expand my view of the world that I am not familiar with. Secondly I have always looked to find books that reflect my heritage, and my sense of belonging, to show me, my own hinterland. The valleys are quite a large part of south wales with a large population but are hardly noticeable in literature. The only notable exceptions that I found as a young man being How green was my valley by Richard Llewellyn  and Rape of the Fair Country by Alexander Cordell.  While both have their merits I always felt they didn't quite nail it. Llewellyn was actually an Englishman and I think sub-consciously was describing the valleys from the outside looking in (although the character of Dai Bando was superb, and I saw many men of that type.) While Cordell's world was about ironmaking not coal. The culture of the valleys is very different from any other part of Wales. I have heard said about the valleys that Cardiff was only a few miles and different world away. I feel the author gets the feel of the valleys.


This book ticks all the boxes and more for me. After reading this book, I immediately went and bought the first in the series. I think I may have a new favourite author and his name is Leslie Scase.

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspector Chard’s workload is about to go through the roof, a body found in a burnet building, two businessmen struck down with a mystery illness in and then a vicious sexual predator. Chard faces many challenges, but his biggest one might be the one that hurts him the most.

Book two of the Inspector Chard series and it’s an absolute cracker. Wonderful storytelling from Leslie Scase. Chard’s character continues to develop and it’ll be interesting to see what the impact of this story has on him in the future. As well as a wonderful historic crime story, the author also provides the real history behind the events of the book. A great read.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this - certainly helped initially by my own link to the area the book is set in, the novel is also a great mystery novel in its own right. Whilst not entirely historically accurate, it's clear the author has done a lot of detailed research on the time period and most importantly the Welsh Valleys in general, making for an engrossing and enjoyable read. I certainly hadn't guessed whodunit, always a good hallmark of a mystery novel!

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not as thrilling or quite so easy to follow the plot as in the 1st of the Insp. Chard series, the story was still an enjoyable read. A person is consumed by fire and others are poisoned. With rivalries between Train Companies and resulting violence the Inspector has a large case load to get through. A little romance has also been introduced into this novel, new friendships are made and some lost. Set in Pontypridd during 1894