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Ryder & Loveday Mystery #7
A Fatal Night
New Year’s Eve, 1962
As a snowstorm rages outside, Oxford high society gathers to ring in the new year at the city’s most exclusive party. This is a soiree no one will forget… not least because a guest is found dead in his car the next morning.
It seems the young man tragically froze to death overnight after crashing into a snowdrift – but when WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder are called in to investigate, they discover a tangled web of secrets that plainly points to murder.
With everyone telling different stories about that fateful night, only one thing is several people had reason to want the victim dead.
And if Trudy and Clement don’t find the cracks in each lie, the killer will get away with the perfect crime…
As a snowstorm rages outside, Oxford high society gathers to ring in the new year at the city’s most exclusive party. This is a soiree no one will forget… not least because a guest is found dead in his car the next morning.
It seems the young man tragically froze to death overnight after crashing into a snowdrift – but when WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder are called in to investigate, they discover a tangled web of secrets that plainly points to murder.
With everyone telling different stories about that fateful night, only one thing is several people had reason to want the victim dead.
And if Trudy and Clement don’t find the cracks in each lie, the killer will get away with the perfect crime…
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2021
792 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Faith Martin
99 books981 followersFaith Martin is a pen name of English author Jacquie Walton, who is best known for her popular detective series, starring Detective Inspector Hillary Greene.
As Joyce Cato, she writes more classically-inspired 'cosy' murder mysteries, such as the Monica Noble mystery series.
As Maxine Barry, her latest romance novels are now available from Corazon Books.
As Jessie Daniels, her 'spooky' crime novel, The Lavender Lady Casefile came out in November 2017.
As Joyce Cato, she writes more classically-inspired 'cosy' murder mysteries, such as the Monica Noble mystery series.
As Maxine Barry, her latest romance novels are now available from Corazon Books.
As Jessie Daniels, her 'spooky' crime novel, The Lavender Lady Casefile came out in November 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
November 12, 2021
I jumped straight into this cosy mystery, made all the more cosier by the heavy blankets of snow. Despite being part of a lengthy series, I was relieved at how easy I fell into the narrative, not noticing that several books had already come previously.
I really liked the time period of this story; it made a change to the crime thrillers that I usually read. In this way, I think this made it more of a cosy mystery because it was a gentle investigation, bodies were not piling up and it was more of a case of ‘who dunnit?’, rather than anything else. The simplicity of the time period and the fact that a huge freeze across the country means that Loveday and Ryder are having to conduct many of the investigations themselves due to a police shortage and roads being impassable. They make a great duo with age and wisdom complementing youth and enthusiasm.
Martin quickly establishes the crime scene and I felt like I was reading a game of ‘Cluedo’! As the story progresses, there are plenty of suspects who could be involved in the death of Trevor. Even Loveday and Ryder have suspicions but these are not progressing any time soon because each round of questioning just creates more leads. I liked the variety of characters in this book: not only was it easy to distinguish between the different identities, I think it helped establish a broad range of motives for what initially appeared to be a tragic, chilling accident.
As a sub-plot, it is clear that there is some love interest surrounding Loveday. It does not dominate the story but I was intrigued to see there is a past with the reporter, plus a new, potential connection with Ryder’s son. It was a sweet development and I think this added to the appeal of the story, again not making it a gritty crime thriller.
The portrayal of how people coped with such awful weather conditioners are subtly explored in this narrative. I think this added to the quaintness of the Oxfordshire setting, especially as there is no reference to the academia that we come to associate with such a place today. The resilience during this big freeze is reflected in Ryder’s personal challenges and I found this part of the story quite emotive and saddening. Even though there seems to be a resolution by the end of the book, I would be interested to see how the writer explores this element of the plot further.
This was a great read that had me guessing throughout. I never correctly predicted the outcome and enjoyed the charm of old fashioned policing. Coupled with buckets of snow, I think this is a great non-Christmas, winter read that will have you warmed and guessing throughout the story.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the time period of this story; it made a change to the crime thrillers that I usually read. In this way, I think this made it more of a cosy mystery because it was a gentle investigation, bodies were not piling up and it was more of a case of ‘who dunnit?’, rather than anything else. The simplicity of the time period and the fact that a huge freeze across the country means that Loveday and Ryder are having to conduct many of the investigations themselves due to a police shortage and roads being impassable. They make a great duo with age and wisdom complementing youth and enthusiasm.
Martin quickly establishes the crime scene and I felt like I was reading a game of ‘Cluedo’! As the story progresses, there are plenty of suspects who could be involved in the death of Trevor. Even Loveday and Ryder have suspicions but these are not progressing any time soon because each round of questioning just creates more leads. I liked the variety of characters in this book: not only was it easy to distinguish between the different identities, I think it helped establish a broad range of motives for what initially appeared to be a tragic, chilling accident.
As a sub-plot, it is clear that there is some love interest surrounding Loveday. It does not dominate the story but I was intrigued to see there is a past with the reporter, plus a new, potential connection with Ryder’s son. It was a sweet development and I think this added to the appeal of the story, again not making it a gritty crime thriller.
The portrayal of how people coped with such awful weather conditioners are subtly explored in this narrative. I think this added to the quaintness of the Oxfordshire setting, especially as there is no reference to the academia that we come to associate with such a place today. The resilience during this big freeze is reflected in Ryder’s personal challenges and I found this part of the story quite emotive and saddening. Even though there seems to be a resolution by the end of the book, I would be interested to see how the writer explores this element of the plot further.
This was a great read that had me guessing throughout. I never correctly predicted the outcome and enjoyed the charm of old fashioned policing. Coupled with buckets of snow, I think this is a great non-Christmas, winter read that will have you warmed and guessing throughout the story.
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2021
This is the seventh in the Ryder and Loveday mystery series. Although it is the third I have read, I think it would work well as a standalone.
This one takes place on New Year’s Eve, 1962, back to a time before cell phones and internet; it seems an appropriate setting for an English mystery set in Oxford. Ryder is the aging local coroner, while Loveday is a young constable trying to be accepted as a serious police officer, no easy feat in that era. This likable pair have teamed up successfully before in other cases. A new character introduced is Ryder’s handsome son who seems quite taken by Constable Loveday and joins in the mystery solving.
All of the Martin books I have read have solid stories; more substantial than “cosy” mysteries, yet still pleasant reads (even though murders take place!).
Set during a time of epic snow storms, A Fatal Night is especially atmospheric.
If you enjoy this book, try Martin’s others in the series, as well as her DI Hillary Greene novels.
Note: I do not usually provide a synopsis of a book in my reviews; you can read that on Goodreads or Amazon. You can read my other reviews at http://vickieonmarco.blogspot.
This one takes place on New Year’s Eve, 1962, back to a time before cell phones and internet; it seems an appropriate setting for an English mystery set in Oxford. Ryder is the aging local coroner, while Loveday is a young constable trying to be accepted as a serious police officer, no easy feat in that era. This likable pair have teamed up successfully before in other cases. A new character introduced is Ryder’s handsome son who seems quite taken by Constable Loveday and joins in the mystery solving.
All of the Martin books I have read have solid stories; more substantial than “cosy” mysteries, yet still pleasant reads (even though murders take place!).
Set during a time of epic snow storms, A Fatal Night is especially atmospheric.
If you enjoy this book, try Martin’s others in the series, as well as her DI Hillary Greene novels.
Note: I do not usually provide a synopsis of a book in my reviews; you can read that on Goodreads or Amazon. You can read my other reviews at http://vickieonmarco.blogspot.
November 11, 2021
My thanks to HQ Digital, the author and NetGalley for an advanced copy for review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
This is the 7th in the series, set in the 1960’s, with WPC Trudy Loveday and the coroner Clement Ryder. Another cosy, but good simple, mystery, that will keep you guessing until the very end.
This one is set in the winter of 1962-63, duing which temperatures remained below zero for about 3 months. The descriptions of the weather conditions and how people coped and the restrictions, created a perfect setting for this book.
The main characters are developing nicely. Even the misogynistic ones, are becoming likeable as they are more a product of their time, rather than being deliberately annoying. Loveday and Ryder have a fantastic working relationship, considering their different upbringing, ages and expectations.
As always an enticing case for Loveday and Ryder, lots of red herrings, beautifully written as always in language of the time. Book 8 please and soon
This is the 7th in the series, set in the 1960’s, with WPC Trudy Loveday and the coroner Clement Ryder. Another cosy, but good simple, mystery, that will keep you guessing until the very end.
This one is set in the winter of 1962-63, duing which temperatures remained below zero for about 3 months. The descriptions of the weather conditions and how people coped and the restrictions, created a perfect setting for this book.
The main characters are developing nicely. Even the misogynistic ones, are becoming likeable as they are more a product of their time, rather than being deliberately annoying. Loveday and Ryder have a fantastic working relationship, considering their different upbringing, ages and expectations.
As always an enticing case for Loveday and Ryder, lots of red herrings, beautifully written as always in language of the time. Book 8 please and soon
December 6, 2021
This may be book #7 in a series but A Fatal Night very much reads standalone. The author provides sufficient "catch up" for the reader to quickly understand the characters and how they are connected. On balance, I very much enjoyed meeting Trudy Loveday and Clement Ryder, I found them to be engaging and likeable individuals and appreciated the cross-generational aspect of this pair. There was not a great deal of character growth, though it could be the growth is observed across the whole series rather than within each book.
The whodunnit element of the book was nicely crafted, with a plentiful list of potential suspects and motives. However, whilst I wanted Trudy to solve the case for her success, the victim and suspects were not terribly sympathetic individuals so I felt no sympathy or burning desire for justice. The plot also crawled along at some points, which most certainly didn't help! The themes explored in the book include sexism, family, illness, class and revenge. Some felt as though they are ongoing across the whole series. I do wish the author hadn't portrayed all Trudy's colleagues as narrow-minded, boorish and condescending towards her. Whilst sexism was rampant did every single male treat the women they worked with so contemptuously?
In summary, the positives for me were likeable main characters and an interesting dynamic between them. There was room for improvement in pace and avoiding overly stereotyping characters. I did enjoy the book enough to consider reading more work by the author.
The whodunnit element of the book was nicely crafted, with a plentiful list of potential suspects and motives. However, whilst I wanted Trudy to solve the case for her success, the victim and suspects were not terribly sympathetic individuals so I felt no sympathy or burning desire for justice. The plot also crawled along at some points, which most certainly didn't help! The themes explored in the book include sexism, family, illness, class and revenge. Some felt as though they are ongoing across the whole series. I do wish the author hadn't portrayed all Trudy's colleagues as narrow-minded, boorish and condescending towards her. Whilst sexism was rampant did every single male treat the women they worked with so contemptuously?
In summary, the positives for me were likeable main characters and an interesting dynamic between them. There was room for improvement in pace and avoiding overly stereotyping characters. I did enjoy the book enough to consider reading more work by the author.
November 11, 2021
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review A Fatal Night. All opinions are my own.
A New Year’s Eve party proves deadly in A Fatal Night, the latest in the Ryder and Loveday series by Faith Martin (the 7th book, to be exact). The city coroner (Clement Ryder) and probationary policewoman (Trudy Loveday) in 1960s Oxford will find their hands full with this one.
They’re called to the scene of a fatal traffic accident; seems the deceased was at "that" party. Too much toasting in the New Year, perhaps? Seems cut and dried enough, but Ryder’s not convinced. Local Lover Boy was in the car, and his much-older-than-he-is rich paramour’s got children that would be very happy to see him out of the picture permanently. Turns out they have indeed cooked up something, and it’s up to our two quasi-detectives to ferret it all out, as long as Trudy’s stuffy superior will let her stay on the case (a constant theme through the books).
Of course, there’s a twist or two -- there’s the Other Woman, and the dear departed was definitely not as pure as the driven snow. But that murderer? Credit the author with making a case for surprising us all (well, at least me). Maybe a tad out of the blue, but who's counting.
We even get some movement on the personal front, which has been developing as slow as molasses. Ryder’s son has come to visit for the holidays and finds out that’s something’s up with his father’s health. And he has met Trudy -- competition for the smarmy newspaper reporter has arrived. And now that Trudy’s been given the opportunity to actually do some investigation on her own, as she does in A Fatal Night, one can only hope that bodes well for future books. Fingers crossed.
A New Year’s Eve party proves deadly in A Fatal Night, the latest in the Ryder and Loveday series by Faith Martin (the 7th book, to be exact). The city coroner (Clement Ryder) and probationary policewoman (Trudy Loveday) in 1960s Oxford will find their hands full with this one.
They’re called to the scene of a fatal traffic accident; seems the deceased was at "that" party. Too much toasting in the New Year, perhaps? Seems cut and dried enough, but Ryder’s not convinced. Local Lover Boy was in the car, and his much-older-than-he-is rich paramour’s got children that would be very happy to see him out of the picture permanently. Turns out they have indeed cooked up something, and it’s up to our two quasi-detectives to ferret it all out, as long as Trudy’s stuffy superior will let her stay on the case (a constant theme through the books).
Of course, there’s a twist or two -- there’s the Other Woman, and the dear departed was definitely not as pure as the driven snow. But that murderer? Credit the author with making a case for surprising us all (well, at least me). Maybe a tad out of the blue, but who's counting.
We even get some movement on the personal front, which has been developing as slow as molasses. Ryder’s son has come to visit for the holidays and finds out that’s something’s up with his father’s health. And he has met Trudy -- competition for the smarmy newspaper reporter has arrived. And now that Trudy’s been given the opportunity to actually do some investigation on her own, as she does in A Fatal Night, one can only hope that bodes well for future books. Fingers crossed.
November 11, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
How is it already book 7 in the Ryder and Loveday Mystery Series? It must be true that saying that says time flies when you’re having fun! And that’s exactly what I’m doing with this series. I’m enjoying it so, so much! I love both main characters and the cozy mysteries are always entertaining.
It is Christmas, 1962, when temperatures remained below zero in the UK for several months and snow was the daily companion in British people lives. When after a New Year’s Eve party a man is found dead in his car it seems a clear case of an accident due to the weather conditions, but soon Dr. Ryder and WPC Loveday suspect the death is not as clear cut as it seems.
I love how the characters are developing as the series progresses. Trudy is still up against her mysoginist colleagues, but step by step she’s gaining some new allies in the police force thanks to her impecable job.
Dr. Ryder’s health seems to have taken a turn for the worse, so it will be interesting to see how Trudy and everyone else in his life react when he can no longer hide his ailment.
The mystery was a really good one and all the vivid descriptions about the weather and how they dealt with it helped me to immerse myself in the story.
Is that a new love interest in Trudy’s life I detect? Please, let it be! Vincent really grew on me as the story progressed and I can’t wait to see him get himself involved in another of his father and Trudy’s cases.
Another winner in this lovely series. Now I just need for book 8 to be released soon!
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
How is it already book 7 in the Ryder and Loveday Mystery Series? It must be true that saying that says time flies when you’re having fun! And that’s exactly what I’m doing with this series. I’m enjoying it so, so much! I love both main characters and the cozy mysteries are always entertaining.
It is Christmas, 1962, when temperatures remained below zero in the UK for several months and snow was the daily companion in British people lives. When after a New Year’s Eve party a man is found dead in his car it seems a clear case of an accident due to the weather conditions, but soon Dr. Ryder and WPC Loveday suspect the death is not as clear cut as it seems.
I love how the characters are developing as the series progresses. Trudy is still up against her mysoginist colleagues, but step by step she’s gaining some new allies in the police force thanks to her impecable job.
Dr. Ryder’s health seems to have taken a turn for the worse, so it will be interesting to see how Trudy and everyone else in his life react when he can no longer hide his ailment.
The mystery was a really good one and all the vivid descriptions about the weather and how they dealt with it helped me to immerse myself in the story.
Is that a new love interest in Trudy’s life I detect? Please, let it be! Vincent really grew on me as the story progressed and I can’t wait to see him get himself involved in another of his father and Trudy’s cases.
Another winner in this lovely series. Now I just need for book 8 to be released soon!
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2021
This series has an excellent sense of place and time, with a vibrant 1960s Oxford setting. A suspicious death after a glamorous New Years Eve party looks like a tragic accident, but when Trudy and Clement investigate, murder seems likely. This investigation in this story is complete, so it reads well as a standalone. However, to grasp the nuances of Ryder and Loveday's partnership, I recommend reading all books in the series.
Misogyny still prevails amongst Loveday's colleagues, but her obvious detective skills win her support from some. Deduction and observation skills were paramount in an era without forensics and technology.
The sensory imagery used and vivid descriptions reflect 1962s extreme winter weather and are central to the story. This is an engaging classic style murder mystery with relatable characters and a believably written cast of suspects.
I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Misogyny still prevails amongst Loveday's colleagues, but her obvious detective skills win her support from some. Deduction and observation skills were paramount in an era without forensics and technology.
The sensory imagery used and vivid descriptions reflect 1962s extreme winter weather and are central to the story. This is an engaging classic style murder mystery with relatable characters and a believably written cast of suspects.
I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 30, 2023
J'ai passé un bon moment avec cette lecture, je suis toujours contente de retrouver Trudy et Clement et de les voir évoluer tous les deux. L'ajout du personnage de Vincent m'a beaucoup plu. Quant à l'enquête, elle est rondement menée et j'ai beaucoup aimé l'intrigue !
March 19, 2023
Edit: I stand corrected. There is an 8th book in the series. Woohoo! Oh no, I seem to have unknowingly reached the last of the Ryder/Loveday series. These are fantastic old-style mysteries. I especially love the narration in the audio version.
October 29, 2021
This book for me, just did not grip me. I kept waiting for it to kick it up a notch and it just never came.
It was slow but with no burn, and it just didn't make me care who the killer was. And the things that came to light didn't make me shocked or hungry for more.
I did like it being set in the 60's before technology in crime solving became advanced. I did like the WPC fighting for her chance to be considered equal and be able to handle a case of a higher magnitude for herself, and taking advantage of the snowfall and restricted staff to further herself.
I just didn't connect with the characters or the story.
It was slow but with no burn, and it just didn't make me care who the killer was. And the things that came to light didn't make me shocked or hungry for more.
I did like it being set in the 60's before technology in crime solving became advanced. I did like the WPC fighting for her chance to be considered equal and be able to handle a case of a higher magnitude for herself, and taking advantage of the snowfall and restricted staff to further herself.
I just didn't connect with the characters or the story.
November 14, 2021
Overall this was a decent story, but what makes these stories standout from the thousands of other similar books is the relationship and interaction between Trudy and Doctor Ryder. However at times it almost felt like the author was relegating them to more minor roles.
The author was obviously trying to fill out the story by including more from a range of people who have had some input into the crime. Understanding more about the perpetrators may add to the story, but for me it was overdone and took up a bit too much of the book.
There are a couple of other things that I could have done without. There was the attempt at some sort of romantic triangle that I found more irritating than interesting and of course there is always the misogynistic DI Jennings.
There is a twist in the story at the end, which is unexpected because there is nothing in the book that would lead the reader towards this conclusion. I quite like twists in the plot, but I quite like having a chance to spot it coming or at least able to look back at the story and chastise myself for not having seen it before the end.
There were parts of the book I could have quite happily given four or five stars, but in the end I think three is probably fair.
The author was obviously trying to fill out the story by including more from a range of people who have had some input into the crime. Understanding more about the perpetrators may add to the story, but for me it was overdone and took up a bit too much of the book.
There are a couple of other things that I could have done without. There was the attempt at some sort of romantic triangle that I found more irritating than interesting and of course there is always the misogynistic DI Jennings.
There is a twist in the story at the end, which is unexpected because there is nothing in the book that would lead the reader towards this conclusion. I quite like twists in the plot, but I quite like having a chance to spot it coming or at least able to look back at the story and chastise myself for not having seen it before the end.
There were parts of the book I could have quite happily given four or five stars, but in the end I think three is probably fair.
October 8, 2021
A Fatal Night (Ryder & Loveday Mystery #7) by Faith Martin
This is book 7 in the Ryder and Loveday Mystery and I have not read the previous 6 books but I still enjoyed this book and it has left me curious about the other 6 books…
Its New Year’s Eve in 1962 and it is cold and thick snow is on the roads and the ‘high society’ of Oxford has gathered at an private party to celebrate the new year but the next morning one of the guests is found dead in his car – has he frozen to death or is it something more sinister?
WPC Trudy Loveday is sent to investigate and she enlists coroner Clement Ryder to help.
I really liked this book, I have read Faith martin before and she is a really good author but I was not keen on the Jenny Stirling Mysteries but I loved WPC Loveday and I want to know if she will have a romance with Ryders son Vincent who helps them with the research and I really want her continue to move up the ranks of the police.
I also liked Clement Ryder and I am curious to see how his illness will be played out in future books.
The story is good and the atmosphere at the party is creepy as you know something bad is going to happen. The twins especially are perfectly hateful.
There were many red herrings and satisfactory twists and turns.
As its set in winter time, it added an extra dimension of cosiness and closeness that only happens in the winter.
This book did not disappoint and I hope to read the other books and any new books.
#1960 #England #cosy # mystery
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This is book 7 in the Ryder and Loveday Mystery and I have not read the previous 6 books but I still enjoyed this book and it has left me curious about the other 6 books…
Its New Year’s Eve in 1962 and it is cold and thick snow is on the roads and the ‘high society’ of Oxford has gathered at an private party to celebrate the new year but the next morning one of the guests is found dead in his car – has he frozen to death or is it something more sinister?
WPC Trudy Loveday is sent to investigate and she enlists coroner Clement Ryder to help.
I really liked this book, I have read Faith martin before and she is a really good author but I was not keen on the Jenny Stirling Mysteries but I loved WPC Loveday and I want to know if she will have a romance with Ryders son Vincent who helps them with the research and I really want her continue to move up the ranks of the police.
I also liked Clement Ryder and I am curious to see how his illness will be played out in future books.
The story is good and the atmosphere at the party is creepy as you know something bad is going to happen. The twins especially are perfectly hateful.
There were many red herrings and satisfactory twists and turns.
As its set in winter time, it added an extra dimension of cosiness and closeness that only happens in the winter.
This book did not disappoint and I hope to read the other books and any new books.
#1960 #England #cosy # mystery
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 13, 2024
It was an easy/cosy murder who-dunnit with an ok plot. But there wasn’t any particular depth to the story or the characters and the twee writing and repetitive comments on how attractive the protagonists were became rather grating after a while. The twist ending came out of nowhere and didn’t feel desperately believable.
An easy book to pass the time but not one to get excited about.
An easy book to pass the time but not one to get excited about.
December 2, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.
And honestly? This was a tough read. It felt like an 18 year old was writing about how she felt the narrative was in the 60's. Far too many exclamation marks! "Oh, and she sure would get her man!". Far too much repetition; "with a sly face, he slyly slipped away". And why, oh why, does everyone have to be "handsome", "beautiful" or "gorgeous". Where's all the ugly people?
The other bugbear was the use of three emotions playing out on people's faces at once. "Anguish, thrill and dread passed across his face".
Overall the story was OK, a good twist, but the writing style really put me off. I didn't like any of the characters, and I can't believe this is number 7 in a series of stories.
And honestly? This was a tough read. It felt like an 18 year old was writing about how she felt the narrative was in the 60's. Far too many exclamation marks! "Oh, and she sure would get her man!". Far too much repetition; "with a sly face, he slyly slipped away". And why, oh why, does everyone have to be "handsome", "beautiful" or "gorgeous". Where's all the ugly people?
The other bugbear was the use of three emotions playing out on people's faces at once. "Anguish, thrill and dread passed across his face".
Overall the story was OK, a good twist, but the writing style really put me off. I didn't like any of the characters, and I can't believe this is number 7 in a series of stories.
November 2, 2022
As it goes, I think this one was one of the most interesting mysteries of the series, however I confess that while I guessed WHO did it, I couldn't imagine why and the late entrance of the motive felt a bit like a cheap shot. Still, it was so believable and even WHY it came out and when was done so well, I had to give it an excellent rating.
November 18, 2021
A great plot and a great story. I loved the murder mystery set during the historic big freeze in the 1960’s, with the seemingly innocent accidental death of a man who to all intents and purposes, looks like he had succumb to the weather and met his death on the ice.
As the story proceeds, you start to build up a picture that something is perhaps, a bit more untowards than it seems. It took me a while to get a grasp of the characters and the potential suspects but I was intrigued to see how it would all play out.
I loved the duo between Trudy and the coroner and they have a great rapport. I haven’t read any other books in this series, with this one being my first venture into the Ryder & Loveday books but I didn’t feel at a disadvantage. The author does a great job at filling the reader in.
I found this somewhat of a slow burner, and it just ticks steadily along the plot as more clues and information are trickled in to form the bigger picture of murder and the whodunnit. Overall it was a nice, entertaining story. The narrator was fab too and made it really enjoyable to listen to.
Thank you to the publishers and author via NetGalley for this book in return for my honest thoughts and review.
As the story proceeds, you start to build up a picture that something is perhaps, a bit more untowards than it seems. It took me a while to get a grasp of the characters and the potential suspects but I was intrigued to see how it would all play out.
I loved the duo between Trudy and the coroner and they have a great rapport. I haven’t read any other books in this series, with this one being my first venture into the Ryder & Loveday books but I didn’t feel at a disadvantage. The author does a great job at filling the reader in.
I found this somewhat of a slow burner, and it just ticks steadily along the plot as more clues and information are trickled in to form the bigger picture of murder and the whodunnit. Overall it was a nice, entertaining story. The narrator was fab too and made it really enjoyable to listen to.
Thank you to the publishers and author via NetGalley for this book in return for my honest thoughts and review.
November 10, 2021
New Year’s Eve, 1962 As a snowstorm rages outside, Oxford high society gathers to ring in the New Year at the city’s most exclusive party. This is a soiree no one will forget not least because a guest is found dead in his car the next morning. It seems the young man tragically froze to death overnight after crashing into a snowdrift – but when WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder are called in to investigate, they discover a tangled web of secrets that plainly points to murder.
With everyone telling different stories about that fateful night, only one thing is clear: several people had reason to want the victim dead.
This is the seventh book in the series but it could easily be read on its own. I loved the relationship between Trudy & Clement & how its developed. Once again there are plenty of suspects, plenty of red herrings as well as twists & turns. I also liked the picture painted of life in the early 60’s. Another well written murder mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I did guess who the murderer was but no way did I work out why
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
With everyone telling different stories about that fateful night, only one thing is clear: several people had reason to want the victim dead.
This is the seventh book in the series but it could easily be read on its own. I loved the relationship between Trudy & Clement & how its developed. Once again there are plenty of suspects, plenty of red herrings as well as twists & turns. I also liked the picture painted of life in the early 60’s. Another well written murder mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I did guess who the murderer was but no way did I work out why
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
December 20, 2021
Although I hadn’t appreciated that this was the 7th in a series of novels when I started to read it, it really doesn’t matter as the book works perfectly well as a stand-alone plot.
When a handsome young car dealer dies on the way home from a New Year’s Eve party, it appears to be a weather-related accident until the local WPC and the coroner voice their doubts. Soon the problem is less one of finding a suspect and more a problem of sifting through them.
This was a cosy crime novel with a 60’s period setting. The characters are easy to distinguish and ably drawn although the protagonists are slightly less well realised than the suspects. A very easy read, perfect for this time of year.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, HQ Stories at Harper Collins for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
When a handsome young car dealer dies on the way home from a New Year’s Eve party, it appears to be a weather-related accident until the local WPC and the coroner voice their doubts. Soon the problem is less one of finding a suspect and more a problem of sifting through them.
This was a cosy crime novel with a 60’s period setting. The characters are easy to distinguish and ably drawn although the protagonists are slightly less well realised than the suspects. A very easy read, perfect for this time of year.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, HQ Stories at Harper Collins for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2021
WPC Trudy Loveday and Coroner Clement Ryder are back in this seventh instalment of the series by Faith Martin. A Fatal Night kept me on my toes throughout as I devoured each chapter. I adored being in the company of Trudy Loveday again who I find to be enthusiastic, feisty, considerate and, at times stubborn. Ryder is a man who has experienced his fair share of life - someone of a certain age who has lived a little. Set in the 1960s, in Oxfordshire, Faith Martin's writing is so good and her style is a great fit for me. There was plenty going on which kept my attention throughout and I never once felt bored. With a handy supply of colourful supporting characters, the mystery itself was sound; the clues, twists and red herrings were cleverly placed and with nothing as it seemed and some great descriptions of the inclement weather, the story was super exciting. This has left me wanting to read the first two books of the series, as well as eagerly anticipating the next instalment.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 19, 2021
I found this audio to be a pleasure to listen to. The narrator had an easy flow and I listened to it more or less in one go. The story was based in 1962 during a snow storm and the author described the setting really well with occasional references to how difficult it was to get around. I thought the difference between now and then for the WPC was described well. This was my first crime with this duo, but it certainly won't be my last. Highly recommended 👌
March 27, 2022
Love this series
February 2, 2024
Loved how much actual policework Trudy got to do. I loved the addition of Clements son Vincent to the story.
December 31, 2024
Hyper drôle de le lire en "calendrier de l'an".
July 27, 2023
Toujours aussi bien. Les personnages sont toujours aussi attachants et le fils du coroner fait son apparition. Malheureusement c'est l'avant dernier de la série....
October 24, 2021
This whodunnit follows the investigation of a fatal car crash that occurs just after a New Year’s Eve party held by wealthy Millicent Vander, attractive widow and mother to a pair of seriously obnoxious twins. There are quite a few murder suspects, leaving the reader guessing as to who committed the crime, and a variety of characters are interviewed by protagonist WPC Trudy Loveday. It is an entertaining read for lovers of crime dramas and, although part of a series, the novel can be enjoyed as standalone. However, I found the characters overly superficial and felt the novel lacked historical detail, or any of the atmosphere or mood of the 1960s. To be honest, while reading it I kept forgetting it wasn't set in contemporary Britain. The plot I think would have worked well as a TV adaptation. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2021
Although this is the seventh book in a series it can easily be read as a standalone.
It is New Year's Eve 1962, the widowed Mrs Millie Vander is hosting a New Year's Eve party at her home, hoping that her man-friend, Terry Parker will propose to her, despite the ten year age difference. Millie's nineteen year old twins Jasper and Juliet are rather less than thrilled at the prospect of an oily second-hand sportscar salesman becoming their stepfather and spending their considerable inheritance.
Meanwhile, WPC Trudy Loveday is one of the few police officers still on duty, so many having been trapped at home by the unprecedented snowfalls that brought Oxford to a halt, and others being brought down by a flu epidemic. The last thing she expects to be asked to do is investigate a dead body found slumped in a car on New Year's Day morning, even if the verdict is expected to be death caused by driving a car into a tree whilst intoxicated. Trudy suggests asking the coroner, Dr Clement Ryder, to pronounce death, given the holidays and being short-staffed. Dr Ryder and Trudy have apparently solved a number of murders in Oxford by pursuing what appeared to open-and-shut accidents, and Dr Ryder has a soft spot for the young WPC.
This was a very enjoyable, easy-reading, police procedural, as a reader I was aware of several potential suspects but had no clue as to who had committed the murder or why. There were lots of what I really don't want to classify as red herrings, more like leads which didn't pan out, suspects who had motive but didn't commit the crime.
I've not come across Faith Martin before but I will definitely keep an eye out for other books in this series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
It is New Year's Eve 1962, the widowed Mrs Millie Vander is hosting a New Year's Eve party at her home, hoping that her man-friend, Terry Parker will propose to her, despite the ten year age difference. Millie's nineteen year old twins Jasper and Juliet are rather less than thrilled at the prospect of an oily second-hand sportscar salesman becoming their stepfather and spending their considerable inheritance.
Meanwhile, WPC Trudy Loveday is one of the few police officers still on duty, so many having been trapped at home by the unprecedented snowfalls that brought Oxford to a halt, and others being brought down by a flu epidemic. The last thing she expects to be asked to do is investigate a dead body found slumped in a car on New Year's Day morning, even if the verdict is expected to be death caused by driving a car into a tree whilst intoxicated. Trudy suggests asking the coroner, Dr Clement Ryder, to pronounce death, given the holidays and being short-staffed. Dr Ryder and Trudy have apparently solved a number of murders in Oxford by pursuing what appeared to open-and-shut accidents, and Dr Ryder has a soft spot for the young WPC.
This was a very enjoyable, easy-reading, police procedural, as a reader I was aware of several potential suspects but had no clue as to who had committed the murder or why. There were lots of what I really don't want to classify as red herrings, more like leads which didn't pan out, suspects who had motive but didn't commit the crime.
I've not come across Faith Martin before but I will definitely keep an eye out for other books in this series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
September 3, 2023
Mon avis en Français
My English review
C’est une série très sympa et j’étais curieuse de découvrir la suite des aventures de nos chers Ryder et Loveday.
Le nouvel an approche et la police est en sens dessus dessous. Alors pour une fois, le commissaire propose à Loveday de s’occuper d’un accident de la route. Une mort. Mais ça sera facile, non ? Pas d’enquête, rien. Et vu que tout le monde est occupé, il n’aura rien à gérer. Malheureusement, Loveday s’associe à Ryder et ils découvrent que l’homme décédé a finalement été tué. Ou en tout cas, ça en a l’air ! Au grand dam du commissaire, nos deux protagonistes vont lancer les investigations pour déterminer qui aurait pu en vouloir à la victime. Mais plus ils enquêtent et plus ils découvrent que beaucoup de personnes auraient pu vouloir sa mort… Alors qui est responsable ?
C’était un tome très sympa et j’ai adoré découvrir Vincent, le fils de Ryder. Apparemment il sera présent dans la suite et j’en suis d’autant plus ravie. Ce tome était très intéressant et j’ai pris grand plaisir à le suivre. J’attends aussi de voir ce qui va se passer après cette fin, surtout pour Ryder.
Une série toujours aussi plaisante à lire !
My English review
C’est une série très sympa et j’étais curieuse de découvrir la suite des aventures de nos chers Ryder et Loveday.
Le nouvel an approche et la police est en sens dessus dessous. Alors pour une fois, le commissaire propose à Loveday de s’occuper d’un accident de la route. Une mort. Mais ça sera facile, non ? Pas d’enquête, rien. Et vu que tout le monde est occupé, il n’aura rien à gérer. Malheureusement, Loveday s’associe à Ryder et ils découvrent que l’homme décédé a finalement été tué. Ou en tout cas, ça en a l’air ! Au grand dam du commissaire, nos deux protagonistes vont lancer les investigations pour déterminer qui aurait pu en vouloir à la victime. Mais plus ils enquêtent et plus ils découvrent que beaucoup de personnes auraient pu vouloir sa mort… Alors qui est responsable ?
C’était un tome très sympa et j’ai adoré découvrir Vincent, le fils de Ryder. Apparemment il sera présent dans la suite et j’en suis d’autant plus ravie. Ce tome était très intéressant et j’ai pris grand plaisir à le suivre. J’attends aussi de voir ce qui va se passer après cette fin, surtout pour Ryder.
Une série toujours aussi plaisante à lire !
August 12, 2022
7th book a a lovely series set in the 1960’s and featuring the endearingly enterprising WPC Trudy Loveday and retired coroner Clement Ryder.
In this episode it is a cold winter and the scene of the murder is a New Year’s Eve party where potential young love interest of the party hostess is found dead in his car. The duo begin to investigate while the snow falls and the dedicated police murder detective team are unable to start work.
The duo are delightful and are joined, somewhat reluctantly at first, by Clements son. The three make excellent work of good old fashion police work and the descriptions of the snow and the characters make the reader really engaged with the storyline.
I hadn’t guessed what had happened until almost the end and the story was wrapped up well and leaving the reader looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
In this episode it is a cold winter and the scene of the murder is a New Year’s Eve party where potential young love interest of the party hostess is found dead in his car. The duo begin to investigate while the snow falls and the dedicated police murder detective team are unable to start work.
The duo are delightful and are joined, somewhat reluctantly at first, by Clements son. The three make excellent work of good old fashion police work and the descriptions of the snow and the characters make the reader really engaged with the storyline.
I hadn’t guessed what had happened until almost the end and the story was wrapped up well and leaving the reader looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, it was so easy to follow and just get absorbed in the characters and the story. I loved the retro feel to the book.
I hadn't read any of the other books in the series but it really didn't matter, but now I want to get back and read more.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.
I hadn't read any of the other books in the series but it really didn't matter, but now I want to get back and read more.
I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.
November 3, 2021
A Fatal Night, by Faith Martin
Teaser
Oxford is paralysed by the 1962-63 snowstorm just around the beginning of the New Year. Mrs Millie Vander, an upper-class widow, is excited about her New Year’s Eve party – not only because the guest list was rather exclusive, but also because Terry Parker was certainly going to propose.
But not all things go to plan. Terry will die in a car crash the night after the party.
It’s a simple car crash that Woman Police Constable Loveday is sent to make preliminary inquiries. “Preliminary inquiries” stressed her boss. He didn’t want her to get too excited what looked like a case of drunk driving. An open and shut case.
I won’t surprise anyone by saying that things are not as simple as they first look, and that WPC Loveday, with the help of her mentor and friend coroner Clement Ryder, will go beyond mere “preliminary inquiries”.
Review
This is a cosy mystery with a simple, linear timeline and one single plot thread. It is enjoyable to read and hits all the features of the genre. It is the seventh book of the Ryder and Loveday series, but it works perfectly as a standalone too. It is short and flows away quickly.
However, there are a few points I did not like about this book.
Simple plot
As I mentioned above, the storyline is simple. There is no change of timeline, no substantial parallel investigation. They only sort of subplot that went on, was barely investigated by WPC Loveday until the very end, and more by accident than by wit.
This is a two-sided blade. Some readers will enjoy the simplicity of the plot. Others, like me, will find it boring and will miss the entertainment.
The only interesting theme across the book, which is sometimes hinted, sometimes made it plain, is the sexism of the sixties. Just the title Woman Police Constable – a title officially used up to 1999, believe it or not – made my bile stir.
The plot offers plenty of red herrings, but I found them obvious most of the times.
I have never been engaged in the mystery. I ended up not really caring about solving it. Beside bringing the killer to justice, there was no other motivation. Nobody was suffering from the consequences of Terry’s death. Even Millie seemed to have shrugged his death away.
If nobody cared, why should I?
Simple characters
Related to the point above is the simplicity of characters.
Everyone is well constructed: they have their goals, their motivations, and they are all linked to one another in some way.
However, nobody really moves from their original position. There is little character development.
This is perfectly fine for characters more on the side-lines, like suspects and Loveday’s boss. But Loveday herself does not change at all throughout the book. Even Dr Ryder’s change is slow, and more dictated by his illness than anything else.
Disorienting points of view
One thing I found very annoying is the sudden changes in points of view.
The narrative would follow the actions and thoughts of one character, say Loveday. Within the same chapter, the point of view changes and go to Dr Ryder. A few sentences after, we move to Vincent, Dr Ryder’s son.
There is no aid to that change. No punctuation, no change of chapter, nothing. Right up until the end of the book, I found this technique disorienting.
Twist or no twist
The entire mystery is...you guessed it...simple. Since the very beginning, it is pretty clear what is happening. We know who did it, we know why. That still leaves how exactly they have done it and how Loveday will discover them. But that’s not worth the hassle, is it?
So, mid-way through the book I find myself wondering: should I read this book until the end? Because it can go one of two ways: it is either as simple as it looks, or there is a huge twist at the end which means that the author played with me until now.
Whichever way it goes (I am not going to spoil it here), the result is surely irritating.
Overall
I enjoyed A Fatal Night. It is a simple read that can be enjoyed in a couple of days. It makes it a good break from other, more intense, reads. But I would not recommend it to anyone who loves a thrill or the possibility to guess a high-stake mystery.
***Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.***
Teaser
Oxford is paralysed by the 1962-63 snowstorm just around the beginning of the New Year. Mrs Millie Vander, an upper-class widow, is excited about her New Year’s Eve party – not only because the guest list was rather exclusive, but also because Terry Parker was certainly going to propose.
But not all things go to plan. Terry will die in a car crash the night after the party.
It’s a simple car crash that Woman Police Constable Loveday is sent to make preliminary inquiries. “Preliminary inquiries” stressed her boss. He didn’t want her to get too excited what looked like a case of drunk driving. An open and shut case.
I won’t surprise anyone by saying that things are not as simple as they first look, and that WPC Loveday, with the help of her mentor and friend coroner Clement Ryder, will go beyond mere “preliminary inquiries”.
Review
This is a cosy mystery with a simple, linear timeline and one single plot thread. It is enjoyable to read and hits all the features of the genre. It is the seventh book of the Ryder and Loveday series, but it works perfectly as a standalone too. It is short and flows away quickly.
However, there are a few points I did not like about this book.
Simple plot
As I mentioned above, the storyline is simple. There is no change of timeline, no substantial parallel investigation. They only sort of subplot that went on, was barely investigated by WPC Loveday until the very end, and more by accident than by wit.
This is a two-sided blade. Some readers will enjoy the simplicity of the plot. Others, like me, will find it boring and will miss the entertainment.
The only interesting theme across the book, which is sometimes hinted, sometimes made it plain, is the sexism of the sixties. Just the title Woman Police Constable – a title officially used up to 1999, believe it or not – made my bile stir.
The plot offers plenty of red herrings, but I found them obvious most of the times.
I have never been engaged in the mystery. I ended up not really caring about solving it. Beside bringing the killer to justice, there was no other motivation. Nobody was suffering from the consequences of Terry’s death. Even Millie seemed to have shrugged his death away.
If nobody cared, why should I?
Simple characters
Related to the point above is the simplicity of characters.
Everyone is well constructed: they have their goals, their motivations, and they are all linked to one another in some way.
However, nobody really moves from their original position. There is little character development.
This is perfectly fine for characters more on the side-lines, like suspects and Loveday’s boss. But Loveday herself does not change at all throughout the book. Even Dr Ryder’s change is slow, and more dictated by his illness than anything else.
Disorienting points of view
One thing I found very annoying is the sudden changes in points of view.
The narrative would follow the actions and thoughts of one character, say Loveday. Within the same chapter, the point of view changes and go to Dr Ryder. A few sentences after, we move to Vincent, Dr Ryder’s son.
There is no aid to that change. No punctuation, no change of chapter, nothing. Right up until the end of the book, I found this technique disorienting.
Twist or no twist
The entire mystery is...you guessed it...simple. Since the very beginning, it is pretty clear what is happening. We know who did it, we know why. That still leaves how exactly they have done it and how Loveday will discover them. But that’s not worth the hassle, is it?
So, mid-way through the book I find myself wondering: should I read this book until the end? Because it can go one of two ways: it is either as simple as it looks, or there is a huge twist at the end which means that the author played with me until now.
Whichever way it goes (I am not going to spoil it here), the result is surely irritating.
Overall
I enjoyed A Fatal Night. It is a simple read that can be enjoyed in a couple of days. It makes it a good break from other, more intense, reads. But I would not recommend it to anyone who loves a thrill or the possibility to guess a high-stake mystery.
***Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.***
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