Laura Ackroyd, the journalist girlfriend of DCI Michael Thackerary, becomes drawn into the plight of Jenny Holden and her daughter Anna when she writes an article about domestic abuse. Suffering violence at the hands of her husband, Jenny takes flight to a women’s refuge. But her dreams of safety are shattered when young Anna goes missing. A tense, gripping and emotional mystery, By Death Divided delves into the murky and complex dynamics of family life.
Patricia Hall is the pen-name of journalist Maureen O'Connor. She was born and brought up in West Yorkshire, which is where she has chosen to set her acclaimed series of novels featuring reporter Laura Ackroyd and DCI Michael Thackeray. She is married, with two grown-up sons, and now lives in Oxford.
This is the first Thackeray and Ackroyd Mystery I have read. It has a good plot and I enjoyed the read. I would definitely try another in the series. At times the personal relationship between Laura Ackroyd and DCI Michael Thackeray gets in the way. At other times it is entertaining and adds to the drama.
Jenny and her daughter Anna are forced to go into hiding as a result of domestic violence when Anna goes missing it becomes a case for DCI Thackeray and his journalist girlfriend Laura Ackroyd. Very good read a plausible story and an interesting plot.