Inspector Chard, Leslie Scase’s Victorian-era crimebuster, has been fitted up for double murder and is on the prowl to bring down the corruption and greed in the Force from the inside. He’s also returned to his hometown of Shrewsbury from his previous locale, Pontypridd; in moving the setting for this book from Wales to England, Scase places Sabrina’s Teardrop in a more bustling, indeed violent townscape.
Chard himself is a well-rounded detective, and up for a fight when necessary. The fights in question are tense, almost choreographed and filmic. Scase’s description of internal prison affairs is vivid and thoughtful; I can’t claim expertise regarding the underbelly of criminality, but I was engaged by the wickedness and excitement. As an avid reader of murder mysteries, this delicious panorama of humanity engaged me.
I interviewed Scace about his last book, Fatal Solution, and its narrative, like Sabrina’s Teardrop, is one of historical interest to Wales and of merit to the crime genre. Although dense and well-researched, I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed the last due to its worldbuilding, use of era-specific language, and twists and turns which stuck with me long after reading.
Sabrina’s Teardrop, Leslie Scase (Seren)
Price: £9.99. Info: here
words BILLIE INGRAM SOFOKLEOUS
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