Alison G. Taylor

Page Updated: 02/07/99

Alison G. Taylor

Unsafe Convictions

08 Jul 99

The House of Women

About the Author

Bibliography

First British Edition Heinemann (1999)

Unsafe Convictions
When someone in the town of Haughton batters Trisha Stanton Smith into oblivion, drenches her house in petrol, and drops a match, the obvious suspect is her ex-husband, who abused her mercilessly throughout the marriage. Despite his unproven claim of an alibi, Stanton Smith goes to prison for life.
Detective Inspector Barry Dugdale, who investigated Trisha's murder, had his own reasons for wanting Stanton Smith in prison. Two years later, when the alibi evidence is unexpectedly confirmed and Stanton Smith's conviction quashed, Dugdale and two colleagues are accused of corruption, and suspended from duty.
Superintendent Michael McKenna, charged with investigating whether or not Dugdale deliberately suppressed vital evidence, moves with his team from North Wales to the bleak Pennine landscape around Haughton. He is pursued by a journalist on the make who took up Stanton Smith's cause; haunted by Trisha's sister, father and friends; feared by the police; eluded by Julie Broadbent, the daughter of Haughton's most notorious prostitute; and tormented the Roman Catholic parish priest. Unravelling lies, mischief and the patterns of love and hatred, and facing personal danger, McKenna finally sees the truth behind its cloak of shameful secrets.
Acclaim for Alison Taylor
'With her third novel, The House of Women, Alison Taylor confirms her place among the new stars of British crime writing… A far from straightforward investigation into a suspicious death reveals a history of obsession and long-held hatred...a complex and challenging book' Susanna Yager, Sunday Telegraph
'Taylor shows every sign of being a formidable writer' Literary Review
'With this dark and involving tale, Taylor stands up to be counted alongside the best of British crime writers today' Ideal Home
'A gripping read...the new Alison Taylor could put her up there with the likes of Ruth Rendell and Minette Waiters' Mike Ripley, Books Magazine
'An impressive first novel, this is a dark, densely woven tale of passion… A disturbingly good debut' Marcel Berlins, The Times

The House of Women
When Ned Jones is found dead in his room, the police visit is merely routine. Detective Inspector McKenna, his day already soured by the loss of a promotion, is more interested in the extraordinary house of women Ned inhabited: Edith, hooked on tranquillisers, floating through life; Phoebe, her overweight, acutely intelligent teenage daughter; Mina, Phoebe's beautiful, blank faced older sister.
But when the post-mortem comes in, it's clear that it's not a natural death. Ned has died from a very rare allergy, an allergy he was aware of.
As McKenna struggles with the politics of the police force, the long awaited repainting of the offices, and the attempts of his officers to get to grips with the high incidence of local car theft, he finds himself increasingly drawn to the circumstances surrounding Ned's death. The investigation leads him back into the past, into the family's history, weaving scholarship and promises of genius with themes of isolation and retribution.

About The Author
Alison Taylor never intended to be a crime writer.
In 1986 she was working as a senior social worker for the former Gwynedd County Council. Increasingly disturbed by reports of the alleged abuse of children in care, she took her concerns to the police. As a result she was fired. What her actions have helped to expose is one of Britain's worst scandals of institutionalised physical and sexual abuse in children's homes in North Wales.
Because of the extent and nature of the allegations, in 1996 the government took the rare step of ordering a Tribunal of Inquiry, which began hearing evidence in January 1997, and is due to report this year.
Alison Taylor won two national awards for her selfless work in this area; the first Community Care Readers Award, and the Campaign for Freedom of Information Award in 1996.
Disillusioned by the prospect of returning to social work, Alison concentrated on writing. Her first novel Simeon's Bride evolved from a short story written for a national competition and was published in 1995. It won her outstanding critical acclaim and comparisons to PD James and Ruth Rendell. Her second novel In Guilty Night was a compelling story containing the controversial issue of child abuse. And most recently, The House of Women was published in 1998, again to widespread acclaim from the media. A television series featuring Superintendent Michael McKenna is currently under negotiation.
Alison Taylor has a son and a daughter, and has lived in north Wales for many years. Her interests include baroque and classical music, art and riding. She is currently working on her fifth novel.

Bibliography
N.B. dates and publishers in dark red indicate British First Editions. Dates and publishers in black indicate recent reprints.

Unsafe Convictions (Heinemann, 1999) Jul 99

The House of Women (Heinemann, 1998) ( McKenna)

In Guilty Night ( 1996)

Simeon's Bride ( 1995)

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