Laughing Boy by
Stuart Pawson
hbk out October 02
Published by Allison Busby
at £17.99
The latest Charlie Priest mystery opens with a lengthy prologue. It is California in
1969 and a band called the LHO, created and led by singer-songwriter Tim Roper, is
performing onstage. Before long a violent death occurs. Fast forward to Yorkshire
2001 and Charlie is speaking: 'There is no such thing as an ordinary person, so it
follows that there is no such thing as an ordinary murder.' A woman called Laura
Heeley has been stabbed to death and soon there is another killing; the victim this
time is young Colinette Jones. Stuart Pawson's police stories have gathered a
considerable following over the last few years. They benefit immensely from the
well-realised Yorkshire setting, and from Charlie's likeability. Here, the unravelling
of the secret behind the crimes is secondary to the author's concern with people and
places. In particular, the atmosphere is darkened by the impact of the outbreak of foot
and mouth disease. The British rural scene was seldom bleaker than in 2001 and
Pawson captures the air of menace most effectively.
(
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries)
