The Circle by
Peter Lovesey
hbk out January 05
Published by Time Warner
at £17.99
The closed circle of suspects is a staple of classic whodunits and what more fertile
source of material for a lively detective story than a writers' circle that becomes
involved in a series of murders? Reading a Peter Lovesey novel is always a treat, akin
to gorging on a slice of chocolate cake, and his latest book offers splendid light
entertainment. Edgar Blacker, a disreputable publisher who gives a talk to members of
the circle, is killed in a house fire. The chair of the circle is quickly arrested but it
becomes apparent that he is unlikely to be the culprit. Bob Naylor, an occasional
writer of doggerel newly introduced to the circle, teams up with a couple of
colleagues to investigate and soon Bob is himself nearly killed. The police
investigation is headed by DCI Henrietta Mallin (Peter Diamond, who features in
many of the author's novels, makes only a fleeting appearance). Hen Mallin is a
likeable woman, not averse to making reference to Agatha Christie-style whodunits,
and Lovesey offers a pleasing final twist which would no doubt have earned approval
from the Queen of Crime.
(
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries)
The Circle by
Peter Lovesey
