TANGLED WEB UK REVIEWS  
The Eve of Destruction by Martin Edwards 
Eve of Destruction (interestingly, a reference to the sixties protest song by Barry McGuire) opens with the dramatic discovery of three dead bodies in a converted church. We know nothing about who the victims are, nor why they’re there. Events leading up to this discovery form the basis of what follows, and an ingenious structure makes  the murders both the opening and the pivotal point of the book. Once the murders are actually discovered (again), we realise we’re even more in the dark about what really happened.
Harry Devlin’s role is one of privileged insider. He’s a slightly down-at-heel solicitor and sometime amateur detective, with a client who is worried that his wife may leave him, putting the future of his business in jeopardy.   Delvin is given a set of taped telephone conversations between the client’s wife and an unknown lover. His instructions are to find out what’s going on. Although this type of work is not within the  remit of solicitors, Harry admits the need to  find out how serious the relationship is and to discover the identity of the lover.  He begins to listen to the tapes.  But certain  factors in Devlin’s  background  -  his own failed marriage, his current much yearned for, but difficult relationship with a fellow solicitor and his business partner’s sudden and uncharacteristic betrayal of his wife of many years - influence his response to the highly questionable ethics of listening in on these private conversations. Devlin can’t help himself.   His professional interest turns into personal obsession and he’s compelled to listen to the tapes well past any, however tenuous, point of justification.
When the murders are discovered, Delvin finds himself in an extremely awkward situation. The tapes contain information that could help solve the crimes.
The tone of writing is engaging, with wry comments on the life of a practising solicitor and life in general in the Liverpool of the nineties. Asides such as "Harry had enough trouble keeping up to date with Archbold on Criminal Pleading, Practice and Evidence. Lawyers called the big book their Bible, but at least the original Holy Scriptures did not keep changing with each new Home Secretary," are telling and will instantly strike a cord with many. And with displays of wit such as the sign that says, "this door is alarmed", to which someone has added "and this window is bloody well terrified" thrown in, the style is hard to resist.
All in all a thoroughly satisfying and intriguing read. This was my first encounter with Harry Devlin, and I’ll certainly be catching up with his previous exploits as soon as possible. A superior whodunnit, emphatically grounded in a the Liverpool of the 90’s, Martin Edwards' writing is not to be missed.
(E.A.L) 

 Goodnight, My Angel by Margaret Murphy 
What more could a new author want than rave reviews from leading crime critics? Well Margaret Murphy got this on publication of Goodnight My Angel, and more. Following the decision not to award a CWA John Creasey Dagger for best first novel 1996 (a decision strongly condemned by many - see the CWA’s recent announcement), a group of critics: Marcel Berlins, Maxim Jakubowski, Frances Fyfield,  Val McDermid, Philip Oakes, Mike Ripley and John Williams compiled their own list of candidates for the best first novel of the year. The result was the "First Blood Award" subtitled "The critics choice for best first crime novel of 1996". Goodnight, My Angel was one of the runners up on the list and Margaret Murphy unequivocally deserves it.
With a notable lack of sentimentality, the story focuses on Kate Pearson, a young, single-parent whose 12 year old daughter has just been viciously murdered. Kate’s situation is unimaginably distressing, and with tiny, gut-wrenching details, the full horror unfolds as someone begins to ‘stalk’ Kate on the computer - leaving messages supposedly from her dead daughter. One of the book’s many strengths is that in a situation where most would want to curl up and die, Margaret Murphy shows how Kate learns to deal with her grief and re-builds her life. It’s hard to write about such things without sounding trite (even in a review) but Margaret Murphy certainly manages this at all times. Kate has suffered in an abusive relationship and is no stranger to physical and mental cruelty. Perhaps her successful escape, her refusal to accept such brutal domination is what equips her to deal with the death of her daughter and subsequent menace confronting her.
The story really is one of  searing  suspense and terror. There’s no shortage of suspects, and with many being within a small circle of friends and colleagues, you’re never sure who you (sorry - she!) can trust. Kate Pearson is a remarkably strong heroine - just what we need. Thoroughly engrossing and one of the best books of the year. Read it. Let’s hope that we hear from Margaret Murphy again soon.
(E.A.L) 

 Out Of The Blue by Steven Knight 
A writer who’s written extensively for game shows and TV comedy, writing seriously about hit-men and £25 million fraud? I was admittedly cautious, thrillers not being my first choice of reading. But I was surprised, and shocked, and scared, (all pleasantly of course), and highly entertained.
After the murder of his daughter, multi-millionaire Martin King returns to Skiathos, a small Greek island, to find out exactly where the money he inherited from his apparently poverty stricken mother actually came from. And to get revenge.
This book is great! The plot and action fairly zip along and if the pace doesn’t leave you breathless, the journey in a small boat, drifting past the Northern fringes of the African coast, at dead of night, no fuel, no water, delirious from over-exposure to the sun with the shadows of evil smelling oil rigs looming in the distance most certainly will. Scared me to death!
The plot is ingenious, the characters well-realised and gritty. Konstantinou, the chief of Police on Skiathos is particularly memorable. From someone who co-penned the hilarious "Detectives" TV series starring Robert Powell and Jasper Carrot,  is a welcome surprise. Highly enjoyable and certainly recommended.
(E.A.L) 

 The Dead Of Winter by Paula Gosling 
The Dead Of Winter  captures the atmosphere of small-town life in Blackwater Bay where much revolves around the whims of the weather and the  amount  of snow and ice in evidence at a particular time. Jess Gibbons teaches art and cookery at the local high school and is desperate for something to happen  in her sleepy-town life. She seems to be descending into frumpy middle age just a bit too soon and decides that  she must make some changes,  at least to her wardrobe and general image.
But a series of events begins to destroy the peace and  tranquillity of Blackwater Bay.
 A diversion, in the shape of a dead body floating just below the surface of the ice on the lake soon turns up. It’s been waiting to pop up unexpectedly just at the right time to add spice to the fishing season.
And  there’s more to come.  A  teenager goes missing, and with the possible involvement of the mob and drugs the town ends up with more excitement than it needs. With quilting bees, the annual ice-festival and an old Native American who can (suspiciously) predict the weather and rid the ice of evil spirits with props he’s bought from a mail order catalogue, The Dead Of Winter is an entertaining, skilfully plotted, and often highly witty murder mystery. Well worth reading.
(E.A.L) 

 The Lover Of The Grave by Andrew Taylor 
The third in the Lydmouth series, The Lover Of The Grave is set in post (Second World) war Britain, in a small closely-knit English village with all of the neighbourly support  yet claustrophobic limitations that  this setting implies.
Times are changing. Women are no longer expected to live their lives exclusively in the home, looking after the family. Casualties of war are everywhere: the POW left behind and the men who were injured and maimed in action. It’s a time of national restlessness and upheaval.
 A dead man is found hanging by the neck in the branches of an ancient tree on the outskirts of the village. It is not clear whether the death is a suicide or murder.
The shadow of the ‘hanging tree’, once used to exhibit the bodies of murderers and more recently a site favoured by suicides, looms as a symbol of retribution. And there are lots of stories waiting to be told as to why this particular body may have come to such a grisly end on a cold winter’s night with his trousers around his ankles.
Detective Inspector Thornhill is in for a hard time as he attempts to disentangle, with the help of  Jill Francis, a local journalist, the diverse speculations over the death, and there is increasing evidence that someone is watching the women in the village: lighted cigarettes in a midnight graveyard and footsteps in the dark.
In typical Taylor style, thought and compassion are demanded from the reader. Prejudice and the fear it inspires are woven into the plot and its characters  and are shown for what they really are - ignorance.
The Lover Of The Grave is a must for anyone with a taste for skilful plotting, convincing characterisation and a generous helping of romance tempered by sexual tension. Andrew Taylor’s writing is intelligent and compelling. Once the story begins to unfold, it’s hard to put the book down. This is a fine whodunnit infused with much mystery and suspense. Highly recommended.
(E.A.L) 

 Asking For Trouble by Ann Granger  
Well known for her Mitchell & Markby series, Asking For Trouble is an new departure for Ann Granger, introducing Fran Varady, a likeable and quietly convincing female sleuth.
Fran lives on the edge of society, having no permanent address, no relatives, job or income other than social security cheques.  She is about to be made homeless yet again as the squat where she’s been living is to be pulled down by the council. When the annoying tenant upstairs, Terry, is found dead, an apparent but suspicious suicide, Fran is drawn into the investigation, initially to try to disprove her own involvement in the death, and later to try to discover the truth for the girl’s grandfather.
This is an entertaining story with a likeable sleuth, which provides insight into the lives of those with little security and income. Fran’s own story demonstrates just how easily some fall through the net. After her parents died, she went to live with her grandmother. But ill-health meant that the old lady could not survive without constant specialist care, and so she had to go into a nursing home. As their home had been rented, it reverted to its owners and Fran consequently had nowhere to live. A vicious spiral follows: no permanent home address means no one will give you a job, and no job means you can’t get anywhere to live, result: life on the street.
In Asking For Trouble we hear of children who munch carrots (full of vitamin C) as their mother can’t afford to buy apples -  and toilets in empty houses filled in with concrete to discourage squatters. Seeing life from Fran’s point of view makes you re-think the prejudices that abound about homeless people. I’m look forward to hearing more from Fran.
(E.A.L)